The internet initially brought hope of connecting people and sharing information. Social media and algorithms initially brought the ability to have content customized to your interests and connections, and discover new content and connections which interest you. This has been completely hijacked by the advertising industry.... The most commonly used social media platforms such as X/Facebook/Instagram/YouTube/Tiktok generate profit through the advertising industry and structure their algorithms around it. They lock users into their platforms because if you leave, you lose all your connections and "like"/"follow" settings.  The algorithms are black boxes which target ads at you to maximize profit of the platform. The organizations with the most ability to buy ads are corporations who want you to consume more and more (often in a way which destroys our planet), and industry special interests who fund political and policy campaigns in their own for-profit interests. People like Elon Musk can control world conversation by buying Twitter/X. There are alternative platforms such as Bluesky and Mastodon which are not modelled on the advertising industry and which support open algorithms and moderation rules, and which are not based on a lock-in model. However very few people are switching because they have already been locked-in to the advertising based lock-in platforms. Even progressive organizations like Uplift are supporting this model by putting "share" buttons only of these advertising social media platforms (X/Facebook) and not putting share buttons for Bluesky and Mastodon. This petition calls on Uplift and similar organizations to lead the way by adding share buttons for all petitions for Bluesky, Mastodon, and any other platforms which emerge which are not based on advertising and black box algorithms.

I think I can safely say that I speak for every single Irish Rugby Fan with this petition.  This is Irish Rugby's 150th Anniversary, a landmark season that needs to be a stand out one and recognized globally.  This can't be done with the generic, collarless, socceresque jersey that was released last week.  This can't only be done with the traditional, iconic white collared Green & Gold Jersey that was announced today.  Forget the talk of limited edition, we don't want this as a souvenir jersey with no game time played in it, all true Irish Rugby fans urge the IRFU, Canterbury & Elverys Sports to reconsider their decision while there's still time and make this absolutely stunning design as Irish Rugby's home Jersey for the 2024/2025 season.  Do your part by signing this position but also do that little bit more and point blank refuse to buy the forgettable, round neck, turquoise jersey that was released last week.  Thanks for taking the time to read  Philip O'Reilly 

Elderly health care in Ireland is an issue that affects us all, if not now, then in the future. What happens in Ocean View could evoke positive change at national level and prevent even more vulnerable people from being displaced. We want to send the government a very clear message. We refuse to let our loved ones pay the human price for a financial crisis not of their making. The government must provide a home for these citizens. 

It's important because our Dogs are family and they want to kill them off and it's not fair people are jumping on the band wagon and what they don't understand they fear what they don't understand 

It's important for women to have easy access to this safe and effective product without needing a prescription. Pharmacists are well-equipped to screen patients and ensure there are no contraindications before use. Vaginal estrogen provides relief for many symptoms associated with low estrogen, such as vaginal dryness, pain, itching, discomfort during intercourse or exams, recurrent urinary tract infections, and bladder issues like urgency or leaking. These symptoms can affect up to 80% of women postmenopause, significantly impacting their quality of life.

So many of us were horrified to learn about the extent of sexual abuse that has taken place in religious run schools in Ireland. A scoping inquiry report uncovered 2,395 allegations of abuse against 884 alleged abusers over a 30 year period in schools run by religious orders. Despite this wide-scale abuse, more than 90% of schools are still controlled by religious institutions. We are calling on this government to end religious patronage of schools in Ireland and to offer all children the safe, secular education they deserve. Education Minister Norma Foley has been dragging her feet on this issue for too long. It's long past time for action. 

More and more private student accommodation is going up in Belfast and one thing’s for sure, landlords are making an absolute killing. One recently built student accommodation at Bradbury Place will cost students up to £17,850 per year - that’s over £1450 per month! But did you know that student accommodation blocks are exempt from paying rates in NI because of a law introduced in the 1970s? The total value of the exemption from 2023-2024 cost the taxpayer a whopping £2,036,403 - and it is only set to increase as more student accommodation blocks are built. Minister Archibald needs to stop lining the pockets of Big Landlords and use that money to meet the needs of our public services. We call on the Minister to scrap the rates exemption today!

From the Causeway Coast to Newcastle, NI Water have discharged sewage into coastal bathing waters across NI for 8,993 hours in 2023. According to the new analysis from the Belfast Telegraph, those pipes are releasing untreated sewage directly into or close to bathing waters that are protected by law. Not only that, NI Water is only monitoring a fraction of the pipes. NI Water needs to first come clean on the amount of sewage it is pumping into our waters. Analysis found in bathing waters in Newcastle found a pipe near the central promenade discharging for 1,532 hours! Testers are discovering forms of bacteria found in human intestines and poo. Swimmers, kayakers, coastal walkers and everyone in society deserve clean and safe bathing water. It is time for NI Water to stop protecting polluters and start protecting our waters and livelihoods. 

Many people in society have difficulties navigating often long and pointless automated systems when they are trying to get help in relation to essential services. The private companies, providing these public services have completely stripped back their customer care teams and have implemented difficult to navigate systems. Often times the systems are set up to discourage customers from reaching a human representative in order to keep their cost low and profits high.  For some of us this is a mere inconvenience and we are either tech savvy enough to figure out how to resolve our issue online, or we stick it out and speak to a human representative. However for many these systems often stops people from getting the help they need.  This is an issue that has a bigger impact on older members of society, often used to being able to go to a local branch to sort out an issue, are now faced with complicated systems that stop them from getting the assistance they need.  Any company that is providing a public service, should have accessible help lines for those who need them. 

Oasis fans across Ireland were left stunned when they went to buy tickets to their Croke Park gigs and saw how much they were being charged. This is because Ticketmaster is using what it calls "dynamic pricing" – where the cost of concert tickets rises massively depending on demand. Some people were faced with the prospect of paying €440 for standing tickets, which so many of us couldn't even begin to afford. We are calling on this government to ban Ticketmaster from price gouging on future events. This must never be allowed to happen again.

290 people in Northern Ireland die every winter due to cold homes.  Fuel poverty in Northern Ireland is much higher than in England, Wales at Scotland. According to research from the House of Commons Library, around 13% of households in England were classed as fuel poor, 20% in Scotland, 14% in Wales, and 24% in Northern Ireland. We all deserve to have a warm home, free from illness over the winter. Stormont has mitigated cuts from GB before. It must do so again, and keep the Winter Fuel Allowance in Northern Ireland - and protect the vulnerable this winter.

Violence against women in Northern Ireland is at crisis point. In the space of just over a week, two women in Northern Ireland, Montserrat Martorell, and Sophie Watson were murdered in their homes, and a third was stabbed. And with Northern Ireland having the third highest femicide rate in Europe.  The strategy to end this violence is ready to be signed off and funded - it is time for Michelle O'Neill and Emma Little-Pengelly to stop dragging their feet while women's lives are being lost.