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QURAN 13:11
ISLAM IN ACTION!
AT MADE IN EUROPE, WE BELIEVE CAMPAIGNING IS NOT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF OTHERS. AS MUSLIMS, THE FIGHT AGAINST POVERTY AND INJUSTICE STARTS WITH YOU!
ARE YOU FRUSTRATED BY THE FOOD CRISIS? DOES CLIMATE CHANGE GET YOU HOT UNDER THE COLLAR? WANT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT GLOBAL POVERTY BUT DONT KNOW HOW?
ALLAH DOES NOT CHANGE THE CONDITION OF A PEOPLE, UNLESS THEY CHANGE WHAT IS IN THEMSELVES. QURAN 13:11
Percy Ramirez/Oxfam
WHAT IS POVERTY?
OVER 3 BILLION PEOPLE LIVE IN POVERTY*
Thats almost half the worlds population. Poverty is a word we are all familiar with, however defining its meaning and understanding its effects can be complex.
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In many countries, poverty is defined by income or internationally recognised poverty lines,** however the statistics do little to explain what it really means to be poor. In Islam, poverty is defined as being when our basic human needs have not been met. These are considered to be the ability to practice religion; physical wellbeing (access to food, water, shelter and health care); intellect or knowledge (access to education); offspring and family; and wealth (access to employment and livelihood).*** Islam advocates for a society free from oppression and injustice. To ignore the suffering experienced by people in the worlds poorest regions namely parts of Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East is to go against the very nature of our being and the principles of our faith:
Allah withholds His divine assistance from those who need it, if they allow their brothers dignity to be assaulted and his honour trampled. (Abu Dawud). In order to be closer to Allah, we must show compassion towards the poor and protect them no matter what our circumstances. However, in order to best follow the Prophets (PBUH) words, we need to understand the underlying factors that keep people poor.
DO NOT TURN AWAY A POOR MAN... EVEN IF ALL YOU CAN GIVE IS HALF A DATE. IF YOU LOVE THE POOR AND BRING THEM NEAR YOU... ALLAH WILL BRING YOU NEAR HIM ON THE DAY OF RESURRECTION. AL-TIRMIDHI
*World Bank Development Indicators, 2008. **The poverty threshold, or poverty line, is the minimum level of income needed to achieve an adequate standard of living in a country. The World Bank Development Indicators report (2008) defines this as $1.25 a day. ***Definitions of Poverty, Islamic Relief, 2008.
Dan Chung
Kate Raworth/Oxfam
WHAT IS CAMPAIGNING?
Campaigning is not a new phenomenon. In fact, people have been campaigning throughout the history of mankind its just that the word campaigning had not been invented yet! In Britain, William Wilberforce and faith groups campaigned to abolish slavery in the 18th century and the suffragettes fought for the right for women to vote in the 1900s. In India and other countries, Muslims played major parts in the campaigns for independence, and more recently, fought to bring about the end of apartheid in South Africa. These campaigners could never have imagined that their actions would lead to decisions that would change the course of history forever. Your actions can also change history. If you have ever worn a red bracelet on World Aids Day, had a chat with your mates about climate change or added some Fairtrade bananas to your weekly shop, then you are already a campaigner! In fact you are one of the millions of people all over the world who are helping to raise awareness of some of the most important issues affecting people in developing countries. Every action that you take, whether large or small, is contributing to a global movement that is challenging the way we treat our planet and humanity at large. Campaigning can take on many forms, from raising awareness at events and demonstrations to online campaigning and publicity stunts, but these are all ways of achieving the same thing a better world, free from poverty and injustice!
Jorg Peter, Zenobi/Global Campaign for Education
Chris Worrall/Oxfam
YOU WHO BELIEVE, UPHOLD JUSTICE AND BEAR WITNESS TO ALLAH, EVEN IF IT IS AGAINST YOURSELVES, YOUR PARENTS, OR YOUR CLOSE RELATIVES. WHETHER THE PERSON IS RICH OR POOR, ALLAH CAN BEST TAKE CARE OF BOTH. QURAN 4:135
WHEN ANY ONE OF YOU SEES ANYTHING THAT IS DISAPPROVED (OF BY ALLAH), LET HIM CHANGE IT WITH HIS HAND; IF HE IS NOT ABLE TO DO SO, THEN LET HIM CHANGE IT WITH HIS TONGUE; AND IF HE IS NOT ABLE TO DO SO, THEN LET HIM HATE IT WITH HIS HEART, THOUGH THAT IS THE LEAST OF FAITH. MUSLIM
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Kieran Battles/Oxfam
T WA NE WE ANG CH
Annie Bungeroth/Oxfam
Gilvan Barreto/Oxfam
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Geof Sayer/Oxfam
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MADE A DECISION? ALL FIRED UP AND READY TO GO? NOW READ ON FOR TIPS AND ADVICE TO GET YOU STARTED...
MY PEOPLE, IN FAIRNESS, GIVE FULL MEASURE AND WEIGHT. DO NOT WITHHOLD FROM PEOPLE THINGS THAT ARE RIGHTLY THEIRS. (QURAN 11:85)
Whether you support an existing campaign by a human rights organisation or talk to people about the impact of their weekly shop, you are taking action on some of the most pressing issues facing our world today.
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Resources check out the back of this toolkit for helpful resources
Being resourceful also means making use of your own contacts and networks, using your creative skills to create your own materials (see Creative Campaigning section) or using your powers of persuasion to get financial support.
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Decide which campaign tools you want to use what is the best way to get my message across?
We have included some of the most commonly used tools in this campaign toolkit but there are plenty of resources online. Whether you are looking to influence decision-makers, attract publicity, raise awareness in your community or get creative in your use of materials, then we have plenty of tips and advice to get you started.
INFLUENCING DECISION MAKERS GETTING THE COMMUNITY ON BOARD USING THE POWER OF THE MEDIA CREATIVE CAMPAIGNING
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You probably think that decisionmakers are fuddy-duddy politicians, or corrupt businessmen, who are out of touch with the world, right? Wrong!
Your local council representative, town planner, chief constable, supermarket manager or Imam are all decision-makers who can have an impact on the way you live. They rely on the support of the community, so if you are not happy about a particular issue, then its important that you make your views heard! In the section below, we have specifically talked about how to influence national or local MPs but you can use many of these tips to get in contact with any decision-maker who you feel should support your campaign.
Lobbying (or influencing) your local or national MP can be one of the most effective ways to bring about change. The more people that speak out on a particular issue, the more politicians are likely to change laws and policies that could save lives. Dont believe it? MPs have said that as few as 20 individual letters from voters makes an issue a priority for them. Even if you are too young to vote, your opinion does matter, so go ahead and get in touch. Dont be sceptical they do listen!
LOBBYING POLITICIANS
Invite your local MP to an event to debate the issues with others who are also concerned. (See the Getting the Community on Board section). Remember to invite the media. Get your Imam or a representative from the mosque to approach your MP on your behalf as this will demonstrate community support. Look out for public consultations held by the government. They often like to hear your views on how your money should be spent.
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WRITING A PETITION
Petitioning decision-makers is a good way to demonstrate the backing you have, but think about your impact.
If you are trying to influence local decision-makers, then creating your own petition and hitting the streets to collect signatures would be far more effective. If you are trying to campaign on a global level, signing an online petition could have a bigger impact. heck out the websites of leading charities C and campaign organisations that tackle the issues you are interested in; they may already have a petition which you can direct supporters to. lternatively, create your own petition A online with sites such as www.gopetition. com or www.thepetitionsite.com and share the link on Twitter and Facebook with family, friends and your supporters. sk your Imam to mention your petition A in the Jumah Khutbah and collect signatures after the prayer. Have a copy of the petition stuck on the notice-board of your mosque/local community centres and utilise classes, circles and events in the community to collect signatures. ontact university societies who might be C interested in your campaign and ask them to distribute a petition via their mailing list or give members the chance to sign it at group meetings. et up a Facebook group to attract new S supporters from across the world and encourage them to leave comments and links (see Using the Power of the Media section). ubmit your petition to your locally S elected representative and/or present one to Downing Street at http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/ lternatively organise an event or stunt A where you could hand over your petition. For maximum impact invite the media.
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DO consult your local council if you are holding a march or a protest to see what, if any, permissions are needed. DO think about organising your protest or demonstration during school/university holidays when it is easier to rally support. DO promote your activities use social media and mosques, cafes or public libraries to spread the word. For example, you could make announcements after prayer times or put up posters to advertise your protest. DONT lose the momentum of your campaign after your protest/demonstration has taken place. Capitalise on the strong feeling and energy of your supporters what can they do next? DONT be put off by cynicism. Try and explain the process of lobbying to people who dont know much about it, and ask local community leaders (such as Imams and scholars) to help address concerns that people may have. DONT forget that good organisational skills and communication are essential for a successful protest/ demonstration. Make sure everyone knows where they need to be, at what time, and what the programme for the event is. DONT break the law. Check out www.yourrights.org.uk and www.freebeagles.org for advice on how to protest legally.
A protest is when you make a stand against the actions of a person, group, business or government and where your motivation is to get them to stop what they are doing and to listen to your concerns. A demonstration is used when you want to rally for a cause and advance your campaign.
*Due to an increased pressure on governments and the UN through campaigns such as Stand Up and Take Action, a fund of $40 billion was announced at the UN summit in New York in September 2010 to tackle child and maternal health issues www.un.org/en/mdg/summit2010/
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BE A COMMUNITY THAT CALLS FOR WHAT IS GOOD, URGES WHAT IS RIGHT, AND FORBIDS WHAT IS WRONG: THOSE WHO DO THIS ARE THE SUCCESSFUL ONES. (QURAN 3:104)
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Have a call to action what are you asking members of the public or policy-makers to do? If you are targeting Muslim media, think about framing this from an Islamic perspective. Dont go overboard with Islamic arguments but use short quotes or Hadiths that could reiterate your message. Cater for busy journalists offer photo and video materials for those who cant attend. Follow up your press release with a phone call make sure it has been received. Get names and numbers for future reference.
Press Release
For immediate release: Time/date Headline Make it catchy but not cryptic. Paragraph 1 Summarise the story Who, What, Where, When and Why all the important information needs to be in the first paragraph.
Remember to
Make your story relevant what other current media stories can you link it to? Are there any UN days or commemorative days that will reinforce the message of your story? Be clear about your messages and keep your story short. Be prepared think through the questions you might be asked and prepare for difficult questions. Have the WOW factor what will sell your story? A celebrity? A stunt? A prominent community leader? ake it personal if you are drawing attention to a M global issue, are there friends or family in developing countries who can help you collect case studies and stories to highlight your issue. On a local level, provide a quote by someone directly affected by your campaign issue or by someone prominent in your community who is willing to support your campaign.
Paragraph 2 Put in more details to flesh out the first paragraph. Why is this happening, why should people care? Paragraph 3 Have a quote of someone who is involved in your story. It provides the human interest element and personalises your story. Paragraph 4 Provide any other relevant information on your campaign or stunt. ENDS
Notes for Editors
Provide background information about you and your campaign. Outline what you have to offer photos or video footage. If you want the press to follow up by coming to an event, give details of photo opportunities.
Give some background information and statistics on the issue you are talking about. Make sure you give as many contact details as possible. If a journalist cannot contact you the first time, they may not bother again. Include links to your Facebook page, Twitter account or blog address.
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SMS campaigns
SMS messaging allows you to have direct and personal contact with your supporters. Send reminder texts of the date, time and location of your event, demonstration or protest, remind people that they can follow you on social networking sites or capitalise on the feeling after an event by suggesting to people further ways that they can make a difference.
ONLINE MEDIA
With the power of the internet at your finger tips, it is now even easier to become an online activist. However, with so many different groups out there, it is important that you stand out from the crowd.
Check out www.digiactive.org for some great tips and examples on how to use sites such as Facebook and Twitter to further your campaign.
Twitter
Tweet up to the minute updates of your campaign to your supporters. Ask people to follow the tweets of specific organisations, celebrities or groups that share your campaign aims.
Blogging
Get an online debate going by blogging online. Use free resources such as www.blogger.com or www.typepad.com to set up your own blog site. Remember to post the links on your Facebook group pages or join specific blogger communities such as Xanga. Use blogs as a way to write about your campaign events and activities. Dont forget to tag key words found in your blog to maximise the chances of people finding it online.
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PUBLICITY STUNTS
Publicity stunts are used to attract maximum attention. They can be quick, one-off events or gimmicks designed to attract an audience or media coverage.
Make sure that your stunt is not too controversial. If you antagonise people or cause damage to property, then you are likely to attract the wrong kind of publicity!
Toby Adamson/Oxfam
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Crispin Hughes/Oxfam
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CREATIVE CAMPAIGNING
Advertising and promotion are key to attracting supporters and publicising your campaign
Campaigning materials such as posters, leaflets and flyers are all simple things that can be designed with basic software on a laptop all you need are a few creative ideas! Alternatively, if art was never your strongest subject, there are plenty of resources and templates available free to download online. Also, dont forget the power of new technology cameras, videos and mobile phones are revolutionising the way we campaign online.
Dont have time to make a film? Check out these ways to make an impact
Do some quick interviews on your mobile with people who have attended your event or demonstration to find out their reasons for being there. Post the footage on your social networking sites. Get some footage of your campaign activities and post online, so people can get an idea of the types of things you do. If it looks fun, then people are much more likely to join. Get a group together and film a 10 second message to your supporters. It could be a powerful statistic, a call to action or a thank you for your support message. Check out existing viral campaigns that ask you to send in videos. For example, when the Stop Climate Chaos Coalition organised The Climate Wave march in 2009, they asked their supporters to send in videos of themselves doing a Mexican wave. All the videos were then featured on their website and showed everyone from office workers to nurses, church groups to school children, doing the wave.
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CAMPAIGN CHECKLIST
Have you decided which issue you are going to campaign on? Have you done some research so you are well informed about your issue? Have you thought about how much time you are prepared to give can you balance it with your work or studies? Do you know which other organisations or groups are campaigning on the same thing? Which campaign activity is the best to highlight your issue and have you looked at the relevant section in this toolkit for tips and advice? Have you decided on your target audience? Have you made a simple campaign plan (see page 18) and asked friends and family for feedback? Have you thought about publicity and advertising? Do you need to set up your own social networking site or can you join others? Have you checked if there are already resources available online? Do you need a team to help you and if so, have you assigned roles and responsibilities to each person in the group? If you do have a team, are you holding regular meetings to keep up to date? After carrying out your campaign activity, have you got feedback to see how you can improve in the future? Have you contacted MADE in Europe to tell us how youve been making a difference? Have you found someone else to pass this toolkit onto once youre done?
P.S. Remember to pass this toolkit on to inspire others to start campaigning! OUR LORD, ACCEPT [THIS] FROM US. YOU ARE THE ALL HEARING, THE ALL KNOWING. (QURAN 2:127)
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RESOURCES
Here is a selection of resources to help you make the most of your campaign
Creative Campaigning
ow to campaign using video Oxfam H www.oxfam.org.uk/get_involved/campaign/activists/ downloads/howto_video_campaigning.pdf tep by step guide to poverty-busting S communications Oxfam http://oxfamblogs.org/youth/wp-content/ uploads/2011/02/4499-schools-coms.pdf Free online video editing services www.motionbox.com
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Climate Change
UK Youth Climate Coalition www.ukycc.org Stop Climate Chaos www.stopclimatechaos.org 10:10 www.1010uk.org isters on the Planet Oxfam S http://www.oxfam.org.uk/get_involved/campaign/ climate_change/sisters/index.html limate Change Khutbah MADE in Europe C http://www.madeineurope.org.uk/images/docs/ climate%20change%20khutbah.pdf uslim Green Guide to Reducing Climate Change M IFEES http://www.ifees.org.uk/Muslim_Green_Guide_ Print_Final_V3.pdf
Education
slamic Perspectives on Education Islamic Relief I http://www.islamic-relief.com/Indepth/downloads/ Islamic%20perspectives%20on%20education%20Feb09. pdf 1 Goal http://www.join1goal.org/home.php Global Campaign for Education http://www.campaignforeducation.org/
Our mission is to inspire and enable a grassroots European Muslim youth movement of faith in action for tackling global poverty, injustice and inequality.
This is addressed through activities such as volunteering, campaigning and fundraising. We also provide capacity building services for Muslim NGOs and support for cross-faith initiatives in international development. We believe that the young Muslims of Europe can and must play a part in the search for solutions to tackling global poverty. Whether through raising awareness in their communities, lobbying politicians, volunteering overseas or in the UK, or choosing a career in international development, we believe that we can empower young Muslims to be at the forefront of the global poverty debate, to challenge global norms and to become leaders of social change. Our work is rooted in the tradition of social action, peace, justice, empowerment, human rights and diversity found within Islam.
Oxfam GB is an international NGO with a worldwide reputation for the delivery of aid and development work.
We work with others to overcome poverty and suffering, in three interlinked areas: emergency response; longterm development work; and campaigning for lasting change. We believe that all human lives are of equal value; that poverty makes people more vulnerable; and that vulnerability is increased by inequality based on, for example, gender, race, class, caste and disability. Poverty is an injustice that can and must be overcome, and with the right resources and support, people living in poverty can solve their own problems. We are proud to support MADE in Europe in the development of this campaigning toolkit. We work with people of all ethnic backgrounds and religions who want to take part in our mission to challenge the structures and policies that keep people in poverty. We believe that young Muslims can take their place alongside people of other faiths and of none, in bringing about lasting change.
MADE in Europe 4 Gateway Mews Ringway Bounds Green London N11 2UT United Kingdom T E +44 (0)208 211 9439 info@madeineurope.org.uk
Oxfam GB Oxfam House John Smith Drive Cowley Oxford OX4 2JY United Kingdom T E +44 (0) 1865 47 2602 enquiries@oxfam.org.uk
www.madeineurope.org.uk
www.oxfam.org.uk
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