Advocacy in the Spotlight Edition 3 - September 2022
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Welcome to the third edition of Advocacy in the Spotlight where we showcase contemporary advocacy across a diverse range of sectors. We hope these examples will show the importance of advocacy and inspire you to advocate on behalf of your cause or passion.
We invite you to share your experiences and innovations with us to share with others at PHAI@curtin.edu.au. |
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Advocacy is the active support of a cause. The word ‘advocate’ has been used since ancient times and comes from the Latin word ‘advocare’ meaning ‘to be called to stand beside’.
Advocacy involves persuasion. It aims to influence perceptions around an issue and encourages people to care about that issue. Advocacy is about coalitions who share and disseminate the same message.
It’s about having a voice and standing beside those who do not. Advocacy entails being at the table when decisions are being made. It involves recognising who and what your opposition is and overcoming resistance.
Advocacy is challenging and aims to seek policy change.
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Our Islands Our Home (#TorresStraight8)
Our Islands Our Home is a campaign led by Torres Strait Islanders to protect their island homes.
Torres Strait Islanders are on the frontline of the climate crisis, and urgent action is needed to ensure they can remain on their islands.
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King tides, erosion, inundation, and coral bleaching are threatening the homes and cultures of Torres Strait Islander people, while the Australian Government refuses to address the climate crisis.
As part of this, eight claimants from Zenadh Kes (Torres Strait Islands) also known as the #TorresStrait8 have brought a human rights complaint against the Australian Federal Government to the Human Rights Committee of the United Nations over the Government’s inaction on climate change.
Meet the Torres Strait 8 here and sign the petition here.
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Creating safe online spaces for our families and communities (FARE)
Every day millions of people across Australia, including children, are exposed to relentless digital marketing tactics designed to target their personal vulnerabilities.
In Australia, there are currently limited protections to restrict predatory marketing tactics. We need strong checks and balances to ensure our families and communities are kept safe from harmful digital marketing practices by alcohol companies. Have you seen digital marketing that markets alcohol to kids?
Would you like to report the online advertising you have seen?
Report the advertisement to FARE here.
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The Town of Nowhere (QCOSS)
Did you know that 50,301 people are on Queensland’s social housing register, vacancy rates across the state are at historic lows, and low-income households are spending over 50% of their income on housing costs?
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Everyone should have a safe place to call home, but our current reality means entire families are living out of tents, in their cars, couch surfing or sleeping rough.The Town of Nowhere campaign brings together a coalition of community organisations and everyday Queenslanders dedicated to ending our state’s housing crisis.
If you are interested in homelessness, social housing or equity, you can join the mailing list here or contact QCOSS to find out how they are advocating to the Queensland Government to make a substantial investment in building social homes.
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Polititians call for more Public Transport (The Climate Council)
The People and Transport National Poll 2022, commissioned by the Climate Council and conducted by YouGov, found that over two-thirds of Australians think governments should deliver more footpaths and bike lanes across the country. The poll, of over 2000 Australians released on the 31 August this year, reveals that 8 in 10 people believe governments should invest more in public transport, and 7 in 10 people were keen to see Australia’s entire bus fleet electrified and operated on renewables as soon as possible. Would you like to read more?
Click on this link to access the report findings from the poll.
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Elders call for action to stop climate change (A Pacific Elders' Voice)
The former presidents of Kiribati and Palau went to Canberra to call for deeper cuts to emissions and for new coal and gas projects to be cut down or stopped, saying their "future is at stake" unless more action is taken. The killer fact that was at the centre of the talks was that these island nations are “1% land and 99% ocean.”
A Pacific Elders' Voice (PEV), an independent group of prominent leaders dedicated to serving the Pacific’s current and future challenges and opportunities has been formed to advocate for these low-lying island nations. Australian Independent for the ACT Senator, David Pocock, PEV joined the leaders in Canberra, saying Australia has a "moral responsibility" to stand with its neighbours on climate action.
Kiribati, which by the end of this century, is predicted to cease to exist, is clearly concerned and has produced a video describing the urgency of the ask and calling for Australians to contact their MP.
You can view this short video here.
Below are some tweets from the advocacy meeting where the call to action was posed.
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