European City Of Culture 2005 - Nothing But A Farce!

cork | eu | press release Tuesday March 01, 2005 23:10 by Cork IRSP - Irish Republican Socialist Party irsp at irsm dot org

Nothing But A Farce! - Cork IRSP

With thousands on the dole or hidden on government schemes Cork Irish Republican Socialist Party say that:

CORK 2005 IS NOTHING BUT A FARCE!

Irish Republican Socialist Party Cork

Press Statement

European City Of Culture 2005
Nothing But A Farce!

With thousands on the dole or hidden on government schemes Cork Irish Republican Socialist Party say that:

CORK 2005 IS NOTHING BUT A FARCE!

As celebrations got underway by the river Lee, Starry Plough spoke to Cork Irish Republican Socialist Party on all the hype surrounding European City Of Culture in the rebel city. “Cork European City Of Culture 2005 is a total and utter farce designed only to coax more tourists into this city and thereby increase profits for those wealthy few involved in the growing hotel and tourist industry.” They said.

“It also intends to provide local bosses and the middle class with another excuse to party and enjoy themselves at our expense as witnessed by the their fireworks display on the opening night of City Of Culture 2005.

“The working class of Cork will have to foot the bill at the end of the day for the various lavish elitist banquets and other celebrations playing host to this and that so-called dignitary from near and far. All of this is being carried out in a time in our history when factories are closing down all over Cork city and county. Well over treble the amount of those government statistics released are subjected to a life of unemployment and poverty pay in the city alone. Cork and the entire surrounding region is one of Irelands unemployment black spots but all of this will be hidden from view as the middle class sing of 'culture'.

In 2005, if you’re to listen to rubbish the media pumps out, Ireland is now said to have the lowest level of unemployment within Europe, they also paint a picture that the city can only but benefit from this.

Cork IRSP replied “The EU administration, whose fat cat representatives are currently being questioned for creaming off millions of Euro into their own pockets, seem to adhere to that old con trick of shuffling numbers in order to hide the truth of how low life really is behind their facts and figures. Cork European City Of Culture 2005 is nothing but another carriage in the bosses gravy train assisted locally by the puppet 26 administration and big business corporations.

“That is the view of the Cork IRSP. We believe that it is an insult to the working class of Cork, who've been particularly hit hard with many hundreds of lay-offs and factory closures during the past number of years. Due to globalisation the promoted by the European Union our class have been forced out of work as the local bosses closed ranks and shifting entire plants to Asia to increase profit margins by paying buttons for wages.

“Today in Cork poverty and hopelessness is taking a firm grip and despite the fly-by-night European investments and poverty wages their jobs create. The growth in T.E.A (Temporary Employment Agencies) locally is an eye opener or an example of how unemployment is concealed and for many, this is classed as a job these days.

“Labouring along side others on the same shift, doing the same type of work yet receiving a fraction of the wage as the agency takes their slice of the cake and more often than not it normally the largest slice. Working on a temporary contract.

“The reality for many in Cork is that debt crisis amongst our class has hit and all time high from banks to loan sharks choking many households.

“Drug and alcohol abuse is widespread, so too is the conic health and social problems that come with it from domestic and street, burglaries and so-called ‘joyriding’ effecting people of all ages.

“But who benefits from all this? Certainly not our class! It is true that the Nite-Clubs and The Off-sales owners are without doubt making a killing.

“Whilst the Garda and the city ‘fathers’ benefit from CCTV coverage within the city centre, this is exclusively for the protection of their profits. They fool no-one as these spy cameras are little comfort to those of us who feel threatened by the spiralling levels of city centre violence.

“Behind the façade and the gloss of Lego land high street shops and developments the city is falling apart at the seams. This is a reality. Since the days of the Celtic Tiger very little in reality has changed. We've all seen who benefited from this!

“In terms of the building social housing the cities politicians have ignored the cities housing crisis were our class have been unable to enter the housing markets as houses in their own communities remain out priced and out of reach.

“During Cork European City Of Culture 2005, the ruling elite of Cork has decided to waste money on lavish celebrations and functions from which the ordinary people of the city are excluded.

“This, as we have already stated, is an insult to the people of Cork and we intend to focus in on this throughout the coming year. European City Of Culture 2005 is a total farce!”

Ends

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Next Issue of the Starry Plough will focus in on the class divide within the Rebel City.

http://www.irsm.org/irsp/starryplough/