Oxfam Ireland | Unwrapped | Fair Trade Online Shop | Donate Now

Oxfam IrelandOxfam Ireland

Vote for Global Justice

1. Keep Our Aid Promises

EU ElectionsAs the global recession strikes worldwide, the poorest will inevitably be hit hardest. This year alone, more than 50 million people are set to be thrown into poverty as a result of the downturn. The Irish government has now slashed the aid budget by a quarter in just nine months and Ireland will spend less than 50 cent in every hundred euro of income on aid this year. Aid was targeted for the deepest cuts hurting the poorest and most vulnerable who’ve done least to cause the current crisis.

The European Union has kept its long standing promises on aid but thanks to countries like Ireland they are now off track. Your MEP’s voices are important to keep pressure on all European governments to keep their aid promises and ensure we support people in developing countries to have access to education, healthcare, and a chance to escape poverty.

2. Stop Climate Chaos

The world is headed for climate catastrophe. On current trends the world is set to warm by as much as 6 degrees Celsius with unknown but potentially devastating consequences for billions of people. The world has already warmed by 0.8°C over pre-industrial levels and the average number of people affected by climate-related disasters each year is set to grow by over 50 per cent to 375 million by 2015. Furthermore, even if the world meets a target of keeping the global temperature rise to 2°C, as many as 1.8 billion people will be affected by water stress due to shrinking water availability.

This December in Copenhagen, the world’s governments will meet to agree a global deal to cut greenhouse gas emissions – a successor to the famous Kyoto Protocol. The EU as one of the world’s largest climate polluters must lead the way in cutting emissions, and supporting developing countries to adapt to climate change and pursue sustainable futures. Your MEP’s voices are important to keep the pressure on European governments to tackle climate change, to agree an adequate deal and to make sure the EU sticks to it.

3. Make Trade Fair

Developing countries are also being hit by the global recession, as prices for their goods plunge. But rich countries, including the EU continue to push for unfair trade deals – threatening further jobs, livelihoods and government revenue. After the failed promises of the Doha Development Round of world trade talks the European Union is now pushing unfair trade deals (Economic Partnership Agreements) on the poorest countries, pushing them to liberalise sectors such as banking even as we are imposing further regulations here in Europe.

Your MEP’s voice is vital to push for fairer trade deals. The European Parliament has to agree to new trade deals and can block unfair ones.

Please raise these issues with you local MEP candidates and vote for those who support keeping our aid promises, avoiding climate chaos, and making trade fair.

Visit www.micandidate.eu and www.candidatewatch.ie to learn more about your local MEP candidates.

Download There's Power in the Parliament to read a summary of the key election issues.