Grassroots Network invites Dubliners to join May Day events

by Micky Tue Apr 27, 2004 21:14

Is that a stone in the left hand of the wee fellow in your picture? Are they running towards the Guards or away from the Guards? Why?

by David C. Tue Apr 27, 2004 21:23

Any organization stupid enough to use this picture as its logo after the media coverage that this 'protest' has received does not deserve anyone's support. Besides, I like the EU.

My advice: Ignore this side-show, and ignore the anti-everything squirrel-people, and plan on marching in Dublin against George Bush's visit to Ireland in late June.

by tsk tsk Tue Apr 27, 2004 21:23

no he's practicing his stylised run for when he can afford a dog on a string the essential accessory to any day of carnival fun

by R. Isible Tue Apr 27, 2004 21:38

When you say "besides, I like the EU" I'd like you to specify exactly what you like.

Do you mean that you like the privatisation of services?

Do you mean that you like the harsh anti-immigration policies that have resulted in the deaths of e.g. those Chinese people in the shipping container the other year? Or the cockle-pickers drowned in Morecambe Bay?

Do you like the policies that relegate the new accession states to second-class status thereby creating a pool of exploited labour which will drive down working conditions for all in the EU?

Think of the image above as a Rohrshach Blot: you and Micky saw violence and stupidity in it.

by Bakunin Tue Apr 27, 2004 22:04

maybe you might prefer this logo

by David C. Tue Apr 27, 2004 22:30

Actually, I like the other one better. I look at it as representing child-like activists running from reality. What do you see in it R. Isible? GAA hurlers in training?

I like the EU because it is a good and decent organization that has brought peace, harmony and prosperity to hundreds of millions of people, and because it provides a model of how the entire world can live together. That is no small thing.

Regarding specifics - I think that many services can be performed cheaper and better if privatized, albeit with government regulation of critical social functions. I think that European people have a right to be concerned about unrestricted immigration, but that large-scale immigration into Europe is desirable and inevitable and that it should be deliberately managed. I think that 7 years of two-tier status to give economies time to adjust is a reasonable compromise (7 years isn't long).

But most of all, I think that you're just against everything. You will look for and find a reason to be against every little thing that mainstream society does. This is not because of anything 'out there' in the world, but because of something missing in YOUR life and YOUR psychology. Admit it - at least to yourself.

Unfortunately, your personal issues are helping to cripple effective anti-war opposition in Ireland.

by Starstruck - UCD left Tue Apr 27, 2004 22:40

Should you wish to participate in the weekends actions then do,i certainly will.
Should you wish to ignore them and instead focus on Gee Dubyas visit so be it..
Both are important events in their own right and a little less berating and a little more acceptance,tolerance and cooperation among different ideologies,opinions and thoughts that belong on roughly the same side of the political fence would be good..
Bring on the Weekend.Nothing like a carnival to wash away the exam blues....

by David C. Tue Apr 27, 2004 23:07

Each to his own...

by T Tue Apr 27, 2004 23:47

The EU is due to vote on whether to allow GM food and crops into Europe. In fact the decision may already have been taken.

This is a very important issue and poll after poll show that the majority of people are against GM food and are strongly in favour of compulsory labelling of GM food. And all of this despite the best attempts of the corporate media to ignore the issue.

The GM-food and GM crop advocates such as various so called independent scientists, politicians and of course the relevant corporations themselves consistently try to give the picture that GM crops is all about feeding the world and preventing world hunger.

Nothing could be further from the truth. As it stands now there is more than enough food to get around, yet many starve and yet many more go hungary each day. A good portion of the worlds grain goes towards animal feed for instance. To produce 1kg of meat, requires 10kg of grain. So even a small reduction in meat consumption could free up a lot of grain. Another not well known fact is that half of all fish caught each year is ground up for animal feed. Again an incredible waste, considering that of the 17 major fisheries (areas) in the world, 16 are seriously damaged and in decline.

The facts regarding GM crops speak for themselves. A full 85% of all GM-crops have been modified to be resistant to various herbicides and insecticides. The logic was you could spray higher dosages but less often to kill pests. It so happens the same companies producing these chemicals (e.g. Monsanto) are also the same ones producing the GM-seeds. Not only that they force farmers to buy new seed off them each year and to pay royalities. Predictably resistance by insects and other bugs has already developed with the result, that even more chemicals have to be sprayed, meaning higher levels in our food.

GM-crops are not about increasing food production, but about creating monopolies and selling chemicals and seeds -seeds which for the past 7000 years farmers kept back each year and sowed for free the next, but not anymore.

[ An aside: An analysis of the nutrient levels in our food done in the 1940s and then again in the 1980s showed the nutrient content had fallen 75%. Today they continue to fall further. This partially explains the popularity in vitamins and other health pills, because our food no longer contains any decent quantities. But yet even here, the drug companies are muscling in and again courtsey of the EU, they have got regulations in, which mean vitamins levels in tablets will only be allowed to be set the much lower levels that were established in the 1950s. The convoluted logic means that the large companies, will then be able to outcompete the almost 8,500 companies involved in this huge trade. They have also managed to bring in a regulation, where a license fee of 100,000 euro has to be paid for each ingredient & nutrient in a given capulse. The smaller companies don't know what's going to hit them and this alone will wipe out all the diversity in this area. See : Hidden Agenda http://www.theecologist.org/archive_article.html?article=422&category=61 ]

GM-crops are monocultural and in their wake they have cross contaiminated many other varieties. In the wake of the madness, called Industrial Agriculture of which GM-crops is the apex, the natural agricultural wealth carefully built up by farmers throughout the world over hundreds of generations is being wiped out.

The order of the day now is plant patents and so forth.

All of this is being heavily pushed by large multinational corporations in both the USA and the EU.

The UNELECTED and unaccountable EU COMMISSION is making important decisions in this area and have done so already. In each case, the voices of consumers and environmental organisations and truly independent scientists have been completely ignored.

This is just one tiny area of the vast array of other issues, in which the increasingly totalitarian and big business orientated EU must be challenged and these decisions put back into our hands,.

[ 5 reasons to keep Britain GM free ] -applies to Ireland too.
http://www.theecologist.org/archive_article.html?article=432&category=61
More at:
http://www.theecologist.org/archive_articles.html?category=61
http://www.i-sis.org/

by T Tue Apr 27, 2004 23:53

This article which appeared in The Ecologist magazine (well worth subscribing to!) explains how democracy is bypassed as multinationals push changes in trade law through the labrynthine corridors of the EU.

In particular it describes the action of the EU trade comissioner (unelected and would it make any difference if he was?), Pascal Lamy.

For instance:
He has also declared: ‘Services are among those new areas of trade that, because they directly affect a society’s preferences and way of life, quite rightly concern citizens and those who represent them.’ But access to documents by MEPs – the only people European citizens have directly elected to represent them in Brussels – is practically impossible.

UK Green Party MEP Caroline Lucas says: ‘Industry gets far greater access to the commission than the parliamentarians. Only under pressure would Lamy agree to show a small group of MEPs Gats documents. I had to sign a raft of papers saying that I would not share the information with anyone, keep the papers in a locked safe, refrain from copying or emailing them, and shred them after reading. Our idea of democratic scrutiny extends a bit further than this.’

Under the guise of openness, and to avoid ‘debilitating critique’ from civil society, Lamy has presided over the implementation of the so-called ‘civil society dialogue’ meetings that take place every two months and are attended by staff heads of DG Trade units. Lamy shows up for an hour every six months. Up to two thirds of the participants at the civil society dialogue meetings are industry lobbyists and consultants.

by Spokes Wed Apr 28, 2004 10:40

Hasn't there been Critical Mass cycles on the last friday of every month for the last 3 years in Dublin?
Sounds like the Grassroots folk are doing a bit of hijacking events to suit their own short term policitical needs, and your different to the SWP how???

by Ali la Pointe - fu-fighting anti-imperialistas Wed Apr 28, 2004 13:36

wont let me like the EU because it is opposed to an authoritarian, anti-democratic, militaristic and structurally racist formation whose basis for wealth is the legacy of imperialism and the continued impoverishment of the rest of the world.

I am not opposed to regional attampts to surpass petty-nationalisms, on the contrary. But the current EU project is tending towards superpower status. At the same time it is resricting people's freedom of movement while championing the freedom of movement of capital. Our capital intrusions into third world economies and the unfair terms of trade we dictate to them underdevelop their economies and create the conditions for population migration, war and "terrorism".

I think you should look at your own psychology if it equates peace and security authority with and might .

by Joe Wed Apr 28, 2004 13:41

Critical mass is not 'owned' by anybody. Like RTS it is a tactic not an organisation. If you were anything to do with critical mass you'd know this already.

In any case those organising it have been involved in countless critical masses and are as justified in using the name as an anonymous indymedia contributor.

by Spokes Wed Apr 28, 2004 14:48

Sure anyone can attend and participate in the Critical Mass and propose the route of each ride, detours to Dominic St, Car Free Day, RTS, Road Safety Council etc etc are points of this.
What I do object to is Grass Roots claiming they 'organised' an event that would have happened anyway, also DCC are hosting an international bike conferance on Sat with about 100 people taking part, I would equally object to them claiming they organised the Critical Mass.
Saying that I will participate on the ride and I do support the rights of Grass Roots to protest in any non-violent way they see fit

by Chekov Wed Apr 28, 2004 14:50

It would be better to say that Dublin Grassroots is 'taking part in' rather than 'organising'. A small point really, but Critical mass is an autonomous action.

by Patrick Paterson Wed Apr 28, 2004 15:07

Will Grassroots be having a number of people ensuring that everyone in their action are peaceful. Last thing we need is the cops having an excuse to attack the protests on Saturday.

by pc Wed Apr 28, 2004 15:14

one group or individual can't take responsibility for others.... no condemnation no stewards

my mother telling me that its our fault that phoenix park is being closed?

its the supposed terrorist threat which is behind the reason for closing the park, not matter what we did hte park would be closed
the headline is that mayday marches have been allowed to protest?

but there still be prevented from going 4 miles ,yes that right 4 miles (there about )
from the venue that still constitutes prevention of protest

and apparently some guys is complaining about having to close his pubs ....

by Joe Wed Apr 28, 2004 15:15

The grassroots guidelines for the march have been online for the last few days at http://struggle.ws/eufortress/timetable.htm

Not everybody has to do things the SWP way. at least not yet!

by Confused Wed Apr 28, 2004 17:08

Have the two camps organising May Day divided activists too much?
From what I can tell, this is the official line-up for activities for the weekend:


Friday:
5:30. Garden of Remembrance, critical mass cycle
7pm, Liberty Hall, conference

Saturday:
10am, Civic Offices, Wood Quay, Reclaim the City / No Borders street theatre
12, Central Bank, Speakers
1:30pm, March from Dame Street to Phoenix Park begins
2pm, Grafton Street
2:30pm, March reaches Phoenix Park
6pm, Parkgate Street, Bring the Noise

Sunday:
11am, Customs House
- No Borders camp

Monday:
3pm, Ambassador Cinema, Reclaim the Streets


Why have so many seperate events at the same time on Saturday? Surely we should be getting everyone in the one place?!

by fat people are hard to kidnap Wed Apr 28, 2004 17:11

Well everything follows on nicely from everything else - though I admit ,from trying to advertise them, that may be it is a bit confusing

The carnival is organised by Another Europe Is Possible the rest are Grassroots - the march follows nicely from the carnival so hopefully they will combine to some extent