From the source material we can see that 'Friends of the earth' has made a guide to educate people. This is an intelligent way to try to put the group's perceptions across and make the country know what they can do to help reduce the problem; this is a way of informing the public. Full-page advertisements attract every day people's attention. Big prints make people flick through and glimpse, in this way they get to see the problem. The 'Amnesty International' regularly puts a double spread in newspapers.
Another way in which organisations influence decision makers are; to conduct there own research and surveys then publish the results in newspapers, TV and radio. This method shows actual findings and therefore must be accurate hence the government pays attention to that particular group.
Pressure groups such as 'World wide fund for nature' arranged for mass card writing. People signed the cards and a huge number of people turned out to support the decision of banning deforestation. Because of the mass turn out of people the government decided to invite the group leaders to meetings and let them be in on influencing decision-making. This incurred in the government to change their policy towards the World bank and deforestation.
The other protesting method is using violence- this is when the group resorts to illegal methods in order for them to be taken seriously and some action to be taken. These people end up getting arrested. Some people put their lives at risk. The Green peace 'ship rainbow warrior' was arrested for entering the French nuclear testing zone in the Pacific, a place that can only be entered by professionals working there. This is a dangerous place where the 'warrior' put himself at risk with radioactive materials that could have killed him. There are also other dangerous chemicals that only the people working there have knowledge about. He probably took no safety precautions and was endangering not jut his own life but also the workers, because he may have caused an explosion because of his frantic behaviour. But it seems the protesters have no concern for their own lives. The entering of the building was by using illegal methods. The group was protesting to stop using the Greenland as test zones.
The government is forced to review the situation because the nuclear firm and the public will put on pressure. If someone is killed the government will be accused of not maintaining a democratic society where everybody has the right to put forward their opinions, peacefully. The reputation of the political party will be damaged because the public will think that the government does not reflect the views of the nation.
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If the pressure groups approach a single newspaper desk then only one newspaper will have their literature and not much people will be able to see it, but if a scene is created and something dramatic is done it will grab the headlines of nearly all the newspapers and television channels. This can therefore be a cheap way of advertising for free and all the country gets to hear their views, a cunning and devious way.
Question 2 - I discuss here the advantages and disadvantages of outside pressure groups.
Advantages
The pressure groups get to keep their independence; it keeps them separate from the political parties. But if they were insiders then they would have to abide by a certain code of conduct and be bound to particular rules, which were set by the government. The insiders would not be allowed to break these rules, this restricts them and does not make them feel totally independent, they would have boundaries, which they could not cross in terms of power, this limits them and they lose their right to complete individuality.
Sometimes like the group 'Greenpeace' the group would oppose to the governments policy and this would lead to criticism of the government by the pressure group and a total disagreement on both sides. The government would not tolerate this hence it would not work out between both parties, because publicly criticizing the government, whilst being an insider group would be against the rules. The above situation leaves you trapped and you are not able to express your thoughts and opinions as clearly as you want to, if you want to be an insider pressure group.
On some occasions the need to do something illegal arises. You want to be noticed and get the public opinion to focus on you. For example climbing up trees and not letting the builders get through because you believe that there is no need to create more buildings and ruining the landscape; this would be illegal but it would have to be done in your opinion. Even after the government's final decision you want to try a little harder and make them listen to you so you illegally protest, in frustration. If you were an insider group this sort of behaviour would not be acceptable and the government would review its decision whether to keep you as insider groups or not.
To make the public notice you, you can go on strike, in this way everybody realises the problem and the public order the government to do something. This a method which works, but in my opinion, the government would be against this idea because of the disruption that is caused and they would probably omit the party who carried out this sort of activity, from their conferences, because the government looks for clean records and groups which are sensible, well equipped to deal with situations and at the same time have knowledge on the subject matter.
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Disadvantages
The main disadvantage of being an outsider pressure group is that the group has far less or no access at all to government departments so are not on the whole; consulted by the government to give their contributions and opinions. They are left behind in this way and treated as underdogs. It seems that their views in that case are not taken very seriously and in order to get their voice across they have to go to a lot of trouble organizing demonstrations, going through lengthy ordeals to get attention from the government who are at the very top. These pressure groups are not taken seriously and only noticed when the headlines are hit, when the group does an illegal activity. This makes the outsider groups look like unreasonable, terrorists who are stubborn to get their own way.
Unlike the insiders the outsider groups do not receive financial support from the government. This puts the group in a difficult position, to produce advertising material and to promote their activities and views advertising material would prove expensive. The group will only then really be noticed if there is material produced by the group that can be given to the public. The group is placed in a very compromising situation; they either spend their own money or collect charity. The group is then very limited and is not seen as being very powerful therefore small groups on the majority are never really taken notice of because the government only pays serious attention to them if it sees that they have widespread public support.
In my view the above problem is what leads them to do illegal acts, which they carry out of desperation and feel the urge thinking that what they are saying is important. In my view outsider groups lead on in the future to be insiders gradually. It is important in democracy to have someone who has the will power to get laws changed if the majority does not see the laws as satisfactory.
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Question 3 - My personal opinion is stated here whether I think Democracy needs pressure groups.
It is essential for a country to maintain a democratic society where everybody's views are taken into account, in order to keep law and order in society. A balance has to be kept between the final decision makers (government) and the public, in this way a non-biased decision can be reached and different views are taken into account.
Democracy needs pressure groups so that any important issue that should be brought to the government's attention is raised and becomes the source of debate and discussion in parliament. Each town has a MP, who is contacted by the pressure group if it finds a subject matter that concerns them, if the problem is on a small scale it is dealt by the MP and the local borough but if a large scale problem occurs which cannot be dealt with the MP alone then the government is made aware of the situation and this matter is dealt with through parliament where the shadow side is involved and all other representatives of the party in other towns (MP's) contribute their opinions. The parliament discusses and legislates in order to reach a satisfying result.
To reflect the views of the public is the meaning of democracy, therefore every attempt is made to reach a verdict which is both suitable and voicing the opinion of the society. A law is then passed after lengthy discussion, co-operation and compromises, this can only be done if the pressure group has specialised, detailed knowledge on the issue which needs to be discussed. Pressure groups represent sectional public interest. The media is used to broadcast these views to the public so that they become aware of what is happening, they can either condemn or represent the same ideas of the group.
Pressure groups are a valuable asset in maintaining a democratic society. The groups help to provide checks on the government to see if they are in balance with their ongoing activities, in this way they are able to oppose any activity that they find unsatisfactory, thus the rest of society can get involved and participate in any activity that they agree to of the groups. The rest of the nation can get involved and their ears are opened properly and they start to review the situation in their minds, in this way the issue is brought to light. Pressure groups are useful because they get laws changed like in the case of the whaling they got democratic legislation. There is proof that the public have an influence over government and can change laws.
It is very handy to have insider pressure groups because they have contact with the government and are in a position where they can be listened to. These groups are contacted and asked for their opinions when a law concerning them is going to be put forward, in this way certain pressure groups do not have to wait and struggle until their voice is heard; they only have to personally contact the government and get themselves heard, as they are in an approachable position. The insider groups can cooperate with the government.
Violent pressure groups upset the democratic process by disrupting the balance and order in society. The best form of protesting is peaceful because in this way they are not regarded as lunatics who are disturbing the law and balance in society. It is very important to have pressure groups in order to have social cohesion, but damaging property and vandalizing buildings is not the way round. Terrorism is a form of pressure and in some cases it tends to work, but lives can be lost and people can be hurt, this makes the public start to hate you because it is not part of democracy and not very advantages.
Campaigning and peaceful pressure is the best function used to influence the government. Material, which is publicised by the group, provides information about the ideas that the group is holding. This is an advantage because people with busy lifestyles would never be able to demonstrate their attitudes but with petitions it makes life a lot easier and the public can feel safe and be confident that they are important to the government and somebody is taking care of the matter.
The media is an organ that sways public opinion; it persuades the public to a particular view. The pressure groups are needed to broadcast their views on air. In this way the government is kept in top form because it knows that every move is being kept track off. If the facts are not clear it causes the public to attend the issue. Democratic process needs a balanced argument so the media is used to put forward both views. It is a very important concept in society to have democracy, democratic process hopes to get the facts and not the propaganda. The country works by sifting through arguments and drawing up a conclusion.
Conflicts can be resolved, the main idea is that the government reviews the situation and accepts peaceful protest with mass public support, because people with similar views can get their own way. The whole of society can never agree with the same law but on the basis of power the law can be changed to reflect the views of the public. In simple terms the law is representing peoples views. Pressure groups are needed to persuade the government with full strength, to succeed and let the bill pass. If the view is accepted three times in parliament it can become law.
Pressure groups are most defiantly needed in society so that if a law does not seem to agree with public opinion it can be changed as the saying goes 'practise makes perfect.' It does not necessarily mean that the first law to be made is going to be accepted in society. If the law is changed after arguments it is better for the country as it will know that they are getting the best laws.
