A recent public opinion poll found more than half of 16-44-year-olds in London and the South-East would be more likely to vote in the forthcoming General Election if politicians addressed global poverty and international development as well as domestic issues.
These findings undermine the claim that Britain has become an insular nation suffering from compassion fatigue.
The poll coincides with the launch of Global View 2001, an alliance of 28 leading
UK charities, campaigning groups and churches. Global View 2001 has drawn up a manifesto that urges the main parties to commit themselves to a range of international policies, from debt relief and increased aid to tighter arms controls.
In the coming weeks, many supporters of Global View will try to persuade politicians to listen to their concerns for the world's poorest people. Global View 2001 has well more than 4 million supporters. Politicians ignore these voices at their peril.
-Harriet Fink, St Martin's Street, Brighton
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