முடிந்தால் யாராச்சும் தமிழில் மொழி பெயர்க்க முடியுமா?

What is Lobbying?

What is the difference between advocacy and lobbying?

Although most people use the words interchangeably, there is a distinction between advocacy and lobbying that is helpful to understand. When charity organizations such as TRO advocates on their own behalf, they seek to gather resources for a community, whether they appeal to individuals or to national governments about their actions, projects or ambitions. Lobbying refers specifically to advocacy efforts that attempt to influence legislation i.e. law making by the European Parliament.

What is the difference between grassroots lobbying and direct lobbying?

Grassroots lobbying is appealing to the general public to contact the legislature about an issue. Direct lobbying is contacting government officials or employees directly to influence legislation. If an issue is to be decided through a ballot initiative or referendum, appeals to the public are considered direct lobbying, because the public in this instance acts as the legislature. In our case, calling the BBC and asking them to be even handed in the news reporting of the Sri Lankan war can be direct lobbying.

Coalition Building & Public Engagement: Two Key Concepts for Our Advocacy/Lobbying Efforts

A coalition is a group of interdependent people (for example the Tamils in London) focused on advancing or opposing a particular issue. A coalition’s power lies in its ability to present a united front. It mobilizes allies through grassroots efforts to increase community understanding and support. The Hyde Park ‘July 83’gathering by the UK Tamil community last month is an example. A few days after this meeting a team from the British Embassy in Colombo went to Kilinochchi and met up with Mr Thamilselvan and discussed issues.

A coalition is effective only when its issue has merit and the coalition members are organized, informed, and dedicated to communicating the importance of the effort. Coalition building calls for establishing and developing contacts that work well together.

In order to form a coalition, the public must be informed and engaged on the issue(s). Public engagement is a different way of getting people involved in community decisions that gets beyond traditional forums, such as board meetings, public hearings or advertising campaigns.

Why Lobby? Ten Reasons

Ten Reasons to Lobby for Our Cause

1. You can make a difference. In Toledo, United States, a single mother struggling to raise her son without the help of a workable child support system put an ad in a local newspaper to see if there were others who wanted to work for change. There were. Over time, they built the Association for Child Support Enforcement, which has helped change child support laws across the US.

2. People working together can make a difference. We, Tamils know the exact meaning of this.

3. People can change laws. History is full of people and groups that fought against great odds to make great changes: child labour laws, clean air and water laws, public schools, minimum wage etc. These changes in Europe and other western countries were not easy to achieve. They all took the active involvement - the lobbying - of thousands of people who felt something needed to be changed.

4. Lobbying is a democratic tradition. The act of telling our policy makers how to write and change our laws is at the very heart of our democratic system. It is an alternative to what has occurred in many other countries: tyranny or revolution. Lobbying has helped keep the democracies in which we live in evolving over more than two centuries.

5. Lobbying helps find real solutions. People thinking creatively and asking their elected officials and institutions such as the BBC, UNICEF for support can generate innovative solutions that overcome the root causes of a problem.

6. Lobbying is easy. Lobbying is not some mysterious rite that takes years to master. You can learn how to lobby - whom to call, when, what to say - in minutes. There are a few simple reporting rules that your community organization needs to follow, but they are not complicated.

7. Policy makers need your expertise. Few institutions are closer to the real problems of people than charity and community groups. Every professional lobbyist will tell you that personal stories are powerful tools for change. People and policy makers can learn from your story.

8. Lobbying helps people. Everything that goes into a lobbying campaign in where we live - the research, the strategy planning, the phone calls and visits - will help to full fill your goal of helping our people back at home.

9. The views of an MP are important. Because governments often decide how to spend tax money, local organizations have even more responsibility to tell local policy makers what is needed and what will work. Our lobbying can have an immediate, concrete impact on people in need.

10. Lobbying advances our cause that is making our people to live in peace and with security and this builds public trust. Building public trust is essential to all of our organizations and lobbying helps you to gain it by increasing our organization's visibility. Just as raising funds and recruiting volunteers are important to achieving our organization's mission, so is lobbying.

Lobbying - The Basics

Targeting Legislators (MPs etc)

Lobbying legislators is about persuading them to do what you want. There are five main categories of legislators to think about, each requiring its own special strategy:

Champions

All issues need a group of lawmakers dedicated to being tireless, committed advocates for your cause. What they can do for you is make the case to their colleagues, help develop a strong "inside" strategy, and be visible public spokespeople. What they need is good information, and visible support.

Allies

Another group of legislators will be on your side but can be pushed to do more -- to speak up in party caucuses or on the floor.

Fence Sitters

Some legislators will be uncommitted on the issues, potentially able to influence either way. They are your key targets and lobbying strategy is about putting together the right mix on "inside" persuasion and "outside" pressure to sway them your way.

Mellow Opponents

Another group of legislators will be clear votes against you, but who are not inclined to be active on the issue. With this group what's key is to keep them from becoming more active, lobbying them enough to give them pause but not to make them angry.

Hard Core Opponents

Finally, there are those lawmakers who are leading your opposition. What is important here is to isolate them, to highlight the extremes of their positions, rhetoric and alliances and to give other lawmakers pause about joining with them.

"Inside" vs. "Outside" Lobbying

Effective lobbying requires a coordination of two very different kinds of lobbying activity:

"Inside" Lobbying

This includes a mix of the following:

Meetings with lawmakers and legislative staff.

Providing analysis and information to committees and legislative offices.

Testifying in committee.

Negotiating with policy makers and other lobby groups.

For the most part this type of lobbying is carried out by, or in coordination with advocates who work on a regular basis at an institution like the European Parliament.

"Outside" Lobbying

An effective lobbying campaign also requires activity outside the political institutions, aimed at shifting the politics and pressure around the issue. Some of these activities include:

Media activity including news conferences, editorial board visits, and assisting reporters with stories.

Local lobbying visits by constituents to their legislators.

Building broad and diverse coalitions.

Letter writing campaigns to legislators.

Grassroots activity such as rallies, etc.

It is important that these kinds of "outside" lobbying activities be coordinated with "inside" lobbying activity, to assure that they make strategic sense in terms of timing, targeting, messages, etc.

Six Practical Tips on How to Lobby Your Legislator or Elected Official

Establish your agenda and goals.

Know what subject you are going to address. Don't overload with issues -- stick to no more than two or three.

Decide what you would like to get out of the visit, i.e., a commitment to vote for your issue, leadership on the issue, or you may decide the visit is simply informational.

Allow time for small talk at the outset, but not too much. Remember, it's your visit.

If it is a group visit, decide who will start the discussion and put your agenda on the table.

Listen well.

Much of lobbying is listening, looking for indications of the elected official's views, and finding opportunities to provide good information.

If you are meeting with a "silent type," draw her/him out by asking questions.

If you are confronted with a "long-winded type," look for openings to bring her/him back to the point.

Be prepared, but don't feel that you need to be an expert.

Most elected officials are generalists, like many of us. Do your homework, but don't feel that you need to know every little detail of an issue. Air personal feelings and experiences where appropriate. Relate the concerns of your friends and members of the community.

Know when to admit "I don't know," and offer to follow up with the information.

Be open to counter-arguments, but don't get stuck on them. Don't be argumentative or confrontational.

Don't stay too long.

Try to get closure on your issue. If you hear what you had hoped for, express your thanks and leave. If you reach an impasse, thank her/him, even if disappointed, and say so. Leave room to continue the discussion at another time.

Remember you are there to build a relationship.

If the elected official is good on an issue you've been involved in or has supported your position in the past, be sure to acknowledge your appreciation during the course of the visit.

If the opposite is true, think of the phrase, "No permanent friends, no permanent enemies." Some day, on some issue of importance to you, s/he may come through. In the meantime, your visit may prevent the official from being an active opponent. In other words, you may help to turn down the heat on the other side.

Follow-up is important.

Be sure to send a thank-you note after the visit. If commitments were made in the meeting, repeat your understanding of them. If staff members were present, write to them too. They can often be important allies.

Ways To Make Your Voice Heard

People who work with charities or in direct services have an important role to play in educating public officials about the issues and concerns they deal with.

Letter Writing: Writing to a public official does make a difference. They know that every person who writes represents many others who feel the same but don't write. Follow these tips to be most effective:

Be clear about what you want, listing the issues, etc.

Tell a story or example to make the issue real.

Ask for a direct response with his or her position.

Personal letters are much better than form letters or petitions.

Visits: Every citizen has the right to seek a meeting with their legislator, council person or other elected representative. These tips will help make visits effective:

Keep your group small (4-5 people).

Make your group diverse.

Discuss in advance how to handle the meeting.

Be direct but not threatening.

Know your facts.

Leave informational material with the official.

Try to arrange the visit on your turf. Invite the person to tour a clinic or whatever facility or site which conveys your message in real and human terms.

Establish a relationship with staff: Many elected officials have staff people you can contact. These people are generally more accessible than the official and can usually help to get your message through

சனியன், இந்த ஆக்கத்திற்கான மூலம் என்ன வென்று சொல்ல முடியுமா?

இருக்கும் தவறுகளை எனையவர்கள் திருத்திவிடவும். சில பதங்களிற்கு நேரடியாக மொழிபெயர்பு தெரியவில்லை.

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lobbying - கொள்கை நிலைப்பாடு சார்ந்த கருத்தியல் ஆதரவுத் தளம் உருவாக்கல். இது கொள்கை வகுப்பாளர்கள், சட்டவாளர்கள், அரசியல்வாதிகள் இராஜதந்திரிகளை போன்றவர்களை நோக்கியது.

advocacy - நிறுவனங்கள் அமைப்புகள் தமது நடவடிக்கைகளிற்கான நேரடி உதவிகளை அனைத்து வடிவங்களிலும் (பொருள், பணம், ஆள் அணி) பெற முயற்சிப்பது.

அடிமட்ட கருத்தியல் ஆதரவுத் தள உருவாக்கல் என்பது சாதாரண மக்களை நோக்கியது. சாதாரண மக்கள் மத்தியில் ஆதரவுத்தளத்தை உருவாக்குவதன் மூலம் அவர்களுடைய அரசியல் பிரதிநிதிகள் மத்தியில் அந்த ஆதரவுத்தளத்தை ஏற்படுத்த முயற்சிப்பது.

நேரடி கருத்தியல் ஆதரவுத் தள உருவாக்கல் கொள்கை வகுப்பாளர்கள், சட்டவாளர்கள், அரசியல்வாதிகள் இராஜதந்திரிகள் போன்றோரோடு நேரடியான முயற்சியில் ஈடுபடுவது. இதற்கு உதாரணமாக பிபிசி போன்ற ஊடகங்களை இலங்கையில் நடக்கும் யுத்தம் பற்றி நடுநிலையாக செய்திகளை வழங்குமாறு கேட்பதை கூறலாம்.

நிலைப்பாடு சார்ந்த கூட்டுறவு உருவாக்கலும் பொதுசன உறவாடலும் மேற் கூறிய இரண்டிற்கும் முக்கியமான அம்சங்களாகும்.

நிலைப்பாடு சார்ந்த கூட்டுறவு உருவாக்கலில் சுயாதீனமாக பொதுமக்கள் கொள்கை மற்றும் நிலைப்பாடுகள் சார்ந்த ஒற்றுமையின் அடிப்படையில் ஒன்று சேர்ந்து இயங்குவது. நிலைப்பாடு சார்ந்த கூட்டுறவு உருவாக்கலின் சக்த்தி என்பது ஒற்றுமையாக தம்மை தேவை கருதி முன்னிறுத்துவதில் தங்கியிருக்கிறது. இதற்கு அடிமட்ட கருத்தியல் ஆதரவுத்தள உருவாக்கலின் மூலம் சமூகங்கள் மத்தியில் பரந்துபட்ட ஆதரவை பெற்றுக் கொள்ளலாம். இதற்கு உதாரணமாக லண்டன் நகரிலுள்ள தமிழர்களையும் அவர்கள் 1983 இனக்கலவர நினைவு நிகழ்வுகளை நடத்திய முறையையும் எடுக்கலாம். இந்த நிகழ்வு நடந்து சில நாட்களில் கொழும்பிலுள்ள பிரித்தானிய தூதுவராலயித்தின் குழு ஒன்று கிளிநொச்சி சென்றிருந்தது.

நிலைப்பாடு சார்ந்த கூட்டுறவு உருவாக்கல் வினைத்திறன் உள்ளதாக அமைய முதற்கண் அந்த நிலைப்பாடுகளிற்கு அர்த்தமும் மதிப்பும் இருக்க வேண்டும். இந்த கூட்டுறவு முயற்சியில் இணையும் அங்கத்தவர்கள் தாம் சேவைபுரிய இணையும் நிலைப்பாடுகள் பற்றிய பூரண விளக்கத்தையும் அறிவையும் கொண்டிருக்க வேண்டும். தம்மை திறம்பட நடவடிக்கைகளை செயற்படுத்தக் கூடிய ஒரு அமைப்பாக ஒழுங்கமைத்துக் கொள்ள வேண்டும். தமது கூட்டுறவின் மூலம் சொல்லப்பட வேண்டிய செய்தியில் அர்ப்பணிப்பும் தெளிவும் தேவை. நிலைப்பாடு சார்ந்த கூட்டுறவு உருவாக்கல் எதிர்பார்க்கப்படுவது எல்லாம் ஒன்றிணைந்து திறம்பட செயற்படக்கூடியவர்களோடு உறவுகளை உருவாக்குவது அதை வலுப்படுத்திக் கொள்வது.

நிலைப்பாடு சார்ந்த கூட்டுறவு உருவாக்கலிற்கு பொதுசனங்கள் உள்ளவாங்கப்பட வேண்டும். பொதுசனங்களோடு உறவாடல் என்பது அவர்களை உள்வாங்குவதற்கான ஒரு வடிவம். இது மரபுவழிகளில் இல்லாது வடிவங்களிலும் நடத்தப்படலாம் உதாரணத்திற்கு விளம்பரங்கள், பொது மேடைப் பேச்சுக்கள், நிர்வாக குழுமங்கள்.

கொள்கை நிலைப்பாடு சார்ந்த கருத்தியல் ஆதரவுத் தளம் உருவாக்க வேண்டியதற்கான 10 காரணங்கள் என்ன?

......பின்னர் தொடர்கிறன்.....