All over France, strange postcards have been landing on the desks of MPs, policy makers and journalists. The message is simple but controversial: be more like the English.
If you’re from France or England, you’ll know these two countries have a colourful history and tempestuous relationship. And although separated by just 21 miles of water, the cultural gap can seem very wide.
So before you think we’ve lost our minds here at ONE, there is method in our madness. Both France and England (as part of the UK) set targets to spend 0.7% of national budgets on aid for the world’s poorest people. And last year, the UK delivered on this promise – a huge achievement that ONE members helped make happen, through many years of campaigning.
Both countries have experienced challenging economic times, and while the UK stepped up it’s development spending, France took a step back with cuts to its aid budget for the third consecutive year.
Our video gives you a cheeky reminder of the many ways the French don’t want to be anything like the English. But when it comes to helping the world’s poorest people, it wouldn’t hurt to be a bit more ‘comme les anglais’.
