International Simultaneous Policy Organization
 | |
| Motto | Breaking down the barriers to solving world problems. |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2000 |
| Founder | John Bunzl |
| Location |
|
Key people | John Bunzl (Coordinator) and Gill Wright (International Outreach) |
| Website | http://www.simpol.org |
The International Simultaneous Policy Organisation (ISPO) is a voluntary organization that promotes the Simultaneous Policy (Simpol) campaign. It was founded by British businessman, John Bunzl, in 2000.[1]
Description
The ISPO describes itself as "a growing association of citizens world-wide who aim to use their votes in a new, co-ordinated and effective way to drive all nations to co-operate in solving our planetary crisis". It believes that transnational citizen action is vital because "global markets and multinational corporations so comprehensively overpower individual nations that no politician dares make the first move to solve global problems for fear of competitive disadvantage".[2]
ISPO aims to overcomes this paralysis by bringing all nations to adopt in principle - and then to simultaneously implement - the Simultaneous Policy (Simpol), a range of democratically formulated regulations to bring about economic justice, environmental security and peace around the world.[3]
By supporting Simpol, ISPO's citizen-members pledge to vote in future elections for ANY political party or candidate - within reason - that has signed a pledge to implement Simpol's range of measures only when all or sufficient other governments have also signed. ISPO argues that, as more and more citizens act in this way, politicians will have no choice but to sign the Pledge if they wish to remain in office, or else they risk losing their seats to other politicians who have adopted it. One of its slogans is "Use Your Vote to Take Back the World!"[4]
Diversity of Support
Individuals and politicians who have adopted ISPO's simultaneous policy have come from all parts of the political spectrum.
"SP provides a global regulatory and governance framework within which global free markets can operate freely, fairly, and within sustainable environmental limits." John Bunzl.[5]
Scope
The Simultaneous Policy presently has campaigns running in twenty seven countries:[6]
Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Cameroon, Canada, Denmark, East Africa region, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Mali, Malta, Nepal, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom and Uruguay
As the United Kingdom was first to campaign it has more politicians who have signed the pledge. These politicians come from across the political spectrum:
- Conservative Party: Philip Hollobone MP (2006), John Penrose MP (2005), Henry Smith MP (2010)
- Green Party: Caroline Lucas MP (2004)
- Labour: Roger Godsiff MP (2007), John Hemming MP (2010), John McDonnell MP (2005), Catherine McKinnell MP (2010), Grahame Morris MP (2010)
- Liberal Democrat: Tom Brake MP (2007), Annette Brooke MP (2010), Lorely Jane Burt MP (2006), Mike Crockart MP (2010), Lynne Featherstone MP (2006), Don Foster MP (2006), Duncan Hames MP (2005), Andrew George MP (2004), Mike Hancock MP (2004), Martin Horwood MP (2007), John Leech MP (2010), Stephen Lloyd MP (2010), Adrian Sanders MP (2005), Mark Williams MP (2006)
- Plaid Cymru: Elfyn Llwyd MP (2010)
Individuals who have signed but are no longer MPs are: Conservative Party: Sir Richard Body; Labour: Celia Barlow, Tony Benn; Liberal Democrat: Lembit Öpik[7]
In addition, there exists a growing number of Simpol partner organisations that support the democratic aims and principles of the Simultaneous Policy. These include the Canadian Action Party and the Global Justice Movement.[2]
The Australian Federal Election of October 2004 saw 59 candidates pledge their support for Simpol.[8]
In the UK 200+ candidates for the elections of 2010 pledged to implement the Simultaneous Policy, of whom 24 were elected as MPs.[9] Former President of East Timor José Ramos-Horta has pledged his support for the policy.
References
- ↑ About Simpol-UK: uk.simpol.org - About Simpol-UK
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 ISPO: From Globalization to Sustainability - A New Global Policy for Social Justice
- ↑ TED.com - TEDxBerlin - Crossing Borders (2012)
- ↑ Simpol.org - Campaign concept
- ↑ guardian.co.uk: Synchronised thinking | Comment is free | guardian.co.uk
- ↑ Simpol.org - Contacting Simpol in your country
- ↑ simpol.org: Endorsements
- ↑ John Bunzl of SimPol.org talks to GPM | Global Public Media
- ↑ uk.simpol.org - MPs who have signed the Simpol Pledge