Anyone can help alleviate poverty and global hunger by spending some time writing letters and talking to government representatives, say advocates of a lobbying group to combat global poverty.

Brian K. Clardy, an SIUC instructor of political science on leave from the University of Tennessee at Martin, said he is trying to get a Responsibility for Ending Starvation through Legislation, Trim-tabbing and Support (RESULTS) grassroots lobbying organization started at SIUC.

Clardy said RESULTS trains volunteers to speak to elected officials, the media and local communities in order to promote political activism in the fight against global poverty and hunger.

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He said everyone has the potential to help stop global poverty, especially people in the United States. He said because Americans have vast political, social and economic means to address these issues, it is easy for them to speak out against hunger and poverty.

The fate of one individual depends on the fate of another, Clardy said. Industrial countries cannot expect to survive with poverty, homelessness, disease and war.

Leigh Tivol, administrative assistant and community coordinator for RESULTS, said the United States needs to get political leaders to make a commitment to use whatever resources are available to end world hunger and poverty.

RESULTS identifies the programs that are most cost-effective and productive to help the poor, and we advocate for funding for those programs, Tivol said.

Tivol said there are more than 100 RESULTS groups across the country working to solve global poverty and hunger, and there are about 20 groups working to solve domestic issues of hunger and poverty.

Keith Johnson, regional organizer for RESULTS, said he is working with Clardy to get a RESULTS lobbying organization at SIUC. He said he believes in RESULTS because it gives everyday people a chance to make a difference.

Johnson said that within the last year, RESULTS advocates have successfully lobbied for $300 million in child survival program appropriations. He said that while foreign aid was cut by $1 billion for fiscal year 1996, RESULTS lobbying efforts increased child survival program funding by $25 million from the last year.

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How we accomplished this was that we had 98 face-to-face meetings with U.S. representatives and 18 face-to-face meetings with U.S. senators, he said. We found that in these face-to-face meetings congressmen are not bad people.

Clardy said RESULTS is a unique lobbying group because it does not require a lot of a members’ time.

We act purely on conviction, he said. The only cost that members will pay out is a 32-cent stamp to Congress.

Clardy said RESULTS will hold its first meeting tonight at 6:30 in Faner Hall, room 2408. All students, faculty and staff are welcome.