Faiths Act

On April 13th Tony Blair joined the Foundation’s Twitter community for his first live twitter conversation using the hashtag #asktonymalaria.

This was an opportunity for our supporters to submit their questions on the global campaign to end malaria, why he thinks this can promote respect and understanding between people of different religions and let him know how they are taking action against malaria.

There wasn’t time to answer all the fantastic questions he had in but below is a transcript of all those he was able to speak to.

If you weren’t able to make the conversation you can still get involved with our Faiths Act World Malaria Day campaign. We’ve already sent 1000’s of Faiths Act Ribbons around the world from Ethiopia to Singapore. These ribbons can help us save lives as Sumitomo Chemical will donate a Olyset bed net to Malaria No More UK for every 10 people pictured wearing a ribbon!! Find out more at www.faithsact.org

Tony Blair: I’m online for my 1st twitter chat & looking forward to answering your ques & hearing your World Malaria Day plans

@Delilahbrandy: I live in a small Canadian city-is there a way I can find fellow anti-malaria activists to help me to spread awareness?

Tony Blair: Sign up to my fdn at http://bit.ly/signupfaithsact to connect w/ other vols & our new Canadian Fellows #asktonymalaria.

@jroderick: What can faith groups do to raise awarness of artemisinin resistance?

Tony Blair: Faith groups r often trusted voices & have big role in reiterating health messages like artemisinin-based combination therapies.

@HAH26: how comitted is this government to the world malaria project? How will this positive 'politicing' be celebrated?

Tony Blair: 750k people die every year through malaria, yet a bed net cots $10 and saves a family, our common humanity demands we act

@HAH26: tbff is a winner in enabling students to learn collaboratively with students world wide. Malaria discussion very valuable.

@Draz_DJ: What can faith communities add in the battle to end malaria?

Tony Blair: Churches & Mosques can be distribution centres for bed nets and medicines in Africa. Faith communities can raise funds/ awareness

@Draz_DJ: How successful do you think MDGs have been?

Tony Blair: Patchy, but malaria deaths have come down, primary school enrolment is up, and some countries making great headway on poverty

Tony Blair: So lots to do!

@MediaLizzy: My daughter's school hosting @FaithsAct thru multi-faith group, how important are young folks to #endmalaria

Tony Blair: The commitment of young people that has led way on malaria relief across the faith divide, schools huge for raising awareness

@MediaLizzy: Do think w/youth raising awareness - that tackling malaria or other issues will yield dramatic progress?

Tony Blair: I think we have a historic opportunity to #endmalaria if young people take this campaign to heart

@MediaLizzy: Agreed. My daughter shared details of the @FaithsAct event - all agreed "They need nets. We can get nets. So let's do this."

@micksheldrick: R thr any stories of actions taken by faith communities 2 #endmalaria that inspire U & illustrate positive #interfaith work?

Tony Blair: Project Muso in Mali where Jews, Muslims and Christians are together saving 1000s of lives, and NIFFA in Nigeria

@NJav: Hi Tony, what is a very simple way I can help #endmalaria this world malaria day?

Tony Blair: Raise awareness in your faith community, as you did through your work as a Faith Acts Fellow, so thanks

@ mathew4barwell: Hi, I support Tearfund (a Christian NGO), which works across Africa; are such groups proving effective?

Tony Blair: Yes, which is one reason why malaria deaths have fallen 250k in the last decade, but still long way to go

@harshasharma: NIFAA http://bit.ly/dSvfZU great ex #interfaith #malaria work Christians+Muslims.Wht shld we learn frm them?

Tony Blair: Agree that NIFAA in #Nigeria is a fantastic example of faiths uniting against malaria

@harshasharma: also whats most inspiring moment/event experienced thru ur #interfaith #malaria work? Keep up the great work!

Tony Blair: Seeing Christians and Muslims in Sierra Leone agreeing to work together to reduce malaria deaths, in one of poorest places

@hannahtapsell: I'm a primary school teacher. Is there anything I can get my school involved with to help the foundation?

Tony Blair: You can join the @Faithsact schools challenge at http://bit.ly/hj8YhD>p>

@hannahtapsell: What a guy!!

@nothingbutnets: For World Malaria Day we're honoring Champions to #endmalaria like you at http://ow.ly/4zf9Q

Tony Blair: Honoured to be a malaria champion, all down to hard work of @faithsact volunteers

@timbrauhn: From a @FaithsAct alum - How can we convince people that malaria is more important than, say, pneumonia?

Tony Blair: it isn't more important but it's entirely preventable & what’s more we can help wherever we are

@mattbjones: Does fighting disease have the potential to bring religious extremists into the fold? Is this an objective

Tony Blair: I believe people of faith working 2gether on malaria can break down barriers between faiths & isolate those trying 2 divide

@ kristiwooten: What is the most important thing the avg American can do to help stop malaria transmission? Buy nets/donate/volunteer?

Tony Blair: All of the above raise awareness in their communities, schools, places of worship, donate to malaria charities, buy bed nets

@kristiwooten: Thk you for matching funds raised @ WorldMalariaDayAtlanta2010! Gtg ready 4 WMD'11 April 30

@kate_millar: What most inspired you to choose malaria as your cause? Seeing children dying? The preventability? Faith?

Tony Blair: Malaria is a preventable disease killing ¾ million people annually mainly under 5's & pregnant women, we have moral obligation

@princemalc: Mr. Blair isn't tackling some of the reasons for mosquito breeding such as sanitation a major area to be funded?

Tony Blair: No one thing will beat malaria need bed nets, removing stagnant water, in house spraying walls & new drugs

Tony Blair: A picture of me getting to grips with twitter, thanks for all the questions http://twitpic.com/4ke4td

Tony Blair: That's all I have time 4 today. Thanks so much for ques & comments. U can get involved w/ my fdn at http://www.faithsact.org

@spreadthenet: Yes - we are excited to be on board! Keep up the great work as well #malaria #faithsact

@malarianomoreuk: We helped protect 2million people from #malaria in 2010 thanks to supporters, inc @Tonyblair_TBFF! #AskTonyMalaria what r ur plans this yr?

@ayubkhan65: Great to see you have caught up with global technology! Keep up the great work you are doing it does make a difference.

@TTBellies: just need to get you doing it on your phone now!