The International Day of Education

By Michael Broner

The International Day of Education is held every year on the 24th January to emphasise the importance of education as a key fundamental human right and acknowledge its role in promoting peace and development. As RESULTS campaigners we commend past and current efforts by multilateral institutions, governments and non-governmental organisations in drafting policy frameworks and encouraging direct action that has improved access to free education for millions across the globe. Its inclusion in the Sustainable Development Goals has put education at the front and centre of development endeavours. However, the COVID-19 pandemic, alongside other geopolitical events, has stalled progress in the achievement of goal 4. In this post, we will reflect on the history of international education policy and advocacy. Simultaneously, we will examine the issue of women’s education in Afghanistan which is at the centre of this year’s call to action in achieving the provision of high-quality education for all.

The Fight for Universal Education

In December 2018, the UN General Assembly achieved a broad consensus for the adoption of resolution 73/25, designating January 24^th as the International Day of Education. This demonstrated the clear political will of the international community to support policy action for achieving equitable education for all. It reaffirmed the commitment of governments and stakeholders to achieving the SDGs and emphasised the centrality of education in eradicating poverty globally. However, its establishment is just one part of a broader effort, spanning several decades, in advocating for universal education as a key component of contemporary international development.

Most notably, Article 26 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) was the first international agreement which inscribed the right to (primary) education into international law. Since then, several treaties and recommendations have been drafted and signed affirming this right to historically marginalised groups, women, migrant workers & families, and persons with disabilities – alongside the expansion of this right to forms of secondary and higher education.

‘To invest in people, prioritize education’

In light of 2023 marking the midpoint of the UN’s 2030 Agenda, this year’s theme emphasises the importance of education in attaining the aims codified within the SDGs. These include climate justice & sustainable development, gender equality, inclusion, and secure employment, among others. This is particularly important given that progress and cooperation on these issues have been disrupted by the recent COVID-19 pandemic and resulting global recession. Not to mention the negative and unequal impacts that necessary restrictions had on school participation and education systems across the globe, especially in developing countries. These implications were addressed by the UN Transforming Education Summit held last September, with the recovery of learning losses from the pandemic being the foregrounding objective of present national, and international responses. However, whilst we attempt to navigate the consequences of recent events, new and existing crises in education are emerging.

Fighting for Women’s Education in Afghanistan

Since the Taliban took over Afghanistan in August 2021, there have been questions from the international community regarding whether Afghan women would be allowed to continue pursuing an education. Whilst the new leadership had initially vowed to respect women’s rights to education and employment, those have come under continuous attack as the Taliban have seized and consolidated power in the country. 

What initially began as gender segregation in classrooms and new restrictive dress codes became a full-scale assault on female higher education policy. In March 2022, the Taliban blocked the reopening of girls’ secondary schools with thousands of teenagers ordered to stay home and effectively banning girls above the sixth grade from receiving an education. This ban was extended to universities at the end of last year, with all universities instructed to suspend access to female students. 

These bans will, predictably, have a disastrous effect on girls’ and women’s education in the country. According to UNESCO, the country had seen a tenfold increase in enrolment at all education levels to 10 million from 2001 to 2018. This has coincided with a near-doubling of female literacy rates to 30% for all age groups combined.  Following the restrictions imposed by the Taliban, 1.1 million girls and young women will be left without formal education with 80%, or 2.5 million, of school-aged Afghan girls and young women currently out of school. Additionally, the suspension of university education will affect, approximately, a further 100,000 female students. 

These restrictions are already having a swift impact on the lives of women. For example, the US Institute of Peace reported last year that following the ban on secondary school education, young teenage girls were being increasingly married off by their families to shift support to their husbands. Alongside robbing women of their dignity and independence, the bans are also likely to have adverse effects on the whole Afghan economy and its society. As explained by UN Women, the combination of education, mobility & employment restrictions, could lose Afghanistan a substantial amount of its female workforce (women make up 17% of national employment figures). This would have a greater effect on sectors that consist of a higher proportion of women, particularly in teaching and healthcare provision. The reduced access to education risks cutting off the pipeline of educated women to fill high-skilled jobs, negatively impacting an already devastated nation.

Campaigning for Universal Education 

As campaigners with RESULTS, we will continue our mission to advocate for the rights of all peoples of the world through our campaign actions and events. However, there are many things that you can do to raise awareness. Be sure to check out the UN’s concept note for more information as to how you can get involved beyond the official observances of this month.

Abortion Rights: Facts, Fears and What’s Next

This month we’re placing a spotlight on some of our campaigners: Klervi, Ray, and Mira who want to talk about abortion rights. They’ve chosen this topic given the growing concerns following the US’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and are hoping to bring some clarity to some of these concerns.

Why is abortion so important?

An abortion is a medical procedure that ends a pregnancy.

It should not be a crime. It is a vital part of healthcare that is needed across the world and which protects the bodily autonomy of women, girls and others who can become pregnant. Gender equality, autonomy, and the lives of all those affected are at risk without it. 

While the need for abortion is common, it is clear even in the present day that access to safe and legal abortion services is far from guaranteed. The World Health Organisation estimates that 25 million unsafe abortions take place each year, the vast majority of them in developing countries. Moreover, 23,000 women die of unsafe abortion each year and tens of thousands more experience significant health complications. Abortion has improved the lives of women, girls, and people who can become pregnant, by increasing access to education, helping them escape poverty, and protecting their health. Removing the right to abortion restricts the equality and empowerment of women.

One thing that is clear is that abortion restrictions do not stop abortions. Instead, without access to safe and legal options, abortions will still take place but in a way that poses high risk to the health of the pregnant person.

According to the Guttmacher Institute, a US-based reproductive health non-profit, the abortion rate is 37 per 1,000 people in countries that prohibit abortion altogether or allow it only in instances to save a woman’s life, and 34 per 1,000 people in countries that broadly allow for abortion, a difference that is not statistically significant.

When legal access to abortion is removed, women of colour and women in lower economic situations disproportionately suffer the impacts. Forced pregnancies have serious consequences such as:

• Enduring serious health risks from carrying pregnancies to full term and giving birth
• Making it harder to escape from poverty
• Derailing education, career and life plans
• Making it more difficult to leave an abusive partner

What does abortion access look like around the word? 

As of now, abortion is probited altogether in 24 countries. This means that the laws of the countries in this category do not permit abortion under any circumstances, including when the woman’s life or health is at risk. 90 million (5%) women of reproductive age live in countries that prohibit abortion altogether.

970 million women, representing 59% of women of reproductive age, reside in countries that  generally allow abortion. While a majority of women live in countries where they can exercise their right to abortion, 41% of women live under restrictive laws. 700 million women of reproductive age are impacted by the inability to access safe and legal abortion care. 

Here is a useful link to visualise abortion laws around the world.

Even in countries where abortion is legal, many women face obstacles to obtaining safe procedures; difficulty in locating healthcare professionals who will perform abortions, poor conditions in medical facilities, ignorance of the legal status of abortion, and fear over being stigmatised for terminating a pregnancy.

Why worry about this now?

On June 24th, the US Supreme Court abolished the constitutional right to abortion. The ruling was a terrible blow and a stark reminder of the larger battle we are facing in seeking equality for those who are less privileged. Moreover, while some of us may have been comforted by the fact abortion rights still seem safe in the UK, it appears it might not be the case. The UK held an intergovernmental conference on the 5th and 6th July, during which it amended a multinational statement committing to the fundamental rights of women and girls. The UK government removed any mention of ‘sexual and reproductive health and rights’ and ‘bodily autonomy’ from the statement, drawing backlash from the UN, human rights organisations, and some of the 22 countries who had signed the statement before the amendment. This suggests abortion rights are more fragile than we think.

How to help

But the battle isn’t over. Far from it. Many people are rallying to protect sexual and reproductive rights around the world and here in the UK. In fact, in the UK 85% of people believe women should have the right to abortion. Let’s make sure the law reflects that. Here are ways you can help safeguard sexual and reproductive rights.

1. Donate to Planned Parenthood.
   Planned Parenthood is the leading sexual and reproductive healthcare provider in the US and also operates globally. As a non-profit, it heavily relies on donations to function. Find ways to donate here.
   
2. Sign petitions and make your voice heard.
   Here is a petition by the British Pregnancy Advisory Service urging our foreign secretary to condemn the US Supreme Court ruling. Here is one supporting the introduction of buffer zones outside clinics in the UK. Here is another asking the government to make abortion a medical issue rather than a criminal offence in the UK.
    
3. Support Abortion Rights UK.
   Abortion Rights UK is the UK’s only national grassroots pro-choice campaign. You can support them by becoming a member here.
   
4. Join solidarity protests.
   You can often find community groups that organise events and protests around you. Groups often announce their activities online and they can be a great way to connect with people and feel less alone in your anger or frustration. If you can’t find a group, why not set up your own?
   
5. Raise awareness.
   Abortion has long been a tabboo relegated to the domestic sphere, a ‘personal issue’. The more informed people are about an issue, the easier it is to create change. Talking about abortion rights (either online or with your friends and family) can destigmatise and normalise it as a health and repoductive rights issue.
   

If you can think of other ways to help the cause please do leave a reply below this post! 

One thing to remember when fighting for abortion rights is that this can be a difficult subject to tackle. If you feel like mental health is suffering, reach out. Talk to your loved ones or find support here. You’re not alone in this!

Isolated Heatwave or a Glimpse of the future?

By Alex Lewis

Imagine a sinking ship but the passengers are unaware that they are going down. It is to this metaphor which I liken the climate emergency.

On 19^th July 2022 Coningsby, Lincolnshire hit 40.3C. Some raved about the temperatures, hailing it is a welcome change from the mundane British summertime. Murdoch’s Talk TV hosted some such celebrators, who demanded why the other reporters were not so jovial. Others took it as a warning sign for what is to come. In the words of journalist Donnachadh McCarthy, ‘the UK’s heatwave was not a wakeup call-it was a funeral bell’.

‘the UK’s heatwave was not a wakeup call-it was a funeral bell’

Climate Emergency Mortality

Unfortunately, the latter opinion is the accurate one. At 40C in the UK parts of roads began to melt, train tracks buckled, and forests burned. The London fire brigade received more than 2,600 calls on the 19^th relating to the heat, with many life-threatening cases. Wennington in East London was a prime example of such effects as buildings became engulfed in flames.

Public Health England announced in 2020 that summer heatwaves that year had caused 2,556 excess deaths. Two years later, these issues have got significantly worse. Those with pre-existing health conditions such as heart disease or asthma saw a worsening of symptoms with many vulnerable elderly or young people needing medical help. With the NHS already suffering from almost a decade of underfunding, the future is bleak when it comes to coping with the climate crisis. With climate specific issues becoming more apparent, concerns run high about an even bigger struggle to cope with the future influx of patients. In 2018, the Environment Audit Committee stated that the UK was ‘woefully unprepared’ for heatwaves and warned that heat-related deaths could reach 7,000 per year by 2050. We now sit in 2022 having just experienced record-breaking temperatures and heading towards that target at an alarming speed.

As extreme weather events become more frequent, access to medical treatment and medicine is becoming more at risk. On 19 March 2019 a cyclone made landfall in Mozambique causing flash flooding. As a result of this many HIV patients were left stranded without their medicine after it had been washed away.

In other parts of Africa, lack of rainfall and increased temperatures have caused severe drought. This has also disrupted access to healthcare as drought-depleted resources have led to conflict which has made it more difficult to access essential services.

The common denominator between events such as these are that the poorest always suffer the greatest. In 2018 the United Nations stated that 1/3 of the global population are poor or near poor and face persistent threats to their livelihoods. They then estimated that due to climate change more than 100 million people could be in extreme poverty by 2030 and over 200 million could be displaced due to more frequent extreme weather disasters. The poorer a community, the harder it is to recover from events caused by the climate crisis such as water shortages, failed harvests, health crises and destroyed homes.

Coping with the Heat

Some may ask why other countries can cope with 40C heat when the UK struggles. The answer is that countries with naturally hotter climates have built their infrastructure to deal with such temperatures. Including stressing railway tracks to withstand higher temperatures and building structures with better air circulation and air conditioning. Many hotter countries also have set a maximum temperature for working conditions. For example, in China if temperatures reach 40C, outdoor work must be suspended and in Spain the temperatures must be between 14C and 25C for even light physical work. In comparison, the UK’s railway tracks are stressed to only 27C, old Victorian houses are built to retain heat for winter and there is currently no legal temperature limit in the workplace. This is not to say that we should simply adjust to the effects of climate change as this is impossible. Metaphorically speaking it would be the equivalent of putting a plaster on a bullet wound. However, for the health and safety of the population we must plan for inevitably high temperatures.

A Capitalist Crisis

I would now like to return to my previous false use of the word ‘unfortunately’ regarding the advent of the climate crisis. The fact is the climate emergency is not unfortunate, it is not bad luck, it is instead the result of over a century of pumping fossil fuels into the atmosphere. It is for the profits of the few that the general population have been misled into believing that climate change is not an emergency but a phenomenon that is either natural, tolerable, or simply a myth. It is for the profits of the few that the many will suffer. The reality is the climate crisis is a capitalist crisis: the richest 10% are responsible for 49% of total lifestyle consumption emissions (see below graph).

As a country we continue to be faced with inactive governments who are unable to keep legally binding agreements such as net zero by 2050. In June 2019, legislation was passed to reduce greenhouse gases by 100% relative to 1990 levels by 2050. Currently we are not on track to meet this. It is important to note that even if we were to reach net zero by 2050, such a reduction is not likely to stop the worst effects of the climate emergency. As the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen stated in the opening speech at COP26 “Net-Zero by 2050 is good, but it’s not enough”.

“Net-Zero by 2050 is good, but it’s not good enough”

It is excruciating to watch UK leaders debate about priorities such as economic growth when we are faced with extinction and societal collapse. For example, according to ‘TheyWorkForYou’ Boris Johnson is recorded as ‘generally voting against measures to prevent climate change’ between 2004 and 2020. The most agonising part is that scientists have been warning leadership about climate change since the 1980s. Yet leaders such as Boris Johnson have actively ignored and rejected policy that may have improved our current position within the crisis. For example, in 2021 the government announced new plans for oil and gas drilling in the North Sea, the same year that the UK hosted COP26.

Even as I write this blog now, another four-day extreme weather warning has been issued with the Met Office cautioning that this heatwave is likely to last longer than the previous July event.  In fear of a drought, hosepipe bans are also being issued across the South of England. This is a prime example of the continuous development of the climate crisis and the increased frequency of extreme weather events. It is also a prime example of the government’s half-hearted measures to mitigate the heatwave and its lack of a comprehensive plan to radically address the climate emergency.

To refer back to my section on global poverty, I ask the question: How do the 10% feel no remorse for the 90% of the population who are being left to pick up the pieces of their self-serving actions? And most importantly, what are we the 90% going to do to change that?

A Call to Action

As a young university student, my peers and I are constantly overwhelmed by climate anxiety. In a world of oil tycoons, inactive governments, and climate change deniers, it often feels like a losing battle.

I discussed the issue with a few of my RESULTS Brighton colleagues and others my age. The resounding consensus was that life for young people is already testing enough with the increase of university fees, increases in rent and the cost-of-living crisis. The over looming collapse of ecosystems is just the top of a long list of issues causing young adults to develop increased mental health issues i.e climate anxiety.

Why is it those that go against the grain and advocate for change get looked down upon? Why as a society do we look down on those that are making a last-ditch attempt to save the planet from utter chaos instead of rising them up as role models?

Therefore, I and many in the UK beg the question, was this an isolated heatwave or a glimpse of the future?

The short answer is that the July heatwave was just the beginning.

You may be asking what you personally are supposed to do to avert the worst of this crisis. The answer is complicated as it is the corporations that are causing the bulk of this emergency and they are refusing to take responsibility for it. A good place to start is raising our voices, protesting, and influencing our peers. Speaking up can get us on track to bring these climate criminals one step closer to justice. It is not hopeless yet, but the clock is very much ticking. The main thing to remember is that we are the many and they are the few. We the general population hold the power to change the future of the climate crisis.

Collaborative editing credits to Klervi Mignon and Noor Umar.

Follow Up Resources

Climate Change and the Rise of Poverty | United Nations Development Programme (undp.org)

We’re rising up for climate justice – GND Rising

The UK’s heatwave was not a wake-up call – it was a funeral bell | The Independent

Climate change and health (who.int)                        

climate crisis | Novara Media

The International Development Strategy

By Alice Denning

So, what is the new UK’s international development strategy, otherwise known as the IDS? The short answer is; very difficult to read. After scrolling rather despairingly through the 32-page document multiple times, I returned to the summary at the top to give me the gist, hoping for an accurate, focused description of the UK’s planned aid budget complete with bullet points and statistics. Bullet points I had a-plenty, statistics; not so much. This is a running theme throughout this document, with plenty of laudable promises to “unleash the potential of people to take control” (or take back control; always good to recycle the old slogans), and “provide life-saving humanitarian assistance”. Great! Complete with the promise to return 0.7% of Gross National Income to UK Aid as soon as possible, the future looks rosy! However, the pesky niggle of “how” looms large in the background. Once I had delved into the whole document, over 3 days, complete with many unneeded tea, coffee, juice, water, google and toilet breaks (it really was heavy going), the future began to take on quite a different hue. The International Development Strategy; UK:130, Poverty Reduction:1

At first glance, it seems brilliant that a document written to outline the UK’s future direction in foreign development recognises so intelligently the need for sustainable growth in middle to low-income countries, to prevent the spiral into debt and decline. It seems to make sense to establish strong trading relationships with these countries in order to support them in the longer term. However, I feel the problem lies in the fact that the UK also benefits from this approach, leaving it open to bias and corruption. The document itself states that “since leaving the European Union, we (the UK) have full control over our trade policy and will use it to support long-lasting development.”. This is a lovely sentiment, but our current position amongst trading nations is far from strong. If you were in a government beleaguered by the rising cost of living and beset on all sides by demands for money, would you be prioritising a trade deal in a country that desperately needs your help but one in which you won’t see return on investment for a decade, and undercuts UK farmers into the bargain? Or would you want to prioritise a country that could “deliver for people here in the UK”,  “generate export opportunities in the UK” and “create jobs” across the UK?. Even an idealist would be tempted. And we are not ruled by idealists. Fair enough to want to put the UK first, but not when talking about how you are going to spend a specific portion of the budget set aside for aid. Moreover, it could be argued that this focus on spending money improving developing economies is in fact a false economy when it comes to poverty reduction at ground level, which is surely the definition of aid. It is in effect applying the policy of trickle-down economics to the world stage. Trickle-down economics is the idea that by cutting taxes on the wealthy, they then have more money to spend and thus it “trickles down” the economy in stages and ends up in the hands of the less well off. Dreamt up by (surprise, surprise) the wealthy, this has a hint of the feudal system about it. Just go and tell the peasants to stand in the field with their hands open, praying to the money gods that the pounds will roll down the feudal pyramid and fall from the sky. They’ll wait there long enough for this all to blow over.

 A paper published by David Hope and Julian Limberg at the LSE in 2020 studying the effect on major tax cuts for the rich in 18 OECD countries over the last five decades, has proven that “reducing taxes on the rich lead(s) to higher income inequality” and does “not have any significant effect on economic growth and unemployment”. Highlight “growth”- synonymous with development. The policy of only investing aid in the economy, helping the rich become richer, to stimulate growth- the main focus of the IDS- has been proven, over five decades, to be useless! In contrast, the global fund, set up in 2002 to end global TB, malaria and AIDS, is a financing mechanism only; it does not implement its own policies, it provides the finance and allows countries to propose and lead the implementation. Can you imagine an IDS document that instead of referencing the UK 130 times, referenced the UK only once, at the start of a document dedicated to outlining country-led approaches to aid? And country-led aid works. The number of deaths caused by AIDS, TB and malaria each year have been reduced by 46% since 2002 in countries where the Global Fund invests^1.. Moreover, progress is assessed 18 months into the implementation of the Global Fund grant, and funding is only continued if progress can be proven. Also, unlike the IDS, the Global Fund does what it says on the tin. It provides a global solution to a global problem, by combining multilateral aid from more than 80 countries. The IDS is stepping back from this global approach, to have “more and closer bilateral partnerships” with developing countries, and in doing so “substantially rebalance its ODA (Official Development Assistance) investments from multilateral towards bilateral channels”. The FCDO is aiming, by 2025, to spend around three quarters of its funding on bilateral programs. This means that despite the current geopolitical situation, the UK is continuing in the wake of Brexit to isolate itself from its global partners and attempt to ‘go it alone’. This is not only potentially damaging for the UK; it also means that the ODA will be spent less effectively in the future as it will not be added to a larger fund to tackle a country-led initiative, but will be parcelled up to fund a smaller investment prioritised by the UK. 

I could go into more detail, about how the “UK Centres of Expertise” set up to share UK skills and knowledge with our developing neighbours smack so much of colonialism I wonder how that was even considered acceptable branding, or about how the commitments to end conflicts do not for a second admit any UK responsibility for any conflicts, past or present. The grim reality is that the UK is set on a very different course of international aid than perhaps first appears. What is the International Development Strategy? Very difficult reading, and for all its many words, it can be summed up in two numbers. The UK, whom the document is written for but should not be about, is referenced 130 times. Poverty reduction; the very definition of international aid and the only thing the document should be about, is referenced only once.

1. ^{Results UK: An introduction to the Global Fund}
2. ^{The Economic Consequences of Major Tax Cuts for the Rich. A working paper by:  David Hope, Julian Limberg 2020}
3. ^{The UK Government’s Strategy for International Development} 
4. ^{Overview of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria by Celina Schocken}
5. ^{Action Sheet – June 2022 .pdf (results.org.uk)}

^{Interesting links:}

Post-Brexit aid policy: what is aid for trade? And what is it not? | Bond

Overview of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria | Center for Global Development | Ideas to Action (cgdev.org)

Working Paper 55 (lse.ac.uk) ^{(The Economic Consequences of Major Tax Cuts for the Rich.)}

The International Development Strategy: a rapid assessment | Bond

The UK Government’s Strategy for International Development – CP 676 (publishing.service.gov.uk)

Overview of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria | Center for Global Development | Ideas to Action (cgdev.org)

Action Sheet – June 2022 .pdf (results.org.uk)

BRIGHTON YOUTH ACTIVISTS HEAD TO PARLIAMENT TO URGE MP CAROLINE LUCAS TO END AIDS, TB, AND MALARIA

On 18th May, the Brighton branch of RESULTS UK, headed to parliament to urge the government to invest in the fight against AIDS, TB and Malaria, at a ‘Day of Action’ organised by anti-poverty organisation One in the UK.

The day was to campaign for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, which seeks to eradicate these three diseases around the world.

RESULTS Brighton met with MP for Brighton Pavillion, Caroline Lucas, to talk about Global Fund success stories, presenting its investment case, and if fully funded will help save 20 million lives. 

The UK co-founded the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, which has saved over 44 million lives, halving the death rate from the three diseases in the countries in which the Global Fund works.

In 2020, for the first time, programmes declined – due to the pandemic and disinvestment into Global Health. 1 million fewer people with TB were treated, HIV testing dropped by 22%, and malaria deaths increased by 12.4% in Global Fund eligible countries.

RESULTS Brighton urged MPs to call on the government to make an ambitious pledge to the Global Fund to get the world back on track toward ending HIV, TB and malaria, and to build resilient health systems globally. The Global Fund is having its seventh replenishment this year, asking governments to help reach its funding target of $18bn to help it continue its lifesaving work.

The Brighton branch provided Caroline Lucas with her own personal booklet, which included messages addressed to her] from constituents expressing their wish for the UK to invest more in ending preventable disease through the Global Fund. 

In response, Caroline Lucas  said “I am delighted to support this important campaign. Due to the pandemic, we have fallen 12 years behind in progressing towards eradication from HIV, Malaria and Tuberculosis. COVID-19 should not take from the millions still dying from these diseases. The Green Party urges continued activism on this issue”.

Romilly Greenhill, UK Director of The ONE Campaign, said “This may seem like a big ask in a moment when economies around the world are being squeezed – but it is worth every penny. Not just from the millions of lives saved in the next three years, nor ending the biggest killers in human history, but also from building a future that is more resilient to the threat of all diseases.”

Attached is a picture of RESULTS Brighton, meeting Caroline Lucas. 

Attached is a picture of RESULTS Brighton, meeting Jay Hawkridge.

Attached is a picture of RESULTS Brighton, with other campaigners from Restless Development UK, Aid Alliance, One in the UK, Youth Stop Aids and Malaria No More UK.

Photo by @AnnaGordonPics

RESULTS Brighton is a grassroots branch of RESULTS UK. A campaigning organisation currently focused on the replenishment of the Global Fund.

‘Not even water?’ How Ramadan is more than just fasting – Islam’s contribution to international development

By Noor Umar

Perhaps, an oversimplified understanding of Ramadan is that of the month in which Muslims fast. This means no food or drink (yes, not even water!) is permitted from sunrise to sunset. A month more commonly known for this physical act of fasting, is more often than not, a lot more spiritual and enriching than its widespread conception. As we approach the halfway mark of this year’s Ramadan, I find myself having a lot of introspection. As I’ve grown older it has become clear to me that the month of Ramadan is an opportunity to grow your sense of empathy and compassion, to purify your heart and to realign your priorities. Let’s discuss what this means exactly.

In order to contextualise the importance of the month let’s go over the basic facts. Ramadan is the 9^th month of the Islamic calendar. Muslims believe it is in this month that God revealed the first verses of the Quran to Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him; PBUH). During this month we take on more religious activities in an effort to grow our connection with God. We believe that fasting is an abstention at both a physical and spiritual level, hence its advantages are also both physical and spiritual. The practical benefits of fasting include increased discipline, self-restraint and the detoxification of health. However, for many Muslims this alone is not their motivation. The act of fasting is said to redirect the heart away from worldly activities, its purpose being to cleanse the soul from harmful impurities. Consequently, you may feel more connected to God, Islam, and in some senses, yourself. Amongst these I find that the most important lesson learnt from the month of Ramadan is that of gratitude. By establishing a verstehen for those living in poverty, areas of conflict or in famine, we gain an added sense of empathy for those less fortunate than ourselves. Let me tell you – it is very humbling. With over 690 million of the world’s population not having enough to eat, now is as good a time as any to feel compassion.

This theme of compassion is not exclusive to Ramadan. Islam places a heavy emphasis on the importance of charity and solidarity. Waqf (charity) can be thought of in two ways: Sadaqah (voluntary charity), and Zakat (obligatory charity). Sadaqah is not bound to financial or physical charity work but can also pertain to any and all acts of righteousness. For example, something as simple as smiling at a stranger or giving someone directions can be considered Sadaqah. Contrastingly, Zakat (directly translated as ‘almsgiving’), is the fifth and final pillar of Islam whereby Muslims are obligated to donate 2.5% of their savings to a worthy cause. The types of causes are detailed as follows: to those who are stranded with limited supplies, those in debt, those in bondage, the needy and poor, new Muslims and lastly, for the cause of Allah e.g. a Madrasah. It is due to these aspects of the faith that Muslims have become a vital contributor to international development.

Whilst Muslims are encouraged to give Sadaqah all year round, we take the opportunity to do more during the holy month for the sake of multiplied return. During Ramadan any and all good deeds are guaranteed to have a multiplied return in the hereafter. We are not told exactly by how much this reward is amplified, as ultimately this is at God’s discretion, but it can be imagined that rewards may be multiplied by tens, hundreds and even thousands. So, as you can imagine this becomes a huge motivation for Muslims to increase their participation in charitable causes. As stated before, these acts of charity do not have to be financial. Sadqah can be claimed in the simplest of things – helping the elderly cross the road, cleaning the mosque, even giving way to another car while driving. All of these simple tasks that we do on a daily basis and may not even register or account for, are considered in Islam as reward worthy good deeds. For myself, and I imagine for many other Muslims, there is an incredible comfort in knowing this. Knowing that our religion preaches and rewards us for being good, helpful and compassionate people whilst recognising that not everyone is able to make great big donations. 

Having established the non-financial charity undertaken by Muslims, let’s discuss Zakat and its effect on international development.  Whilst it is not necessary for Muslims to give Zakat during Ramadan, many Muslims take the opportunity in order to avail the multiplied good returns given during this holy month. In 2015, the World Bank estimated the annual global Zakat contribution was worth between £152 billion and £763 billion. To put that in context, the entire UK charity sector annual income is about £50 billion – and to think this Zakat alone, not including other optional charity! In 2016, UK Muslims were reported to have donated £100 million to charity – that is £36 per second. Granted this total is not entirely derived by the means of Zakat, this is still a staggering amount. More recently, in 2020, it’s been estimated that UK Muslims gave a record breaking £150 million and predictions for this year’s Ramadan predicting the  UK Muslim charity giving of zakat donations is likely to exceed £150m. These donations are given locally and globally to any of the causes mentioned above.

My own experiences have shown me the outpouring generosity shown during this month. For example, just last night I had a conversation with my father in which he shared about his recent trip to the mosque. He told me that in the last three nights alone, the mosque had raised £40,000 for their local homeless community, refugee families and humanitarian aid for Yemen. This is an example of one mosque and in one town, over the course of three nights. Hence, the contribution and the effect Muslims and ultimately the month of Ramadan has on international development is undeniable.

As I’ve mentioned, I find that this month is an opportunity for introspection. As I’ve grown older, the beauty of Ramadan has become clearer and clearer. So, when asked ‘not even water?,’ I often struggle to put into words just how much Ramadan means to me and to Muslims all around the globe. Ramadan serves as a reminder of a life unbound by greed, one that does not require constant consumption to experience satisfaction.

If you take one thing from this blog, I hope it is a heightened urge to go for those good deeds. Even for non-Muslims, I hope that Ramadan serves as a reminder that there is good in doing good and being good. Actions you can take this month – a donation to a current cause or your favourite charity, but beyond the financial contributions, as detailed in the blog there are everyday ways to give back to our communities. You can also do your part by emailing your MP on issues that you feel strongly about, signing that petition that’s been sitting in your mailbox, or spreading awareness on your social media about worthy causes. These campaigning methods that don’t cost a penny are equally worthy contributions to international development. We hope that with upcoming Results campaigns this year you can relate back to these teachings of Islam, and feel inspired to do your part however big or small. 

Why we must eradicate tuberculosis

A joint call this World TB Day 2022, by RESULTS Manchester and RESULTS Brighton

What is TB?

Tuberculosis (TB) is preventable, detectable and curable, but treating a TB infection is a lengthy, complex process.

Tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial infection mainly affecting the lungs. It is spread between humans by coughing and sneezing; one can catch TB if they inhale droplets from an infected person. Symptoms include coughing, fever, weight loss and sweating at night, and occur if the immune system is unable to kill or contain the; this is known as active TB. When the bacteria are contained, the TB is latent, and no symptoms occur. According to the WHO, symptoms can be mild for several months, meaning an individual with active TB can pass on the disease to others at a rate of 5-15 people per year. 45% of infected HIV-negative people who have not received proper treatment die from the disease, and nearly all HIV-positive people who have not been treated properly die. This highlights the importance of recognising TB symptoms and ensuring everyone across the globe has access to treatment.

Laura: London, UK.
Laura was preparing for an “epic-six-month- adventure-around-the-world trip” when she was diagnosed with pulmonary TB in November. Like many, she thought TB was a Victorian disease that didn’t exist in the UK anymore. She’d had a cough since February and had been seen by six doctors over nine months, each dismissing her symptoms.//In retrospect, she thinks TB didn’t come to her doctors’ minds because as a white, healthy, 29- year-old woman living in London, she didn’t exactly fit the TB patient stereotype. Unlike many of those diagnosed with TB, she had access to treatment straight away.
She quarantined for three weeks and began a strict regime of nine pills a day. Thankfully, Laura responded well to treatment and after two months the cough subsided. She was able to go on her trip with a backpack full of medication.
Today her lungs retain scarring, but she is training to run a 10k race and wants people to know TB doesn’t have to ruin your life. Her story is a stark reminder that TB can infect any of us, no matter the privilege.
However, access to treatment remains a question of privilege.

TB Cases in 2020

Tuberculosis (TB) is the second leading infectious killer after covid-19 and the 13th leading cause of death in the world. The current pandemic has disrupted health services across the globe, decreasing access to care for TB patients. 2020 saw 1.5 million deaths from TB globally, more than in 2019. Approximately one quarter of the world population is infected with latent TB that is not yet transmissible. People with compromised immune systems, such as people living with HIV, malnutrition or diabetes have a much higher risk of falling ill with TB.

While TB is present in all countries, in 2020 two thirds of all cases come from just eight countries: India, China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Pakistan, Nigeria, Bangladesh and South Africa. Furthermore, the top thirty countries with the highest incidence of TB account for 86% of world TB cases and over 95% of TB deaths are in developing countries. This shows how TB can disproportionally affect those living in low- and middle- income countries, as they also have a higher incidence of people living with HIV and malnutrition.

Mansi Khade: Mumbai, India
At only 19 years of age, Mansi Khade was diagnosed with Extensively Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (XDR-TB).
“I was a completely normal college kid living a normal life with normal routines. I was at the point in my life where I was beginning to pursue my dreams, but after going to the doctor for a routine thyroid test, I was diagnosed with TB.”
Mansi was told by the doctor that she only had six months to live. India has the highest burden of TB in the world, and Mansi had already watched her grandfather, uncle and father all suffer with the disease, making her fully aware of the social stigmas surrounding it.
There is a huge stigma against tuberculosis throughout India due to lack of awareness about the disease as well as lack of investment in research. This serves to exacerbate the spread and severity of the disease.
“I didn’t want my family to struggle even more because of me, so I tried not to show my pain. But people stopped coming to our house because I had TB, and they didn’t understand that it wasn’t my fault.”
Watching her father (who lost his eyesight to the disease) eventually beat TB, Mansi was inspired to ignore what the doctors had told her, and decided to undergo over 2 years of treatment and surgery to remove part of her lung.
Today she is cured and is fighting to finally put an end to the Tuberculosis epidemic.
I don’t want this to happen to future generations,” she says. “It’s very important, especially for women, to end the stigma surrounding TB. In India, particularly in rural areas, females receive less emotional support from family and friends, and have less access to nutrition and health services. We need to speak up.”

The Cure for TB

Since 2000, approximately 66 million lives have been saved through TB diagnosis and treatment. TB is a curable disease and can be treated through a standard six-month course of four antimicrobial drugs. This is often provided with the support of a health worker or trained volunteer. Without this professional support adherence to the treatment plan is made a whole lot more difficult.

This is further complicated by the emergence of multidrug-resistant TB that is a lot harder to treat and can leave patients without any further treatment options. Multidrug-resistant TB is a form of TB that is caused by bacteria that does not respond to the two most effective first-line anti TB drugs. This remains a public health crisis and health security threat. In 2020 only around one in three people with drug resistant TB were able to access treatment.

So, if TB is a curable disease, why is it still such a big problem in the 21st century? The answer: money. In order to hit UN-agreed global targets $13 billion is needed annually for TB prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care. The real issue here is that funding for TB in low- and middle-income countries falls too short of what is needed, while they make up 98% of global cases. In 2020, spending amounted to $5.3 billion which makes up only 41% of the global target. How are we supposed to eradicate TB when the funding does not go to the countries that need it the most?

What can be done?

The scale of investment needed to fund essential TB services and develop new TB innovations which can bring about an end to the disease, means that it’s cannot be down to individuals, but to governments. Yet individuals have a role to play in creating the political will to end TB.

In 2022, we have a real chance.

The last two years have brought infectious disease onto the agenda like never before in our lifetimes. We need to harness this momentum and ensure that commitment to ending new pandemics also translates into action and funding to end existing epidemics by 2030. 2022 is a crucial year because:

• It’s the run-up to the 2023 United Nations High-Level meeting on TB, where UN leaders will making new commitments in the strategy to end TB.
• It’s also the next replenishment of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria – a campaign to secure funding for the Global Fund’s work in 2023-2025 from governments around the world.

You can help build the political will to #EndTB by:

• Tweeting or writing to your MP to ask them to raise the issue in the House of Commons. This will help get TB onto the political agenda.
• Raising your voice on media or social media on why we should commit the funds to #EndTB
• Reading up on the topic, through pieces such as this on the struggle to end infectious disease by 2030, and the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and malaria, so that you can make the case for investment.

The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated how much can be done when politicians and the public are interested. We must see this same level of commitment to ending TB.

Sources:
Laura’s story: https://www.thetruthabouttb.org/tb-stories/laura/
Mansi Khade’s story: https://www.jnj.com/personal-stories/my-tb-story-meet-two-surprising-tuberculosis-survivors-who-could-be-you?_amp=true

Hunger is not just about food

Hunger kills more than AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis combined. 690 million of the world’s population do not have enough to eat. Malnutrition affects lifelong development and contributes to half of the world’s child deaths. 98% of the world’s undernourished live in low and middle-income countries. 

Hunger is the term used to define periods when populations experience severe food insecurity- meaning they go for entire days without eating. The threshold for food deprivation, or undernourishment, is fewer than 1,800 calories per day. Undernutrition goes beyond calories to deficiencies in protein, and/or essential vitamins and minerals. In 2015, world leaders charted a new set of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The second of these is to “end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture” by 2030. 34 million people in 20 countries are teetering on the brink of famine. The world is not on track to achieve the SDG 2.1 Zero Hunger target by 2030. 

Hunger is inextricably linked to a network of other complex issues including health, women’s rights, economic opportunities, the environment, and education to name a few. Children need nutrients for their development. Hunger and malnutrition affect a child’s ability to concentrate, to take in and retain new information and to make progress in their learning. This is no surprise. Calories provide energy. Without energy, a child cannot thrive. An analysis by Save the Children, endorsed by major nutrition focused NGOs, suggests that pandemic-related increases in malnutrition could result in 4.4 million years in lost education. 

Hunger is not just biological, there is an immense psychological impact too. Brain development is impeded and children may become depressed and detached from life. A World Food Programme report describes the children of the Grand Sud of Madagascar. They ‘do not run around or play, they just sit and look through you. In their eyes is deep, deep sadness and sorrow. Women have nothing to feed their babies except the fruit of red cacti growing by the roadside’. Around 1.14 million people in the south of Madagascar are facing high levels of acute food insecurity. The crisis is a result of multiple factors, including deforestation and climate change. Children are the worst affected. Most have dropped out of school to beg for food in the streets. The situation is deteriorating fast and current support is not enough to offset the impact and the risk of famine. Only through a joint effort by UN agencies, partner governments and NGOs will the World Food Programme be able to save lives and ensure people in this part of Madagascar have better futures. 

Ending preventable child deaths will never be achieved if we ignore the role prolonged malnutrition plays in the development of a child and their future quality of life. However, the British government is set to spend 80% less on helping feed children in poorer nations than before the pandemic. This amounts to less than £26 million, a drop from £122 in 2019. Despite UN agencies calling for urgent action to avert famine in 20 countries including Yemen, South Sudan and northern Nigeria, the cuts will leave tens of thousands of children hungry and at risk of starvation. The UK is not recognising the scale of the problem, and the strength of its hand in the response. Aid and development is not a tap that can be turned off and on. The impact on the most marginalised communities around the world will be immediate, long-lasting and not quickly repaired. These cuts will cost lives. 

This all makes for grim reading. Nutrition issues are in danger of being carelessly disregarded, but there are solutions to this deeply-rooted problem that, if implemented, will make a critical difference to the futures of the world’s hungry. Education is key to fighting hunger. 

Education plays a vital role in breaking the cycles of poverty and hunger by eliminating social disparities, creating opportunities for people, and empowering entire communities. If a child arrives at school hungry, teachers say they lose one hour of learning time a day. If a child arrived at school hungry once a week they would lose 8.4 weeks of learning time (70% of a term) over the whole of their primary school life. But for millions, education is inaccessible. 20 million more secondary school girls could be permanently out of school due to the pandemic. When children receive education and women have access to healthcare and technology, they have the ability to build a better future for themselves and their communities. Bridging the gaps in access to these essential resources is a sustainable and critical step towards ending hunger and poverty. A child’s potential earnings increase by 8% with each individual year of school, that’s 50% over 6 years. 

Women who have suffered from malnutrition when they were children are more likely to give birth to malnourished babies, exacerbating the problem. It is therefore essential to help mothers and provide them with information and training. Ignorance stands in the way of development. 

Further solutions, including policies to reduce the cost of nutritious foods and ensure affordability of healthy diets, should start with reorientation of agricultural priorities towards more nutrition-sensitive food and agricultural production. We need policy decisions and investments to raise productivity, encourage diversification in food production and ensure that nutritious foods are made abundantly available. Policies aimed at reducing poverty and income inequality, while enhancing employment and income-generating activities, are key to raising people’s incomes and hence the affordability of healthy diets. 

Today, on World Hunger Day 2021, let’s celebrate these solutions to hunger and poverty and recognise that urgent action is needed, especially for the poorest in society, who face the greatest challenges. Countries must identify and implement critical policy and investment changes that will transform their current food systems to ensure everybody can afford healthy diets.

Everyone deserves to eat. The end of hunger and poverty is possible when people have the necessary tools and resources and when solutions are community-led by and for the people living in conditions of chronic hunger. Hunger is an entirely preventable pandemic and together we have the power to end it in our generation. 

Clean water changes everything; it’s a stepping-stone to development.

By Ioasia Radvan

Think about what your life would be like without access to clean water. 

We’re facing a global water crisis. Water is a human right. Yet every minute a newborn dies from infection caused by lack of safe water and an unclean environment. 

1 in 10 people worldwide do not have access to clean water (WHO, 2019).

Sustainable Development Goal target 6.1 calls for universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water by 2030. Without a thorough understanding of water’s true value, and a plan to address the many complex challenges faced by so many as a result of a lack of access to safe water, we will be unable to secure this critical resource. 

The value of water is varied. It plays a part in almost every aspect of life: households, food, culture, health, education, economics and the environment. It’s value is immense. But a lack of access to clean water has catastrophic impacts on the livelihoods of so many. 

Globally, at least 2 billion people use drinking water contaminated with faeces (WHO, 2019). 

This contaminated water transmits diseases such as diarrhoea, cholera, dysentery, typhoid and polio. Lack of adequate water and sanitation services exposes individuals to preventable health risks. Handwashing may not be a priority in places where water is scarce. This increases the likelihood of contracting diarrhoea and other diseases. The deaths of 297,000 children under 5 years could be avoided each year if these risk factors were addressed. 

Every $1 invested in water and toilets returns an average of $4 in increased productivity (WHO, 2012).

Improved water and sanitation boosts economic growth and contributes to poverty reduction. 206 million people have access to limited water services requiring a round trip of more than 30 minutes. Making safe water more accessible means that people can be productive in other ways. Safer water also reduces the likelihood of contracting debilitating diseases and enables people to remain economically productive. Children are at an increased risk of water-related diseases. Access to safe water results in better health and thus better school attendance. This in turn has positive long-term impacts on the lives of children globally. 

By 2025, half of the world’s population will be living in water-stressed areas (WHO, 2019).

Water availability will become more unreliable with increased climate variability. This will exasperate the situation in water-stressed regions.  Water related disasters will become more frequent and relentless. Food security, human health, urban and rural settlements, energy production, industrial development, economic growth, and thriving ecosystems are all water-dependent and thus vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. This puts obtaining SDG 6 and most of the others at risk. We must adapt to climate change to alleviate this crisis. 

If everyone, everywhere had clean water, the number of diarrhoeal deaths would be cut by a third (Tropical Medicine and International Health, 2014). 

Slowly, progress is being made. It’s not possible to tackle the water crisis without decent toilets and good hygiene. Without decent toilets, water sources can become contaminated. And without clean water, we can’t have good hygiene practices that stop the spread of disease. Since 2000, 2.1 billion people have gained access to decent toilets. The World Bank says promoting good hygiene is one of the most cost effective health interventions (Disease Control Priorities, 2016). As the international authority on public health and water quality, WHO leads global efforts to prevent transmission of waterborne disease, advising governments on the development of health-based targets and regulations.

There’s nothing more essential to life on earth than water. We must recognise the importance of addressing the global water crisis. Access to clean water changes everything; it’s a stepping-stone to development.

Advocacy 101

Written By: Ellena Mouzouris

When people say they are an advocate or are interested in advocacy, often they are met with questions as to what exactly advocacy is. The literal definition of the term advocacy is ‘a person who publicly supports or recommends a particular cause or policy’. For us, as members of the RESULTS grassroots network, this definition is very fitting. As part of RESULTS UK, we are a national network of individuals who support international development and aid. In practice, this is often in the form of campaigning for funding replenishment to supplement progress towards the SDG’s as well as having open discussions within the network that provides us with the knowledge and skillset that can influence parliamentarians to support positive aid contributions.
Advocates do not need to have a particular ‘image’ so-to-speak. Within the network, there is diversity in age, culture, ethnicity and political background. To be an advocate all you need is a genuine interest in the cause you are working towards and the will to help educate others.
At the time of writing, I have been a RESULTS advocate for just over a year. A year that began with normality which later led to a pandemic, lockdowns, and all kinds of madness. To follow on from our blog post Advocacy in the Era of COVID-19?, I wanted to compile a small toolkit of tips for new advocates or existing advocates to share!

Key things to Remember!
There is two pieces of advice I received when I first joined RESULTS that have stuck with me:
1. Your MPs work for you!
Sometimes, as an advocate or campaigner of any cause, it can feel like you are talking to a brick wall and as if your voice is not being heard. However, your MP is obliged to listen to your concerns and pass them on if you ask them to. If you initially receive a response that is negative be sure to follow-up with further facts and statistics and remind them that this is important to you, as their constituent. In your follow-up, it can be useful to request a phone-call or meeting as it is easier to engage in a proper discourse through an informal conversation.
2. Your MPs are people too!
This one may seem obvious but it often becomes my mantra in direct conversations with parliamentarians. The nerves you feel before a meeting or phone call are probably shared by your MP. They are going into these meeting to discuss important topics in which they have to adhere to their party guidelines, respect your argument and formulate a diplomatic response to decide how they will action what you are asking for. Therefore, building up a rapport with your MP can really help to break the ice and make everyone feel more comfortable and remember – it isn’t a business pitch, you don’t have to speak perfectly and formally to get your point across.

Play to your strengths!
Some people love writing so establishing a blog or facebook page to really get writing in-depth of key issues your group is passionate about can be a real asset. This being said, if someone hates writing at length but loves graphics and is good with captions then taking the lead on social media channels may be an area of interest for them. Whilst as a group our focus is upon letter writing and meetings, smaller acts of advocacy can easily be taken based on how much spare time you have. Similarly, if you or a fellow member is great at gathering people together for fundraisers (albeit over Zoom at the moment) then buddy-up with those also interested to help share information and develop further support for RESULTS. Referring to the RESULTS calendar of key events and days can assist in planning out who wants to take the lead on specific projects throughout the year. We are all not perfect at everything but have passions in different areas. The best part of being in an advocacy group is the diversity of backgrounds that allow each member to bring different skills.

Time!
Advocacy is voluntary and whilst being an advocate is something we should all take pride in, it does not have to be at the forefront of our lives all of the time. If your studies/workload are accumulating, communicate to your group that you may not be able to attend monthly meetings or may not be able to post on behalf of the group regularly that month. Group leaders can then help to delegate and make notes so that you don’t miss out. This tip goes beyond advocacy to the rest of our personal and work lives too, you must put yourself first and take a break from the screen or go for a walk if your brain and body need it. You are always your own priority and if you need a break your group will be ready and waiting to welcome you back when you have the capacity to engage. After all, advocacy should be interesting and ignite a passion for the cause but it can also work to fit around your life too. If you complete the action at the end of the month rather than the beginning or only manage one post for the group that month, you have still made an impact!

Look beyond the constituencies core of your group! Are there neighbouring counties that don’t have a RESULTS group? Expanding your reach not only gives your group an opportunity to foster new ideas from new people but also means you can access more MPs who may not be familiar with RESULTS’ work and ask for their support in maximising UK Aid. A great way to do this is by contacting Ruthie or Dela (at join@results.org.uk) about local universities to recruit students who may have their own networks of passionate people. Students also have the advantage of having the option of being registered to vote at multiple addresses. Therefore, by choosing to focus on the MP that may not be the one your group normally focuses on we can open up these conversations and develop even more relationships.

Stay up to date with policy and manifesto claims!
A great way to appeal directly to your MP is to hold them to policy claims. For example, the 2019 Conservative manifesto shows a clear focus on SDG4 and getting girls into education. Therefore, when writing to MPs such as Dominic Raab, as we are this month, it shows your clear intention to hold them accountable. Alternatively, when writing to non-Conservative parliamentarians, remind them of their need to hold the government accountable to these claims. If you have time to have a look through your MPs tweets and claims on their website you have a point of reference to back up your request. If your group has shared documents or a group chat be sure to share key quotes as they may be useful in future actions.

I hope these tips prove useful in the important actions we have lined up this year. Be sure to comment on this blog with any other tips/advice you have picked up along the way!