How do we make change happen? Tamsin Rose Tech 2 the People, 10 October 2008

Tamsin Rose

Tech 2 the People, 10 October 2008

The status quo is not acceptable (or we would not be here today) Change does not happen automatically (or it would have happened already) We can imagine something different, something better The future has not happened yet so we can change it Why are we here?

The status quo is not acceptable (or we would not be here today)

Change does not happen automatically (or it would have happened already)

We can imagine something different, something better

The future has not happened yet so we can change it

Why is change so hard to achieve? The status quo ‘works’ because it is known. Change is unknown, you have to prove that what you want will ‘work better’ Even small changes can have unintended consequences and might be dangerous Some people or organisations benefit from the status quo and will oppose change Change = loss of control = unpredictable = fear Change requires effort, negotiation, compromise, leadership No wonder helping people and organisations to change is a specialised profession

The status quo ‘works’ because it is known. Change is unknown, you have to prove that what you want will ‘work better’

Even small changes can have unintended consequences and might be dangerous

Some people or organisations benefit from the status quo and will oppose change

Change = loss of control = unpredictable = fear

Change requires effort, negotiation, compromise, leadership

No wonder helping people and organisations to change is a specialised profession

Successful advocates communicate Why change is needed and why now. What you want to happen and how things will be different. Who will benefit and who will lose out. What it will cost and who will pay for it. What you want someone to do when they should do it. How you will help them.

Why change is needed and why now.

What you want to happen and how things will be different.

Who will benefit and who will lose out.

What it will cost and who will pay for it.

What you want someone to do when they should do it.

How you will help them.

The framework for action Understand the potential winners and losers of a change. Identify appropriate windows of opportunity for advocacy. Build coalitions and alliances to multiply the impact of messages. Develop arguments appropriate to target audiences.

Understand the potential winners and losers of a change.

Identify appropriate windows of opportunity for advocacy.

Build coalitions and alliances to multiply the impact of messages.

Develop arguments appropriate to target audiences.

Health as a source of leadership “ Medicine is a social science, and politics nothing but medicine on a grand scale ” . “ Doctors are natural advocates for the poor and social problems are largely within their jurisdiction.” Dr Rudolph Virchow “ If you keep doing what you have always done, you will get the results that you have always achieved”. `Dr Albert Einstein

“ Medicine is a social science, and politics nothing but medicine on a grand scale ” .

“ Doctors are natural advocates for the poor and social problems are largely within their jurisdiction.” Dr Rudolph Virchow

“ If you keep doing what you have always done, you will get the results that you have always achieved”. `Dr Albert Einstein

Challenges that can be hard to overcome Ideology : despite accepting the need for action and the type of action required, policy-makers may refuse to act because they do not believe in government regulation, think that action is better taken by other actors (self-regulation) or at different levels (global, national or local). Timing : policymakers can lack courage at critical moments because of electoral timetables. Conflict of priorities : Not ‘their’ issue, unwilling to spend their social or political capital, more urgent issues to resolve.

UK decides against lower BAC Only 2 countries in the EU have BAC levels of 0.8 milligrams. Ireland will cut to 0.5 in 2009. UK had planned to do the same. Who supported it? Association of Chief Police Officers, British Medical Association, Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents Evidence? University College London predicted it would prevent 65 deaths and 230 injuries a year in Britain. It would also save the economy 1 19 million pounds annually. In 2007, then road safety minister, said the Government was in favour of moving to a 50mg limit. New Minister says. 'We are not convinced (it) is the right answer. Drivers who are between 50mg and 80mg are not the ones we are most worried about. It's the ones above 100 mg’ .

REACHing a compromise Law to ensure safety of chemicals on the European market. During legislative passage, a war of evidence Costs : estimates provided by industry were €12.8 billion, European Commission estimated costs of up to € 5 billion. Savings : European Commission calculates 54 billion euros of savings in healthcare costs over 30 years, University College London estimates 284 billion. Highly contested regulation, heavy lobbying including 3rd country governments (US, Japan, Mexico), concerns about animal testing. Weakened law passed, many loopholes remain.

RIP cigarettes - a win for advocacy Cigarettes are the likely cause of one third of fire deaths and most non-fatal injuries in European countries. A European Commission report 14 countries found that 11,000 fires caused by smoking led to € 13 million of damage, 1,600 injuries and 520 deaths each year. Victims are often more likely to be from low income households and include nonsmokers, smokers, older people, children as well as adults, and fire-fighters. Since 2004, cigarettes sold in New York are RIP. Canada has also required it as well as several other US States. Tobacco industry lobbied hard in Europe against it. On 29 November 2007, Member State experts agreed to create a European standard for RIP cigarettes

Cigarettes are the likely cause of one third of fire deaths and most non-fatal injuries in European countries. A European Commission report 14 countries found that 11,000 fires caused by smoking led to € 13 million of damage, 1,600 injuries and 520 deaths each year. Victims are often more likely to be from low income households and include nonsmokers, smokers, older people, children as well as adults, and fire-fighters.

Since 2004, cigarettes sold in New York are RIP. Canada has also required it as well as several other US States. Tobacco industry lobbied hard in Europe against it.

On 29 November 2007, Member State experts agreed to create a European standard for RIP cigarettes

The key elements Using your evidence to create the key elements of an advocacy strategy including: Goals, Roadmap/timing, Partners, Champions, Opponents, Timing, Messaging.

Using your evidence to create the key elements of an advocacy strategy including:

Goals,

Roadmap/timing,

Partners,

Champions,

Opponents,

Timing,

Messaging.