"No Borders, No Nations" - Street Theatre

by redflaremist Tue Feb 17, 2004 18:09

Dublin Grassroots present:

"No Borders, No Nations"

A street theatre play in 3 acts.

Thursday March 4th - assemble at 5pm at the Central Bank on Dame Street.



After the popular success of "No Justice, No Peace!", performed during the EU Justice Ministers summit, activists from the Dublin Grassroots network are organising a street theatre event, entitled "No Borders, No Nations". The EU circus is rolling into Dublin Castle again, this time for a high-level working meeting of the "Strategic Committee on Immigration, Frontiers, and Asylum" (SCIFA).

The consolidation of the EU's immigration policy has led in one direction: Fortress Europe. This is the policy of a Europe that cares only about profit and economic expansion, at the detriment of human life. Ireland in recent months has shown itself no longer to be the island of "Céad Mile Fáilte", taking whatever steps neccessary, through the courts, to expel people who do not meet its stringent guidelines that define 'legality'. No human being is illegal!

The Fortress Europe policy manifests itself in the refusal to grant asylum to over 90% of the applicants. It means the arrest, harassment and deportation of men, women and children back to their country of origin - regardless of the circumstances. It means that people who travel here trying to built a better life are treated inhumanely. What have we become? For years Irish people were 'economic migrants', travelling across the world wherever work could be found. The Irish State cries foul when the US tightens its laws when it threatens Irish immigrants working without permits, but when it comes to allowing people to live and work here, we do not apply the same standards. Hypocrisy at the highest level - it would be hilarious if people were not suffering as a result.

The State's recent deportation of 64 Romanians and Moldovans, including 12 children, ranks as a low point in respect for human rights and dignity. These people were spied on and followed by the Immigration Bureau, rounded up in dawn raids reminiscent of a police state, and escorted on a plane by 35 Gardai. The flight alone is understood to have cost the State more than e120,000. Is this what the Gardai spend their time and resources on? Arresting ordinary working men and women, and shipping them en masse like cattle?

According to Pat Guerin of the Irish Refugee Council, "The term Fortress Europe has been for some years used by human rights groups and other critics to describe the gradual dismantling of the rights of asylum-seekers, the increasing hostility of EU states to persons seeking refuge, as reflected in the introduction of draconian asylum rules and regulations, and the ongoing attempt at closing Europe's borders to those who wish to apply for protection as refugees.

"The measures that combine to make Europe resemble a fortress include the effective militarisation of the EU's external frontiers, both on land and at sea; policies of destitution, detention and deportation; punitive sanctions for airlines, shipping companies and road hauliers who fail to police their passengers by applying rigid documentation standards that ignore the often desperate need of refugees for clandestine travel; and the setting of ever higher refugee recognition hurdles on an asylum track of shrinking legal protections. Such policies do not augur well for the development of a humane approach to people seeking refuge in what is fast becoming one of the largest social, economic and political blocs in the world."

We believe in No Borders and No Nations. Everyone should be free to travel, work, and live wherever they wish on this planet. Allowing people from different cultures to freely associate will lead to tolerance and understanding - and create a better world for all of us to live in. Borders are raised by those who control us, to create fear and suspicion between us. Nationalism is an ideology that fosters racism and hatred - we are all human beings, regardless of our religion, skin colour, ethnicity, place of origin. We are all different - and all equal.

Join with us on Thursday March 4th at 5pm, at the Central Bank on Dame Street, for the street theatre production "No Borders, No Nations", to deliver a message to the EU that we will not accept their Fortress Europe.

by GG Sat Feb 28, 2004 19:52

RAR are also getting involved with this.

by Factfinder Sun Feb 29, 2004 03:56

Ah shure, if you were really from this country, and if you were actually living here, you would know that, 'Desmond'.
If you had even done a search on this site you would have found plenty of information about it.
But then you are not interested enough to do that, you just want to hop in and leave a few sarcastic comments on different stories and then scurry away.

by Sandra Sun Feb 29, 2004 12:35

If Desmond had bothered to actually look at the previous posting he would know that RAR stands for Residents Against Racism. I know I'm stating the obvious, but Desmond does not seem particularly bright so a simple explanation was needed.
Anyway, as far as I know, RAR are not controlled by any one political faction, they are actually "Residents" who are opposed to attempts to stir up racism. Quite simple to understand, except perhaps for Desmond.

by GG Tue Mar 02, 2004 22:24

Get your bodies down to this...

by Michael Gallagher - Residents Against Racism Sun Mar 14, 2004 18:38 0886662060

In reply to Desmond Fennell, R.A.R. (Residents Against Racism), are a campaigning and support group for refugees and asylum seekers. We are not a front for an political party or so called political party. The S.W.P. have a sad history of their involvement with our group but, that's history. I think D. Fennell is watching too many Monty Python movies! If you want to get serious and stop wasting yours and other people's time, I invite you to our next meeting at 8pm every Thursday in the Teachers Club. Otherwise try the Battle of the Axes in the Halfpenny Bridge Inn, hopefully that's on Thursdays too!!

by golda Mon Mar 15, 2004 00:07

i see you have removed alot of my comments...
Infact the only one you kept was the one where i was being critical of my party.

looks like censorship to me.
Very undemocratic.

by 1 of IMC Mon Mar 15, 2004 00:23

This site has editorial guidelines. If you want to complain about deletions, address an email to [email protected]. Your comments were removed because they consisted of simple insults with no content or attempt to argue your case. If you had any self-respect you'd be pleased that they have been removed as they just made you look like a simpleton.