While all of us do not have the luxury of living in a country that is a democracy, those of us who do can use the system that we live in to make a difference both for the people in our own country and those in countries overseas. It is important to recognise that the best thing about a democracy is that it allows you to DO things - not just feel relaxed that you have it. In the end, if there is no action to support democracy, there will be no democracy.

Life in a democracy
In a democracy, people are able to elect the candidates they want to represent them in various levels of governments. One of the features of a democracy is that it often represents the views of the majority. As individuals, we can make a difference with small actions especially with local issues.

If the issue is a bit bigger, you might want to share your ideas with others, and use strength in numbers to get the message across from a larger group. Working in groups is the key to effective change in most areas. The big problem is often finding those other people who have the same ideas as you so you can work together.

Pressure groups
Sometimes, groups known as pressure groups can be formed to provide a show of strength and to pool resources in order to bring their cause to the attention of the media and politicians. The idea is to pressure the politicians to vote to make changes that the particular group is pushing for.

What about places without a democracy?
There are a number of action groups already operating that you can join. World Vision has an Advocacy and Lobby section. The action points on this site are designed to have maximum impact and are focused on specific issues. Advocacy is a special process of speaking out on behalf of others. It is used by World Vision Australia (WVA) to help in 'fighting poverty by empowering people to transform their worlds'. It provides a voice for voiceless people in poor or marginalised communities.

Issues are identified and critical information is provided so that those who wish to take action are fully informed about the issue. A detailed list of action steps for particular issues is then provided. Whether you are a member of a group, or the leader of a group, it is a good idea to understand some of the tactics needed when you are planning for effective action, so we have outlined a number of them here.