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Who Says You Can't Change the World?

Frankie Mort reviews a remarkable book by a remarkable man

Can ordinary people change the world?  Danny Smith, founder of the broadly-Christian human rights group jubilee and friend of Fr Shay Cullen who rescues child prostitutes in the Philippines, says that they can.  The turning point in Danny's life came in 1981 when he flew out to the aid of seven persecuted Christians trapped in the American embassy in Moscow, only to have them risk their lives to hide him when he came under surveillance from the KGB.  The experience acted as a mirror showing him 'myself for the first time as I really was and not the facade that I had constructed.  Someone adrift, taking refuge in transitory pursuits ... fooling others, but ultimately fooling only myself.' His high-profile campaign for their release drew the whole world's attention to the Siberian Seven.  He shielded Lida Vaschenko, the first out of Moscow in 1983, from the press at the airport in Vienna; and one of the others, Timothy Chmykialov, was the best man at his wedding.

Jubilee's political wing 'Jubilee Campaign'was launched in February 1987 by the Liberal Democrat MP David Alton, now a Lord, with a scheme for his fellow MPs to ,adopt' prisoners of faith from all over the world, and the charity was formed under the name 'Jubilee Action' soon afterwards.  The press converged on jubilee's tiny office in Richmond during the build-up to Ceaucescus' downfall in December 1989 when the telephone line of Danny's contact in Romaiiia was the world's only source of news from that country. Danny took up the street children's cause after meeting three boys in Brazil, one of whom was subsequently killed just months after performing for John Major at the Earth Summit in Rio, and was introduced to the dark world of child prostitution by Fr Shay.  His

 joint efforts with the missionary priest eventually brought about a change in the law in 1997 to prosecute British citizens who abuse children abroad, and his own undercover operation in this country exposed a pair of tour operators.  In India two homes have been built for prostitutes' children near Bombay, and he gave the beautiful Asha away in marriage a few years after saving her from following her mother into sexual slavery.

'We live in extraordinary times,' Danny concludes.  His achievement with Fr Shay alone shows 'that a campaign can be effective, using the media and the political system.  When we raise prayer and action together we leave our personal footprint on the planet.  We can make a difference.' N

Who Says You Can't Change The World? is available directly from the address below for £7.99 including postage, and jubilee would also be happy to send you a free copy of its quarterly magazine, Just Right, on request:

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