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38 Degrees is a UK non-profit political activism organisation that campaigns on a diverse range of issues, such as climate change, child poverty and political reform, to create positive changes. The organisation states it aims to campaign for “fairness, defend rights, promote peace, preserve the planet and deepen democracy in the UK.” [1] 38 Degrees does not have any political affiliations.[2]
History
edit38 Degrees was inspired by the impact of groups like MoveOn in the United States, GetUp in Australia and Avaaz globally, to mobilize people and connect them and their governments, and believed an organisation based on a similar model was needed in the UK. [3]
The organisation launched on May 26th 2009 [4]. Founders include Gordon Roddick, co-founder of The Body Shop, and Henry Tinlsey, Ex Chairman of Green & Black's chocolate.[5] The project was developed by Ben Brandzel, formerly of MoveOn, Avaaz, GetUp and the Obama campaign.
Campaigning Methodology
editThe organisation aims to empower UK citizens by providing easy ways for people to take action on the issues they care about.
Campaigning techniques include both online methods, such as online petitions, and offline methods, such as calling an MP or visiting a surgery. [6]
Campaigns
edit38 Degrees has worked, and is working, on a number of different campaigns of different magnitudes, lengths and using different techniques.
Campaigns include:
- Issues surrounding Copenhagen. In December 2009 38 Degrees staged a Climate Question Time where members quizzed, Ed Miliband The Secretary of State for Environment and Climate Change, live on a mass-conference call. [7]
- Recall law. A campaign calling for the right of voters to force a by-election if they lose trust in theMP[8], [9] [10][11]
- Reposessions. A campaign launched with the Big Issue to freeze repossessions during the recession. Every year in the UK 75,000 homes face reposession/ [12]
- 10:10. 38 Degrees teamed up with 10:10 to urge MPs to vote to reduce the carbon emissions or parliament by 10% in 2010. Over 48 hours 10,000 members contacted their MPs[13]. The vote was lost but the Government pledged extra money for green initiatives. [14]
See Also
editReferences
edit- ^ http://www.38degrees.org.uk/pages/about/
- ^ http://38degrees.org.uk/pages/contact_us#2
- ^ http://38degrees.org.uk/pages/about/
- ^ http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/2009/05/26/a-british-moveon-38-degrees-launches-today/
- ^ http://38degrees.org.uk/pages/the-team/
- ^ http://fabians.org.uk/images/stories/The_Change_We_Need_body.pdf
- ^ http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/blog/2009/dec/04/online-climate-activism
- ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8157820.stm
- ^ http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/aug/09/mps-house-commons-resignations-expenses
- ^ http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2009/08/07/protect-mps-with-a-privacy-law-says-lembit-opik-91466-24337413/
- ^ http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/may/27/westminster-reform-party-mps
- ^ http://www.bigissuescotland.com/news/view/127
- ^ http://www.1010uk.org/1010/38degrees
- ^ http://blog.38degrees.org.uk/2009/10/22/1010-vote-the-result/