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 :-
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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
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Lobby governments and pressure groups
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Join Isaar Trust ‘Campaign for the Poor’ and other ongoing initiatives
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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
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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
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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
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Support other organisations and individuals ‘Poverty Alleviation’ projects through financial and other donations
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Form coalitions and partnerships with like-minded individuals and organizations on common issues and goals
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Work to establish a social welfare system in developing countries
Objectives of this global campaign are to :-
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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. Isaar Trust 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.
ITI 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.
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