Getting involved

The good news is that compared to 30 years ago, those living in absolute poverty (less than $1.25 a day) is now only 25% of the world’s population compared to 50% in 1979. In that same period, the global economy has grown approximately 3 times, so now we have more resources to deal with a smaller problem, achieving a fairer world for those 1.4 billion neighbours is something that we really can do!

So what does that mean for you and me?

There are many simple things that you can do to help. You can use your knowledge, time, conversations, shopping, giving and lobbying capability, all of which can be done easily and simply!

Knowledge

"People perish for the lack of knowledge". It's a great quotation and very true. For example, did you know that for every $1 given by the west to developing countries in 'aid' that we keep $14 in unfair trade (farm subsidies/trade tariffs etc). Unless we know these kind of things we won't ever feel motivated against that kind of injustice to do something positive. So consider improving your knowledge in a proactive way just a few minutes a week. www.globalpovertyproject.com/infobank.

Time

Your most precious commodity.Please take some time each month to do something to bring about greater justice for the voiceless and powerless. Think carefully about how you will invest that gift of time to achieve the greatest return possible. Just as if you were investing a chunk of money, consider how to best use some of your precious time for others. For some that might mean volunteering at a local project to help out, for others it might mean a trip to Africa to find out more and for some it might simply mean writing a post card once a month to their local MP lobbying them about global justice, trade justice, human trafficking, climate change or any other number of development issues.

Conversations

Can you remember 10 years ago when people smoked everywhere and compare that to today? I would have never believed the change that has happened, but the public's social consciousness has changed, and the same is equally true of environmental issues. One of the best ways you can bring about greater justice for the world's poor is to occasionally simply talk to your friends about it by initiating a conversation about global poverty. Try it just once a week and see what happens!

Shopping

One of the greatest ways we can make a significant impact is to improve the way we shop. Ultimately the way we will help people lift themselves out of poverty is through trade, not giving continuously more aid. Every time we shop we vote with our money for an ethical purchase or an unethical one, and it's the strongest way you can vote. To find out how to be more effective visit www.fairtrade.org.uk.

Giving

There are an almost infinite number of organisations who need your support. For a few suggestions visit www.viva.org. Andy relies entirely on the support of family and friends to be involved full time in the pursuit of justice on behalf of the world's poorest. If you would like to financially partner with him please download this PDF direct debit form (55KB PDF).

Lobbying

Many of us have some negative thoughts about the effectiveness of lobbying but there is solid proof that it can be a highly effective tool. When an MP receives a written letter about a certain subject it is considered to equate to the views of around 2,000 constituents, that's a great return on the investment of time it takes to write a letter. Find out the contact details of your local MP by visiting findyourmp.parliament.uk. You can write to them about a range of issues as you feel appropriate, global justice, trade justice, human trafficking, climate change or any other number of development issues. Make your task quick and easy go to www.tearfund.org/Campaigning/Globalaction.