WRITING TIPS
(courtesy of www.davidsuzuki.org)
Political leaders are greatly influenced by public opinion. In fact, politicians keep close tabs on the issues constituents raise in letters, meetings, phone calls and editorial pages of local papers. Encourage change by contacting your elected representative.
LETTERS TO POLITICIANS
One letter represents more than a 1,000 opinions at the federal level. The ratio declines as you move down the levels of government. Generally, the more time and thought involved in communicating to a politician, the greater your opinion is valued.
- Letters are better mailed than faxed.
- Faxes are better than email.
- Writing is generally better than phoning
- Something is better than nothing!
TIPS
- You do not need a long, detailed letter.
- You do not have to be an "expert".
- Request a specific action as well as expressing a concern.
- If you don't have time to write out your full position, attach an article or short summary of a study that makes your point.
- Point out that the priorities the politician has expressed about job creation, human health, a healthy economy, etcetera are not at odds with protecting the environment.
- Commend politicians for any good work and statements they make.
- Have fun! Get together with friends and food for a letter writing fest.
- Letters to federal politicians can be sent postage free to the House of Commons.
- Carbon copy (cc) the letter to other relevant people (the Prime Minister, relevant ministers, your MPs, or provincial or municipal politician, journalists, etc) and send a blind copy to the David Suzuki Foundation. This means you can write only one letter with the same important message and send it to everyone.
PHONE CALLS
You don't write to your sister, you call her. You can phone your politician, too. While you may not get through to your elected representative, you can talk to the office staff. Ask that your position and specific request for action is forwarded to the politician.
In the successful campaign to ban the growth hormone for dairy cows in Canada (BGH), large numbers of Canadians in several ridings were encouraged to phone their politicians. This not only resulted in MPs speaking out in their caucuses, but convinced them, in this situation, non-profit organizations not government departments had the most credible information about the threat of this drug.
MEETINGS
Face-to-face encounters with your elected officials can move him or her from taking a passive to an active interest. Share new information with them. Go with another informed person. If possible, a person who is particularly relevant for the discussion or an unexpected ally: a local business person, economist, scientist, doctor, religious or community leader.
Be specific about what you want that politician to do. Make sure your request is within the jurisdiction of whatever level of government the politician is capable of influencing.
Take accurate notes of what they say and commit to, and if they're really meaningful share them with other people and organizations, such as the David Suzuki Foundation, that would find them useful.
Narrow your discussion an stick to your point. Leave brief, well-selected back ground material (articles, a report, polling results).
If you can't meet with your elected official, meet with his or her assistant.
Follow up with a letter restating your position and his/her commitments (or lack thereof).
