JUSTICE FOR THE POOR

The enormous problems of underdeveloped countries - poverty, disease, poor education and undemocratic government - are now being made even worse by
climate change. It has recently been estimated that a least 1 billion of the 6.5 billion people alive today go to bed hungry. As the world recovers from the recession this
figure will at least double because, as business confidence returns, supplies of fuel will become scarce and prices will rise. This in turn will put up the cost of food,
putting it beyond the means of the poor. There is a real danger of world starvation.

What are international organisations doing about it?

The United Nations have set a target for developed countries to give 0.7% of their GDP in aid to developing countries. (The UK currently gives 0.4%.)
At the millennium the United Nations set targets to halve poverty by 2015 (‘The Millennium Development Goals' -MDGs). It set eight goals including
education, gender equality, child mortality and disease. Only limited progress has been made and this is now endangered by the financial crisis.
The World Trade Organisation has failed to reach agreement in the Dohar round of talks and there is no overall plan for regulating trade between developed
countries and their poorer neighbours.

What do our local candidates for the next general election say they are going to do about it? So far there are three candidates:

Nigel Waterson: current Conservative MP (House of Commons London SW1A 0AA).
Stephen Lloyd: Lib Dem Candidate (100 Seaside Rd, Eastbourne, BN21 3PF).
David Brinson: Labour Candidate (4 Central Ct, South Street, Eastbourne, BN21 4 UJ).

They have been asked to state their parties' policies on the following matters affecting the world's poor - Climate Change, Trade Justice and Aid. Their replies can be found on here. More concise statements will eventually appear in the party manifestos.

Why should I write to the candidates?

All three parties undertake to go some way to alleviating the problems facing poorer countries, whilst not putting at risk home comfort. However, we believe that pressing domestic issues often crowd out the plight of those whose situations are far worse than ours. Writing to the candidates will show them that we in Eastbourne care about others - not just ourselves! It is important that individuals make comments in the light of their own knowledge and experience, and after studying the stated policies. Don't be afraid to agree when you can! The following points could also be made:

Climate change. Necessary reductions in carbon emissions cannot be made unless developed countries are prepared to take active steps to curtail both
aviation and car travel.
Trade justice. The World Trade Organisation must be made to recognise that equitable (fair) trade between rich and poor countries is of much greater benefit
than handouts. The Dohar round of talks should be concluded by rich countries conceding to the wishes of the poor ones without delay.
Aid. The UK should set an example to the rest of the developed world and increase aid to 0.7% of GDP now - not wait until 2013!