Lisbon- After we win ...

national | rights, freedoms and repression | news report

Thursday June 12, 2008 00:24

by liz c - caeuc-personal capacity

on the streets of dublin

in Dublin city centre particularly in the last few days. people aren't just saying they're voting No they're vehemently No and they're saying we could win this ...A lot of people have stopped by the CAEUC stall at the GPO to chat and debate, farmers, fishermen, taxi drivers, disgruntled fiannna failers etc. etc. really varied. it's amazing to hear people talking about politics like this, not just the treaty but the EU and where it's going. it feels like people are really getting into this.

a lot of people from other EU countries have said win it for us cos we didn't get to vote.there has also been a lot of press from other EU countries suddenly taking an interest because it's too close to call .there has been very little yes activity & no concept from their leafleters of what the treaty is about. it'll be close but either way all this interest is a really good sign. this is touching a nerve and it's completely crossing party lines. it's great to see a bit of democracy getting messy and boundaryless as it should be.

if they lose the yes side will scramble to blame the no vote on random factors and will offer a quick fix. even if other countries get referendums on the back of a No here their governments will most likely try to simplify the many reasons for their NO votes just as ours will here. when we win the next step will be to keep the initiative, organise quickly and help people across the EU to negotiate what they want. possible suggestions for how are online discussions, and regional assemblies and forums. We have to put forward our alternatives to free trade, over-consumption and militarization. at a bare minimum we have to make specific demands. a lot of work has already been done on such demands, including costings, by French Socialists whose provisions were all dropped from the treaty and there's also a report I'll post a link to on the necessity of increasing spending on healthcare and education and research and development.

just a few suggestions are:
protection of workers' rights, including the right to collective bargaining and the same rate of pay for migrant and local workers, specific concrete enforceable action on climate change, a continued veto on trade in health and education as well as a commitment to subsidised public transport and no further expansion of airports and the provision for peacekeepers combatting terrorism in third states and structured military co-operation has to go. no matter what happens this treaty is not just going to go away and we all need to be the ones dictating terms, not the heads of state.

Sinn Fein has come up with these demands-from their June 6th press release

"In any re-negotiation the government must secure a permanent Irish commissioner. The government also needs to secure the absolute right of Irish citizens to have the final say in any significant changes to EU treaties.

"The government also needs to ensure that key strategic vetoes on issues such as tax, public services and international trade are strengthened. They need to secure measures to prevent workers pay and conditions from being undermined. They need to secure a protocol protecting our neutrality and opt outs from military spending.

"Brian Lenihan this morning raised the issue of nuclear power and queried what the government could do about the fact that millions of Euro of Irish tax payers money is used to fund this industry. The solution is simple. The Irish government should secure an opt-out from EURATOM as advocated by environmentalists.

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Comments (11 of 11)

litter louts

by ben

Wed Jun 18, 2008 12:10

So it's okay if non big-business leave their posters up, is it?

Remove these posters now. It's a disgrace that many organisations have just left them up - mainly on the NO camp I might add.

I'd agree to apply the full rigours of the law to have them removed and offenders fined.

Cork Business Assoc demand posters removed

by A Citizen

Wed Jun 18, 2008 09:12

Mr. Donal Healy, a spokesman for the Cork Business Association, is quoted in today's Irish Examiner as demanding the full rigours of the law be applied for those who don't take their Lisbon treaty posters down on time. A Citizen responds.

Dear Mr. Healy,

I refer to the item "Business leaders call for Lisbon posters to be removed" in this morning's Irish Examiner, which quotes you as spokesman for the Cork Business Association.

Firstly I think you would acknowledge that by far the greatest number of posters erected in Cork city and environs during the recent Lisbon Treaty campaign would be from groups and individuals associated with big business, both directly and indirectly. One of the largest postering campaigns was that carried out by IBEC, while the group Libertas is very much associated with big business through people like Mr. Ulick McEvaddy and Mr Declan Ganley. Then of course no other parties are as much associated with business as Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.

I am deeply touched that you have called for the removal of posters and cable-ties from "public property", especially given the pro-privatisation bias of your organisation, which seeks to have public property appropriated by big business.

Finally, have you nothing better to do?

A. Citizen

PS - can you talk to your Cork Business Association members about their litter, used chip cartons, unsightly advertising hoardings, temporary wooden walkways, unwanted fliers and other such detritus?

Thank you !!!

by French citizen

Tue Jun 17, 2008 15:05

Hello everybody,

I'm sorry if I wrote bad, but I want to thank all the Irish people who have voted NO to Lisbonne Treat !

Here, Nicolas Sarkozy an his government have decided to not care about the choice of the french people an it's very anti-democratic

We have relyied on you and now we are proud of you !

Thank you from millions of french citizens !!!

A french citizen

If You Don't Know... Vote No!

by B. R.

Thu Jun 12, 2008 17:03

Seriously, signing up to a federal, corporatist europe is not an easily reversible kind of decision.

And if you don't know, there's a good reason: the treaty is a model of unclarity, as anyone who has tried to read it can confirm. Much better to "return to sender" and have them put out a legible, clear document, even if you think a european superstate is a good idea. Just like it's a bad idea to sign a contract you haven't read and don't understand, voting for this treaty while unaware of its true content is... not smart.

Just Voted

by Peter

Thu Jun 12, 2008 16:15

just back from voting Yes, primarily for a more democratic Europe and a stronger voice in foreign policy to counter that of the USA..
Talked to a number of 'no' leaning voters on the way, that still didnt understand the the treaty and therefore believed that voting no was the safe option, but they couldnt be arsed to vote.

Liz C on EchoTV (in Hungary!)

by redjade

Thu Jun 12, 2008 15:37

ex-Pioneer and I were just now watching EchoTV, a Hungarian cable news channel, and we saw her speaking out against the Lisbon Treaty wearing an orange shirt in (maybe) front of the GPO in Dublin!

It was a welcome surprise :-)

The current Hungarian government - run by the very unpopular 'Socialists' and Liberals - united with the Centre-Right party Fidesz to be the first country in the EU to vote almost unanimously for the Lisbon Treaty. And, with less than an hour of debate!

Many here wish that the political elite of Hungary were not so cravenly pro-EU and look to the Irish to put the brakes on the EU constitution. Treaties are not allowed to be decided by referendum here - so says the Hungarian constitution.

So, from the eastern frontier of EULand:
Democracy... use it or lose it! & just say no! (say no, because you can)

Vote Yes For Smoked Salmon Socialism!

by James Connolly

Thu Jun 12, 2008 15:06

As a member of the (I dont personally engage in....)Labour party I call on the citizens of Ireland to pass this Treaty.

We, as the proletarian, sit on front of computers all day and live in large houses. Together (with eh....Fine Gael) we can pass this treaty and earn a few extra Euros for those in charge.

The Cause Of Capital Is The Cause Of Ireland!

Please vote NO for the people who did not get a chance to vote.

by Bep

Thu Jun 12, 2008 15:04

It seems to be that Ireland is the only real democratic country in the whole of the EU. Over here in the Netherlands we are a dictature since they silenced us after we said NO!

Don't count your chickens...

by seal

Thu Jun 12, 2008 09:00

It's not over until it's over. Between now and 10PM every vote counts. If you are driving down to the polling station knock on your neighbour's doors and ask them if they want a lift- you'll be being kind to the environment as well as bringing a few No voters with you (more than likely).

Even if they don't want a lift, it's no harm to remind people that the referendum is on. Remember only Irish citizens can vote.

No Renegotiation!

by Sean

Thu Jun 12, 2008 06:38

I disagree with the call for renegotiation. If the No side wins in today's referendum that should be the end of it. Don't leave the door open for them to have a Lisbon II like they had a Nice II a few years ago - remember Lisbon I is already EU Constitution II. The people's decision must be respected.

Every last vote against the treaty counts.

by A. P.

Thu Jun 12, 2008 06:03

Just saying. Don't rely on there being "enough" people on the no side, make sure you vote.

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Lisbon- After we win ...

Comments (11 of 11)