Take action on World AIDS Day: 1 December
This World AIDS Day is a really important opportunity for us to influence the UK's actions on HIV/AIDS for the next three years. Lobby your MP and collect video messages to help make sure the government will take the action needed to provide HIV treatment and services for all.
World AIDS Day
Keep the promise of treatment for all
Stop AIDS Campaign
World AIDS Day is recognised internationally, taking place annually to raise awareness of the pandemic. It is always an important time for raising the profile of our campaign and getting more people involved.
This year, World AIDS Day is especially important. It takes place just when the UK government is writing its AIDS strategy for the next three years. This will decide what action they take up to 2010 and so today’s campaigning is vital for making the government keep its promise of providing access to HIV treatment and services for all by 2010.
We cannot afford to wait, or for millions it will be too late.
Use World AIDS Day to get POLITICAL. Lobby Video message Stencil
Lobbying your MP
Why?
Talking to MPs is a crucial part of our campaign strategy. Your MP is supposed to represent your interests. He/she therefore has a responsibility to to take on any concerns you raise.
Ask your MP to:
Write to government ministers to raise your concerns. We are focusing particularly on the Treasury and the Department for International Development (DFID). They should inform you of the response they receive.
Sign Early Day Motions. An Early Day Motion (EDM) is like a Parliamentary petition. The more MPs we get to sign an EDM, the more pressure there will be on the government to act on our demands. People & Planet and the Stop AIDS Campaign coalition, are supporting an EDM on DFID’s new AIDS strategy and the action needed to meet universal access to HIV/AIDS treatment by 2010. Rread the full text of the EDM and check if your MP has signed it on the Government’s Early Day Motion webpage.
How?
Your MP is there to listen to you. There are many things you can do to help them to do this:
- Get lots of action cards signed and posted to your MP. This shows the support you have generated. An MP’s interest in, and action on, an issue is positively related to the number of constituents who raise that issue.
- Write personal letters. Organise a letter writing lunch to tell your MP why he/she should and must take action. Make it fun and social to encourage more people to take part.
Meet your MP. Invite your MP to a local World AIDS Day event or other event you have organised. If you invite the local press your MP is even more likely to come as it will make them look good, and seeing all this action will make them more inclined to act. You could also meet your MP at his/her local constituency office. You do not need to be an expert. Just brush up using these webpages or the campaign guide and be willing to ask some questions. Or lobby your MP in Parliament.
Lobby your MP at Parliament
If you’re in or around London on the 29 November, we have a great opportunity for you to meet your MP. On 29 November, Parliament Square will be transformed by a giant AIDS awareness ribbon made of 8000 carnations — one for every person who dies of AIDS-related illnesses each day — and used as a visually striking centre-piece to lobby MPs.
It is close to Parliament — so not far for your MP to come — and they will also be attracted by the brilliant photo opportunity. There will also be plenty of people and resources there to support you.
Douglas Alexander, Secretary of State for International Development and one of our main campaign targets, will be speaking at 10am. Also speaking will be Siphiwe Hlophe, renowned HIV/AIDS activist from Swaziland and Director of Swaziland Positive Living, and Daleep Mukarjee from Christian Aid, speaking on behalf of the Stop AIDS Campaign.
What to do:
- Invite your MP to meet you in Parliament Square, between 10am and 3pm. Find out who your MP is, and contact them in their constituency office, or through the parliamentary switchboard: call 020 7219 3000 and ask for your MP’s office. Try to arrange a time to meet them, and do let us know if they agree to meet you. Don’t forget there will plenty of advice and support available on the day.
- You can send your MP this 2-page summary.
Collect video messages
Video messaging is a key part of our campaign this year. Take your message straight to the government with the dynamic, blunt originality video messaging allows.
- Show decision makers how many people care
- Send a personal message directly to those in power
- Be as creative, simple or in-depth as you like
Get stencilling!
Many people, if they think about the AIDS epidemic at all, think of it as a health crisis they can do little about. The stencils in the campaign packs are designed to help you to get people looking at the issue in a different light - as an issue where political action is urgently needed and where such action can make a real difference. Order your campaign pack now
Why not put on an inspiring event or stunt and use it to introduce the issue and provide an incentive to take action.
Fundraising
If you’re fundraising on World AIDS Day, please don’t forget People & Planet. AIDS campaigning is particularly difficult to fundraise for, but we hope you’ll agree it’s vitally important.
Double your money!
This year, a generous donor will match money raised for P&P by any group fundraising activity around World AIDS Day - up to £2,500! So if you’re planning a club-night, film-showing, or other fundraiser for P&P, please do let us know straight away so we can make sure the money you raise will go even further.