If you want to succeed when you are trying to change political minds and decisions, you need to ‘Keep it simple, stupid’, better known as K.IS.S.
Google it, and you’ll come across lots of pieces about the idea (example one, two).
Chris Rose in his NGO campaign bible, How to Win Campaigns, shows you how you can implement this idea (see here).
I started to use it when I worked in fisheries campaigns. I had a hunch that letters to the Commissioner with equations in them would only be read and understood by the chief scientist. As soon as the scientifically valid fishing equation was removed, the Commissioner’s office understood what we wanted.
I’ve found that simplification helps focus the attention of the people or person you want it to.
After a French President read this piece in the Times of London, the French Government changed their position in a matter of days, and informed the Commission.
When Fisheries Ministers became aware of the anti-discards campaigning work of the actress Gretta Scacchi, there was a lot more focus and support.
or more recently….
When the plight of the state of bluefin tuna was covered by National Geographic, countries around the world shifted their position.
And, when your lead MEP is prepared to cross-dress as a cod, you’ll get cross-party support.
Chris Davies MEP.
This approach may offend more cerebral policy wonks. They don’t get the laws you want.