Europe for a more equal world

On May 23rd 2014, you have the chance to shape the Europe you want.

At a time when the world’s 85 richest people own the same wealth as the planet’s bottom half, tackling inequality is more crucial than ever. The European Union should provide the leadership necessary to overcome challenges such as poverty, climate change and the growing gap between the rich and poor.

Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) play an important role in defining that agenda so we’re asking candidates take a pledge, showing their support for the issues we work on.

Choose your constituency within these maps (ROI, Dublin & NI) to email the candidates running in your area and tell them to put the needs of people and planet high on their agenda this May.

Republic of Ireland

Dublin

Northern Ireland

Letter Campaign

* Constituency

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Details of the email to be sent

Subject line

Message

Dear Candidate,

I am writing as a voter in your constituency to ask you to support Oxfam's policy priorities for the European Parliament. You will have received a copy of the policy document, also available here: http://www.oxfamireland.org/sites/default/files/upload/pdfs/oxfam-policy-briefing-european-parliament-elections.pdf

MEPs can play a crucial role in ending poverty, if they insist that the EU places sustainable development and poverty eradication at the heart of its engagement with other countries, and that all EU policies work together in improving lives in the developing world. We are in a shocking situation where the 85 richest people on Earth own the same wealth as the 3,500,000,000 poorest people. I particularly want to draw your attention to two major issues which will be on the Parliament's agenda in coming years:

Climate Change

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has recently updated its assessment of climate impacts, giving a truly frightening picture of the impacts on food globally. Food supplies are already being affected, and climate change is threatening to reverse the progress that has been made in eliminating hunger. 50 million more people will be at risk of hunger by 2050 if we don't act now. MEPs must be a strong voice for climate action at EU and international levels and support an EU wide Greenhouse Gas Emissions reduction target of 55% for 2030.

Financial Transaction Tax

A financial transaction tax (FTT) is a tiny tax on the transactions of big banks that could deliver billions of dollars to reduce inequality in Europe (help ordinary people in Europe) and fight poverty around the world. 11 EU countries are introducing such a tax and are considering how to allocate the revenues. MEPs can be a voice for the introduction of the FTT in all EU countries and the use of FTT revenues for development and fighting climate change.

I would be grateful if you could let me know where you stand on these issues and the other policy priorities in Oxfam's document.

Thank you in advance,

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Oxfam Ireland is a registered charity in Ireland and Northern Ireland, with headquarters based in Dublin and Belfast:
Portview House, 4 Thorncastle Street, Ringsend, Dublin 4, Ireland. | 115 North Street, Belfast BT1 1ND, UK
ROI Company Number 284292 / NI Company Number 33800
Oxfam Ireland is a member of the international confederation Oxfam.

Europe for a more equal world