Author: Hannah Caroe

Friday 12th March, the last working day before Mother’s day (for all but mothers who, as we all know, never stop), was an emotional day for a group of us gathered outside Parliament. We were going to Westminster to hand in to the three main political parties all the Mothers Day Cards we had received from supporters telling party leaders to support Mothers around the world. But we were not only there to support Mothers, we were there to commemorate all those Mothers around the world who have lost their lives in pregnancy and childbirth.
 

Laying down flowers outside parliament

Representatives of several organisations, including Oxfam, our good friends over at Mumsnet and, of course, members of the public, were down there to send a message to the political party leaders – and to mothers around the world.

We held white roses and there was a minute’s silence in remembrance of the 1,400 women who could survive childbirth if they had access to a doctor or nurse when they went into labour.

Then we laid the flowers before the Houses of Parliament, as a testament to lives laid down. Singer and active campaigner Annie Lennox was present and spoke powerfully, noting that only 17% of parliamentary seats around the world are held by women.

Then everyone trotted inside to be met by a very welcome sight: members of Mumsnet kitted out in floral aprons and serving tea, coffee and biscuits to MPs and campaigners at an impromptu café in the members’ dining room. It was a very happy scene, with children running about and some delicious biscuits being savoured – one Mumsnetter noted that her baby was patting a biscuity hand on Ms Lennox’s knee!

Carrie, one of Mumsnet’s founders, spoke with passion and compassion about her recent trip with Oxfam to Malawi to see a poorer country’s response to maternal health issues for herself. More than one listening mother became very emotional.

It still makes me shudder to think that in Malawi there are only 200 doctors for a population of 14 million people – an impossible task that means 16 women a day die needlessly due to pregnancy and delivery problems.

Petitions signed by thousands were handed in to David Cameron, Nick Clegg and the Minister for International Development, Douglas Alexander. We all set off home feeling stirred and motivated. Have at look at their video responses below:

Read about 100 years of International Women’s Day

We at Oxfam have invented a way for you to give a wake up call to world leaders. In 2000, leaders of the globe’s most powerful countries met and made some promises. Some really Big Promises to the world’s poor. They made a series of commitments that could significantly improve the lives of millions of the world’s poorest people. Have a look at my other blog about the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for more information about them.

Yet it would be complementing world leaders to say that progress, at this point in the critical time period, has been mixed. Some improvements have been made around the world, including in education, but in other areas things have actually been getting worse.

We at Oxfam have asked you to respond. By committing to keep a promise, as part of the Big Promise, ordinary people are showing world leaders how it’s done. And you’ve responded in your thousands. Big Promises have been made from Argentina to Australia.

Some of the promises made so far are very sensible – Anita from Canada promised to donate as much as she could to charity while Matthew from Japan promised to contact world leaders several times a week regarding gross injustice across the globe. Others are a little less serious: Edith Gabriela from Mexico promised to make cookies for all her friends and family, while Claire from the U.K. promised to relax!

My personal favourite? Gayle from Australia promised to do as much as she can to make sure her friends are happy and laugh. Gayle, I hope that you and your friends keep having fun while fighting world poverty!

As for me? I jumped out of a plane – and it was one of the bravest things I’ve ever done. Floating down over the twinkling lights of Swindon, through pink and purple-tinged clouds, I reflected that its not only keeping MDG promises that can be life changing.

Make a Big Promise

At this time each year millions of people are struggling to keep their week-old promises. Whether to play fewer computer games, go for a jog every day or practice random acts of kindness. It’s lent, a time when Christians all over the world give something up for the 40 days leading up to Easter.

Every year I consider giving up something and one year I even managed to give up chocolate – members of the Caroe household know that this was a great sacrifice!

Last year I gave up chocolate for lent. This year, I’m making a big Promise! Credit: Dianna House

But how about bigger promises? Much Bigger Promises? Back in 2000 world leaders made 8 huge promises to help poor people around the world. Among those promises were halving the number of people who live on less than $1 a day, making sure that all children receive a primary education, to reducing the number of children dying under five by two thirds and to cutting hugely the number of women dying in childbirth. They promised to meet all these commitments – called Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015.

It makes me very sad to report that you are likely doing far better on your lent promise, if you’ve made one, than these leaders are doing on their promises to the world’s poorest people. Now, two thirds of the way through the critical time-period, although some progress has been made, many of the MDGs have seen no progress at all, and in some of the areas things are actually getting worse.

Oxfam has come up with a way for you to give world leaders a wake-up call. By committing to keep a promise (as small or as big and as sensible or as wacky as you like) and telling us about it you will be acting with thousands of others to put pressure on world leaders to keep their word on the MDGs.

Make a promise this lent to put pressure on world leaders to keep theirs. A mass chocolate-eating marathon anyone?

Take action: Join the Big Promise.