The Democratic Alliance has launched a new e-newsletter for DA supporters living outside of South Africa, titled DA Abroad, of which the first one was sent on 21 April 2010. You can also follow DA Abroad on Facebook and Twitter.

Below are a few of the stories:
Welcome to DA Abroad      
            
Welcome to the first edition of DA Abroad, a newsletter for all DA supporters living outside of South Africa.
The DA is hard at work changing South Africa for the better and implementing our vision where we are in government.

That vision is of an Open Opportunity Society for All, in which every person is free, secure and equal, where everyone has the opportunity to improve the quality of his life and pursue her dreams, and in which every language and culture has equal respect and recognition.

The DA Abroad is establishing hubs in all major cities across the world for DA supporters living in and around those cities to become active and involved, and to stay in touch with what is happening in South Africa. The London (UK) hub has already been running for 5 months.

I encourage you to send this newsletter on to friends, family and colleagues, and to sign up to the website.

Through the DA Abroad network, you can contribute to changing South Africa.

Yours sincerely,
Helen Zille     
    
 
Feature:      
You and the DA can make a difference back home      
            
Very few things can be as powerful and influential on national governments such as that glare and pressure from foreign governments, foreign business and the foreign press. Add to that a passionate group of people and a global network for effective mobilisation, and you have a mean machine!

The DA Abroad aims to do just this. We are a global network of South Africans and DA supporters living abroad, who want to make a difference and contribute to the success of our country. We live overseas for a variety of reasons but that doesn’t take away our South African”ness” and our love for the country and our people. So the question is: What can we do to help to steer South Africa in the right direction?

One way is through the DA Abroad Network. We have three broad objectives:
(1) To grow the DA Voter base – South Africans living abroad can now vote in the SA national elections and we intend to help as many people as possible to be aware and be registered for the next round of elections. The more people who vote DA, the more effective our democracy can operate.
 
(2) Spread the word of the DA’s vision of an Open Opportunity Society, and
 
(3) Make a real impact on South Africa through creating international awareness and mobilising the international community in defence of our constitution, country and spirit.
 
There are a number of ways we can create international awareness around key issues:
We can talk to our host governments of the countries we live in. 

We can raise awareness by contacting the press/media, or 
We can raise awareness by informing companies who have interests in South Africa, aware of polices that might affect them; We can host events that raise general public awareness.

By showing that we are part of a global community and network of South Africans who care
So that’s the foundation. In practice, we have already started doing this. In the UK the local DA Abroad hub has been operating since November 2009 and we’ve rolled out a number of campaigns.

We are currently running a fundraising campaign to help cover the cost for the DA’s court case to have the appointment Menzi Simelane as the Director of the National Prosecuting Authority nullified. Secondly we’ve helped to get the message out to the international press of the inappropriate shareholding of the ANC in a company that is going to be benefit from the World Bank loan to build an Eskom power plant. In addition we are organising organising a big event in July at which Dr Dion George, the DA’s Shadow Minister of Finance, will be speaking in London alongside John Thurso, Liberal Democrat on the Key Policy Debates, including Mine, Land, Pension Fund Nationalisation and the struggle for Economic Liberation.

We continue to work very closely with the DA's National Office with our ongoing campaigns and assisting in the growth of the DA's international supporter base. Aside from the campaigning, the DA Abroad also aims to provide South Africans with an opportunity to be part of a community and a global network. It’s there to put people in touch with each other and create a social environment where the can be in contact with like-minded people.

Right now, we have DA Abroad hubs up and running and we are planning to have a hub in your country too.

We can make a difference.
         
What has the DA Abroad been up to?
       
1. We have setup the UK Hub and are in the process of establishing the Australian, South Korean and Singaporean Hubs.
 
2. We are raising money for the DA’s court application to have Menzi Simelane's appointment declared unlawful and unconstitutional.
 
3. We attended the Homecoming Revolution in London in March 2010 where we met and spoke to many South Africans.
 
4. We helped raise international awareness around the inappropriate and unethical ANC’s shareholding in Hitachi Africa who would benefit from the World Bank loan for the development of a power plant. 
      
     
What's Next?
       
1. Continue to set up hubs in countries all over the world
So far we are active in the UK, Australia, South Korea and Singapore and we continue to grow. Be sure to sign-up to become a network member on our website. If you want to set up a hub in your country or be part of the local Organising Committee, please contact Ludre Stevens, Chairperson of the Steering Committee.
 
2. Upcoming London Event: 8 July 2010
Dr Dion George MP, DA Shadow Minister of Finance , will be speaking in London on 8 July 2010 on “The South African Economy: Key Policy Debates, including Mining, Land, Pension Fund Nationalisation and the struggle for Economic Liberation".
           
This is our first DA Abroad monthly newsletter.

We look forward to growing the DA inside and outside South Africa by building a constructive and positive global network!

Email: contact@da-abroad.org       Website: www.da-abroad.org