Reply #18: Need for the action to have an ORGANIZATIONAL focus [View All]

[cloudythescribbler]

The key to the politics of absolute poverty is that there is no massive citizens' organization mobilizing sentiment and concern about it. On issues of animals' rights and vegetarianism (perfectly worthy also) there is less urgent mass concern but it is MUCH better mobilized, so there is more activism and consciousness around those issues. That is the kind of POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONAL mobilization that EVERY letter should mention. Since the organization's efforts would be broader than only Niger, it could INCLUDE Niger, but focus generally on the global issue of absolute poverty, the need for and lack of adequate political mobilization, and the lack of such an effort stemming from Live 8 (or the money raised in LIVE AID, for that matter). It is crucial that those concerned about the issue mobilize EFFECTIVELY the sentiment that DOES exist about the issue. That must be one touchstone of any really meaningful letter etc that we send.

The letters could be addressed to the organizers of Live 8, to Members of the General Assembly, to NGOs working on the issue, to the Secretary General, to the Foreign Ministers AND heads of state of the G8, etc. It could focus on BOTH specific policy changes, using Niger as an example of changes needed, but also in each case focus on the need for political mobilization on the issue of the politics of absolute poverty to get these institutions moving.

I have written at length on the issue, as well as organized. See:

http://www.tpmcafe.com/story/2005/6/20/123736/665

for a lengthy discussion of the POLITICS of organizing around absolute poverty ("world hunger").