Archives for March 2015

A law to end modern slavery was given the royal seal of approval yesterday (26 March 2015), creating a landmark step along the road to the eradication of slavery and human trafficking.

The Modern Slavery Act will bring harsher sentences on the worst offenders, aim to close loopholes being exploited by traffickers and provide better protection for victims. Commenting on the new legislation, Home Secretary Theresa May said,

This landmark legislation sends the strongest possible signal to criminals that if you are involved in this vile trade you will be arrested, you will be prosecuted and you will be locked up. And it says to victims, you are not alone – we are here to help you.

More about the Act can be read on the government’s website.

The Centre for Social Justice

The Modern Slavery Act was originally proposed by the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), a think tank that advises the government. Empathy Action has worked with CSJ and Slavery Free UK to help raise awareness of these issues but much more is still to be done. We are currently considering a simulation to educate and encourage social action. If you share a passion for ending slavery, want to know more or want to know how you can help then please contact us.

Matt Bellamy, lead singer of the rock band Muse, spoke recently about the theme of losing empathy, present in their new single Dead Inside.

Speaking on Radio 1, Bellamy described the song as a modern metaphor for what it is to lose empathy and went on to elaborate,

I think that through modern technology, and obviously through drone warfare in particular, it’s possible to actually do quite horrific things by remote control, at a great distance, without actually feeling any of the consequences, or even feeling responsible in some way.

Empathy Action aims to raise awareness and empathy through our use of interactive simulations; putting participants in the place of those who face extreme poverty every day. Lean more on our simulations page.

It is widely acknowledged that our planet’s climate is changing and that this will increasingly have the most noticeable impact on the poorest in our global community. Empathy Action team member, Paul Williams, attended a conference in Gloucester, looking at these important issues.

The Threat to the Poorest

The John Ray Initiative Conference looked at a variety of topics relating to the effects of humanity’s carbon emissions on the planet. Allan Findlay, Professor of Population Studies at the University of St Andrews, spoke on climate change and human migration.

The global population at risk from climate change is increasing rapidly, partly due to economic migration to the coastal cities of Asia which face danger from rising sea levels. Many of these economic migrants will end up in the slums and shanty towns of these rapidly growing urban sprawls.

Findlay argued that as the poorest and most vulnerable are the least able to adapt to climate change by relocating, it is important to build resilience among these ‘trapped populations’. Whilst a massive reduction in carbon emissions is essential, preparing for their harmful consequences is also a necessity.

Life on the Edge

The challenging environment in which such resilience building must take place is portrayed in Empathy Action’s slum simulation. When living from day to day, eking out enough to survive, investing in the long term resilience of your community is low on the agenda.

Looking to the future, we would love to develop a simulation that focuses on the threat of climate change and ways to address it. If this is an area you have experience in or if you work with communities who face these challenges then please get in touch.

Last week saw the fifth annual Women of the World Festival, or WOW as it’s known, at the Southbank Centre in London. Empathy Action team member Sandy Glanfield attended the Friday session of what was a lively week of talks, workshops and performances celebrating women and girls.

Activism Without Borders

Sandy’s highlight was attending the ‘Activism without Borders’ talk. This was a panel of writers and charity founders who spoke about their experience campaigning against domestic violence, forced marriage and female genital mutilation (FGM).

Secretary of State for International Development, Justine Greening, gave the keynote address in which she said,

I believe that the momentum is with the young people and with the campaigners around the world who are demanding progress. They’re saying that when it comes to violence against women and girls, on FGM, on child marriage, on forced marriage, on sexual violence in conflict – ‘enough is enough’, and they are right.

Sandy was impressed by the event and, commenting on the panelists’ contributions to these issues, she said,

they have supported so many vulnerable women in this country; personally, with charities they have developed, and through laws they have influenced. They’ve also made powerful links with charities in other countries where FGM and forced marriage continues.

Empathy Action seeks to be a force for positive change. We are keen to galvanise the potential that others have to play a part in improving our world. Please contact us for more information on how to get involved.

The UK government has passed a bill which will make it a legal necessity for future governments to commit 0.7% of the country’s annual national income to spending on international development.

Overseas Aid will be Protected

This is good news for many in the charity sector who are concerned that a new government could put overseas spending at the bottom of their priority list. During an election year and at a time when budgets are tight, money going abroad can be one of the obvious targets to help save a few pounds. This new law aims to stop that happening.

Last year the UK government met the 0.7% target for the first time when it spent £11.4bn on international development.

Addressing the House

Speaking in the House of Lords on Monday, Liberal Democrat peer, Lord Purvis, thanked other members of parliament for their contributions. He reminded them that the Bill was not about peers or MPs but about the people they were trying to help. It was, he said,

…simply about a girl who wants to have an education and to learn in a safe school; a mother who wants to feed, wash and nurture a child with good health, clean water and access to a hygienic hospital; a woman who wants to be empowered to represent others or to lead in a corrupt-free political system; and a boy who simply wants to play outside and have a childhood not in a war zone. If we can help others to take these simple things for granted, as we do here, we will be making a worthwhile contribution.

Read more about the International Development Bill online or contact us to find out how you can help deprived communities at home and abroad.