Labour's Liz McManus issued a statement yesterday criticising the government for failing to have published a climate change bill within the last year. She saved special rebuke for the Green Party for not ensuring that climate change has become a major priority during its time in government.
Lobbying for a climate bill has intensified in recent months. The Irish coalition Stop Climate Chaos recently held a very successful event which resulted in over 70 TDs signing a climate commitment which secured their support for:
- the passing of a strong climate bill that achieves targets without relying on the purchase of carbon offset credits
- the establishment of an independent advisory climate change committee
Since the lobby event more TDs have signed up with the number now exceeding 80, although that includes Minister John Gormley's amended climate commitment which unfortunately excludes the text about carbon offset credits.
The Irish Government needs to deliver a strong climate change law this year that meets the demands of the climate commitment (which has received massive cross party support) and protects the overseas development aid budget from being raided to pay for Ireland's contribution to address climate change internationally.
You can see if your local TDs have already voiced their support for the climate commitment here and if not; get on their cases.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Brazil Tackles Corruption
Massive congratulations are due to the Brazilian people, a handful of committed politicians and the Avaaz community in Brazil for achieving a stunning legal victory.
A new law, dubbed ficha limpa (clean record) has been passed that bans any politician convicted of crimes such as corruption or money laundering from running for office. Hundreds of candidates are already facing disqualification as the law has a retrospective reach for such insidious activities.
The result of over 1.5 million citizens standing up against corruption and forcing Brazil's Congress to abide by their will; it is truly a great moment in an otherwise sleaze laden age.
A new law, dubbed ficha limpa (clean record) has been passed that bans any politician convicted of crimes such as corruption or money laundering from running for office. Hundreds of candidates are already facing disqualification as the law has a retrospective reach for such insidious activities.
The result of over 1.5 million citizens standing up against corruption and forcing Brazil's Congress to abide by their will; it is truly a great moment in an otherwise sleaze laden age.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings
Earlier this month, Ireland became the 30th state to ratify the Council of Europe's Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings. The purpose of this convention according to Article 1 is:
- to prevent and combat trafficking in human beings, guaranteeing gender equality;
- to protect the human rights of the victims of trafficking, design a comprehensive framework for the protection and assistance of victims and witnesses, guaranteeing gender equality, and ensure effective investigation and prosecution;
- to promote international cooperation on action against trafficking in human beings.
The Convention applies to all forms of trafficking whether national or international and regardless of the victim's sex. It will enter into force in Ireland on 1st November 2010 and will hopefully ensure that this modern form of slavery is finally tackled in Ireland.
- to prevent and combat trafficking in human beings, guaranteeing gender equality;
- to protect the human rights of the victims of trafficking, design a comprehensive framework for the protection and assistance of victims and witnesses, guaranteeing gender equality, and ensure effective investigation and prosecution;
- to promote international cooperation on action against trafficking in human beings.
The Convention applies to all forms of trafficking whether national or international and regardless of the victim's sex. It will enter into force in Ireland on 1st November 2010 and will hopefully ensure that this modern form of slavery is finally tackled in Ireland.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Update: Civil Partnership
Yesterday morning, President McAleese signed the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010 into law.
Despite the fact that the bill was far from perfect and does not address the need for absolute equality between same-sex and opposite-sex couples, it is most definitely a step in the right direction and a credit to the many campaigners who worked to realise this achievement.
Congratulations are most deserved.
Despite the fact that the bill was far from perfect and does not address the need for absolute equality between same-sex and opposite-sex couples, it is most definitely a step in the right direction and a credit to the many campaigners who worked to realise this achievement.
Congratulations are most deserved.
Friday, July 16, 2010
Justice Delayed...
It was a welcome development this week to hear the Ombudsman for Children, Emily Logan, call for urgent constitutional change in order to ensure that future legislation protects the rights of children as a priority.
The Joint Committee on the Constitutional Amendment on Children, set up in 2007, concluded its work in February of this year with the publication of its third and final report calling for a new article to be inserted into the Constitution which gives express recognition to the rights of children as individuals.
The current provisions in the Constitution that relate to children are reflective of the period that they were written - 1937. In 2010, we have over 70 years of evolved thinking about children's rights behind us and need to amend the Constitution to mirror that. Though the work done by the Joint Committee on the Constitutional Amendment on Children has been a massive step forward, any amendment must encapsulate the principles enshrined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (ratified by Ireland in 1992) if children's rights are to be truly realised and protected in Ireland.
As yet, there is still no definitive timeframe for the necessary referendum. The Government needs to listen to Ms Logan, The Children's Rights Alliance and all other interested parties and once and for all set a date.
The Joint Committee on the Constitutional Amendment on Children, set up in 2007, concluded its work in February of this year with the publication of its third and final report calling for a new article to be inserted into the Constitution which gives express recognition to the rights of children as individuals.
The current provisions in the Constitution that relate to children are reflective of the period that they were written - 1937. In 2010, we have over 70 years of evolved thinking about children's rights behind us and need to amend the Constitution to mirror that. Though the work done by the Joint Committee on the Constitutional Amendment on Children has been a massive step forward, any amendment must encapsulate the principles enshrined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (ratified by Ireland in 1992) if children's rights are to be truly realised and protected in Ireland.
As yet, there is still no definitive timeframe for the necessary referendum. The Government needs to listen to Ms Logan, The Children's Rights Alliance and all other interested parties and once and for all set a date.
Monday, July 5, 2010
Update: U.N Women
The United National General Assembly voted unanimously last Friday to create the new UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women.
Consolidating four seperate UN divisions dealing with women's and gender issues, U.N Women will become operation on January 1st 2011.
Consolidating four seperate UN divisions dealing with women's and gender issues, U.N Women will become operation on January 1st 2011.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Coalition of the Willing
Here's a great animation from Knife Party Productions giving an alternative commentary on climate change and the world:
Coalition Of The Willing from coalitionfilm on Vimeo.
US to cut Aid to Afghanistan
A subcommittee of the US House of Representatives has voted to block $3.9 billion in aid to Afghanistan.
Highlighting corruption as the principal reason for the vote, chairwoman Nita Lowey explained:
I do not intend to appropriate one more dime for assistance to Afghanistan until I have confidence that US taxpayer money is not being abused to line the pockets of corrupt Afghan government officials, drug lords and terrorists
I agree that all imaginable measure should be taken to ensure that aid money is not siphoned away by corrupt individuals and that it benefits the most vulnerable people in fragile states such as Afghanistan. Also, all tax payers unquestionably deserve transparency and accountability. However, the pious language of the subcommittee's statement seems to ignore the fact that the all-important US taxpayer money in question is used to fund an occupying army in Afghanistan.
Worse still, it is hard to accept the veracity of such sentiments when a recent report by numerous international aid agencies highlighted that aid is referred to as a nonlethal weapon in a US army manual for troops in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Highlighting corruption as the principal reason for the vote, chairwoman Nita Lowey explained:
I do not intend to appropriate one more dime for assistance to Afghanistan until I have confidence that US taxpayer money is not being abused to line the pockets of corrupt Afghan government officials, drug lords and terrorists
I agree that all imaginable measure should be taken to ensure that aid money is not siphoned away by corrupt individuals and that it benefits the most vulnerable people in fragile states such as Afghanistan. Also, all tax payers unquestionably deserve transparency and accountability. However, the pious language of the subcommittee's statement seems to ignore the fact that the all-important US taxpayer money in question is used to fund an occupying army in Afghanistan.
Worse still, it is hard to accept the veracity of such sentiments when a recent report by numerous international aid agencies highlighted that aid is referred to as a nonlethal weapon in a US army manual for troops in Afghanistan and Iraq.
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