Global Debt Week starts today!

www.jubileedebtcampaign.org has all the information on this important event.

The Big Ask

This is really good fun, a great idea, and an effective way of making your concerns known about climate change. It's also incredibly important timing, given that yesterday, the UK government signed off the first part of the Stansted Airport expansion. Making the Climate Change bill, the first of its kind in the world, include carbon emissions from shipping and aviation may just be enough to revise the wisdom of airport expansion in the UK.

http://www.thebigask.com/

177,095 people (at time of writing) have signed up. Why not join us.

Complete Muppet

Being a complete muppet, I still haven't sorted out making a will. It's the single most important thing on my list of things to do, but keeps getting put off. So a poster in the Help the Aged shop prompted me to go to (and sign up with) willaid.org. For a suggested donation this November, a qualified solicitor will draw up your will and the money will go to one of a number of charities you can choose from a list of participating charities. Since 1988, the scheme has raised over £7m for good causes.

Debt Week 2008

Again, from the Jubilee Debt Campaign's email - I did this one last night (though I've got a funny feeling I've mailed him before!)

Pick up the pace in Debt Week 2008
From 12-19 October 2008 it will be the second Global Week of Action Against Debt and the International Financial Institutions. In the UK we’re using the opportunity to keep up the pressure on the UK government to Pick Up the Pace on debt cancellation.
With lots of grand talk expected at upcoming summits about tackling poverty, we need to make the case that more debt cancellation is urgently needed if countries are going to be able to emerge from the poverty trap. TAKE ACTION: Email Douglas Alexander, International Development Minister, and ask him to drop much more debt.

50 crucial days

From the Jubilee Debt Campaign:

Today is the first of 50 Global Days of Action Against Poverty and Inequality, taking place in more than 100 countries around the world. After several years of drifting and inaction, the rich world has a series of opportunities in the coming months to take serious action to tackle global poverty - and we have to make sure they take them.

Make aid work and drop the debt
Rich country governments are gathering in Accra, Ghana, from tomorrow for a summit to discuss the effectiveness of aid. Jubilee Debt Campaign supports the global aid campaign’s efforts to ensure that new, concrete targets and indicators come out of this summit for rich countries to deliver on their aid promises. But we have also joined our voices with other movements and civil society organisations to warn that unless unpayable poor country debts are cancelled, it will be very difficult for aid to work effectively.
Click here to read more.

Control the International Arms Trade

There's a new website, formed from a coalition of Amnesty International, iansa & Oxfam, aimed at controlling the international arms trade. Here is their first email:

Every year, millions of people suffer as a result of the irresponsible arms trade.
Two years ago, 153 governments voted at the United Nations to start work on developing an international Arms Trade Treaty. We want as many people as possible to take action to control the arms trade.

Play "Catch the Bomb" and spread the word

Throughout 2008, a group of experts from 28 countries has been meeting to discuss the content of the treaty. Now is the time to turn words into action and deliver an Arms Trade Treaty strong enough to save lives and stop irresponsible arms deals.
A small minority of governments opposes international controls on the arms trade and is determined to block, derail and delay any further progress on the treaty. They must not be allowed to succeed.

Tell your government that the world is watching, it’s time for an Arms Trade Treaty

Ending Child Poverty

There are 3.8 million children in the UK living in poverty and the NSPCC is committed to supporting the End Child Poverty alliance along with over 100 other groups such as Oxfam, NCH and Save the Children.

If you would like to read more about their “Keep the Promise” campaign you can visit their website.

Peacekeepers for Darfur?

From Oxfam's campaign email on helping people in Darfur.

http://www.oxfam.org.uk/get_involved/campaign/actions/darfur_peacekeepers.html?ito=2440&itc=0

UN Peacekeepers in Darfur, Sudan, are struggling to do their job – because scarcely one-third of the promised force has been deployed. The people deserve better. Hear about life on the inside of Darfur’s many refugee camps through the voices of those who live there. And make sure you call on Gordon Brown to deliver what’s been promised.

For more information on Oxfam's work, follow this link: Life in Darfur

All mums should have access to decent maternal care

Sounds like a no-brainer to me, so followed Oxfam's suggestion and mailed Gordon Brown:

http://www.oxfam.org.uk/get_involved/campaign/actions/maternal_emergency.html

In pictures: All mums should have access to decent maternal care. Watch Oxfam's photo slideshow and find out how some poor countries have managed to turn their health systems around.
http://www.oxfam.org.uk/get_involved/campaign/health_and_education/maternal_mortality_slideshow.html

Vulture Update

Excellent news - Oxfam's campaign to stop company Donegal from demanding payment of debt from Zambia including interest and costs amounting to $40 million has been successful.

Read the full story here.