PRESS RELEASE: 22nd October 2006

Global citizens vote on their priority issues – climate change is top

The Simultaneous Policy (SP) campaign supporters, known as Adopters, have been taking part in a consultation to prioritise the global issues they think most important. The top 5 are: Climate change, Conflict resolution, Environment, The system of international trade, and The power of transnational corporations. Any Adopter can put forward policy suggestions for consideration by other Adopters and the voting exercise has provided feedback on the level of support for those so far proposed. A Policy Committee, to oversee the process, was also elected, which held an open meeting on 14 October to consult on how the process should evolve.

Mike Brady, Publicity Officer for Simpol-UK (the UK member of the International Simultaneous Policy Organisation) said:

“This voting exercise has been fascinating and demonstrates how SP truly is about putting ‘we, the people’ in charge of global policy setting. This is just the beginning. Policies will continue to be proposed, discussed and developed as the campaign grows and more people come on boards as Adopters. It is free to sign up.”

There are presently over 1,500 registered Adopters in the UK. Adopters call on politicians to pledge to implement SP alongside other governments. 17 Members of the UK Parliament have already done so. Details of policy suggestions and voting can be found at  http://www.simpol.org.uk/policy.php

SP is to be implemented by nations simultaneously, when all or sufficient nations have pledged to do so. This removes the fear that any nation would become uncompetitive, losing jobs and investment, if it took unilateral action. In this way, supporting SP is no-risk and is helping to build international and cross-party support while opening the way to more robust measures being included than those presently envisaged under agreements such as the Kyoto Protocol.

The process of developing the SP policy package is occurring at national level, with sharing of proposals with Adopters in other countries to develop a coherent set of policies with the support of people in all countries. National SP Organisations are being formed by Adopters around the world. Political parties in Australia, Brazil and Canada have already given SP official backing and Prime Minister of East Timor, José Ramos Horta, is a supporter.

For further information visit www.simpol.org and www.simpol.org.uk/policy.php or contact Mike Brady on 07986 736179.

ISPO 27 London Road, Bromley, BR1 1DF, UK
www.simpol.org Tel. +44 (0)20-8464 4141 Fax. +44 (0)20-8460 2035