Be Jeepers : GR Ireland predict 20,000 - 30,000 to protest EU Presidency in Dublin

by sr Sun Sep 21, 2003 18:24

They have started the "violent protesters" scare already, and Patricia McKenna is foremost in promoting that scare.

"Green MEP Patricia McKenna yesterday expressed fears that the Gardai would not be able to cope if the protests turned violent."

And, referring to the garda riot at the Reclaim the Streets' May Day protest, Patricia McKenna's main concern: 'I just fear that the whole scale of the event will be too much for the Gardai to handle.'

by dunk - FUSPEY Sun Sep 21, 2003 19:56 02092997 at brookes dot ac dot uk

can short summarys be posted from different groups who will participate in these "anti globalisation/ capitalist" protests stating
-their reasons for protest
-what and who exactly they are protesting against
-what they propose as an alternative
-what other things are they doing to combat those issues they are opposed to

i ask this as there are many people who are new to this area and just starting to deal with the issues of "globalisatiobn"
helpful links also appreciated
thaks
dunk

by + Sun Sep 21, 2003 21:13

i'm just a punter.
http://sunsite.ubc.ca/LivingMathematics/V001N01/UBCExamples/Pythagoras/pythagoras.html

by f Sun Sep 21, 2003 22:06

At a recent business lunch in Dublin hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce Ireland, BP Chairman and World Trade Organisation (WTO) guru, Peter Sutherland was guest speaker.

"Next year during Irelands EU presidency we must ensure that a common defence policy is reached and Ireland accepts its responsibility as a global player."

Thats Peter at work lobbying the lobbyists (ACCI and the assembled guests) to lobby the Irish govt.

So I presume its going to be on the menu.

Elsewhere, Forfas the industry development advisory group to the Minister of Enterprise, Trade & Employment says

Within our membership of the EU, Ireland should support the widespread application of the WTO trade disciplines as defined by GATS (General Agreement on Trade in SERVICES), to trade in audio-visual SERVICES, computer software SERVICES and transport SERVICES.

Anyways check out

http://www.forfas.ie/publications/0302_forfas_WTO_72dpi_s.pdf

by Moi Mon Sep 22, 2003 01:37

'Ireland will never have seen anything on the scale of this,'

30 or 40 thousand?
Really? Didn't we have about 3 or 4 times that number last February 15th?

Still, it's something to look forward to.

by Moi Mon Sep 22, 2003 01:45

I should have looked at it properly. The report said 20 to 30 thousand, so in fact we had 4 or 5 times as many back in Feb.

Still, Y'all come.

by dunk - FUSPEY Mon Sep 22, 2003 13:37

if the beatings dished out onn rts mayday 2002 was preparation for this event. it seems today could be last chance for them for practice beatings on more innocent peaceful individuals?

see you at 5 @ the spike

by Badman Mon Sep 22, 2003 14:12

The journo obviously did no research. He claimed that GR organised Genoa and Gothenburg!!!

I'd take the 20,000 - 30,000 with a kingsize pinch of salt. It was a figure produced off the top of Joe C.'s head. Considering that they had 20 - 30 people on their last march, I think it is very much wishful thinking.

by p Mon Sep 22, 2003 22:24

hi from scotland.
okay, gr can be taken with a pinch of salt for now, but this sounds like a gret excuse to visit dublin again to me...

by Indymedia Kevin Tue Sep 23, 2003 12:52

There were 44 people on the Globalise Resistance march from the Central Bank to the Coca-Cola headquarters on Baggot Street. I had photos but deleted them accidentally off the camera. I counted the crowd 4 times just to be sure.

by Kev Tue Sep 23, 2003 19:20

what did you expect them to say? "well I think we'll have just the usual suspects; the swp...ah i mean GR, the SP, GP, anarchists and random punters"

Its a propaganda battle.

As for "ireland never seeing anything like this before" - while i agree that feb 15 saw many times that on the streets, that was an anti-war protest. If, if, IF 20,000 people march against the EU (who largely 'opposed' the war) then that will be hugley significant - especially if most of those are Irish.

I agree that the journo did fuck all research and it was a dreadful article. Still, at least it made the paper.

There was a much worse article by that twat Henry McDonald about how the far-left (who he refers to as the Marxist-Leninsts - MLs) 'hijacked genuine concerns'. I have never read such trash in my life. He also, falsely, claims that the MLs want an end to Israel. While this may be the case with the SWP, the SP certainly do not believe this. Obvioulsy the research dept at the Observer is vastly underfunded.

Also he calls Anti-Imperialism simple 'anti-americanism'.

This is his worst article yet. I used to think the observer was 'decent' enough paper (as far as establishment papers go), but having read Will Huttons book, and most recently his editorial that concluded "partnership is the way forward for the unions" I don't think I'll be buying it again.