archivi delle proteste globaliarchives of global protestsStatement from 'Organising for Change conference'
May 25 1996 to the European and International gatherings 'For humanity and against neo-liberalism' Irish Mexico Group
In preparation for the European and International gatherings the Irish Mexico Group had a gathering May 25 in Dublin. We wished to look at what meaning 'neo-liberalism' had to struggles in Ireland and how we could seek to build the links between the different struggles. In particular we explored how the Irish version of neo-liberalism is veiled as 'social partnership' with attacks being made in the pretence they were good for the 'nation'.
The gathering heard activists from a number of struggles including the Federation of Dublin Anti Water Charges Campaigns (a grassroots community struggle against local tax) and union struggles around pension rights for low paid workers. We talked about international solidarity not just in the context of the struggle in Mexico but also the struggle of the Liverpool dockers in Britain. This and more theoretical discussion about neo-liberalism brought home the need to talk of neo-liberalism in global terms as something attacking not just those in the South but also the so called 'privileged' workers of western Europe. Both the French public sector strikes of December 1995 and the Liverpool dockers show that not only are workers aware of these attacks but that successful resistance is being organised.
This resistance in the face of what those in power want us to belive is a 'hopeless' situation gives inspiration to us. In the bosses Europe created by the Maastracht treaty it is vital that workers do not allow themselves to be set against each other but instead look for ways of uniting their resistance throughout Europe and with workers and peasants all over the world. We need to move from looking at international solidarity in terms of Ireland and Mexico to a web of solidarity of many struggles in many countries. One practical suggestion for the gathering is the construction of a database of grassroots trade union and community groups that may be willing to respond to appeals for solidarity in the future. This could be circulated to the different national groups.
We also talked of the need to oppose the continued imperialist occupation of the north-eastern 6 counties of the island of Ireland and to struggle for the removal of the British army and the release of the political prisoners held by the British and Irish states. Part of this struggle is also the struggle against the repressive laws introduced to excuse or hide murders carried out by the British states 'security forces', in particular the continued use of Public Interest Immunity Certificates to prevent inquests finding out the truth behind the shooting of republican activists.
In Ireland the effects of neo-liberalism and indeed all previous capitalist models are seen in high rates of emigration and unemployment as well as low wages and high taxes for workers while the rich get huge profits and low taxes. The effects are also seen in the marginalisation of communities that are seen as uneconomic particularly with the massive level of state racism against Travellers. Whole communities in the city of Dublin are written off and are prey to massive unemployment and heroin dealing. The state attempts to deny them all social or cultural outlets, the latest manifestation of this is the large scale confiscation of horses kept by children in the western suburbs.
It is important to emphases that people are fighting back against all of these things and in particular that much of this fight back is based at a grassroots community and workplace level. Such struggles not only serve to head off the worst affects of neo-liberalism they also empower those involved to go on the offensive and demand a new society.
Our gathering was only a preliminary one, a chance to begin the process of encouraging resistance but we are resolved to continue to support the struggle in Mexico and in particular we pledge an immediate response to any fresh offensive by the Mexican army. In the context of Ireland we intend to start making links with the many individual and sometimes small struggles that arise and to help create awareness of a global struggle for humanity and against neo-liberalism. It is important that this struggle does not become diverted into a dead one for past models of capitalist economics but rather opens up a struggle that is indeed 'for humanity' and a new future for all the worlds people.
The Irish Mexico Group can be contacted c/o Colamh, 10 Up. Camden St, Dublin 2, Ireland
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