Why we need a "Fighting Fund" to secure Climate Bill
I imagine you're as appalled as I am by the complete mess politicians, bankers and property developers have managed to make of our country.
Ireland is in turmoil. But you and I both know that despite anything anyone says about budgets, four year plans, and general election dates . . . if we fail to act now to prevent climate chaos the destruction of our way of life will be far greater.
The causes of the economic crisis and the climate crisis are the same: poorly understood risk, 'light-touch' regulation and complacency that 'business-as-usual' can go on forever. This must stop.
We cannot afford to allow this approach to cause a climate crash.
Why? Simple . . . because our planet doesn't do bailouts.
Thanks to pressure from incredible Friends of the Earth supporters like you, the Cabinet finally approved the content of the Climate Bill within the last few weeks. And the Greens promised it would be published before Christmas.
So, where is it?
Regardless of the budget . . . despite the bailout . . . whatever about who calls a general election and when . . . we want the Climate Bill published and passed!
And we intend to fight tooth and nail to get it . . . NOW!
Out of this Government before it falls, if possible. And if not, out of the next one, as soon as it's in office.
But we urgently need your help to act now, because an opportunity like this may not come again for years . . .
Why it's urgent that we act NOW - Reason No. 1
The Green Party went into Government because of the urgency of tackling climate change. They responded to our campaign for a climate law. And they have worked hard this year to get a Bill agreed by Cabinet.
We know it's there, ready and waiting to be published. It's even been signed off by Cabinet. But now they're planning to leave Government amidst bank bailouts and budget cuts.
If they leave without publishing it - it will be an abject failure on their part. An embarrassment. But sadly, their track record shows that failure and embarrassment are not enough. They need to be pressurised.
That's why we need your help now. To pressure John Gormley to ensure the Bill is published, and better still passed, before the Greens are out of office.
If you can make an urgent donation of at least €55 to our "Fighting Fund" you'll be giving us the kind of financial clout we need to pressure the Green Party into doing the right thing.
Why it's urgent that we act NOW - Reason No. 2
The political landscape is shifting so rapidly we simply can't predict who'll be in power in a week, let alone next month.
Even as I sit here writing this letter to you, I have no idea what turn our country's political fortunes may have taken by the time you receive it. So what happens if the Greens don't act and publish the Bill in time?
As far as we're concerned - this simply shifts the target. If the Greens cannot deliver . . . then we have to make sure the next Government does.
Make no mistake, the Green Party may be a spent electoral force - but saving the planet from climate chaos is still a potent issue.
The last general election showed us that a great many people care about the environment, and are prepared to use their vote to do something about it. And in the run up to this one, politicians will be at their most sensitive to what voters want.
We urgently need the resources to help our supporters use this power, to lobby candidates so they get the message loud and clear - there's lots of us voters who want a strong climate bill, to prevent the next crisis becoming a crash.
While most of the key economic decisions for the next four years may already been have made before the election begins . . . the important environmental decisions will still be in play.
And this presents Friends of the Earth with a unique opportunity to influence policy and build an ecologically sound and sustainable future for Ireland.
So in addition to pressuring John Gormley while still in office, our "Fighting Fund" will also be used to apply pressure in the right places - and at the best possible time - to get the outcome we want from the next Government.
But we can't do any of this without you
Whichever way this falls we desperately need your donation of at least €55 to build a "Fighting Fund" with clout. And every single donation really does count.
Your money will be used to produce essential campaigning materials, protest posters and placards, online petitions, to conduct briefings and stage public actions at strategic locations during the final days of this Government, and in the run up to the general election.
And the more money we can raise for our "Fighting Fund", the more pressure we'll be able to apply to the relevant politicians - and the more impact we'll have.
Please don't let all this hard-won progress you've helped us achieve go to waste...
We've come a long way together in the last three years. And your support and campaigning activity has been absolutely vital. Just look at what you've achieved...
- Neither Fianna Fáil nor Fine Gael - not even the Greens - promised a climate law in their election manifestos at the last election. But because of you, all parties now support a climate law.
- There were no provisions for climate legislation in the 2007 Programme for Government. But because of you, the renewed Programme for Government in 2009 did include a commitment to a Climate Bill.
- In the midst of economic upheaval, some people argued there was no place for environmental policy. But because of you, the Cabinet agreed the content of a Government Climate Bill less than a month ago and promised to publish it before Christmas.
In our experience it's only pressure that has moved these people to action. Each step along the road has only come as a result of campaigning deadlines and pressure. So we have to keep the pressure on.
We're incredibly proud of what you've helped us to achieve. But it will all amount to nothing if we cannot seize the unique opportunities now open to us.
Firstly - to pressure John Gormley into publishing the Climate Bill he promised us before this Government leaves office. And secondly - to fight tooth and nail to pressure the next Government into putting serious climate policy into action.
Out of turmoil, one single-minded goal...
So where does all this leave us?
Well . . . no one knows who'll be running the country next month. Our banks are for sale to the highest bidder. The budget and bailout dance staggers on. And it's anyone's guess how the IMF's plans for our economy will affect ordinary people like you and me.
Yet one thing remains unchanged . . . climate change is choking the planet we live on. And if this generation doesn't do something about it, the next one may not get the chance.
During turbulent times like these, who do you really trust to stand firm and deliver the kind of climate law Ireland, and the world, really needs? Our politicians? Brussels? The IMF? The record shows that none of them can be trusted.
But you know you can trust Friends of the Earth to deliver. And we trust you.
With your support and involvement, we've delivered before. And with your continued support today . . . together we'll deliver again.
Please will you give €55 towards our Climate Bill "Fighting Fund" today? If you do, you'll be helping us to reap the rewards of all the gains we've made during this Dáil - and begin the next one with an amazing victory for environmental justice.
Yours sincerely,
Oisín Coghlan
Director, Friends of the Earth
P.S. We've spent every cent of our budget pressuring the Government to get the Climate Bill to the stage it's at now. We are so close, but we desperately need your help to seize the unique opportunity open to us now. Please donate €55 or more to our "Fighting Fund" for Action on Ireland's Climate Bill. Thank you so much!
