Two weeks after Jim Wallis, a prominent Christian leader from the US, compared Gordon Brown to the prophet Micah, the SPEAK network re-enacted the eye catching actions of another biblical prophet outside the House of Commons to send a message to the Chancellor over the need for trade justice and further debt relief.

As they lay down under their symbolic burdens in Parliament Square, 150 student campaigners from the SPEAK network sent a powerful visual message to the government. They were imitating the actions of the biblical prophet Ezekiel, who lay on his side symbolically bearing the sins of Israel for 390 days. Through their action, as a culmination of their campaigning as part of MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY, SPEAK members repented for the burdens people in poorer countries suffer because of unjust trade rules, unpayable debts and insufficient aid. They later heard messages from the three main political parties about these issues, and lobbied their MPs about concerns relating to the Company Law Reform Bill that is currently going through Parliament.

"I believe it is absolutely necessary that repentance is not only an attitude, but also an action." Said Martin Scott, who spoke during the opening service at St. Martin's in the Fields. "Repentance needs to be more than words, it's about making a change, not just recognising a fact."

As part of the action in Parliament Square, SPEAK members participated in a communion and liturgy led by Stephen Rand of the Jubilee Debt Campaign. The students and young adults lay under their burdens for 722 seconds, representing the 722 months since the architecture behind these unjust policies and practices, the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, were established under the Bretton Woods system.

“We have to raise our concerns about these unjust policies and structures and speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves. This is a powerful prayer action,” said Louise Donkin the founder of the SPEAK Network.

"Standing with the poor is a key part of Christian discipleship. It's a privilege to join young people expressing their faith through action on behalf of the poor," Rand added.

You can see photos of the Day of Action in the Day of Action 06 gallery