W
ell, depending on who you talk to, some say the era of the membership organisation is over. We’re not so sure about that. Take a look around you - people are active, from Occupy Wall St to the Middle East uprisings to the thousands that volunteer abroad from Ireland each year. Back in 1975, we didn’t have any Facebook pages or Twitter revolutions. The methods have changed, but the actions are the same - people coming together to reshape the world in a manner that fits their vision. Comhlámh (Irish for ‘solidarity’ and pronounced ‘co-law-ve’) has been educating and campaigning for global justice in solidarity with the Global South for nearly 40 years. Back then, we could never have imagined the precipice we sit on now. From climate change to food sovereignty, trade justice and inequalities at home - the challenges are immense. The wealth of the 85 richest people is equal to that of the poorest 3.5bn Our members challenge the root causes of injustice and inequality - globally and locally. We were there against apartheid in the 1980s and the centre of refugee solidarity in the 1990s. We were on the frontlines of debt cancellation and introducing fair trade products to Ireland. But these breakthroughs only happen because people - like you - demand change and make justice matter. At its best Comhlamh is a vehicle for that. We want to welcome lapsed members back into the fold and build a base of new ones. In an era where advocacy work is officially frowned upon and funders are always asking “do we fund that?” it’s vital people get active again, take out paid memberships. Remember, we don’t just want your money in the bank. We want you back in the room. Comhlámh is organised around membership groups and action projects. The money that comes in from our membership drive and our solidarity circle scheme goes directly to maintaining the vital independence of the work our members do together.
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