Alliance Against Nice Waterford Public Meeting

national | miscellaneous | news report Thursday September 19, 2002 12:29 by Alliance Against Nice - Alliance Against Nice Roy Hassey 0863274015

Launch of Waterford AAN

The Waterford Alliance Against Nice is holding a public meeting on Thursday the 26th September at 8pm in the Granville Hotel, The Quay, Waterford. Speakers: Nuala Ahern MEP (Green Party) Mick O'Reilly (Trade Unionist) Roy Hassey (Socialist Workers Party) Cllr John Halligan (Workers Party)

The Waterford Alliance Against Nice is holding a public meeting on Thursday the 26th September at 8pm in the Granville Hotel, The Quay, Waterford.

Speakers:
Nuala Ahern MEP (Green Party)
Mick O'Reilly (Trade Unionist)
Roy Hassey (Socialist Workers Party)
Cllr John Halligan (Workers Party)

VOTE NO TO NICE

The Irish people have already voted No to the Nice Treaty. But the Fianna Fail/ PD government wants us to vote again. They have no respect for democracy.
These are the same politicians who during the May General Election promised to fund public services. But as soon as the election was over, they started cutbacks. Once again they showed contempt for the “will of the people.”
The only message they deserve now is an even stronger NO!

NO TO MILITARISATION

George Bush wants to launch a war against Iraq to control the oil supplies. The political elite of the EU will align themselves with Bush — but they also want an EU army to establish their own economic colonies.
The Nice Treaty creates the legal framework for the European Rapid Reaction Force. This is a 60,000 strong army that can fight in battle zones thousands of miles away from Europe. Irish troops will eventually be forced to serve in these battles.
The Treaty calls for:
l “The progressive framing of a common defence policy, which might lead to common defence.”
l “Co-operation between EU states in the field of armaments” This is code for building up EU arms sales.
l “A Political and Security Committee which will have 'strategic direction of crisis management operations” . This is a top level committee to run wars.
Ireland is the only country that has a vote on the Nice Treaty. So we are voting for the whole of the people of the EU. A NO vote can help stop the militarisation of Europe.
The new declaration on neutrality is not a legal document, merely an empty promise.

ENLARGEMENT - LESS DEMOCRACY

Countries in Eastern Europe can join the EU without the Nice Treaty. The political establishment are only using the excuse of enlargement to cut back on democracy.
The EU multi-nationals want to use Eastern Europe as a source of cheap labour — they don't care about its people.
We say: let Eastern Europe join on a democratic basis. Allow anyone in the enlarged EU to immigrate to where they want. But give them the legal rights to join union and fight for their rights.
The Alliance Against Nice oppose the racism of Michael McDowell who sends police after refugees while he lets the Ansbacher gang off. We also oppose any racism in the NO camp which says immigrants from Eastern Europe are a problem. Remember: Irish people had to emigrate and made a huge contribution where they went.

For more information contact Roy @ 0863274015