We are urging the Government to Act on Poverty by:
- Pushing for a fairer deal on climate change at the UN
- Honouring their commitment to spend 0.7 per cent of national
income on aid for the poorest by 2013
- Ensuring businesses are accountable to people in poor countries
affected by their operations.
Climate Change
People in the developing world are already feeling the
effects of the increased frequency and severity of extreme weather
with risks to life, homes and crops.
The UN is the best place for a fair, ambitious and binding
global climate deal. Following the lack of success in Copenhagen in
December 2009, the UK government has a vital role in leading Europe
to take action in getting a deal to replace the Kyoto Protocol
which runs out soon.
Aid
this is given directly by our government to reduce poverty
overseas. In the last year, aid from the UK has provided
life-saving anti-retroviral treatment to 100,000 people with HIV
and vaccinated 3 million children against measles. It has built or
reconstructed 12,000 classrooms and trained over 100,000 teachers
in developing countries. Total spent in 2008/9 was £5.5 billion
(compared with £29.2 billion spent on bailing out Northern Rock!)
The global economic crisis has pushed more people into poverty and
increases the need for aid.
In 1970, rich countries pledged to spend 0.7% of their income on
aid but very few have met this. In their pre-election manifestos
the governing parties agreed to spend this amount by 2013 but this
commitment may fall to the bottom of a crowded political
agenda.
Business
Multinational companies with huge global power and
influence can bring jobs and investment to poor communities.
However, they can also add to corruption, human rights abuses and
environmental damage. They need to be honest about the impact of
their activities and answerable to the communities in which they
operate.
The UK government can play a powerful role by making laws that
ensure all UK companies (and multinationals based here or listed on
the London Stock Exchange) operate responsibly.
Action
Together we can show our Prime Minister that,
although the economic crisis means hard choices on spending need to
be made, thousands of people expect our government to act on global
poverty.
Please fill in a card 'Who is your
neighbour?' to Act on Poverty with your name and address and
post it through our door of
No 10 in the Keenan Rooms on
18/19 September (to be forwarded
to the real No 10 by Cafod).