Make Poverty History - New parliament, new possibilities e-card

New parliament, new possibilities e-card

As MPs begin their time in Australia’s 42nd Parliament, lets remind them of the opportunity they have to help people living in extreme poverty.

We are starting to see action on climate change but more needs to be done. Climate change is threatening the livelihoods of poor communities in some of the poorest countries. We should work with these communities to help them adapt.

There are actions the Australian Government can take now to improve the lives of these children and communities. Send an e-card to let them know how important action on these issues is to you.

Simply enter your postcode in the search field to add your local MP’s email address. Either use the message already in the box below or delete this text and use the tips at the bottom of this page to write you own.

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Reducing child mortality and improving maternal health are two of the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). In Southeast Asia and the Pacific, 16 of the 22 developing countries in the region are NOT on track to achieve Goal 4, a two-thirds reduction in child mortality. Seven countries are NOT on track to achieve Goal 5, reduce maternal mortality by three-quarters.
		                  
I support increasing aid for basic and reproductive health in Australia’s aid program by $400 million, to $1000 million by 2010-11.
		                    
Climate change is an issue that affects everyone, but the harshest effects will be on people already living in extreme poverty in developing countries. 
		                    
I strongly encourage this Parliament to take the lead in setting reduced emissions targets that minimize temperature increases due to global warming to as far below 2C as possible. I support the provision of adequate and reliable funding to help developing countries adapt to the effects of climate change and to pursue low carbon development pathways.

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Tips for writing to your politicians

Writing to your local federal MP can make a powerful impact on government policy. Using the following letter-writing guide, you can quickly and easily put together an informed, personal letter and make an important contribution to the work of the MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY campaign.

Fast Facts (use some of these in your letter)

In 1970 Australia agreed to lift our aid budget to 0.7% of Gross National Income, and successive governments have repeatedly reaffirmed this commitment. Lifting aid to 0.5% of GNI by 2015 – as Labor has promised to do – will bring the aid budget to around $8.4 billion. However, if we achieved 0.7% GNI by 2015 – which could be done with almost no impact on projected budget surpluses – the aid budget would reach $11.8 billion.
MDG progress in our region is mixed, with the health and well-being of mothers and children not improving rapidly enough to achieve these goals in the region as a whole. In South East Asia and the Pacific, 16 of the 22 developing countries are off-track to reduce child mortality by two-thirds (Goal 4), while seven are off-track for reducing maternal mortality by three-quarters (Goal 5).
Australia’s funding for basic education, water and sanitation in 2010 is budgeted to reach our fair share of the global costs of achieving the MDGs in each area (Goals 2 & 7). However, our funding for health is projected to be at least $400 million below our fair share of costs for meeting the health MDGs (Goals 4, 5 & 6) in 2010 unless new funding is allocated.
Even with deep cuts in global emissions to reduce the extent of change, poor people around the world will need to adapt to the many unavoidable impacts of climate change. Richer countries who are largely responsible for causing the problem, and who have the capacity to act, must provide financing for adaptation that is adequate, reliable and equitable.
In order for developing countries to contain and ultimately reduce their carbon emissions, while meeting their legitimate aspirations to higher standards of living, richer counties must assist developing countries to find low carbon development pathways.

Some Tips for writing letters to Parliamentarians:

Keep your letter brief – one page maximum.
Handwritten letters have the most impact.
Use the opening paragraph to introduce your key concern(s), then use clear, relevant and concise information to support your case.
Use a concluding paragraph that calls for a specific action or asks one or two questions only.
Sign the letter in your usual signature and print your name, address, fax number, work and home phone numbers.
Let the recipient know that you are looking forward to their response and keep a copy of your letter.
Address MPs as Mr/Mrs/Ms Full Name, MP and Senators as Senator Full Name (unless a current or former minister – in which case: Senator the Hon. Full Name).