Following the spectacular success of last November's European Social Forum in Florence, attended by over 60,000 people, a group of individuals representing a cross-section of Irish civil society is holding meetings with a view to establishing an Irish Social Forum later this year.

The Social Forum movement involves the establishment of open meeting places for groups and movements of civil society opposed to neo-liberalism and seeking to build a planetary society centred on the human person and not on capital. It began with the World Social Forum held in Porto Alegre, Brazil in 2001 where a Charter of Principles was agreed.

Although not without its critics, the Social Forum movement has grown dramatically in the past two years and there are now regional, national and local forums around the world.

Movement towards an Irish Social Forum began following the return of Irish participants ( 2 ) in the Florence ESF. A reporting meeting was held at which the need for an Irish Social Forum was identified. This has since been followed by three further meetings ( 1 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 ), called 'open space dialogues' at which the idea has been explored and discussed. It is intended to continue these meetings and to hold an information event at this year's convergence festival. The goal is to involve as many civil society groups as possible before fully discussing, agreeing and formally establishing an Irish Social Forum in the summer.

So far individuals from (but not necessairly representing) the following groups have participated: Attac, Anti-Iraqi Sanctions, Canals Community Network, Comhlamh, Debt and Development Coalition, Dublin Council of Trade Unions, Dublin Food Co-Op, Dublin South FM, Earthwatch Ireland, Earth Summit Ireland, Feasta, Globalise Resistance, Gluaiseacht, Grassroots Gathering, Green Party, The ICTU, Indymedia, Jesuit Faith & Justice Committee, Latin America Solidarity Centre, Oxfam, Socialist Party, Socialist Workers Party, Sustainable Ireland, Trócaire, UCG Ecosoc, The Village, Workers Solidarity Movement,

Comment on this Feature

Following the spectacular success of the February 15th anti-war demonstrations, the Irish peace movement continued today with 3,000 people marching in Galway. The protestors marched from Fr Griffin Park to Eyre Square where many speakers, poets and singers addressed the crowd.

The Galway protest comes a week after massive demonstrations in Dublin and Belfast encouraged Taoiseach Bertie Ahern to finally declare government support for a second UN resolution. Rattled by the sheer size of the protests and clearly out of touch with the mood on the ground, Ahern also ridiclously claimed to agree with the marchers while Tánaiste Mary Harney dismissed protest organisers as anti-American.

Meanwhile anti-war activities continue around the country ( 1 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 ) ( 4 ) ( 5 ) ( 6 ) ( 7 ) ( 8 ) ( 9 ) ( 10 ) ( 11 ) ( 12 ) ( 13 ) ( 14 ) ( 15 ) and the potential for war in Iraq continues to dominate the Irish political scene ( 1 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 ) ( 4 ) ( 5 ). As the Ploughshare protestors remain in prison ( 2 ) ( 3 ) attention is now turning to a March 1st protest ( 2 ) ( 3 ) ( 4 ) ( 5 ) and direct action ( 2 ) ( 3 ) at Shannon Airport, despite concerns about organisation.

Analysis & Discussion: ( 1 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 ) ( 4 ) ( 5 )

Comment on this Feature

In one of the largest demonstrations in Irish history, over 100,000 people marched in Dublin today against the Bush administration's rush to war on Iraq. Protestors from every part of Ireland representing hundreds of groups came to Dublin to voice their opposition to war and to the continued use of Shannon Airport by the US military ( 2 ) ( 3 ). From opposition politicians to anarchists and Fianna-Fail-voting grannies, the crowds were diverse, cheerful, creative and peaceful as the sunshine encouraged an almost carnival atmosphere. Only one arrest was reported.

As usual, estimates of the numbers of protestors varied widely with Gardaí reporting 80,000 participants, mainstream media reporting 100,000 and the Irish Anti-War Movement and other organisers reporting 150,000. In any event, it was clearly one of the largest demonstrations in Irish history.

Smaller demonstrations were also held in cities and towns around the country, including Cork, Letterkenny, Sligo and Belfast where over 20,000 marched against the war. The Irish protests were part of a global day of action against war that saw over thirteen million people protest worldwide.

Meanwhile the anti-war movement continues ( 2 ) ( 3 ) ( 4 ) ( 5 ) ( 6 ) ( 7 ) ( 8 ) ( 9 ) ( 10 ) ( 11 ) ( 12 ) ( 13 ) ( 14 ) ( 15 ) , with discussion on what to do next. A demonstration at Shannon Airport is planned for March 1st ( 2 ) ( 3 ) ( 4 ) ( 5 ).

Photos: ( 1 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 ) ( 4 ) ( 5 ) ( 6 ) ( 7 ) ( 8 ) ( 9 ) ( 10 ) ( 11 ) ( 12 ) ( 13 ) ( 14 ) ( 15 ) ( 16 ) ( 17 ) ( 18 ) ( 19 ) ( 20 ) ( 21 )
Video: ( 1 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 ) ( 4 ) ( 5 ) ( 6 ) ( 7 ) ( 8 ) ( 9 ) ( 10 )
Audio: ( 1 )
Global Coverage: ( 1 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 ) ( 4 ) ( 5 ) ( 6 ) ( 7 )

See older anti-war features | Comment on this Feature

An unprecedented level of activity is taking place around the country as Ireland mobilises to take part in the worldwide anti-war day of action on the 15th Febuary. Reports are disappearing from the IMC Ireland newswire almost as soon as they are published due to the sheer volume of news stories being submitted.

Countrywide Roundup
Here you will find a long list of news, events, and plans for the various activities taking place this weekend, including transport details. Please use this page (and not the newswire) to add new details.

Countrywide Roundup of Anti-War activities on F15

Indymedia Ireland is now one year old after twelve eventful months in which coverage of Garda violence at a RTS demo brought national attention and a Gardaí internal inquiry, the Ansbacher Report was published online, and article 133 became an important part of the debate on the Nice referendum.

Among over 26,000 postings to the newswire were stories on the use of Shannon airport as a US military refueling depot, the threat to Carrickmines Castle and a variety of protests and direct actions. Many stories broken by Indymedia.ie have turned up in commercial publications.

Some of the first Indymedia stories sound familiar a year later. Stories on anti-war demonstrations at Shannon Airport and the arrest of anti-car protestors both appeared on the newswire in the first few days of Indymedia.ie.

Despite a successful first year providing an alternative, non-commercial source of news and information Indymedia.ie hasn't been without its critics ( 2 ) ( 3 ), which shows it must be doing something right.

Open Letter in response to criticisms of Indymedia by the Sunday Independent's Brendan O'Connor.

Comment on this Feature