Time and again, we’ve proven that even when things feel hopeless and unclear, stepping forward to take action together says everything about who we are — a community from all walks of life that acts together despite those that want to divide us. I think you know how special and powerful that is.
It’s been a whirlwind year and this community has been doing such amazing things with so few resources. That’s why it’s important we all take a breath and reflect on what we’ve achieved together over the past few months:
Uplift members are showing their support for the people of Gaza
Our people-powered community has been finding every way possible to put pressure on governments and international organisations to bring about an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
Uplift members helped to bring Palestinian photojournalist, Motaz Azaiza, to Ireland. And this week we turned out in our thousands to hear Motaz speak and show our solidarity with the people of Gaza.
We were one of the first voices in the world to call for a Uniting for Peace resolution at the UN. Building on the work we did last year, telling Meta bosses not to censor Palestinian voices on social media, we’ve hosted Palestinian rights advocates in Leinster House, led calls for a boycott of the White House on St. Patrick’s Day, and in our thousands, we piled pressure on the Irish government to join South Africa’s ICJ case against Israel.
We know that when we take action together, people listen. In May, the Irish government formally recognised the State of Palestine after 1,200 of us bombarded Simon Harris’ inbox with emails. [1]
Uplift members have paid for research into military-related trade with Israel, which highlighted worrying financial support from the Irish government to Israeli weapons manufacturers and spikes in dual-use exports to Israel which may violate our human rights obligations. Uplift’s latest research shows that, in the first quarter of 2024, Micheál Martin’s Department of Defence doubled the size of its drones contracts with Israeli state-owned weapons corporation, Aeronautics Defence Industries. 1,200 of us took part in an Uplift poll that showed a significant majority of people in Ireland agreed that the Irish government should end the contracts they have with Israeli drones companies and now we’re working with top legal experts to see if the Irish government is breaking EU laws by trading military equipment with Israel [2]
We’re stopping Citibank funding genocide
We know that Dublin-based Citibank is knowingly funding genocide. Not only does it bankroll fossil fuel polluters, it is a leading bank in funding the purchase of weapons by the Israeli government. We’ve been targeting Citibank staff with online adverts showing how Citibank is financing genocide, and so many of us have submitted complaints to Citibank’s Ethic’s hotline. [3]
We joined forces with artists
Irish Artists for Palestine started a petition signed by more than 16,000 of us calling on Irish artists to demand the exclusion of Israel from Eurovision 2024. The petition was delivered to RTÉ headquarters accompanied by an enormous mobile billboard. Thousands of us sent emails to RTÉ boss, Kevin Bakhurst, and hundreds of us put up stickers to show our support. [4]
We’re showing the harm that Big Tech inflicts
More than 1,000 of us shared heartbreaking stories about the impact hateful content, toxic algorithms and invasive advertising are having on us and our families — and the results were shocking. The results of our survey illustrate why the algorithms that push hateful content to our feeds need to be turned off to make the internet a better, safer place for us all.
We published the results of our Big Tech Survey and thousands of us have sent emails to our TDs and government ministers asking them to demand that the Big Tech giants make their platforms safer for us all. Next we’ll be launching a massive people’s inquiry to lift up the voices and stories of regular people like you and me, get experts to examine our testimonies, and invite politicians to hear directly what’s needed to keep ourselves, our families, and our communities safe online. [5]
We’re turning empty houses into livable homes
No matter who we are or where we come from, we all need a secure home. Far too many of us are living precariously, not knowing where we’ll stay year to year. As voters, we can use our power to force councils to turn empty houses into homes for people who need them. Our research shows that there are more than enough homes for us all.
150 Uplift members attended an online event to launch the Vacant Homes Research that they’d chipped in for. Then we attended virtual town hall events with constituents and their representatives from Galway, Dublin and Longford-Westmeath to find out what local politicians were doing about empty houses in their areas.
More than 300 of us joined the Uplift WhatsApp channel in the run up to the EU Elections which connected campaign volunteers and enabled them to campaign locally to get their politicians to do something about empty houses in their areas.
We added even more stories to our Evictions Story Map, which tells the stories of hundreds of people across Ireland affected by the government’s failure to build public and affordable homes.
Our Empty Homes Pledge was a focal point for our engagement before the EU Election – a whopping 727 of us sent over 6,500 emails to election candidates of all parties asking them to sign and commit to the pledge.
All over Ireland we stuck ‘This could be a home’ stickers on empty properties in towns and villages near where we live, and we took photos and shared them on social media to create awareness of the sheer number of empty homes in every county.
We chipped in together to get an eye-catching billboard put up on a prominent roadside in Co. Cork for thousands to see — right as they were making up their minds about who to vote for in the local elections. It got people talking about empty homes on the doorsteps when their candidates called looking for their vote.
If you didn’t yet see the poignant poem ‘Empty’ that slam poet Anna D wrote for us you can watch it here. [6]
We’re winning for the environment
The EU has finally pulled out of the dangerous Energy Charter Treaty which allows fossil fuel companies to sue governments for millions if they pass laws to protect health, the environment, or workers’ wages. This is a massive win, and the Uplift community was at the forefront of this campaign.
After receiving thousands of emails and calls from all of us around the country, the Minister for the Environment, Climate, Communications and Transport also confirmed that Ireland would be leaving the ECT. This means we can now campaign more effectively to have dangerous fossil fuel projects like LNG banned without being blocked by greedy fossil fuel corporations. [7]
Uplift members have also campaigned tirelessly to stop the EU-Mercosur trade deal. Earlier in the year we chipped in to put a huge message in the Irish Farmers Journal setting out what we can do together to stop this toxic trade deal and make our communities safer and healthier at the same time.
We know that people-powered perseverance pays off: we’ve been campaigning for the past seven years for the government to introduce a plastic deposit and return scheme. Finally we got one in February of this year!
The beautiful Conor Pass is ours
An enormous petition signed by nearly 20,000 of us left this government with no choice but to buy the land surrounding the Conor Pass in Kerry. It was confirmed that the Conor Pass and thousands of surrounding acres of precious nature will be protected forever after we forced the issue into the mainstream and social media. [8]
We care about all our animals
We were shocked when the news came out about the treatment of horses at the Shannonside Foods slaughterhouse. We jumped into action, 35,000 of us added our names to a petition and within days Minister McConalogue had the facility shut down. [9]
We’re keeping the pressure on to see an end to the never-ending story of horror and abuse suffered by greyhounds and make sure these gentle, loving dogs are protected for their whole lives. You can add your name to Julie’s petition here.
We’re standing with communities
We stood with people who had refugee status and were given days’ notice that they were being evicted or moved to somewhere else. This prompted thousands of us to sign our names; hundreds to chip in for an eye-catching banner and flyers at the big conference on integration last week; and dozens of people facing eviction told their stories to the media.
Whether you were born here or moved here, each of us do whatever we can to keep our kids in school, work to put food on the table, and help our neighbours and friends. Thanks to the Uplift community showing solidarity — families and children at risk of eviction have been allowed to stay in their accommodation. [10]
We’re supporting Uplift members to make change
This year alone through starting their own campaigns on MyUplift.ie more than 300 people have found their voice, become visible, connected and powerful by holding decision-makers to account. We’re standing with them and showing the collective power we all share when we come together to make changes for the better.
Our community comes from all kinds of backgrounds, ages, and political beliefs. Every time we take action together, we are making Ireland a better place to live for everyone, where our children can thrive and live meaningful lives. But all that we’ve done in 2024 costs money and it’s only made possible by Uplift’s 330,000 members.
NOTES:
- Protest outside Meta HQ | Uplift.ie & Petition: Boycott St Patrick’s Day celebrations at the White House | MyUplift & Thousands welcome journalist Motaz Azaiza to Dublin as he urges world to not look away from Gaza | Thejournal.ie & Call the Taoiseach & Minister for Foreign Affairs | Uplift & Statement by the Tánaiste on the South Africa vs Israel case at the International Court of Justice | Gov.ie
- Poll: End drones contract with Israel | Uplift.ie & Arms Trade with Israel | Uplift.ie & Arms Trade with Israel | Uplift & Ireland’s exports of restricted ‘dual-use’ goods to Israel soar to €70m despite sanctions push | Irish Independent & Rip up drones contracts with Israeli arms corporations | MyUplift.ie & Email new Taoiseach Simon Harris to push for recognition of the State of Palestine | Uplift.ie & EU rules governing control of exports of military technology and equipment
- Citibank and Palestinians: A Cruel Status Quo | Banking on Solidarity & Citi’s Climate Score | Bank.Green & Citibank EthicsPoint
- Get Israel out of Eurovision | Uplift.ie & Irish Artists demand the exclusion of Israel from Eurovision 2024 | MyUplift
- Social media is hurting us: Results of Uplift’s big tech survey – Uplift – People Powered Change | Uplift.ie
- [6] Summary of Vacant Homes Research | Uplift.ie & Homes for All stories map | Uplift.ie & Turn Empty Houses Into Homes | Uplift & Gaffs4All Sticker | Uplift.ie & Empty by Anna D -Spoken word artist | TikTok
- Chip in for EU-Mercosur Ad | Uplift & Deposit return scheme: more than 400m containers processed since February | Irish Times & Minister Ryan welcomes decision to withdraw from the Energy Charter Treaty | Gov.ie
- Conor Pass to become ‘gateway’ to Ireland’s first marine national park | Anglo Celt
- Shut down Kildare’s Horse Abattoir | MyUplift & Operations at Co Kildare horse abattoir ‘fully suspended’
- Loop Head community demands Roderic O’Gorman hear concerns | The Clare Champion & Don’t evict us Roderic O’Gorman | MyUplift & Roderic O’Gorman, don’t evict me and my family | MyUplift
