Working at home to effect change can often be just as effective as volunteering overseas. While volunteering can give you direct experience and knowledge of the situation in developing countries, you can use that experience and knowledge to make your case much more effective at home as a solidarity worker. To be an effective campaigner, the first thing you should do is join a network so that you don’t have to go it alone. These networks usually organise campaigning events that you can join, as well as courses, talks and publications that can help educate you more and to which you too may be able to contribute. Comhlámh is one such network.
Other solidarity and campaign groups exist throughout Ireland that maintain contacts between Ireland and particular regions (country-specific groups), and that campaign on particular issues (issue-specific groups). There are also local One World centres around the country that promote development education and campaigns, which you can join.
Comhlámh Campaign: Spring 2009
Talk to your MEP about Trade Justice
In June 2009, there will be elections to the European Parliament taking place across all 27 EU member states. This is a key opportunity to put our opposition to Europe’s unfair trade deals on the political agenda and to help bring about a fairer approach to Europe’s trade with poor countries.
The global financial crisis has made lobbying on trade even more important as it has demonstrated to people in rich countries what those in poor countries have known for years: the current international economic system doesn't work. Unfair trade deals are part of the problem, and Europe’s policies risk making things worse.
We need you to take an active part in an EU wide campaign to get constituents talking to their MEP candidates. We need to ensure that our EU representatives work to bring about an EU which puts sustainable development and global justice at the heart of all of its policies, especially where trade policy is concerned.
Read More:
What can I do?
Workshops - Coming soon, Nationwide
Resources - Lobby Pack and other Bits to Help You Campaign
Europe's Unfair Trade Deals
We will be constantly updating this section and adding more material, info, resources and updates over the coming weeks so please keep coming back to check the latest news!
If you are interested in getting involved please contact Fleachta on fleachta@comhlamh.org or call 01 4783490
To TAKE ACTION right now, please click here
Comhlámh Publications
Download the Winter 2008 edition of Comhlámh's Focus Magazine here
INSIDE: Action- Bloom: Movement for Global Justice/ Illegitimate Debt- Who Owes Whom?/ Global Europe?/ Activist Voices: We don't want to Arm you/ European Social Forum/ Policing and Protest/ Are You Registered to Vote?
