make a livesimply promise

As the livesimply campaign gets underway, it's everyone's responsibility to do what we can to improve the opportunities for people in developing countries, writes Alastair Whitson.

Most of us take our comfortable lifestyles for granted. We only think about the water in our taps, the heat in our homes, the food on our plates, when it doesn't work or isn't there. But as well as enjoying the good things, we need to appreciate where they come from and what has brought them to us. Many of the things we enjoy use up too much of the earth's resources and contribute to keeping the rest of the world's people poor, disadvantaged and marginalised.

The livesimply message taps into a growing realisation that our lifestyles in the global North cause many of the problems experienced by people in the global South. Here, in the North, we are now aware of the impact our energy use is having on the climate. We are concerned about how our food is grown and where it comes from. And even more important, we are starting to ask questions about what needs to be done, and what needs to change, to make the world a fairer and better place. We can see this in the widespread support for the Make Poverty History campaign, as well as in the growing popularity of fair trade products

The livesimply campaign gives an added focus to these concerns. If we have the luxury of making a choice to live simply, we should not be doing so just to ease our consciences, but in order to make a difference. What we are doing is not just about us, it is really about others, especially the world's poor, and we need to make sure that we act, spread the word, and make the connection.

Speaking out

Everything in our world is interconnected. Our lifestyles, the decisions we make (or fail to make) about food, energy, trade, can have a direct impact on other people's lives around the world. So if we start to change the way we do things at home, it will lead to changes in the way things are done elsewhere. We can bring pressure for change by speaking out, encouraging others to think about the choices they make, urging others to make changes and challenging our leaders to take action on our behalf.

Make a promise

Progressio wants as many people as possible to get involved in the livesimply campaign. One way to do this is by making a promise at the livesimply:promise website. You make a public commitment to do something or change something about your life that will positively affect poor people. The idea is that people make a promise on condition that others also promise to do it - such as promising to buy fair trade and/or local, seasonal produce provided 30 other people pledge to do so, or promising not to take any personal plane flights if 20 others make the same promise. The more people make promises, the more impact we will have.

Sign up to an existing livesimply promise or make your own promise now - don't wait for others to act!

What else can I do?

Sign up to the livesimpy campaign

During 2007, Progressio will be initiating actions and campaigns under the livesimply banner that can have a positive impact on the lives of people in the global South.

Sign up if you would like to be kept up to date on all the actions in the livesimply campaign and Progressio's work fighting poverty and injustice by sending us your name and contact details.

Please note that in doing so you are giving your consent for us to contact you - see the data protection note below.

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