We, The People

by lefty Thu Jan 10, 2013 16:36

Yes that's certainly pretty hypocritical.

I definitely won't defend DCC postering policy, or their cynical 4am attack on the occupy Dame street camp..

by Joe Mc Thu Jan 10, 2013 16:15

Less than a year ago, the Gardai worked with officials from Dublin City Council to dismantle the Dame St Occupy Camp. In the run-up to the royal visit and the visit by President Obama in May last year ,DCC banned all political postering : Those applying for permission to erect posters were sent the following email by the council:

'I wish to advise you that your application has been refused. This decision has been taken on the basis that no postering applications for events between 15th and 25th May are being granted in the interest of promoting a clean environment for Dublin City during forthcoming State visits.' see:http://www.indymedia.ie/article/99733

Now, Ray Yeates ,the recently appointed Arts Officer for Dublin City Council , is given pride of place by the DCC funded Project Art Centre to promote freedom of speech , the right to free assembly etc.

by lefty Thu Jan 10, 2013 15:02

People are free to get up and talk anywhere they like (subject to the whims of the cops etc) , but it makes sense that there should be some structure (e.g. time / place ) to it so we know where to go and when if we want to hear them speak etc., or where / when we can toddle along to speak ourselves, with the hope of having a few people who have come along to listen to us.

By building a tradition (time / place), it makes it a little harder over time for the cops / wardens to justify "moving people along" for expressing less mainstream views and information publicly.

I also think the megaphone technique of Charlie Veitch in this video is also worth considering in regards to this initiative and should be tried more widely.

Caption: Video Id: qAQrsA3m8Bg Type: Youtube Video
Embedded video Youtube Video

by JoeMc Thu Jan 10, 2013 14:30

It says on the Project site that entrance is "free" . Despite this, it all sounds to me like gift-packaging freedom of speech and serving it up as a Temple Bar cultural commodty. How to brand it though? As a gig, an event, a happening -a safe alternative to Occupy ?

by Hmm Thu Jan 10, 2013 13:25

I'm not sure I understand? Why shove people away into a corner or 'officially sanctioned' space. No one is stopping you from speaking your mind around the city, and sorry to sound pessimistic, but I don't like the idea of 'freedom of speech' being confined to one area.

Just a thought.

by joe mc Thu Jan 10, 2013 12:10

"A revolution is a change of mind" is writtten in quotation marks. I tried googling the phrase , but couldn't find out who said it in the first place.Also,at the Project Art Centre link , three of the invited speakers are described as "Theatre Makers". I haven't been able to find a definition for "Theater maker" on the web .

by lefty Wed Jan 09, 2013 22:56

We need one of these in every city centre. People need to start talking about the class warfare that is currently being waged on them, and how we can turn the tide.

Great initiative here. I wish it every success