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On 12 May 1789, William Wilberforce made his first major speech on the abolition of slavery in the British Parliament. Compelled by his Christian faith, Wilberforce reasoned that the slave trade was morally reprehensible and its abolition an issue of natural justice. The voice of William Wilberforce transformed the thoughts of many. Eventually the powerful pro-slavery lobby was overcome and the British slave trade was abolished.
You too can use your voice to change your world. The steps might not always seem profound, but your voice can influence others and result in change.
Take the time to:
Email your politicians
Politicians need to hear from the Church. They need to hear that we want them to demonstrate mercy and work for justice, both in our country and our world. We need to encourage change that will help to end poverty.
Politicians are the elected representatives of the people, but how can we expect them to act on our behalf unless they know what’s important to us?
Take two minutes to send an email to your local member of parliament asking the Australian government to support the Millennium Development Goals.
Tips on writing an email or letter for impact
- Be brief - 2-4 paragraphs is enough
- Be polite - if you are aggressive, you may receive a rude response
- Put it in your own words - that way they know you mean it
- Ask them to do something - include a request for action or up to two questions
- Request a response
- Identify yourself - print or type your name, address and postcode on the letter
- Keep a copy
Want to inspire thousands of people? Phone talkback radio!
Phone your local talkback radio programs and tell them what we can do to help end world poverty - more and better aid and debt relief. Get briefed, follow our tips and help shape public opinion.
Talkback radio tips:
- Find out about the show - find out what calls work and what the presenter likes
- Keep it relevant - make sure the issue you address is relevant to the talkback session
- Stay focused - don’t get caught daydreaming in the queue
- Turn off the radio - it’s distracting for you, the host and listeners
- Get to the point - you’ll have about 30 seconds on air
- Quiz a politician if they’re a guest
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