Tips on Writing a Letter

Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)

Conference on Disarmament

General Assembly First Committee

UN Disarmament Commission

Special Session on Disarmament

Tips on writing a letter

Letters do make a difference! For 86 years, members of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom have been writing them, getting them published, informing and educating political leaders and the wider public by putting pen to paper.

Make the effort to write, address, seal, and send letters whenever you have the urge. If more people did so, there'd be less road rage and more accountable institutions!! Every letter reportedly represents up to hundreds of others that didn't make it onto paper or into the post box. It's your turn to do the writing!

There are no rules but if your goal is change, be strategic and: be sure to spell names correctly, be polite, including when you are passionate, focus your letter on only one issue or topic and always make it clear that you are looking forward to a reply.

‹ Letter to an Editor

The letters page is the most read section of newspapers and magazines. Space is limited space and competition is fierce so make each word count!

* Get to the point in the first line and refer to the article to which you are responding. Letters that respond to previously printed material frequently stand a better chance of being printed

* Challenge opponents with wit rather than abuse.

* Read the letters page in the publication to get a sense of the style and size that get into print.

* Senators and Representatives will clip and read anything with their names in it. If you call on them, by name, to take action, they'll take notice.

‹ Letter to legislators & government departments

Legislators rely on votes and are therefore responsive to public opinion. Government departments are institutions that alter slightly with administrations, but are largely overlooked by protesters. The individuals that make the wheels go around also deserve our attention.

* Studies have shown that a legible, hand-written letter to legislators goes farther than form letters or postcards. So write from your heart. If your writing is not very legible or if typing is much faster for you, go ahead and type your personal letter.

* Emphasize the duty the department has to represent a diversity of views and respectfully submit yours.

* You can afford to go into more detail in these letters; in fact you should demonstrate that you have a clear understanding of your issue. Include web site addresses for more information if you know the site is well researched and will add credibility to your case.

* Always ask specific questions and demand answers so that an actual reply will be sent (as opposed to a form letter).

* Letters signed by a number of people from divese organizations will be taken more seriously. If possible, go ahead and line up a "laundry list of diversity" to add weight to your letter.

*Once you are warmed up, it is often easy to tighten and edit such a letter to fit the more concentrated format that a letter to the editor requires.

‹ Letter to a diplomat

Your country is represented by individuals all over the world. Each embassy, mission or consulate should hear from its citizens directly.

* Names and titles are important to get right. Find out who your Ambassador is in any country from your Department of State. If you are concerned about your governments positions at a particular United Nations or international meeting, send your letter to the Ambassador or to the appropriate official, which can be covered by the use of, "Head of Delegation".

* Begin with a compliment or recognition of title.

* Emphasise that s/he is representing your country, or the citizens of the world, and should therefore take note of your views.

* Research your issue. Diplomats are a very specialized crowd, so take the time to show them you are aware of how their influence could help a situation.

* Beyond that, be brief (one page maximum); they don't read! Tread lightly on the polemics, and heavily on the recommendations.

* In any longer letter, use sub-headings to divide your text and make for easy skimming. On a computer, you can highight key words and phrases for the same purpose.

‹ Letter to a Corporation

Corporations depend on customer sales and good will.

* Address your letter to the CEO and CC the letter to influential people such as legislators, and publications.

* Make the most of your buying power; threaten to withdraw it! Generally, the corporation has no way of knowing whether you have been buying their products previously.

* Evoke the power of organised consumer boycotts

* If your organisational structure is behind you, use your organisation's name, and even relevant resolutions you have passed to amplify your individual effort.