Weekly Action - 16 October 2024 - Russia Reform
This week’s opening of the public inquiry into the Salisbury poisonings is a reminder of the crucial need to reform rogue regimes in Russia and around the world. Take action today.
Salisbury poisonings
This Monday 14 October saw the start of the public inquiry into the tragic death of Dawn Sturgess in 2018 from exposure to the nerve agent Novichok. The bottle with the chemical had been discarded following the attempted murder of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury. Both were taken seriously ill after exposure, as was Nick Bailey, a former police officer, and Charlie Rowley, Dawn’s partner. The UK and many other governments and independent experts around the world point to Russian intelligence agents as the culprits. The Russian government of course denies all involvement. The inquiry, the murder, the ongoing war in Ukraine, and the ever-growing tensions between Russia and the west, highlights once again how important it is to focus on political freedom and reform in Russia, and indeed in many other repressive countries. This is crucial, both to improve basic rights and freedoms, and address the root causes driving much international tension.
Reform Movements
The road out of repression and back to democracy, human rights and freedom in Russia and many other autocratic countries will be long and hard, requiring much courage, sacrifice and perseverance. All the lessons from history indicate that where dramatic improvements in democracy, good governance and human rights have occurred in countries around the world, they have overwhelmingly been driven by mass peaceful domestic protest movements calling for reform and change. This is one of the key conclusions from the Arise Manifesto report, Arise’s Biblical and researched vision for a better world. We see it in the lessons from the Bible (The Arise Manifesto, pg 86 – 88), where prophets like Daniel challenged the rulers of their day, “Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and you wickedness by being kind to the oppressed” (Dan 4: 27).
We also see it when we look at the lessons from history (The Arise Manifesto, pg 108 – 119). In recent decades peaceful reform movements have had dramatic success in Serbia, Madagascar, Georgia, Ukraine, Lebanon, Nepal, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, East Germany, Slovenia, Mali, Bolivia, the Philippines, Zambia, South Korea, Chile, Argentina, Haiti, Brazil, Uruguay, Malawi, Thailand, Bulgaria, Hungary, Nigeria, and many other countries. Of course such movements require great courage and perseverance from those involved. They are not guaranteed to succeed every time. But overwhelmingly the power of ordinary people peacefully refusing to submit is remarkable, and has continually proved the most successful way to improve democracy, human rights and good governance in nations around the world.
Christians at the heart of Reform Movements
Throughout history, Christians and churches have played a hugely important central role in such reform movements (The Arise Manifesto, pg 283 – 303). They have worked well alongside journalists, academics, activists, students, trade unions and others in the movement. Supporting such bottom-up Reform Movements (and the Christians that are so often at the heart of them) is one of three key focus campaigns for Arise.
This week will you take action as part of Arise’s Reform Movements campaign, to support brave democracy and human rights activists in countries all around the world?
Take Action
Speak out in advocacy
Message your MP via social media. Ask them to urge the government to scale up support for pro-democracy and human rights reform movements not just in Russia, but also around the world, in the ways that those movements want. This might involve spotlighting and publicly condemning specific incidents, diplomatic pressure, targeted sanctions, recovering stolen national assets, travel bans for regime members, offering asylum for activists who have had to flee, or multiple other actions. Find your MP and their social media contact details here, or search for them on your favourite social media platforms.
Pray
Pray for protection and peace for those who continue to bravely demand human rights, greater freedom, democracy and change, in Russia and other countries around the world, day after day. Pray for the Christians amongst them who are playing their part. Pray for change and reform, for governments that are truly democratic and respect all human rights.
Give
Give to Christian organisations like International Justice Mission, and to secular groups like Freedom House, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, who are doing crucial work protecting human rights globally.
Practical Action
Arise is looking for volunteers to help us spread the message further by setting up local Arise church groups, growing our network, administration and in many other ways. Contact us at info@ariseuk.org if you are interested in volunteering with Arise.
Ethical Consumption
Try and avoid buying products and services from companies whose operations (inadvertently or not) are helping to prop up unjust regimes. Check out the Ethical Consumer website for guidance on this.
Find out more
Latest news – Updates on previous campaigns and latest news from the Arise movement.
Join a local Arise group in your church or area – It’s great to take this action as individual Christians, but even better to come together with others to pray, discuss, worship, learn, have fun and take action together. Contact Arise if you are interested.
Arise Manifesto – Find out more about this week’s action in the Arise Manifesto, Arise’s big picture, researched, Biblical, holistic and practical vision for a better world.
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