Another Europe Is Possible -People Not Profit And Peace Not War Public Meeting

dublin | eu | event notice Wednesday January 14, 2004 12:31 by Another Europe

Public Meeting and participatory workshops
Thursday January 22nd 7:30pm
Liberty Hall Dublin

Speakers:
Jack O’Connor (SIPTU President)
Clare Daly (Bin Tax Campaign)
Richard Boyd Barrett (Irish Anti War Movement)
Tom Ryan (President, Dublin Council of Trade Unions)
Immigrant community representative

The Irish Government has the Presidency of the EU from January to June 2004. It will be using its term as EU president to increase the competitiveness of the EU, to press for agreement on the draft EU Constitution, and improve EU-US relations. We, however plan to highlight and mobilise for a very different type of Europe.

* No to a Europe of Militarisation and War, No to a European Army. Yes to Irish Neutrality Improving EU/US relations means continuing support for the US/UK led war on terror. Ahern and PDs allow the US military to use Shannon airport, while claiming to oppose the war in Iraq. Ahern and the other EU leaders want a militarised Europe enshrined into any EU constitution.

* No a Europe of profit and privatisation. Yes to a Europe of Social rights and workers rights The Irish Government and the EU are promoting a neo-liberal agenda of privatisation, de-regulation, reducing taxes on the wealthy, worsening workers conditions, cutting back in public spending and prioritising the profit of big corporations before the needs of ordinary people. We can see this agenda in the break up and privatisation of Aer Rianta and CIE, in waste services charges, the sell-off of social housing and privatisation in health and education

* No to a Europe of Racism and deportations. Yes to rights of immigrants and asylum seekers The EU promotes the movement of capital and profit across borders while immigrants and asylum seekers face increasing harassment and deportations by the governments of Fortress Europe especially under the Schengen Agreement. We want a real Europe of the welcomes not a fortress Europe.

May 1st - the day the Irish government is inviting the warmongers Blair, Berlusconi and Aznar, along with the other EU heads of state to celebrate the enlargement of the EU. We invite you to demonstrate in Dublin on May 1st to oppose Blair and others who have Iraqi blood on their hands, and oppose their neo-liberal Europe of privatisation and poverty.

It is hypocrisy on the part of the FF/PD Government to call May 1st a day of welcomes when they offer no welcome to asylum seekers fleeing war, poverty and exploitation. We invite you to help us build a movement for another Europe based on solidarity and peace.



KEY DATES OF MOBILISATIONS

* January 22nd Public meeting to launch Another Europe is Possible, Liberty Hall coinciding with EU Justice ministers meeting in Dublin Castle (see front for details).

* Fri 23rd January, Dublin Castle- Protest- for immigrants and asylum seekers rights

* March 20th International day of action against occupation of Iraq

* April 2/3 –Day of action for a social Europe - EU Finance ministers meet in Kildare

* May 1st – Peace not war – People not profit: Another Europe is possible


Another Europe is possible is a broad based alliance with the aim of bringing groups and individuals together from all over the Island of Ireland to co-ordinate events during the EU presidency-

Contact 086 1523542 for more information