Diocesan MDG committee member Robin Claytor, right, made a request for a more balanced U.S. farm bill at a July 5 town hall meeting with sixth district Congressman Bob Goodlatte, left.
Claytor, of St. Mark’s, Fincastle, asked Goodlatte to support a bill that would reform commodity payments for crops such as corn and cotton to allow small-scale farmers in the U.S. and developing countries to better eke out a living. More than 75 million of the world’s poorest people-- most of whom live on less than a dollar a day-- rely on farming for their livelihood.
Claytor said that the town hall meeting was his first experience with advocacy, and although he did not know what to expect, making a pitch for an issue related to the MDGs turned out to be “no big deal.”
“The town hall meeting is informal with people from all walks of life able to address Mr. Goodlatte directly. We were able to convey our message and let him know that he has a constituency who believes the MDGs are important,” said Claytor,
Joining Claytor at the meeting were the Rev. Helen Beasley, a diocesan priest and committee member, and Bishop Neff Powell. //
Interested in advocacy? Visit the Episcopal Public Policy Network at er-d.org/eppn.htm