As human beings, we have a divine duty to help/support all those who are disadvantaged and in need. The poor people around the world are not in a position to fight for their own rights and freedoms as they are immersed in extreme poverty, and are too busy struggling to acquire basic needs (food, shelter, clothing, education, health) to keep themselves and their families alive.

We must campaign and lobby for their rights both as individuals and through organisations/pressure groups. There are numerous ways to build up pressure upon the people who have power (i.e. governments and stakeholders) and ask them to look after the poor peoples needs both globally and in the Muslim world in particular.

Below are some of the methods by which we can make a difference :-

• Write letters to your local, national and international Representatives (MP, MEP, MPA, MNA, Consulates, High Commissions, Governmental Departments, OIC, IDB, UN, IMF, World Bank ) – asking them to join the poverty alleviation campaign and to ask what they are specifically doing to achieve this
• Lobby governments and pressure groups
• Join the Thinkers Forum ‘Campaign for the Poor’ and other ongoing initiatives
• Write letters to the media and/or attend chat show programmes (newspapers, magazines, TV/Radio, etc) highlighting issues pertaining to ‘poverty alleviation’ – the problems, causes and solutions
• Organise events, seminars, meetings and demonstrations with like-minded individuals and organisations to create awareness about the poverty and how we can ‘campaign for the poor’ collectively
• Attend, speak out and ask questions in all meetings and seminars where the people who can make a difference and resolve poverty problems are present
• Support other organisations and individuals ‘Poverty Alleviation’ projects through financial and other donations
• Form coalitions and partnerships with like-minded individuals and organizations on common issues and goals
• Work to establish a social welfare system in developing countries

Muslim Action Against Poverty

Objectives of this global campaign are to :-

1. To highlight and build awareness of issues concerning global poverty and their root causes.

2. To develop public policy solutions through PDI which will resolve poverty issues.

3. To work in specific realities (e.g. Pakistan) to establish a Social Welfare System (SWS) which will provide basic needs for the poor such as food, shelter, clothing, education and health.

4. To encourage Muslim individuals, Organisations and Institutes to take responsibility for their own problems and to resolve them in a principled manner.

5. To work in partnership with all individuals and bodies who agree with the above objectives.

Thinkers Forum Campaigns

Debt Elimination & Usury-Free Loans

Debt Relief is not enough. There must be an end to the unjust economic conditions attached to debt relief and for full debt cancellation for the world's poorest countries. Most loans are usury (interest) based which in reality have multiplied the third world debt rather than assist the poor countries to develop. We require the rich countries, financial institutions and multi-nationals to invest ethically on an equity based model and thereby take a pro-active role in their economic development, rather than enslave and entrap them further through usury based loans.

Trade Justice

TFI is calling for Trade Justice, not Free Trade. Governments and International Bodies must stop pushing poor countries to open up their economies, and respect their right to decide on trade policies that would help end poverty and become self-sufficient.

Prevent Funding of Illegal Wars - Peace Tax, not War Tax

Most of the public have been against illegal pre-emptive wars such as those in the middle east, Vietnam, etc but due to the way the tax system works their hard earned money is also used to finance these ventures. Legitimate defence of our nations or liberating the poor, oppressed people such as those in Rwanda through international forums is perfectly acceptable but foreign wars whereby we are not directly under threat at all or they have been organized for personal motives (oil, financial gain) is not. We need to reform existing tax systems so that in such situations so we can ensure our hard earned money is not used to kill innocent people and instead can be directed towards better causes e.g. reducing poverty, providing medical care for elderly.

Control Arms Trade & Prevent Military Conflicts

The richest nations also happen to be the largest arms traders in the world. They happily fund oppressive regimes and sell arms to them, even though their own people are dying through poverty. We need to control the production & sales of arms generally incl weapons of mass destruction (nuclear, biological, etc), as well as specifically to oppressive regimes. We must have zero tolerance on this issue and not allow a privileged few to dictate an unfair balance in their favour at the expense of the majority community - the rules must be the same for all nations, rich or poor.

Establishing Social Welfare Systems

A comprehensive solution requires the establishment of national and international social welfare systems which will guarantee and provide basic needs for the worlds poor wherever they may be. We must work to achieve this collectively through reformation of governance and resource management systems.

Climate Change & Environmental Protection

The poor will suffer the most from global warming as they do not have the resources and expertise to deal with the rising disastrous consequences

Reformation of International Bodies

In order to make national & international bodies more accountable, fair and effective there must be a reformation of existing organisations such as the OIC, IDB, UN, IMF & World Bank. This work is ongoing to highlight their weaknesses, strengths & how they must be improved to work on the behalf of the poor.

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