The Wholesome Photo of the Month Thu May 09, 2024 11:01 | Anti-Empire
In 3 War Years Russia Will Have Spent $3... Thu May 09, 2024 02:17 | Anti-Empire
UK Sending Missiles to Be Fired Into Rus... Tue May 07, 2024 14:17 | Marko Marjanović
US Gives Weapons to Taiwan for Free, The... Fri May 03, 2024 03:55 | Anti-Empire
Russia Has 17 Percent More Defense Jobs ... Tue Apr 30, 2024 11:56 | Marko Marjanović Anti-Empire >>
Indymedia Ireland is a volunteer-run non-commercial open publishing website for local and international news, opinion & analysis, press releases and events. Its main objective is to enable the public to participate in reporting and analysis of the news and other important events and aspects of our daily lives and thereby give a voice to people.
Julian Assange is finally free ! Tue Jun 25, 2024 21:11 | indy
Stand With Palestine: Workplace Day of Action on Naksa Day Thu May 30, 2024 21:55 | indy
It is Chemtrails Month and Time to Visit this Topic Thu May 30, 2024 00:01 | indy
Hamburg 14.05. "Rote" Flora Reoccupied By Internationalists Wed May 15, 2024 15:49 | Internationalist left
Eddie Hobbs Breaks the Silence Exposing the Hidden Agenda Behind the WHO Treaty Sat May 11, 2024 22:41 | indy Human Rights in Ireland >>
Green MP Proposes Sweeping Reforms to House of Commons in Maiden Speech Sat Jul 27, 2024 19:00 | Sean Walsh The sweeping House of Commons reforms proposed by Green MP Ellie Chowns are evidence that the Mrs Dutt-Pauker types have moved from Peter Simple's columns into public life. We're in for a bumpy ride, says Sean Walsh.
The post Green MP Proposes Sweeping Reforms to House of Commons in Maiden Speech appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.
Heat Pump Refuseniks Risk £2,000 Surge in Gas Bills Sat Jul 27, 2024 17:00 | Richard Eldred With heat pump numbers forecast to rise, the energy watchdog Ofgem has predicted that bills for those who continue using gas boilers will surge.
The post Heat Pump Refuseniks Risk £2,000 Surge in Gas Bills appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.
Debt-Funded GB Energy to Bet on the Costliest Electricity Generation Technologies Sat Jul 27, 2024 15:00 | David Turver So much for Labour's pledge to cut energy bills by £300, says David Turver. Under GB Energy, our bills can only go one way, and that is up.
The post Debt-Funded GB Energy to Bet on the Costliest Electricity Generation Technologies appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.
Christians Slam Paris Opening Ceremony for Woke Parody of ?Last Supper? Sat Jul 27, 2024 13:00 | Richard Eldred Awful audio, bizarre performances, embarrassing gaffes and a woke 'Last Supper' parody that has outraged Christians turned the Paris Olympics opening ceremony into a rain-soaked disaster.
The post Christians Slam Paris Opening Ceremony for Woke Parody of ?Last Supper? appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.
Victorian Laws Against Priests Meddling in Politics Are Now Needed More Than Ever ? To Prevent Imams... Sat Jul 27, 2024 11:46 | Steven Tucker The Muslim Vote wants Labour to abolish Victorian ?spiritual influence? laws that prevent religious leaders from swaying voters, but Steven Tucker argues that in cities like Leicester these laws are more vital than ever.
The post Victorian Laws Against Priests Meddling in Politics Are Now Needed More Than Ever ? To Prevent Imams Doing the Same appeared first on The Daily Sceptic. Lockdown Skeptics >>
Voltaire, international edition
Netanyahu soon to appear before the US Congress? It will be decisive for the suc... Thu Jul 04, 2024 04:44 | en
Voltaire, International Newsletter N°93 Fri Jun 28, 2024 14:49 | en
Will Israel succeed in attacking Lebanon and pushing the United States to nuke I... Fri Jun 28, 2024 14:40 | en
Will Netanyahu launch tactical nuclear bombs (sic) against Hezbollah, with US su... Thu Jun 27, 2024 12:09 | en
Will Israel provoke a cataclysm?, by Thierry Meyssan Tue Jun 25, 2024 06:59 | en Voltaire Network >>
|
South East Social Forum Closing Statement
waterford |
anti-capitalism |
press release
Tuesday May 18, 2004 13:02 by Roy Hassey - South East Social Forum southeastsocialforum at yahoo dot com 086-3274015
For Alternative Environmental Summit and Demonstration in Waterford INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL FORUM MOVEMENT ARRIVES IN THE SOUTH-EAST
The international Social Forum movement arrived in the south east last week with the Alternative Environmental Summit and demonstration organised by the South East Social Forum to coincide with the EU environment ministers meeting in Waterford over the same weekend.
The Alternative Environmental Summit, under the title of ‘People and Planet Before Profit: Another Europe is Possible’, was held in four different venues over three days in Waterford city and county covering dozens of environmental issues and wider campaigns such as Irish neutrality and the privatisation of public services.
Representatives of over twenty organisations spoke at the summit including: Sustainable Ireland, ATGWU, FEASTA, Irish Anti War Movement, Zero Waste, SIPTU, Coastwatch Europe, Waterford Council of Trade Unions, Waste Study Group, AFRI, GM Free Ireland, Busworkers’ Action Group, Irish Doctors Environmental Association, Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign, DAPSE, Stop Esso Ireland, Debt and Development Coalition, Down to Zero, and Another Europe is Possible.
Hundreds also took part on the demonstration through Waterford City on the same day as the ministers meeting. There were also smaller protests at the location of the EU summit and at the gala dinner in the Tower Hotel.
Principle among the discussions at the alternative summit was the government's attempts to force incineration on to local communities, including in Waterford City, and Fianna Fail's abysmal record on waste management. It was noted that Ireland is introducing incineration at a time when it is being phased out in the rest of Europe and when it runs contrary to official EU policy. The alternatives to incineration such as zero waste and the provision of accessible recycling facilities for communities were outlined by successive speakers. Audiences at the summit were told how zero waste policies, where they had been implemented properly in countries such as Canada and New Zealand, were a huge success. Delegates at the summit agreed on the need for Ireland to reject incineration and for the EU to adopt and implement real zero waste policies.
Other topics discussed at the summit included economic and environmental sustainability, global climate change and genetically modified organisms. It was noted by several speakers that many environmental laws in Ireland and Europe are never implemented because they do not suit the economic interests of multi-national corporations who have the power to flout the law. It is these economic interests rather than concern for environmental sustainability that drive the policy of the EU.
Other issues raised at the summit were the need to stop the privatisation of public services, something the EU is committed to under the GATS agreement and the Lisbon Agenda which plans to privatise key services such as health, transport and education across Europe over the next few years. It was agreed that workers who are forced into industrial action to prevent the selling off of state companies to private business, such as CIE, Aer Rianta and An Post workers, should be supported.
Ireland's sham neutrality, exposed by Ireland's role in the war and occupation of Iraq, where 14,000 US soldiers stop over in Shannon every month; and the continued militarisation of Europe with the planned creation of an European army to fight resource wars, was also discussed by delegates at the summit. It was agreed on the need to build for huge protests when George Bush arrives in Ireland on June 25th and 26th.
The Alternative Summit was the first time an event such as this has been held in the south-east, bringing together such a broad and diverse range of organisations and individuals. These many diverse groups were brought together by the need to present an alternative to the corporate driven agenda of the EU. An agenda which forces incineration, GM foods, privatisation and war on us, because of the profits these can accrue for multinational corporations.
Alternatives exist; such as zero waste, real Irish neutrality, organic production, publicly owned services, environmental sustainability, non-militarisation and a social Europe where worker and social rights are protected and respected rather than constantly attacked in the drive for profits. Everyone left the summit with the belief that Another Europe is Possible and that by acting collectively and presenting the case for the alternative, we can create that other Europe.
086-8581915
086-3274015
www.freewebs.com/sesf/
southeastsocialforum@yahoo.com
|
View Full Comment Text
save preference
Comments (2 of 2)