Communication Strategies for Lobbying the 'Big Four'

In my last post I discussed how Christian Aid is beginning to lobby the 'Big Four' accounting firms to get them to change the tax laws, so that large corporations that work globally will be held more accountable about where their money is going.

They only way to change the laws though is to get the government and these companies on board. Christian Aid understands that the London-based International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) sets the rules for every company registered in Europe.

“The Big Four are key members of the IASB, with substantial influence on decisions that set the international accounting rules,” according to Christian Aid. So they know for changes to be made that must pressure the government, but also the members that have vital influence in the financial sector.

However, up to this point none of the ‘Big Four’ desire to change things. So Christian Aid is asking for all their followers to email these corporations to pressure them into making a change for the good of impoverished individuals.

Personally, I believe this to be a good step, but I don’t know how effective it truly is. You can show that your organization is truly passionate about the subject, but these corporations don’t truly care as long as they are making money. Christian Aid will probably have to do something more drastic to create a public outcry. However, I understand that exposure is a big deal and if they can get more exposure on the issue by sending out emails, press releases, You Tube videos it does create momentum.

I just don’t know how far their momentum can take them and this is the area in which having a variety of different causes can hurt them. I say that because with so many different followers there can be individuals volunteering in your organization that are more passionate about one area and not concerned with another. So Christian Aid might lose some of its force if it can’t gather all of it’s following to send emails.