Sometimes it can be tough going for many of us, but together we’ve achieved so much these past few months! With more than 350,000 of us all across Ireland, taking action every day on issues we care about, none of this would be possible. This is what we’ve been up to.
🏡 We’re demanding homes for everyone who needs one
A massive response to our annual member survey showed that there’s hardly any among us unaffected by the lack of secure and affordable homes. The good news is that our people-powered pressure is working. Even a government minister told us that he was hearing about empty homes everywhere. Uplift members chipped in for a public opinion poll which showed that people want the government to do more to turn empty houses into liveable homes for people and families. [1]
- Chipped in for a massive poll on turning empty houses into homes.
- Emailed TDs from Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, and regional independents to prioritise turning empty houses into homes.
- Pressured government negotiation teams to emphasise the importance of addressing empty homes.
- Got behind a petition for a rent freeze when rent pressure zones were threatened.
- Demanded that cold weather emergency accommodation be kept open.
- Next, we’re zoning in on what county and city councils are doing and what’s preventing them from doing more to turn empty houses into homes. [2]
We’re keeping Ireland’s neutrality
Our huge public opinion poll showed that the vast majority of people in Ireland support neutrality: 75% of people want to keep Ireland’s neutrality exactly as it is. Despite this, this government is trying to abandon Ireland’s neutrality by removing the Triple Lock; the three conditions that must be met before Irish troops can be sent on an international military mission. Uplift members know that the government has absolutely no mandate to get rid of the Triple Lock or make any changes to Ireland’s neutrality. [3]
- We organised a webinar with experts from the Irish Neutrality League, the Irish Anti-War Movement and the Transnational Institute who brought us up to speed and answered our questions on why pushing for peace and protecting our neutrality is so important right now.
- More than 2,000 of us put our names to a petition demanding that we, the public, should be able to vote on any changes to Irish neutrality.
We recorded videos saying why neutrality is important to each of us. Take a watch here: [4]
We’re Going to Court to Stop Weapons Being Sent to Gaza
A few months ago, Uplift launched a legal challenge against the Irish government to end all military trade with Israel and to stop the transport of weapons through Irish airspace. We’ve just heard that the case will be in the High Court very soon, so watch this space. [5]
- Uplift members, along with Kildare IPSC, protested outside a factory in Kildare to stop a shipment of parts for Israeli army fighter jets that was set to depart for Israel.
- Dozens of us made calls to the local Fianna Fáil TD, James Lawless, demanding that he stop the shipment. The shipment was cancelled that day. Uplift members chipped in for a top researcher to look deeper into the connections between the new, growing arms industry in Ireland and this government.
- We put pressure on senators before an important vote in the Seanad, telling them to vote in favour of the Arms Embargo Bill and stop weapons being sent to Israel via Ireland. The bill passed through to the next stage in the Seanad thanks in part to the 68,462 emails sent.
- Hundreds of us gathered on bridges and at locations between Dublin and the Tánaiste’s constituency, and outside RTÉ, pressuring Simon Harris to pass the Occupied Territories Bill like he promised.
We sent Simon Harris a message from his former teacher telling him why he has to get the Occupied Territories Bill passed now. [6]
We’re Protecting Nature, Health & Our Environment
We have it in our power to repair the damage to nature, save lives, and be healthy if political and corporate leaders change their ways. That’s why Uplift members have come together to force this government to stop the building of a dangerous LNG plant in the Shannon Estuary, as well as the building of even more data centres that use up so much energy and water. [7]
Planting trees, letting our lawns and verges grow and providing habitats for wildlife are such simple yet powerful ways to help clean the air, protect wildlife, cool the earth and help counteract the feeling of being overwhelmed by the scary news about climate change.
- In March we planted our fourth people-powered forest in Feakle, Co Clare, with trees donated by our friends at Future Forests in West Cork and sponsored by Uplift members.
- Hundreds of us have committed to not mowing our lawns in May and bought bright bumper stickers to show and encourage our neighbours to do the same.
- People all over Ireland are asking their councils to stop mowing public places so that the grass and flowers can be free to grow and insects and wildlife can thrive.
- We’ve chipped in for research to expose the true cost of allowing a toxic LNG plant to go ahead in the Shannon Estuary.
- We’ve launched a new movement called “Solar Citizens” for people who use solar power and electric vehicles to come together and campaign collectively to make solar power easier for households, businesses and communities. [8]
We’ve Left X/Twitter
As a people-powered community, we’re committed to a world where everyone thrives and politics works for everyone — not just for the filthy rich who buy and bully their way to the top. For this reason we decided to leave X/Twitter, and we hope you’ll join us on this journey. The more people who leave X, the more Elon Musk’s profits and power will take a hit — it’s one of the best ways we can take a stand against his hateful actions. Join us on Bluesky instead. [9]
We’re Supporting Member Campaigns
- Miriam’s campaign to get The Johnstown Estate to cancel an anti-trans event was successful.
- We were successful in getting the Tipperary Peace Prize Committee to revoke the nomination of U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, due to his role in helping facilitate the ongoing genocide and war crimes in Gaza.
- After a public outcry the ESB agreed not to increase prices after Storm Eowyn.
- After hundreds of us got behind a petition the government finally announced that free HRT for people going through menopause will be rolled out in June.
- Our community had a massive win after we rowed in together to support camogie players protesting about being forced to wear skorts. After a huge petition was signed by more than 6,000 of us, the Camogie Association voted to allow the players the choice to wear shorts. [10]
People-power is truly the backbone of this community. We know that when we come together, we are powerful. If you find that the constant stream of negative news can be overwhelming, then you’re not alone. Have a read of our blog post on coping in the face of unrelenting challenges: A Roadmap For Hope in Challenging Times.
Notes
- Empty Homes Poll | Uplift
- Empty Homes Programme for Government email to TDs | Uplift & Demand a Rent Freeze Now | MyUplift & Keep People From Sleeping on the Street email to TDs | Uplift
- Should Ireland maintain its current policy on neutrality? Poll | Uplift & Heads of bill to change Triple Lock to go to Cabinet | RTÉ News
- Neutrality Webinar | Uplift & Protect the Triple Lock and Irish Neutrality petition | MyUplift
- Gaza Legal Case | Uplift
- Stop fighter jet parts going to Israel – email to James Lawless | Uplift & Fighter Jet Parts shipped from Clane Factory | The Ditch & Vote on the Arms Embargo Bill – email to Senators | Uplift & Pass the Occupied Territories Bill Now: Simon Harris’ Teacher | Instagram
- Shannon LNG granted planning permission for power plant | RTÉ News & Company behind Shannon LNG plans to build data centres | Radio Kerry & Shannon LNG submission | Uplift
- Sponsor a Tree in our People Powered Forest | Uplift & Say No to the Mow | MyUplift & Solar Citizens Survey | Uplift
- Why we’re leaving X/Twitter, and why you should too | Uplift
- Call on The Johnstown Estate to Cancel Anti-Trans April 5th Event | MyUplift & Far-right conference in Meath cancelled following community concerns | GCN & Don’t hike electricity prices to cover Storm Éowyn damages | MyUplift & Storm Éowyn costs ‘will not be added to customer ESB bills’ | Irish Examiner & Revoke Antony Blinken’s Nomination for the Tipperary Peace Prize | Uplift & Nomination of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken for Tipperary Peace Award has been revoked | The Journal.ie & Make HRT free of charge | MyUplift & Free HRT will be available for all women from 1 June, as govt commits to covering dispensing costs | The Journal.ie & Give camogie players the choice to wear shorts | MyUplift & Camogie players can wear skorts or shorts after motion passes by 98pc at special meeting | Irish Independent
