Advocacy News and Events

Take Action: Email the Treasurer

Climate change

Emissions Trading Scheme revenue must also be used to support poor countries

Talking about the use of revenue raised from the Government's proposed Emissions Trading Scheme, the Treasurer recently told Channel 9:

There will be revenue raised from an emissions trading system and every cent of that revenue will certainly be used to assist either households or the business community with the impacts of this scheme.

TEAR Australia agrees it is important to ensure that low-income households in Australia are able to cope with the price rises from emissions trading. But there are other households around the world already being affected by climate change, and other important uses for the money too. We can't let the Treasurer ignore our international obligations when he decides how to allocate revenue from the emissions trading scheme.

Please take action now to ensure that some of this revenue is used to support poor countries as they cope with the effects of climate change. 

Reel Change

Climate change

Reel Change- climate change short film competition

TEAR Australia, along with other agencies from the Make Poverty History coalition, is supporting the Reel Change climate change short film competition. The competition is seeking powerful and innovative films from Australia and around the world that address the human impacts of climate change. Open to any genre including documentary, narrative, animation, music video and experimental, we are looking for short films that deal with the issues of climate change, poverty and human rights.

The best films will be screened at the 2008 Human Rights Arts and Film Festival in November and December and used as part of Make Poverty History’s climate change campaign! Thousands of dollars worth of cash and in-kind prizes awarded for the best Australian and International Short Film.

Submission deadline: August 15, 2008.

To be eligible films must have been made after 1 January 2007 and must be less than 15 minutes in duration.

For submission guidelines visit http://www.hraff.org.au.

Winter pollie push

Micah Challenge

Winter Pollie Push – Take Part!

In July and August, federal politicians take a break from Parliament House in Canberra. It's the perfect opportunity to visit them in their electorate and encourage them to take action against poverty and in support of the Millennium Development Goals.

TEAR Australia for the Micah Challenge and Make Poverty History campaigns, has developed a clear and concise MP visit kit that will make your visit easy and effective. The kit includes:

• MP visit outline – with extra secret lobbyist notes and tips to ensure that you know more than your MP
• MP briefing sheets – a "cheat sheet" for the meeting which you can leave with the MP telling them exactly what you want them to do. (One sheet each for MPs from Government, Opposition and Minor Parties/Independents.

Volunteer wanted: Create to Advocate 08 Art Exhibition

Micah Challenge

Volunteer wanted to assist with Create to Advocate 08 Art Exhibition

Administration & Fundraising Assistant

Micah Challenge and TEAR Australia seeks a reliable volunteer to work half a day to one day a week in June, July & August and one day a week in September to help organise the Create to Advocate 08 Art Exhibition and Competition.

More information

MDG Prayer Stations

Micah Challenge

New resource: Millennium Development Goal prayer stations

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Offering of Letters

Micah Challenge

Want your voice to make a difference?

Join in to write hand-written letters with your church, school, group, friends - or on your own - to tell Prime Minister Kevin Rudd that we want to do our fair share to halve global poverty by 2015.

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Plan to advocate in 2008

Climate change, Micah Challenge

TEAR Australia's 2008 advocacy action guide is now available.

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Voices for Justice

Micah Challenge

Registration closes: 01 September 2008

Voices for Justice 

Micah Challenge National Gathering 

Canberra, 11th-14th October 2008 

Come and join us for four days in Canberra during Anti-Poverty week to be a voice for justice for the poor. Beginner and seasoned campaigners of all ages are welcome. Learn about poverty and advocacy, pray and worship together, then put it all into action as we hold events and engage in conversations with our nation's leaders at Parliament House. Our specific ask last year for an additional $300m annually by 2010 for water and sanitation has been committed to by the government. That's the power of ordinary people speaking up. But much more needs to be done if we are to achieve the Millennium Development Goals and halve global poverty by 2015. Raise your voice with us to encourage our politicians to keep our promises to the poor.

This year includes fantastic international speakers and a special program for under 18s. 

Can't come to Canberra? You can still add your voice by taking part in the Offering of Letters to contribute to the letters we will present to the Prime Minister at Parliament House. A step-by-step kit will be available on the Micah Challenge website.  

Early bird discounted regos close 1st August. Final registrations close 1st September. Numbers are limited. Get in quick. See the attached brochure or register online now at http://www.micahchallenge.org.au/pages/content.asp?plid=205 

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Create to Advocate 08 Art Competition and Exhibition

Micah Challenge

Registration closes: 29 August 2008

After the great success and wonderful feedback from last year's exhibtion - Create to Advocate 08 Art Exhibition & Competiton is now on!

Create to Advocate Art Exhibition, Micah Challenge and Make Poverty History proudly present:

Create to Advocate 08 Art Competition and Exhibition

Parliament House, Canberra

6 October– 2 November2008

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