Claiming Our Future building upward

Irish society is characterised by significant and persistent inequalities. Wealth is highly concentrated, income is poorly distributed, publicly funded services are being diminished. Irish biodiversity and ecosystems are under increasing pressure. Greenhouse gas emissions are starting to grow again. Yet equality and environmental sustainability remain at the margins of political decision-making, writes Siobhan O'Donoghue of Claiming Our Future.

One of the central tenets of a healthy democracy is recognition of the importance of questioning, debate and critique of the policies, decisions, values and direction of society. Questioning and debate are increasingly viewed as negative; there is growing evidence of attempts to minimise dissent and criticism. Civil society has increasingly been backed into a defensive position, so sections of that sector find themselves isolated and marginalised. Another consequence of the dilution of the democratic space has been limited opportunity, outside of formal political parties, for civic democratic action by individuals and organisations.

Claiming Our Future originated against this backdrop. Community sector organisations, trade unions, and environmental organisations worked to build a sense of common purpose centred on the ideals of equality and environmental sustainability. They sought to engage interested members of society in the formulation of an agenda for change, and to build momentum for a progressive social movement.

Four months ago, 1,000 people convened in Dublin's RDS to agree a set of values and policy priorities that would help transform Ireland. Since then, Claiming Our Future local groups have been forming around the country and beginning the process of popularising the values and priorities of COF and translating them into action.

Twenty-six COF local groups have formed across the country. More are establishing themselves. Just in the past two weeks, these groups organised around 20 meetings and actions. A national event was held in historic Tailors Hall, Dublin.

Claiming Our Future re-enacted the 1792 Back Lane parliament just after the election was called. The Back Lane parliament was originally convened to protest the disenfranchisement of the Catholic population. COF re-enacted the parliament to protest the disenfranchisement of parts of civil society promoting equality and environmental sustainability.

Many of the local meetings were public events with election candidates and focused on COF policy priorities (www.claimingourfuture.ie). Public meetings in Limerick, Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Kilkenny, and several parts of Dublin invited candidates to respond to questions about national themes such as income equality, equality, job creation, political reform and economic development.

Commitments were made in a number of these areas that, if elected, candidates would report back on the COF policy priorities to the local groups on a regular basis. This approach has the potential to be an important mechanism for accountability and for exerting influence and focusing local debate on important issues facing society, such as income equality, job creation, environmental sustainability, health, childcare, banking and political reform.

Political reform was addressed by a number of the local groups. Galway, Cork, Clare and Kilkenny held dedicated discussions on this theme. Young people in Kilkenny created a You Tube clip on the value of voting. The value of deliberation was evident. Despite the realisation of the inadequacies of our overall electoral process, among the reported conclusions was reference to the worth of the Proportional Representation/Single Transferable Vote (PR-STV) system.

Political parties' failure to put forward women was another theme in these meetings. COF has also taken up the issue nationally, in the form of a gender quota petition here. Longford Claiming our Future, in conjunction with the National Women's Council Ireland, held a dedicated meeting with candidates on including women in political representation.

COF groups in Mayo, Waterford, Meath, and Galway have worked on popularising and strengthening their local base. These meetings demonstrated a desire for a space to unite people concerned with a more equal and environmentally sustainable future outside current structures and organisational frameworks.

Skills and expertise present in many different parts of the community were recognised in these initiatives as vital to the building of a movement for change. Creativity in particular was highlighted as key. The way we communicate and popularise challenging ideas needs attention. Participation of young people was raised as an important challenge for the movement. Lessons are already being learnt about new and different ways for people to have a say, make their voice heard and have ownership of Claiming Our Future.

Health inequality was a theme picked up in Dublin South Central, where a public meeting with candidates was held in the Mater Hospital. This group also proposed an alternative economic approach after a public meeting. The IMF/EU debt was taken up by Galway COF. Many local groups linked with people with specialist knowledge, such as economists, academics, and artists. This is a practice that will most certainly grow.

The Wicklow group conducted a survey of candidate's positions on COF policy priorities for publication in the local newspaper. This was an innovative way to communicate the message to the wider public.

One outcome of these various Claiming our Future activities of the past few weeks is that newly-elected public representatives will have had some form of engagement with COF, and knowledge of what the movement represents. This will be important for the future of what is a long-term initiative.

While the general election provided a useful target to mobilise and stimulate debate and engagement on important societal issues there is no doubt that the process of popularising and building support for a progressive agenda will require substantial effort and time over the longer term. The next big event for COF will be a national deliberative event on the steps required to reduce income inequality. This will be held in Galway on May 28th. It is hoped that this theme of income equality will be a focus for local debate and action.

Critical to the transformation required in society is the active participation of and support by a critical mass of people in this agenda for a more equal and environmentally sustainable Ireland. Claiming Our Future local groups right across the country have taken a substantial step forward in putting in place the building blocks for a movement that can unite people concerned with equality and sustainability. Civic power is growing and from this base the movement will grow and draw in others.

Details of local contacts, the activities of Claiming Our Future local groups and of the Galway event are available on www.claimingourfuture.ie

Siobhan O'Donoghue is director of the Migrant Rights Centre Ireland