Anti-war protest against US Secretary of Health in Cork

by Anonymous Wed May 12, 2004 15:16

.

by The Foxy Hare Wed May 12, 2004 15:21

Well done to all concerned.

by Mack the Monitor Wed May 12, 2004 15:29

Thanks to Oscar Base, all the Victor Units, Delta Charlie 1 and all concerned. Also the humour of Cork Air Traffic Control, Chopper India Victor, etc.

by iosaf Wed May 12, 2004 17:21

for spinal injury.
most famous recipient :- Christopher Reeves.
one example of funding cut by Bush to fund his War to find WMD and end tyranny in Iraq and stabalise the Middle East and end the threat of global terror.
result:-
loads of people still in wheelchairs.
no more superman movies.
oil is 40+$ a barrel.
OPEC can't pump enough to meet demand.
there are now hundreds of low tech, low funded, well capable terrorist groups.

hint to the wise:-
tanks and soldiers and guns and bombs
do not a peace ye make.
nor does putting everyone behind the wire,
filling them with drugs, and playing them rap music.

So Bertie, now that BUPA cut the VHI funding, did Bush and Ltd Co., your trans-atlantic pals give you the 23,000,000€ shortfall?

Peace Health Wealth Oil and a solid Ticker!

by John Wed May 12, 2004 17:58

On the subject of health, the figures for the number of deaths in Ireland in 2003 were published by the CSO today. These show a fall for the fourth consecutive year, over 8% lower than in 1999, despite rapid growth in population. The number of deaths in Ireland last year was the lowest on record. So, one sector of the capitalist economy, the undertaking business, has now been in continuous recession for 4 years. The age-adjusted mortality rate, the key measure of the state of a nation's health, has now fallen by 15% since 1999, by far the largest fall in the EU. In most other EU countries the fall has been about 5%. Since records began 150 years ago Ireland, Scotland and Denmark have been the unhealthiest nations in North-Western Europe, with age-adjusted mortality rates almost 20% above the EU average. Literally 'the sick men of Europe'. These figures show that Ireland is leaving Scotland with its completely socialised health service and high-tax high-spend Denmark far behind and is rapidly converging on the EU average. Even better, the age-adjusted mortality rate in Ireland has now fallen below that of the USA for the first time ever, a fact which will annoy Tommy Thompson infinitely more than the pickets outside his hotel. How appropriate that these figures should be published today, on the occasion of Michael Martin hosting the conference of EU health ministers. If this trend continues, Ireland can expect to be close to Sweden by 2007 as the country with the lowest age-adjusted mortality rate in North-Western Europe. The bad news in all this for the Left is that, if they try to make health THE issue of the 2007 general election, they will be slaughtered. The good news for the Left is that they can now expect to live much longer than was previously thought and, despite my disagreements with them, as a humanitarian I greatly welcome that.

by Anti War Ireland Thu May 13, 2004 17:34

...all 50 of you...Shannon will be great when the other 5 turn up. We could have a barbeque!

by Anti-War Irelander Thu May 13, 2004 19:35

You sneer at 50 AWI protesters attending a workday protest against a top Bush sidekick.

That's as opposed to NO IAWM/SWP members. Zero.

Now kindly fuck off.

by Kevin - Cork Grassroots Network Thu May 13, 2004 19:36

I was at both of the protests in Cork against the EU Health Ministers/ US Secretary Of Health. Given the location of the meetings and the timing for the protests (morning) I think we managed to draw a respectable number. In regard to the initiative and approach taken by those who brought together the ‘No Proscriptions For Profit Alliance’, I say well done. However, I was taken aback at the degree of 'negotiating' that went on with Gardaí by some who took part which, in effect, left the protest in a near state of ‘tokenism’.

Note, the Gardaí in Cork mounted a huge effort for the Health Ministers and the US Secretary. The also ran a major surveillance and monitoring operation around Hayfield Manor where the ‘guests’ stayed – where, like at Shannon, a considerable amount of leniency was takes with the civil rights of residents. This aggressive operation by the Gardaí contrasted with the ‘friendly’ approach they took near the protest site. Individual Gardaí were pleasant and keen to exchange ‘good morning’ with anyone in their vicinity. At one point a number of ‘protestors’ even acquiesced with a Garda, who, from behind a barrier which effectively corralled us well away from the Ministers, offered to take a photo of the protest with the protestors own camera! Happy families, indeed.

In effect the Cork protests were very easily 'managed' and contained by the Gardaí, but then the Gardaí went to some efforts to achieve this, even meeting some protest organisers beforehand. I think it was a mistake by some in the Alliance to go down this road of ‘working with the Gardaí’. In my opinion we should not negotiate with them and we certainly shouldn’t not relinquish our autonomy. Surprise is sometimes the only thing we have… we should guard it carefully.

by Fintan Lane - Anti-War Ireland/Cork Anti-War Campaign Thu May 13, 2004 22:40 info at antiwarireland dot org 087 1258325

Kevin is mistaken in saying that organisers of the protests on Tuesday and Wednesday 'worked with' and negotiated with Gardai. That simply isn't the case.

Here's what happened: On Monday morning I received a call to my mobile from a Supt Callnan whose district includes the Rochestown Park Hotel. He said he wanted to talk to me about the upcoming protests. I suggested he say what he had to say over the phone. He said no, he wanted to do so face-to-face. I pointed out that there was no need for a meeting as he could just say what it was he needed to say. Again he said he'd prefer to say it face-to-face.

Wearily (I really wasn't interested in this clogging up part of my afternoon), I said 'ok', I'd call Anglesea Street at 3pm. Off I went at 3pm, picking up John Jefferies (CAWC) along the way.

Here's what happened: himself and an Inspector talked, we listened, we asked us questions which we evaded, we affirmed our right to protest, more talk from the boys in blue, we left. There were NO negotiations about anything.

Should we have gone there in the first place? Don't know. It was mostly a waste of time, although we did get some useful information, insofar as they were forthcoming about their plans for sealing off the Rochestown Road and where they were going to do it, and so on.

However, to get back to Kevin's comment, while he can validly argue about whether or not we should have gone to Anglesea Street, he is completely wrong to say that 'negotiations' were conducted. We did not 'work' with the gardai and I'm surprised to hear this suggested. Very surprised actually.

And, incidentally, Supt Callnan read about the planned protests and got my phone number from indymedia. He said so. So, in that context (and for other reasons), I don't think this is the most appropriate forum for such a discussion.

by Joe Fri May 14, 2004 01:48

And how many months did Kevin spend in jail for defying the cops? Fucks sake, get a life.

by One of one Fri May 14, 2004 03:17

I was at the demo on Tuesday and we held two meetings to decide our plan for the next day. We planned to get around the guards, which is what happened on Wednesday morning with some people getting up the Passage side where we weren't wanted.

Point being, the decisions were taken democratically by a meeting outside the hotel and a meeting outside Douglas Shopping Center. Everybody had their say including Kevin. The guards weren't present and their was no talk of some deal with them. We decided what we were going to do on Wednesday. Some went up the the Passage way, others the Douglas side.

People chatted to ordinary guards? So what.

by Info Fri May 14, 2004 13:41

I was there and saw one or two people chatting with gardai. First off, that happens and is no big deal. There were all sorts of people on that protest (they weren't all anarchists and socialists!!) and to expect them all to share Kev's rather hardline attitude is a bit much. It's the diversity of the movement, stoopid!

So, some asked gardai to take a pic? Didn't see that but it hardly surprises me. It was an open protest with all sorts of people present, and not a gathering of the Cork Anarchist Conspiracy. Actually, one member of CAWC spent quite a bit of time talking to a female garda - why? Cos she came up to him and identified herself as an old schoolfriend of one of his daughters. They hadn't seen each other for years; they chatted. As people do.

Kevin needs to lighten up a bit.

by Anon Fri May 14, 2004 14:47

It's disappointing to see that this is all Kevin got from the day. It's even more disappointing that he chose to bring these accusations up on indymedia in such a negative fashion. Nobody negotiated with the cops. Also, the protest was out-numbered four-to-one by the police and our only way of taking the initiative was to get some people around the back and that was done. Kevin didn't do this - he was in front of the barrier like everyone else. He never argued at any of the meetings for an alternative strategy or tactic, so his comments above really are a bit rich.

It was a good and very successful protest, despite the heavy police presence. Sometimes you're outnumbered and there's only so much you can do. If there was an alternative, Kevin should have argued for it - he didn't.

by p Sat May 22, 2004 23:57

Tommy Thompson as the governor of Wisconsin completely destroyed our welfare system, which is why he was so perfect for Bush's cabinet.

Thank you for showing him your contempt.