adopt an mp draft1
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uk youth climate coalition | adopt an mp
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1. hw es a mp wr?
2. Therststeps
3. Whatareallthesepolicalterms?
4. hw ( w) lbb mp
5. YourMPisahuman
6. Howtotalkclimate7. hw wrie blg
8. ExtractfromAnnaCollinsAdoptaNegoatorblog
9. hw e websie wrs
Rsrs
10. TemplateleertoyourMP
11. AdoponCercate
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t cpg
AdoptandMPisassimpleasitsounds.
We aim to get 650 young people from every
constuency in the UK to adopt their localMP
andtrackthemastheytrytomakeclimatechange
eir riri.
WithawaveofrstmeMPsandanewcoalion
governmentthereistheenergywithinParliament
forthistoworkandit'stheperfectmetotellour
storyandinspireourMPsintoacon.
This is not a tradional campaign with a set
outcomeand agenda. This isabout people and
creang a real and lasng relaonship that will
bedierent for everyperson involved. Likeany
newrelaonshipitwilltakeme,paence,trust
andalilelove(!)tomakethiswork,butthrough
monthly acons and sharing your experiences
onlinethroughadoptanmp.org,weknowwecan
makethishappen.
Everymonthwewillsendourtrackersanaconto
becompletedoverthenextfewweekswithenough
metowriteaboutitonline.Thewebsitewillbe
really easy toadd toand become an invaluable
resourceforlocalandnaonalclimateacon.Themonthlyaconswillbesimpleandachievableand
thecollecveimpactofthatineveryconstuency
will be ge.
It'snotaboutcricismorpraise,butremembering
thatMPsarehumansandsupporngthemtomake
astandandghtforadierencewhenitcomesto
localissuesandnaonalpolicytocreatetheclean,
fair,futurethatweneed.
The focus is local, but the impact is global and
together we have an opportunity to make a
dierenceonascaleneverseenbeforeintheUK!
t c
Whether youve been involved in the climate
changeworldforyears,orifthisistherstthings
youvegotinvolvedwith,AdoptanMPisdesigned
totaroundyourlife.Thecampaignisaboutyou
andyourMP,notaboutustryingtoachieveaset
outcomeand its this exibility and individuality
thatwillhopefullymakeitasuccess.
We w is be b r mp wrig
togetherandcreangarelaonshiptotakeforward
theissueofclimatechangewhereyouliveandto
sre lie.
Everymonthwewillsendyouanacon,butthis
is a guide. Every constuency and tracker will
have a dierent way ofworking and well oer
suggesons,ps, andadvice,butulmately youcanmakethiswhateveryouwant. Allwe ask is
thatyoublogaboutitontheway!
As a rough guide, being involved will take up
around5hoursamonth.
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Whenyoubecomeatracker,youjoinacommunityof650fellowyoungpeoplealltryingtoachievethe
samethingfromacrosstheUK.Youarenotalone!Aswellasbeingsupportedbyalltheothertrackers,
theUKYCCteamarealwaysheretohelpandwillbeonhandtosupportyoueverystepoftheway.
If you need us at any me, just drop us a line at [email protected] and well get rightback
toyou!
ThemostimportantthingabouttheAdoptanMPcampaignisthatyouandyourMPenjoyit.This
shouldbefun;andifitisnt,somethinghasgonewrong!WewantyoutobefriendswithyourMP,to
shareyourconcerns,yourpassionandyourvisionwiththemandmakethemcarebecauseyoucare.
Thisresourcepackisjustaguidetohelpgetstarted.Inrealitythecampaignwilllookdierentinevery
constuencyintheUKandthatsexactlyhowitshouldbe.
Allweaskisthatyoutellusyourstory!Writeablog,recordavideo,sendusapoem,asong,arap,a
picture,anythingthatsharesyourstoryasyouadoptyourlocalMP.
Gd !
te gs gls ukycc
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Therststepsarealwaysthemostdaunngbutwevebrokenitdowninto10easy
pointstokickotheadoponprocess:
1.HaveareadoftheResourcePack,pokearoundthesiteandlearnallabouttheAdoptan
MPproject.
2.Signuptobecomeatrackeratadoptanmp.org(Wellgiveyouaccessyourconstuencypagesoyoucanbeginbloggingimmediately!)
3.Writeashortpieceaboutwhyyouwantedtobeinvolvedandwhatyourehopingtogetoutofthis.
4.FindyourMPandsendthemaleeradopngthemandaskingforameeng.
5.Meetwiththem!
6. HandovertheAdoponCercateandgrabaphoto!
7.Writeablogaboutyourmeenganduploadthephoto.
8. GiveyourlocalnewspaperandradioacallandtellthemyoureadopngyourMPandallaboutthe
projectandwhyyouwanttobeinvolved.
9.Ontherstofeverymonth(StarngfromJuly1st)wellemailyoutheaconforthenextmonth.
10.Getcrackingwithaconsandkeeptellingusallaboutyourexperiences!
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W mP d fr ?
Soweveallheardthehorrorstoriesaboutmoatsandduckponds,seentheoldmenshoungatone
anotheronTV,andknowalilebitabouttheweirdtradionsthatdominateourgovernment.Itcanall
seemjustalilebitdetachedfromtherealWorld.
Butwhateveryouthinkofallthat,whenitcomestopushingforaclean,fairfuture,yourMPisdenitely
someoneworthhavingonboard.YourMP(MemberofParliament)iselectedroughlyevery5yearsand
hasthejobofrepresenngyou,andeveryoneelseinyourconstuencyinParliament.Thismeansthat
itishisorherjobtolistentotheconcernsoftheirconstuentsandtospeakupfortheminParliament,
makingsurethatthebestdealforthosepeoplecanbeachieved.
OnceanMPhasdecidedontheviewheorshewilltake(whichshouldnotbebasedontheirpersonal
viewsbutontheviewsofthosetheyrepresent),thereareanumberofaconstheycantake:
WritetoaMinisteronyourbehalf,andforwardyouthatMinisterspersonalresponse.
AskaParliamentaryquesonwrienororally.
SpeakinadebateintheHouseofCommons.
TableanEarlyDayMoon,orsignanexisngone.
VotefororagainstBillsgoingthroughParliamentandchangesmadetothemastheygothrough,or
evensuggestachangeoftheirown.
ProposeaPrivateMembersBillwhichcanbecomeanActofParliament(creangacompletelynew
lw).
YoucanbethedrivingforcebehindgengyourMPtodoanyoneofthesethings.Preyexcingno?
Nowyouneedtoconsiderhow!
Making frst contact
SteponeistondoutwhoyourMPis.Gototheyworkforyou.comanduseyourpostcodetosearch.This
pagewillthentellyouwhoyourMPisandwhichpartytheybelongto,aswellasgivingcontactdetails.
YourrstcontactwithyourMPislikelytobeviaaleerore-mail.Thisisagoodmeansofmaking
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contact,asitmeansthatyoureabletoputacross
yourideasinalogicalandcoherentway.
Whenwring,makesureyouinclude:
YournameandaddressyourMPneedstobe
abletoseethatyouliveintheirconstuency-ifyou
dont,theycanthelpyou..
Setoutyourmainpointsniceandclearly.
Requestameeng.
Beraonal,andgivereasonswhyheshouldlisten
toyou,butdontpretendtobeanexpertifyourenot.Aleerfromaconcerned,informed,ordinary
personwilloenbealotmoreeecvethanlots
ofwae.ItisworthrememberingthatyourMP
maywellbereceivingleersfromtheopposing
sie rs.
Ifyouarecampaigningforsomething,include
reasonswhythiswouldbebenecialtothe
constuencyand/orthecountryasawhole.If
youarecampaigningagainstsomething,oeranalternavesoluonifyouhaveone,orareason
whysomethingisunnecessary.
Dontwasteyourmewithnegavityorgeng
angry.Ifyoucomeacrossasanunreasonable
person,thenyouremovethesinglemostimportant
reasonforthemtolistentoyou.Putyourpoint
acrossrmlyandforcefully,butdontberudeand,
nomaerhowbaditgets,savetheswearingfor
we ge sie.
Thinkabitaboutstyleandpresentaon-howdo
youwanttocomeacross?Considerthingslike
whetherahandwrienortypednotewouldbe
moreeecve-areyoutryingtobeformal,orto
makemoreofapersonalconnecon?Headed
notepaper,orhandmadecard?Wouldaphotoor
newspaperclippingstrengthenyourcase?
Tomakelifealilesimpler,attheendofthispackyoullndatemplaterstleertoyourMPthat
explainsexactlywhatAdoptanMPisandthatyou
wantameeng!
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Follow-up acons
Remembertobeagoodschmoozer,evenifyou
didntagreeoneverything.Thisisallaboutbuildingarelaonshipandtrustthatcandevelop
overme!IfyoumanagedtomeetyourMP,
sendhimafriendlythankyounotealongwitha
reminderofwhattheysaidtheywoulddo.Ifyou
promisedtosendthemanyfurtherinformaon,
nowsyourechance.
Sr r ws
IfyouhearbackfromyourMPinwring,wedlove
tohearaboutit!
Ablogarcle,anywrite-upsornotesaer
ameengwithyourMParegreattoo.By
bringingtogetherthissortofinformaonfrom
constuenciesacrossthecountry,wecanbuildup
apictureofdierentMPsthink,andhowacve
theyareandthatgivesusrealpowertogether.
Meeng your MP
Asaconstuent,youhavetherighttorequesta
meengwithyourMP.YouwillneedtobookthiswithhisconstuencyorParliamentarysecretary.
YourMPprobablyholdsweeklysurgerieslocallyon
Friday,butcanmeetyouattheHouseofCommons
atothermes.
If you are successful in getting a
meeting, you should:
UsetheInternettosearchforinformaonon
yourMP.Whataretheirpolicalinterestsand
priories?Whataretheirpartyspolicies?Where
doeshestandonclimatechangeandgreen
eerg?
Thinkthroughwhatyouwanttocoverinthe
meeng.Hewillaskyouquesons,somake
sureyouknowenoughthatyoucomeacross
passionateandinformed.Youmaywanttotakea
reportorleaettohelpgetyourpointacross-over
thecourseoftheyear,theUKYCCwillproduce
briengsyoukeepyousuppliedwiththelatestinfo
andarguments.
Developthreemainpointsthatyouwant
tomake,andhammerthemhome-dont
overcomplicatethingsorgivethemroomtofob
youo.
Knowwhatyouwanthimtodoasaresultofthe
meeng.
On a practical level!
Makesureyoureonme
Berealiscabouthowmuchyoucancover.
UsethemewiselyifyourMPfeelsitwasa
wasteofme,youmightsuddenlynditdicult
toarrangeameenginfuture!
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Whenitcomestointeracngwiththoseinpower
itisohsoeasytofocusonpolicyandissuesand
forgetthatthepersonyouaretalkingtoisindeed
ahumantoo!
Butitsalsoimportantthatwedontforgetthat
eier.
Becauseinfactoneofthejoysofbeingyoungis
thatwearefulloflife,emoonsandpassion.Why
shouldwelosethatjustbecauseweareinthe
knowandtalkingaboutpolicy?Andwhyshould
wethinkthatMPsarenotfullofpassionand
emoontoo?(eveniftheydontactlikeitmostof
theme!)
SonowyouveadoptedyourMPtreatthemlikeafriend,talktothemasyouwouldafriend,tell
themhowyoufeelandaskthemhowtheyfeel.
WeoncestumpedEdMillibandbyaskinghim
howhefelt,ratherthanwhathethoughtandit
denitelycaughthimout!Wealsorappedathim
too,butthatsanotherstory...
Weinteractsomuchbeerwitheachotherona
personalandemoonallevelandpoliciansareno
dierent.AndanywayyourenotanMP,yourea
youngperson,soactlikeit.
Sonextmeyoudontknowwhattosaytoyour
MPtakeaminutetothinkabouthowyoufeel,
thentellthemthatandseewhattheysay.Then
ell s ll.
Ifwebrokedownthebarriersandreallyallgot
toknoweachotheritwouldbealoteasierto
understandeachother.WhenyouandyourMP
seeeachotherashumansitwillbealotharder
forthemtolookyouintheeyeandmakelame
excuses!
Whenyouretellingotherpeoplewhatyoure
upto,bethatinblogs,interviews,orjusttalking
aboutyourMP,dontforgetthatthestoriesthat
peoplelikebestarethehumaninterestones(thats
whywerealladdictedtoHeatMagazine!).So
giveusthem.Wewanttohearthehumanside
ofthestory,notjustthepolicy.Tellushowyou
feltmeengyourMPfortherstme,wereyou
nervous,didtheyseeminterested,whatweretheywearing,didtheytreatyouasanequal?
Ouroneuniquesellingpointisthatweareyoung
andthisinitsverynaturemeanswehavealicense
toactlikeit!YourMPneedstoknowyouareclued
up,informedandserious,butthatdoesnotmean
youcantjoke,laughandtreatthemlikeaperson.
y re ssie b is will sie
thoughhoweveryouact.
Letyouryouthshinethroughwitheveryperson
youtalkto,believeuswhenwetellyouitsgotus
far!
Aerallinthisamazingfuturewearecreang
werehopingtheresgoingtobealotoffunand
laughtersowhyshouldntweactlikeitnow!
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Intodaysworldweallhavetheopportunitytogetourthoughts,feelingsandexperiencesouttherefor
otherstoread.Blogsallowusthespacetowriteandpublishwhatwewanttosay,withoutbeingeditedby
e else.
ButwhetheryouarebloggingfortheGuardian,onyourownpageorforushereatUKYCCtheaimistowrite
somethingthatpeopleread,takenoceof,andifneededacton.Togetthemtodothatyouneedtomake
sureyourewringandpresenngyourblogsinawaythatisappealingtopeople,inawaythatmakesthem
rememberwhatyouvesaid,notclicktoanotherpagehalfwaythroughreading.
With that in mind here are our 5 top tips for writing a blog:
1.500 words is PERFECT.anywherebetween5001000isok,anythingover1000everyone
hasstoppedreading.(yesweknow,thisisthemostbrokenruleofblogging!Butbelieveusanditwillsave
youalotofwastedmeandeort.)
2. Break it up. Blogsaremeanttobereadquickly,bigblocksoftextputpeopleo,writeconciselyanduseshortparagraphsformaximumeect
3. Always include a picture.Wereallsmallchildrenatheartanditsreallytrueapicture
saysathousandwords.Evenifthepictureisntcompletelyrelevantithelpstomakeyourbloglookmore
interesng!
4. Find your own style.Yourenotwringforapapersoitsperfectlyoktowriteasyouwouldspeak,thebestblogsaretheoneswhereyoucanrecognisethestyleofthebloggerandfeellikeyouknow
them.
5. Be personal, tell your story.Ifpeoplewantthenewstheyllreadanewspaper.Ablogis
anopportunityforyoutotellthestoryfromyourpointofviewinyourwords,includepersonalreecons,
anecdotesandanythingelseyouwanttohelpyouconnectwiththereader.
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Frustration, free food and a
fortunate meeting!
Soit turnsout this trackingmalarkeyis actually
rer es
Gotoocialrecepon,getinqueueforadrink,
meet lead negoator! (whydid I never thinkof
this beforeIm Brish, shes Brish where else
wouldwemeetbuttheboozequeue!)
ActuallyIjest,becauseIalwaysgototheocial
recepons(freefoodanddrinkingenerallyoneof
theswankiestbuildingsinthecitywhowouldnt
go?),andIgenerallyneverseeJan.
B ls ig se ws ere. mbe se lsneededtorelaxabit,becauseitseemsitsnotjust
mewhos frustrated with how things are going
anymore.
WehadachataswewaitedforourdrinksandI
think Jan may be quite frustrated too. She was
quicktotellmethatsrd dd g w.
yeser the Africa group walked out of the
discussionsontheKyotoProtocol. te si ewouldnottakepartinanygroupsordiscussions
around the KP, which basically translates to
discussions around emissions reducons, unl
Annex 1 (most developed countries) upped
their numbers. Specically they were referring
to the numbers for mid term (2020) emission
reducons.
Sonowallthesenegoaonshavebeensuspended
unl the issue is resolved and African countriesbroughtbackintothenegoaons.
Thismeansinthelast4daysofnegoaonsbefore
Copenhagenonewholehalfofthisprocessisnot
takingplace!
Thatsnotreallygoodforanyone,asweobviously
needtomoveforwardonthisasquicklyaswecan.
ButtheAfricagroupobviouslythoughttheyhadnootherwayofmakingthepointthatwhatwe
haveonthetableisjustnotgoodenough.
Theyareobviouslyfrustratedtoo.
AllisnotassimpleasitseemsandImslltrying
togetmyheadroundthecomplexiesofwhatthis
allmeansandwherewegonow.Butitseemswe
have quite a situaononour hands. A situaon
thatallthenegoatorsarehavingtodealwith.
Itseemsthefrustraonisbuildingallround,not
justintheacvists.
EverymeImeetJanIrealisewehavemorein
commonthanIcouldeverhaveimagined.
Whatweallknowthough,isnotgenganywhere
isdenatelynottheanswer
Letshopewecanallchannelthisfrustraoninto
somethingconstrucveoverthenextfewdays!
OrwellallbeintheboozequeuecomeCopenhagen!
Our very own Anna Collins was the tracker for Adopt a Negoator where she
adopted, followed and befriended Jan, the the UKs lead negoator at theUN
Climatechangeconferenceslastyear.HeresisoneofAnnasrstblogsaboutthemesherstmetJan...