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DEVELOPMENT: A 'Great Persuasion' Gets Under Way
By Sanjay Suri
LONDON, Oct 15 (IPS) - They are calling it 'The Great Persuasion' in Britain as millions prepare around the world to
stand up for action against poverty.
The persuasion will be targeted at 200 members of parliament. As part of the Global Call
to Action Against Poverty (GCAP) from Friday to Sunday this week, constituents will call on
local MPs to talk to them about their commitment to reducing poverty.
The constituents will of course stand with the MPs and have their pictures taken. That is
not going to swell magnificently the number of people who will be counted as having
quite literally stood up to demand action against poverty. The UK campaign will have fewer
numbers, but they believe their stand will go far.
The targeting of MPs is being coordinated by BOND (British Overseas NGOs for
Development), an umbrella group for about 330 NGOs campaigning for rights and
development. The particular call on GCAP has been endorsed by more than 70
development charities, including several large organisations such as Oxfam, Christian Aid
and Care International.
"The MPs will be handed two copies of our international development manifesto, one for
them, and one to hand to their parties," Tim Gee from GCAP UK told IPS. "That would
provide the framework for them to take action against poverty in the next parliament."
General elections are expected in Britain in May next year – though they could come
earlier. All recent general elections in Britain, BOND says, have seen a degree of collective
campaigning on development issues with action at a local and national level targeted at
political parties and prospective MPs.
Among the MPs chosen, Gee said, are Oliver Letwin, policy director with the Conservative
Party who is writing the manifesto for the party, Harriet Harman, deputy leader of the
Labour Party, and Vince Cable, deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats. "These will be
particularly important MPs to target," said Gee.
BOND says this is an especially meaningful weekend for action because it includes three
key days: World Food Day (Oct. 16), U.N. International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
(Oct. 17) and Micah Sunday (Oct. 18), a global day of prayers held in churches against
poverty. Last year, it was estimated that more than 100 million people across the world
took action against poverty at this time.
The end of the weekend will also mark 20 days to the G20 (major advanced and emerging
economies) finance ministers meeting in St. Andrews in Scotland, and 50 days to the
Copenhagen climate summit in December. The weekend will also be MPs' first weekend
back in their constituencies after the summer recess, and "there has never been a more
important time for politicians to feel the heat," BOND said in a statement.
In addition to the lobbying, 'stand-up' events are being planned at more than 100
churches and schools "to say their wishes should be heard against poverty," said Gee. "The
thousands in the UK will express their solidarity with millions around the world."
British international development NGOs have set out five areas for action in their
manifesto presented to the political parties:
- More and better aid and debt relief
- Tackling climate change
- Making the global economy work for the poor
- Good governance and addressing corruption
- Responding to conflict situations
"There is a global democratic deficit," Gee added in a statement released by BOND. "UK
policies on aid, trade, debt and climate change can change the lives of the world's poor.
As the world's poor cannot vote in UK elections, it is up to us to stand up on their behalf."
Parliamentarians are not being contacted in Britain alone. "Over 2,000 parliamentarians
across more than 50 countries will be contacted by citizens as part of the 'Stand Up and
Take Action' initiative of the Global Call to Action against Poverty and the UN Millennium
Campaign," BOND said.
Some highlights of action planned around the world, BOND says, include:
- India: Campaigners will take action in 100 constituencies to demand functional health
centres in every village, town and country.
- Nigeria: Thousands of people at concerts by Sarah Mitaru and Femi Kuti will sign a
petition demanding accountability and transparency in their governments in order to
achieve the MDGs.
- The Philippines: campaigners will launch a survey about the issues people want their
leaders to prioritise, which will be presented to the country’s presidential candidates on
Oct. 20.
- South Korea: Thousands will take to the streets calling on their government to increase
overseas aid.
- U.S.: Citizens will take part in events to pressure the United States Congress to pass the
Roadmap to End Global Hunger Plan. (END/2009)
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