Voice - Bin Tax special now online

national | bin tax / household tax / water tax | news report

Tuesday October 14, 2003 21:11

by Binning the Tax - Socialist Party

A special four page edition of the Voice, the newspaper of the Socialist Party, is now available online. It contains reports from around Dublin on the bin tax campaign as well as articles on the strategy of the protesters.

Bin Tax Jailings: Unions Must Act

BIN TAX protesters, their relatives and fellow campaigners were visibly shocked by the imprisonment of ten residents by the High Court on 9 October. This shock quickly turned to anger and determination to continue the blockades of bin trucks and opposition to this government and their hated bin tax.
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"All Bins or No Bins!"

THEY THOUGHT it couldn't be done, but on Wednesday 10 September the bin collection service was brought to a standstill by residents throughout Fingal. Since then residents have been blockading bin trucks. This is in response to the decision by Fingal County Council to refuse to collect the bins of residents boycotting the hated bin tax.
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You Don't Intimidate Us

ON DAY one, by 8.08 am all four of the trucks in Dublin 15 were grounded. The bin service in the whole of Fingal was stopped. In the Dublin 15 area some estates have not had a bin collection for four weeks as Fingal county council refuses to send in the bin trucks. Residents are now blockading trucks and disposing of the waste of non-payers into the trucks themselves, which is entirely legal.
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Dublin South: Determined Action Gets Results

MONDAY 29 Sept. saw the start of non collection in Dublin South County Council area with a few dozen bins left behind in Rathfarnham, in a sneak raid by the Council. They sent out men with red stickers to mark the bins of people who hadn't paid.
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Dublin City: Stepping up the Battle

AFTER THREE years of work in the communities a number of local anti-bin tax campaigns are able to mobilise strong local support for protests and blockades, as a result of having a network of activists in the areas. This is particularly vital as the City campaign moves into its most important stage.
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Depot Blockaded on Davitt Road - A Story of Solidarity

AFTER THREE weeks of chasing bin trucks, organising local solidarity actions and attending marches in support of the jailed bin tax protesters, activists from the Liberties area organised a blockade of Dublin City's bin truck depot on Davitt Road.
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Community Direct Action: How We Can Beat the Bin Tax

NO WORKING class struggle in recent decades has faced such repression as the anti bin tax movement. This is a very serious clash between the ruling class and working class communities in Dublin. The result - but also how the battle is fought - will have a big impact for years to come. Already the last month has had a profound impact on the attitudes of thousands of people. All forces and parties have been put to the test.
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Organise Stoppage Now!

ON THE eve of his imprisonment Declan Mahon, SIPTU shop steward and Finglas resident told a demonstration outside Mountjoy that the trade unions must organise opposition to the bin tax and the jailing of protestors. Declan's imprisonment has been condemned by SIPTU, as was the jailing of Joe Higgins and Clare Daly and the other nine residents. But as Declan stated condemnation is not enough, action is needed.[continued]

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The rest of the articles will be added as they are placed online

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Comments (5 of 5)

assoc. press

by medae

Tue Oct 14, 2003 21:16

will this get deleted like when people post from other news sources.

Coverage

by Des

Tue Oct 14, 2003 21:31

Far from being deleted, the piece should get the widest possible circulation. We cannot obviously, depend on the establishment to do it for us.

Normal

by IMCliker

Tue Oct 14, 2003 23:12

Actually it is common and accepted practice to post summaries of and links to new online publications here. A range of political organisations do it and as long as thay aren't cutting and pasting the whole articles it hasn't caused a problem.

think out loud

Tue Oct 14, 2003 23:14

not calling for its deletion.

Good stuff

by Frank - none

Wed Oct 15, 2003 01:00

Some very good articles there. The Community Direct Action one is particularly good. The main part of it I agree with entirely. Good name too, community direct action exactly sums up what this campaign is all about.

"The blockading of bin trucks with a view to getting all bins collected or to cause disruption to the council was implemented within minutes of Fingal County Council imposing non-collection. These tactics which have now been used in all areas have proved controversial for some.

Without these tactics the bin charges would not be the number one issue in Irish society nor would the Dublin Trades Council be calling a demonstration. Those who have opposed the widespread use of such blockades either on tactical or legal grounds have failed to provide any other means of protesting effectively. The choice was between a militant campaign that attempted from the word go to put the councils and the government under real pressure or a more passive campaign which for some was a tokenistic stepping stone to a challenge in next years local elections.

That the state has intervened with the jailing of twelve protestors shows their determination to smash this movement but it also shows that they fear the movement's potential. It is essential that the movement now goes on the offensive. To step back now with the jailing of ten activists would have disastrous consequences. It is a tribute to the movement that the people on the ground are prepared, if necessary, to replace the ten with another hundred, just as the ten replaced Clare and Joe.

It is vital that workers force their unions decisively into this battle."

There's some other stuff in there about standing in the local elections that I'm not sure if I agree with. I'll have to think about it, arent the powers now with the city managers anyway? But the main thrust of the article is spot on.

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Voice - Bin Tax special now online

Comments (5 of 5)