Hi John,
It’s not an easy moment for those of us committed to global justice, with Israel’s brutal war escalating in Gaza, global temperatures reaching frightening new highs, and the corporate elite building ever greater concentrations of power over our society.
But I’m starting 2024 with optimism: we can make a difference by standing together. An election is due in the UK, and we will do everything we can to push for this to be a moment of change. But we also can’t afford to wait to challenge the injustices being caused by politicians and corporations. At the heart of these injustices is an economic model created here in the global north – and it’s here that we must challenge it, in every way we can.
We can win. It’s impossible to know what precisely will make the difference, but I know from our work that, year on year, we are changing things, both directly and with our allies around the world. So we must keep trying, developing new methods, and building stronger movements.
With this in mind I want to tell you what we’re planning to do together in 2024.
Challenge corporate power
Corporate power is at the heart of our problems. Corporations are simply too powerful. They are allowed to profit by driving inequality, climate change, conflict and human rights abuses. We're going to take every opportunity to bring them to heel, and push for the international economy to work for the majority instead.
Thanks to our work, the story we’re told about the role Big Pharma plays in making our medicines is starting to change. Alternative ways of producing medicines are springing up. We'll keep supporting these alternatives, and demand proper regulation of the pharmaceutical industry.
We'll challenge other corporate abuses too – from the food giants to Big Tech – and work to support movements to break the stranglehold of big business in general, and on specific campaigns like Make Amazon Pay.
We'll also take on the toxic rules which grant corporations their powers, starting by dealing the final blow to the treaty most damaging to climate action: the Energy Charter Treaty.
Build a just green economy
We need a climate revolution, but the UN COP process is too beholden to the polluters to bring about the scale of change we need. We must build a parallel vehicle to confront the fossil fuel economy faster and more equitably. Climate action won't work if it's based on neo-colonialism.
Our priority this year is to foster a mass movement around a fossil fuel exit treaty. From California to Colombia, governments are coming out for a treaty which would keep fossil fuels in the ground fairly and with the necessary speed. We will build momentum in Britain to support this treaty.
And we'll work on a new programme to challenge those economic rules which impede climate action – from intellectual property rules to investor protection clauses. We need a global economy that lays the ground for climate justice.
Stand with those on the frontlines
We have a special responsibility to support those suffering the worse impacts of our corporate-driven economy and defend those fighting back.
As the situation demands, we’ll speak out in solidarity with our friends and allies around the world whether they be fighting for access to medicines, challenging racist and colonial immigration laws or supporting peace with justice in Palestine.
Thank you for being part of it
Changing things take time. It means undermining the myths we’re told about the global economy, mobilising people across the country to demand change from below, and building pressure points in the political system for change. Every day we are working towards these goals.
Our campaigns are powered by passionate individuals like you and the more regular support we have, the greater our reach and impact. Just £3 a month makes a difference and helps ensure we can keep our campaigns going, even through hard times, until we succeed - because we have to! By joining the movement for global justice, you will be playing a crucial role in creating a fairer and more equitable world for all.
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