Petition update
We need YOUR help!! #FREEPERIODS
Dec 12, 2017 — Hello all 81,682 of you!
The protest (20th December) is getting closer. And whilst it'll be all fun and games marching through minus temperatures in Christmas jumpers, our valiant efforts to end period poverty will not be heard unless we force our government to listen. The time is NOW to manifest change, and this part of the #FreePeriods campaign is the most important – we MUST reach out to our politicians, and apply the pressure to get this passed in Parliament. Our politicians exist to support us – so let's use them.
The best route of parliamentary persuasion is through collectively asking as many of our local constituency MPs to back us as possible, and to raise the question of free menstrual products for all children on free school meals, in Parliament, the week of the protest.
We’ve made it super easy for you and written the letter out below – all you have to do is fill in the blanks. The more people who follow this link (www.writetothem.com), find their local MP, and EMAIL the letter, the more chance we have of making a difference.
1) Find your local MP via writetothem.com
2) Copy and paste the below letter
3) Fill in the blanks
4) Click send
This is YOUR chance to have a real impact on getting period poverty raised in Parliament next week. If enough of us persuade our MPs to take action, we are one step closer to creating change.
So what are you waiting for? Send YOUR letter this morning, and see you on the 20th on Richmond Terrace!
Amika xx
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear (MP’s Name),
My name is (Your Name), I live in (Where You Live) and I am a member of your constituency. I am writing to you, as my local MP, asking for your assistance in enabling the #FreePeriods movement to be successful.
The #FreePeriods movement (https://www.freeperiods.org) is a campaign founded by Amika George and backed by The Pink Protest to help end period poverty in the UK, by calling on the government to give children on free school meals, free menstrual care. I’m sure you will agree that it’s unacceptable for children as young as 10 to be routinely missing school simply because they cannot afford to have their period.
Amika and The Pink Protest are holding a peaceful protest on Wednesday the 20th December from 5-8pm on Richmond Terrace, opposite Downing Street, calling on Theresa May to get behind the #FreePeriods movement and get this through parliament.
We are expecting around 1000+ at the protest, and are, of course, hoping for more. The protest has been approved by the Police, and we’ve lined up some fantastic speakers for the event (with more to come). We have already confirmed Ayesha Hazarika, Tanya Burr, and Daisy Lowe, as well as politicians Paula Sheriff MP and Jess Philips MP. The press (https://www.freeperiods.org/press/) coverage so far has been incredibly encouraging. We have also been lucky to secure brand support from Google, which we are hoping will send the message that period poverty is unacceptable, globally.
Kenya recently managed to provide free sanitary care for the vast majority of it’s female citizens who couldn’t afford it (a pretty astounding feat), so I think it’s about time the UK fell in line.
In order for this campaign to be successful however, we need more political support. Here are some ways I think your political support could help us make the #FreePeriods movement triumphant:
1. Please could you RAISE THE QUESTION/ISSUE in Parliamentary Questions on the week of the 20th December?
2. ATTEND THE PROTEST on the 20th December for any amount of time you have available, to personally manifest your support, would be extremely helpful.
3. If you could possibly SHARE this campaign with politicians, friends, family and any social media feeds you have to help spread the word, that would be amazing.
I very much look forward to hearing from you and will gladly accept any support you can offer with open arms.
Yours sincerely,
(Your Name)
Keep fighting for people power!
Politicians and rich CEOs shouldn't make all the decisions. Today we ask you to help keep Change.org free and independent. Our job as a public benefit company is to help petitions like this one fight back and get heard. If everyone who saw this chipped in monthly we'd secure Change.org's future today. Help us hold the powerful to account. Can you spare a minute to become a member today?
I'll power Change with $5 monthly