EU E-action August 2011

Thank you for taking action on raw materials and trade justice

Raw Materials Campaigns Update:

Over 900 people, from 30 countries call on Europe to stop its resource grab

During the months of August and September this year we ran an EU wide e-action targeting the European Commission’s Public Consultation on the topic of Trade and Development. The e-action highlighted concerns on the issue of trade and raw materials, and called on the EU to develop a trade policy that enables developing countries to benefit from their natural resources, and respects environmental, human rights and labour standards. Over 900 people, from 30 countries across 6 continents, including Zambia, the Philippines, Ecuador, Kenya, Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as Ireland, Britain, France and Germany, emailed the European Commission.  They stated their concern that Europe’s current trade policy is disastrous for development, people living in poverty, and for the environment. It’s quite unusual for that many people to respond to an EU consultation, so your voices will have been heard, we made a significant impact.

Unfortunately our Irish MEPs let us down. They failed to keep the promises they made in 2009 to stand up for trade justice.

In a campaign that saw thousands of Irish citizens writing to their MEPs through campaign postcards, Comhlámh along with other trade justice groups across Europe, had warned that the EU’s new trade strategy on raw materials will undermine development and increase poverty levels in developing countries. But when the opportunity arose for our MEPs to keep their pledge to stand up for trade justice, the two Irish MEPs (Mairead McGuinness & Seán Kelly) who spoke at the debate in the European Parliament actually took a decidedly anti-trade justice stance, arguing in favour of corporate interests over the welfare of the world’s poor. So on September 12th 2011,  Irish MEPs endorsed the EU’s damaging resource grab, breaking the promise they made in 2009 that they would stand up for trade justice. You can read the text of the debate here.

This is disappointing, but there is still hope.  We will be following up with MEPs and encouraging you to do the same over the coming months and years to remind them that we care about trade justice and we will not be going away!

Do watch this space for more opportunities to join our campaigns and take action to speak out for trade justice and against the EU’s new resource grab

Campaigns Update: September 2011

Take Action! Stop the EU helping itself to developing countries' raw materials!

Over 900 of of you, from 30 countries, including Zambia, The Philippines, Ecuador, Kenya, Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as Ireland, Britain, France and Germany, emailed the European Commission to outline your concern that Europe’s current trade policy is bad for development, poor people, and for the environment. That many European and global citizens inputting into a consultation is quite unusual, so the Commission will take serious notice of your input.

We will be continuing our efforts to stop the EU’s new resource grab, and following this process closely. We'll let you know as soon as we hear anything about the results of the consultation. Meanwhile you can see other organisation's responses to the EU consultation here

Thank you for taking action and making your voices heard. Why not sign up for all the latest updates about this and our other campaigns

 

E-action - August 2011

Many developing countries are rich in raw materials. For centuries they have exported them before they are processed, making very little money. The extraction of these raw materials by multinational companies has also resulted in significant environmental damage and the depletion of these resources. Now, many developing countries want to do it differently.

But the EU’s new trade policy on raw materials is undermining the effort of the world’s poorest countries to develop their economies for the benefit of their population. This policy will prevent developing countries from exercising control over their natural resources, and from ensuring they get a fair price for their raw materials.

Comhlámh, as part of a European alliance, is campaigning for fair trade rules that allow developing countries to make their own economic choices. Join Campaigners across Europe and take action now! Tell the EU to stop its new resource grab!

The European Commission is drafting a new policy on trade and development, and has launched a public consultation on the issue. Many business groups will lobby hard to ensure this policy benefits them, so that they can continue to profit from developing countries’ raw materials. We want to make sure the EU Commission hears the other side of the story too, and we need your help.

This consultation is open to everyone - have your say!

We have strength in numbers. It’s vital the Commission hears from lots of different organisations, and people like you, that developing countries must have the right to get the full value of their raw materials through trade.

The consultation closes on the 18th Sep 2011, so take this action now and together let’s tell the European Commission to stop the EU’s new resource grab!

 

To learn more about this issue see below and click here 

Many developing countries are rich in raw materials. The EU's new trade policy, however, will prevent them from exercising control over their natural resources. Comhlámh is campaigning for fair trading rules that allow developing countries to make their own economic choices for the benefit of their people and the planet.

Stop the European Union helping itself to developing countries' raw materials!

Join campaigners across Europe and take action now by

1) Watching the video

2) Signing our postcard!

To order your campaign postcard send an email to Alfred M'Sichili (alfred@comhlamh.org)

Once you have signed it, please send the detachable first part to your MEP, then send the second part back to us to let us know and keep in touch!

To read more about this issue, click here