Campaigns successes: A big thank you for everything in 2011

In a year of economic uncertainty and social change in the UK, CAFOD campaigners stood tall, calling for decision makers and those in power to fight injustice. Here are some of the highlights we enjoyed together.

Acting Big, Thinking Small

The year kicked off with the Get Down to Business campaign. Thousands of you came together to ask the government to back small businesses around the world with aid and pro-poor policies.

In November, we delivered 16,000 cards to the Secretary of State for International Development, Andrew Mitchell. And he’s responded, agreeing with you that small businesses are vital not only for the people who run them, but for the economies of their countries.

Tackling corruption

In February, as winter still gripped the country, an icy wind blew through Westminster. It looked like the government would delay a key piece of legislation because of intense lobbying by the business community.

The Bribery Act was brought about to prevent bribery by UK companies. Bribes play a key part in perpetuating corrupt regimes. Money which should be destined for healthcare, schools and building roads finds its way into private bank accounts.

CAFOD’s MP correspondents swung into action - writing to their MP to ensure the act wasn’t delayed. Dominic Goggins, CAFOD’s Parliamentary Adviser said at the time of MP correspondents, “Without their voice, it would have been a lot easier for the government to bury this legislation.”

In April, with the first shoots of spring and because of your tireless work, we were proud to announce that the act would come into force in July.

Opening up the books

Hot on the heels of our success on the Bribery Act, we then took action to ensure people in the world’s poorest countries benefit from the wealth beneath their feet. Over 4,000 of us wrote to George Osborne directly, and another 1,200 lobbied our MPs on the issue at Tea time for change. We called for all oil, gas and mining companies listed on the London Stock Exchange to publish what they pay to foreign governments for access to natural resources.

In a series of triumphs for CAFOD campaigners, the Prime Minister, David Cameron announced in July, “Mineral wealth should be a blessing, not a curse. We want to disclose the payments our companies make to your governments, so you can hold your governments to account for the money they receive... And I’m calling on Europe to do the same.”

Then in late October, the European Commission announced plans to make oil, gas, mining and logging companies more open about the payments they make to governments worldwide. We’ll be keeping an eye on future developments to make sure this happens, so watch this space!

Tea time for change

The summer saw us getting involved in a great British tradition – taking tea. The setting was pretty posh – Westminster – and the guests – MPs and their constituents – a great mix.

We sat down with our MPs to tell them to keep up the good work on aid, call for UK companies to pay their fair share for minerals they extract overseas, and for new ways of financing development to be explored.

Over 1200 of you met with 145 MPs to tell them how you felt about development. Secretary of State Andrew Mitchell was impressed. “Charity begins at home, but it doesn’t end there,” he told us. “When today ends, don’t stop what you’ve been doing here today.”

Don’t drop the ball

August kicked off our climate campaign in the run up to UN talks in Durban, South Africa. Up and down the country, CAFOD supporters got behind the campaign, juggling, throwing, kicking and balancing balls to ensure that the government provides enough resources to help the poorest and most vulnerable communities adapt to a changing climate.

Jump forward to late November: CAFOD Director Chris Bain was joined by supporters and staff to present thousands of your action cards to the Chancellor George Osborne on the first day of the climate talks - sending a powerful signal from you to our government

Bearing witness

As summer gave way to autumn, hundreds of us gathered together on one of the hottest October days on record to be climate witnesses for the world’s poorest people at the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester. We joined with Christian Aid and Tearfund to call on David Cameron to commit to his ‘greenest government ever’ pledge by leading international efforts to support the poorest.

In a beautiful candlelit vigil in the heart of Manchester, we reminded those in power that as Christians, it is our duty to stand up against injustice.

Looking ahead

During the season of Lent next year, we’ll be asking you to Thirst for change. To demand justice for the world’s poorest men and women who haven’t got access to clean water and safe sanitation.

While we still face economic challenges, we can look to 2012 with hope. We have achieved so much together this year, and we believe that when we stand together with our brothers and sisters across the globe, we can make a difference. For all you have done this year, thank you.