Dear John
To mark Refugee Week, we are calling on you to ask your MP to oppose the inhumane Illegal Migration Bill
Climate change is forcing growing numbers of people to make dangerous journeys. So it’s more important than ever to strengthen international law and human rights. But unless it's changed, this cruel and unworkable bill will mark a historic attack on them.
We think it’s important that as many of us as possible publicly oppose this bill and ask our MPs to support changes that could stop the worst parts of it when it returns to the House of Commons*. So if you use Twitter, please tweet your MP today.
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The Archbishop of Canterbury has criticised the bill for failing to consider the climate impacts that drive migration and worsen conflicts.
He also warned of the damage the bill could do to the international pledge to aid refugees, saying “The UNHCR has warned that it could lead to the collapse of the international system to protect refugees. Is that what we want the United Kingdom’s contribution to be in our leadership?”
This is the time to tackle the root causes of today’s biggest issues – like rising global temperatures. Not to pass legislation that deepens injustice.
So please call on your MP to do the right thing and back changes that would reduce the damage the bill will cause.
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The factors that force people to take dangerous journeys and the climate crisis are closely linked.
Increasingly extreme weather is already worsening conflict, destroying homes and destabilising jobs.
For this and many other legitimate reasons, people need to be able to seek refuge. But this bill could effectively criminalise the basic right to seek asylum. Let’s take a stand against that before this bill becomes law.
We’re suggesting we all use Twitter for this action because we want to see how MPs respond in public on this controversial bill. But if you’re not a user, you could write them an email instead. You’ll find their email address here. And let us know if you have any questions.
Best wishes,
Denis Fernando
Friends of the Earth Campaigner
* At this stage MPs don’t have the power to stop the bill entirely.
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