The Just1 2009 StandUps Against Poverty and for the UN Millennium Development Goals
This page tells you about how schools might speak out to governments 
 

Think of getting the whole school to write to governments and say what the country's good citizens of tomorrow stand up for

How about getting yourselves in the press by inviting your Member of Parliament to come along and share the Promises to the Poor with you?

And why not add your voices on global warming?
 

I am personally committed to the eradication of global poverty and supporting development in
the poorest countries.

It is therefore very encouraging
to hear of proactive and positive community action in support of
these same goals.

I wish you every success in your efforts for this October's StandUp.

Gordon Brown May 2009 in response
to letter from Hugh Gibbons

It wasn't a lobbying letter.  It wasn't a petition.   It didn't attack governments.  It didn't say "we're not quite sure what we want but we want it now." It didn't attack or antagonise governments.

But last year, in the spirit of working together, many of the schools standing up wrote to the Prime Minister of the UK or their local MP or MEP, telling them what they'd done and why. And they were delighted to get personal replies to share with all pupils and staff (see two examples in the right-hand column).

This year, StandUp Schools, classes or staff might like to send a similar sort of letter - before or after the event.  Send a letter saying what you've done, what you stand for, and why governments shouldn't forget their promises to the poor.  And everyone can sign it.

Click here for some addresses of senior ministers
in the UK and Ireland - plus a draft letter.

Making Members of Parliaments aware of what you stand for - write and invite them StandUp with you

Many MPs have praiseworthy records when it comes to supporting humanitarian issues such as trade justice, debt relief, aid levels, human rights and trafficking.

MPs get heavily lobbied by a variety of organisations and interests - on paper and in person.  StandUp Schools have a powerful alternative way of voicing their views. 

As well as sending a letter to representatives in national or European parliaments, why not invite yours now  to take part your school StandUp on Friday 16th October? 

This could be a very powerful way of helping make sure that they get a close-up view - and one many will welcome.

The Friday is a day when many will be back in their constituencies. Many will appreciate the chance to share the common humanitarian messages in the Promises to the Poor - and discuss some of the issues.  Many will also have first-hand experience of visiting deprived communities to help your knowledge and understanding. Many will also help get the school in to the local press. Many will like the chance to catch their breath on the Saturday and Sunday.

And many will appreciate this unusual gesture to be personally involved in a community activity that many people have found surprisingly moving.

NB1 Just1 has already suggested to the leading parties that the members of their parliaments might like to be aware of the StandUps, get the dates into their diaries, and approach a school nearer the time.

NB2 There are fewer than 1000 MPs in the UK and Ireland  to go round 20,000 schools and colleges. So why not approach yours now - and get the date firmly into their diary and yours.

Add your voice on global warming

You might also like to encourage pupils, staff and parents to join in some of the online campaigning in the run-up to the Copenhagen conference in December.  This will be setting new climate protocols replacing the Kyoto Treaty - and public pressure to help protect the interests of the poor will play an important part in what emerges.

Many agencies are running on-line or paper petitions - including the examples shown left and right here.

Christian Aid have a Countdown
 to Copenhagen campaign
you can support on-line.
Click on the picture above.

Some senior ministers in the UK and Ireland

The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
10 Downing Street
Whitehall
London SW1

The Secretary of State for International Development
Department for International Development
1 Palace Street
London SW1E 5HE

The Taoiseach
Department of the Taoiseach
Government Buildings

Upper Merrion Street

Dublin 2
Ireland

The Minister for Foreign Affairs
Department of Foreign Affairs

80 St Stephen's Green

Dublin 2
Ireland

Possible draft letters to ministers

Dear Minister

We thought you’d be pleased to hear what we did this year to mark the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty - and what you might consider.

Pupils and staff joined in Just1’s Schools StandUp Against Poverty & Inequality.  This was a 2009 contribution to the 50 Days of Global Action Against Poverty, arranged by GCAP and the UN Millennium Campaign.

We believe that something similar was being done by perhaps 100 million other people in over 130 countries – showing the great global strength of concern and caring.

So we’d like you to know that all of us good citizens of tomorrow ask that you do what you can to get governments and nations to stand up against poverty.  Tell them that we care.  Say that we’re really proud of what we stand up for. 

We stood up together and shared these Promises to the Poor.
 

Let's start by standing in silence for a few moments and listening for the voices of the poor coming from the east, west, north and south.
 

Now let us say to the east, west, north and south why the poor can count on us
 

We promise to stand up for stopping extreme poverty and hunger So we speak out today for the billion people who go to bed hungry every night
 

We promise to stand up for reducing child mortality So we speak out today for the 30,000 children who each day die due to poverty
 

We promise to stand up for improving basic health So we speak out today for all people fighting diseases which ravage communities, for ensuring clean fresh water for everyone, and for the care of mothers in childbirth
 

We promise to stand up for promoting fairness, justice, and respect So we speak out today for all those working for peace and justice and human rights
 

We promise to stand up for primary education for all So we speak out for children everywhere so they will get a full course of basic schooling
 

We promise to stand up for respecting the world’s resources  So we speak out for those people already suffering the effects of climate change, and for those working hard to ensure that the riches and benefits of our planet are shared by all
 

And finally we promise to stand up and speak out against poverty - again and again.

Then we gave each other a pat on the back on the back and said Well Done for Standing Up Against Poverty.
 

We’re all in this together.

With best wishes from all of us.