Public meeting urges people to build a real alternative

cork | anti-capitalism | press release Saturday October 11, 2008 10:41 by modonoghue - People Before Profit

Good turn out at public meeting organized to relaunch People Before Profit Cork

Banking Crisis, Recession, Rocketing Prices, Rising Unemployment:
What is the Solution?

Speaking at the meeting, Joan Collins, an independent socialist councillor in Dublin spoke of the impact of the Celtic tiger over the last decade. “The government delivered for the wealthy, the multinationals, and the developers. There are currently 33,000 millionaires in Ireland with the top1% of the population owning 20 % of the wealth”.

She said that even with unprecedented wealth generated here in recent years, the poor have been left behind, with figures for 2006 showing that consistent poverty is on the increase in Ireland. Calling on ordinary people to support People Before Profit Alliance, Collins said. “Its time for a real alternative that will fight for the needs of ordinary people”

Derry Chambers of the Cork Environmental Alliance addressed the impact of government economic decisions on the environment over the last number of decades. He spoke in particular on the current situation in Cobh quoting startling figures which highlighted how people living in Cobh are 1 ½ times more likely to die of cancer. He spoke also of failed government promises and urged all at the meeting to get involved in campaigning on these issues.

Richard Boyd Barrett, People Before Profit Candidate in Dun Loire spoke of the recent bail out of Irish banks.

“The policies of lending institutions in recent years have encouraged an unsustainable speculative boom, particularly in property. In their desire to make ever more profits, and generate ever-bigger bonuses for their executives, the banks recklessly handed out money to developers creating a property bubble, an inevitable crash and now a mountain of bad debt.
Incredibly, the government are using taxpayer’s money to guarantee the future of these banks but doing nothing to ensure that the same thing does not happen again. As it stands, these same banks will simply move on now to repossess the homes of ordinary people who are being crucified by the economic crisis created by those same banks and their development friends.
Urging people to get involved with People Before Profit Alliance Boyd Barrett said

“Most ordinary people feel that the current system is unjust but think they can’t do any thing about it. A movement like People Before Profit can bring together all those who want change and build a real alternative “

The main concern highlighted from the floor was cutbacks to the Mercy Hospital and the threat to St. Mary’s Orthopaedic hospital. The meeting agreed to support the demonstration at Cork City Hall, on next Monday, October 13th at 4:30 pm – 6 PM. This protest has been called by workers of the Orthopaedic hospital, who fear for the life of their badly needed hospital (the meeting recognised people may not be there at 4:30 pm on the dot, so the protest will continue in the gallery of the city hall where councillors will debate the issue ).

All at the meeting were encouraged to come to a follow People Before Profit Meeting on
Wednesday 22 October at 8pm in Capwell Art Gallery, 16 Summerhill South (Opposite Capwell Bus Garage)

Following the meeting, Mala ODonoghue from Cork People Before Profit said

“The enthusiastic mood at this public meeting shows that most people are looking for an alternative. There has never been a better time for a new alliance to bring together people from campaigns and movements opposing government policies to give expression to the increasing discontent in Cork. I would urge people from across the city to come to the next meeting to help build this campaign”

END