"Bertie, Where's Our Houses?"

by Elaine Wed Sep 28, 2005 01:40

.. was rolled out at Leinster House tonight. Fortunately, it wasn't graced by the usual wasters and scumbags (ie Fianna Fail, P.D.'s etc) But was put to good use by members of Dublin's growing homeless population. Providing much needed warmth on one of the coldest nights so far this winter. When all were comfortable and settled down for the night. The chant went up 'Bertie, where's our houses?' Soup and sandwiches were gratefully received, followed by a coffee and a ciggie. If you are heading down later, I think tobacco or cigs would be a good item to bring.

Not Quite Manna From Heaven But Very Welcome All The Same

Will Ya Have An Oul Coffee?

Eh, Table For Two Please. Much Laughing And Joking When The Food Arrived

No Love, Sez He With A Gleam In His Eye, This Isn't A Private Party, Anyone Can Join In

Homeless Not Hopeless!

by Elaine Wed Sep 28, 2005 01:49

A sheet was draped over the barricade and the projector propped up on a cardboard box - Show Time. Woe betide anyone who wandered in front of the screen. Good natured heckles and jeers had them scurrying out of the way fast.

LA County Sheet Thrown Over A Barricade Makes For A Pretty Nifty Screen

If You're Dropping By Later, Bring Popcorn

Scenes From A Life

Quite Surreal Sitting With Homeless People While Watching Homeless People On A Screen

This Scene Brought A Roar From The Audience

by Elaine Wed Sep 28, 2005 01:55

on Kildare Street

They're Not As Bad As Fianna Fail

The Sign Sez It All

There's One For The Ministers Question Time In The Dail

by Elaine Wed Sep 28, 2005 02:09

then, as I am one of the lucky ones, I can go to bed. Thankful for the roof over my head but mindful of all the wonderful people I met tonight. People who will have to spend tonight outside in the cold. And tomorrow night and ... ad infinitum. While making my way back to get my bus home I passed two people sleeping in doorways and a couple asleep at the Molly Malone statue. Coming into the winter, many newspapers and other media outlets will make a big deal of people being homeless. Especially coming up to Christmas. Mock outrage will grace our news-stands and TV screens. I'm not being glib when I say 'A homeless person is not just for Christmas'. Get down to the Dail, even if only for an hour or so. Register your disgust with our so called leaders. Watch them squirm, it's been a long time coming.

Looking Good

Street Scene

Home Is Where You Hang Your Head, Yet The Shame Belongs To Bertie And Co.

by Jon Glackin - Street Seen Wed Sep 28, 2005 05:04

The spirit of solidarity very evident on the street outside the Dail... some interesting visitors during the night so far...

A certain Senator Terry Leyden, Government Front Bench Spokesperson for Enterprise, Trade and Employment happened to chance on our protest. His surprise at the vision of so many homeless people gathered together was quite amusing. He maintained that in 2005 there was absolutely no reason why there where homeless people in Dublin or anywhere else in the country for that matter. This was a wealthy country and the money was there to end homelessness...

So we will take him at his word then so...

The people gathered in protest against the shortcomings of his government quite rightly pointed out to him, lucidly and vocally the continuing indifference of his party and government to those consigned to the streets...

Senator Terry Leyden publically pledged to me and those gathered around that he would meet me outside the Dail at 1pm to tell us the answers that he would seek as to why homelessness existed.

He has pledged that he will ask those ministers responsible why 237 people 'officially' sleep every night rough on Dublins streets...

We will await his answers with bated breath...

He is right that we are a wealthy country, he is right that Homelessness shouldnt exist in Ireland...

Now it is the time for him and others in the Dail to make available adequate funding for existing services and to develop and support new initiatives in combating homelessness and houselessness in Ireland....

Senator Leyden made these pledges publically, recorded on dictaphone and for Liber8 FM, we will transcribe these and broadcast his intereaction with our homeless people asap. It certainly makes for an interesting encounter.

We would urgently appeal for anyone free at 1pm to come down to the Dail to hear his replies!

by Jon Glackin - Street Seen Wed Sep 28, 2005 05:11

Dont forget the Breakfast rolls!!!

Terry pledging his solidarity with Dublins Homeless Community???

by Davy Carlin - Street Seen Wed Sep 28, 2005 10:49

All down to the Dail for 1pm!

Great Solidarity so far - Where are the other politicos though - I wonder?


Come in Solidarity with the protesters and in a stand against the continued inactions.

Great Pics - Davy Carlin

by Davy Carlin - Street Seen Wed Sep 28, 2005 12:42

Shall do an indepth article soon for Indymedia on many of the realites of this issue, as like race - plenty of mis conceptions etc that need to be tackled - so we can hammer out the issue..

Dail at 1pm!

by Michael Wed Sep 28, 2005 13:30

Hear Hear Davy!

Would be very interested in article that you might write on this.

I put up an event posting on this as well just to try and catch a bit more attention:-

http://www.indymedia.ie/newswire.php?story_id=72200

To the Dail at One I say!!

by Davy Carlin - Street Seen Wed Sep 28, 2005 13:50

Sound as a pound, my friend. Working on the article presently as I have some time.

Onwards now to the Dail! D

by Michael Wed Sep 28, 2005 16:06

Just back from the Dail. Maybe 150 people in total protesting (at a guess):-

- Shell To Sea
- No More Deaths on our Streets
- Aer Lingus workers protesting over thier pesnions.
- odd protestor on the war in Iraq

I would have hoped for a bit more considering it is the opening day of the Dail and there were 3 protests going on. Also, all protests were tame. No megaphones. No chanting. We did get right in front of the Dail though as opposed to across from in as no often happens.

And every protest is a good protest. But I think this day needs to be earmarked for next year and a much bigger & louder protest(s) need to take place. There were loads of camera crews and journalists around, who are normally so hard to attract. They are always going to be there on the opening day of the Dail so we should be using them.

Gerry Adams was there also and spoke at length on the Rossport 5 issue and other issues.

by Michael Wed Sep 28, 2005 18:18

Forgot to metion there was a protest held as well by Residents against Racism for justice for asylum seekers.

by Michelle Clarke - Social Justice and Ethics Thu Sep 29, 2005 21:23

Winter approaches. We need safety on our streets. It is not acceptable for people to die without shelter.

I live in Dublin 4 and can tell you that here in Ireland, in Dublin 4, I have seen people (evidently) homeless rummaging through bins.

There has to be an answer.

One point I would like to make and that is about respect for people who live in hostels. Mostly they are required to leave the hostel early a.m. and not return until 9 p.m.

Where are they supposed to go?

We need public facilities?

There must be enough 'brain matter' in government to come up with humane answers.

What about listenting to radio/watching TV......these are luxuries to the homeless.



Michelle Clarke
Quotation from Mother Teresa
'Resolve to feed just one person, if you cannot feed a million'

by Observer2 Thu Sep 29, 2005 22:31

The govt rather than deal with the issue launched an attack on homeless sector workers, this on the basis that the people organising the homeless are those working in the sector.

That is the govts answer, abuse power to silence the opposition!

by ted... (Victoria BC, Canada) Sat Oct 01, 2005 18:30

With great love, I send this message

-------- Homeless ----------

It cost about $750.00/moth for rent here on Canda's west-coast.

(candian dollar = 1.59 Euros)

Mininum wage here is $8.00/hour
(deduction run about 28% .... Taxes etc)

-------- how many hours do you need to work, to afford rent in my city...?????


--------- Canada is a rich country --------------

We have huge forests,
mountians of minerals & building matterials,
and vast tracks of land.

------- Now on with the show -------

http://victoria.indymedia.org/news/2005/09/43919.php

ps..

Welfair of a single "employable person" is $500.00/month
Total disabled is $856.00/month

ted... solidarity

by John Saunders - Street seen Thu Mar 09, 2006 18:31 kinnegad 0851697323

Recents events have seen myself imprisoned,I am not a scumbag or a thug ,i am just somebody trying to make a better life for myself and possibly others.I do not wish to see any more deaths on the streets.