New left group formed

by P Sun Dec 14, 2008 17:21

Sounds interesting!

by CS Sun Dec 14, 2008 18:03

What is the position of this group on the ongoing military occupation of the north-east of Ireland??

Will discussion of 'national' issues involve discussion of this one??

CS

by Ian Cloppy - Plane Mad Sun Dec 14, 2008 19:30 clotworthyi at gmail dot com

Hi Conor,

Given that you are in Swords, I wondered if you would be interested in taking a particularly active role in the campaign against the expansion of Dublin airport. The campaign against expansion has been carried out by a small band of activists based in Portmarnock, working entirely through standard legal means such as appeals and economic studies. I had given a link to their informative website.

However the expansion of the airport is due to go ahead unless we can get a popular campaign built up against it. Such a movement is nascent but we need to get more local people on it!

Social Problems:
-extra traffic in North Dublin caused by doubling of Air passengers
-19 schools under 70dB of new noise

Economic Problems:
-doubling of the carbon dioxide emissions from the airport
-will cost €4.5 billion in land cost, and €8.4 billion in climate change damage costs

I am from an all-Ireland group called Plane Mad. We oppose airport expansion primarily on climate grounds.
www.planemad.org

by Concerned Irish Citizen - none Sun Dec 14, 2008 20:39

I would be interested in getting involved as long as it is not just Swords based and will contest elections-your initial statement is very unprofessional though so the group will probably fail like most others. Sean

by Conor. M - Think Tank, Swords Sun Dec 14, 2008 20:53 liberalconormurphy at ymail dot com

CS,

As the group is only new -found, we have not had the opportunity to discuss the northern part of the island. My own personal position is irrelevant.
If you send me your e-mail details, I will gladly confirm out position on the British military presence in North-East Ireland.
As for national issues. The north part of Ireland will be included in discussions. There was a campaign for a sacked subway worker, I'm not too sure if the campaign is ongoing but, I was going to suggest mobilising our group to show support at the picket.

Conor

by RogerYates Sun Dec 14, 2008 20:54

This sounds like an interesting project. Will be interesting to see how/if these issues sit together. Here's a recently written article about the pros and cons of such ventures: http://unpopularveganessays.blogspot.com/2008/11/on-str....html

by Conor. M - Think Tank, Swords Sun Dec 14, 2008 21:14 liberalconormurphy at ymail dot com

Thanks Sean. Its always good to know there are plenty of optimists out there. I suppose a 'good luck' is too much to ask for these days.

by Conor. M - Think Tank, Swords Sun Dec 14, 2008 21:49 liberalconormurphy at ymail dot com

Thanks Roger.
I read the link you provided. It's very interesting, I will pass the information on. Indeed it shall be interesting to see how everything goes. I was in fact going to suggest working with single issue groups as well as working on our own campaigns. As I said, we are a unity group and hope to be progressive and optimistic. Working together will only strengthen campaigns.

by Peter Sun Dec 14, 2008 21:54

Sounds like it could be interesting. It might breath a breath of fresh air into the left.....
It could be a worthy cause. Where else am I to go????

by breathless Mon Dec 15, 2008 00:45

HERE's a suggestion: Do something, some piece of activism, a piece of street politics, a protest, an occupation, a picket, a leaflet on an issue, a stunt which raises the profile of your policies.

Once you have done something, put the details - a short report and some pictures- here on indymedia and on your own blog or website, and we'll judge you on that.

by Hairsplitter Mon Dec 15, 2008 05:13

The first item on the agenda of any new political group in Ireland must be a Split. Get the split out of the way early and then you can concentrate on more important matters.

by Jimbob Mon Dec 15, 2008 10:35

The minute you start any group in this country you are bombarded with questions from others such as 'what are you doing about this, and that,' and criticised for not being active on the topic in question.

I saw it happen with a an Anti-War group, where a meeting about how (with limited resources and support) we could organise to oppose the war, was railroaded into demands for pledges on womens' rights, traveller's rights, and a whole host of worthy issues that were not directly relevant to that meeting, and which used up a lot of the goodwill of the people who had given up time to attend.

No, a small group starting out must first find its own feet, not try to adopt everyone else's burdens as well.
If anything the solidarity should flow in the other direction. (wasn't there some talk about building a movement? Assimilating is not building, neither is co-opting, redirecting or hijacking)

Start simple, work on the issues you can directly deal with. That may well be limited for a time to issues with the council, water & bin charges, the state of local health services and schools. If the people work together on issues that directly affect them, then they will form a bond on which they can rely when dealing with wider issues.
Too many groups forget about this dynamic, and then rupture the budding movement by loading it up-front with pushy demands to be all things to all people from day one.
This Swords group should not be looked at as a resource for us to grab at to help in our movements. Not yet. Let them find their feet, offer help and advice, and when they're stable, ask for their solidarity as well. Doing it the other way round does not work.

Good luck to your group.

Jimbob

by Red Wedge - Labour Mon Dec 15, 2008 14:40

Jimbob spoke for me, so I will not repeat his comments.

All the best to Conor and the others involved, never a better time for it.

by redbanner Mon Dec 15, 2008 16:30

I have to applaud your optimism, but how will this group increase the meagre 5% or so of the electorate that votes for progressive candidates?

The future of this group is almost pre-ordained. About ten people will turn up on the first night. All of them will have past associations with left wing or republican groups. Any others will be looking for recruits to whatever local residents issue they themselves are campaigning for. Five will turn up for the second meeting (if there is one). etc.

What is needed is a hard-headed group who will form the kernel of a new left-wing movement which will challenge the narrative of the traditional and liberal right. The implosion of the USSR (and the revelations of corruption and cruelty which accompanied it), the morphing of China into an autocratic capitalistic imperium, the behaviour of left-wing freedom-fighters like Mugabe, and the failure of socialism to have anything relevant to say on post-1920 economy and society has led to a deadening cynicism about socialism. This must be addressed from the top down by new and innovative people. Not one single person group in the Irish left is up to the task.

by 32 county Mon Dec 15, 2008 16:47

The first thing is that the group must adopt a policy that Obama strongly endorses the creation of a 32 county socialist republic. Without this there can be no welcome for him in Swords or anywhere in North Dublin including the airport. Indeed protests must be organized in the event of him visiting anywhere in Ireland especially West Belfast. Obama's silence on the issue of Irish unity was deafening during the election campaign and this is the premier issue of our times. Much greater leaders than Obama such as Maire Drumn and Joe Cahill devoted everything to the cause and he has devoted almost nothing. Action is expected from Swords on the issue.

by Paul Mon Dec 15, 2008 20:51

"Obama's silence on the issue of Irish unity was deafening during the election campaign and this is the premier issue of our times"

Er, Iraq, Afghanistan, Israel/Palestine, climate change, peak oil, a new Depression, resurgent Russian nationalism, the collapsing American car industry, Zimbabwe, global HIV/AIDS crisis.....

....I'm sure if he manages to clear those off his desk in the first term, he'll devote an entire second term to helping us win a united Ireland.

Honestly, at least let the man find where George hid the White House remote control before you condemn him as a sellout!

by Conor. M - Think Tank, Swords Tue Dec 16, 2008 00:31 liberalconormurphy at ymail dot com

Hi,
Thanks to all the positive contributions. I have been busy organising, and everything is going fantastic.
This is directly to 'REDBANNER'. All attendees are very optimistic about the future of this group. More and more people are hearing about us and want to get involved. The group is growing locally, not decreasing. Suggestions have been made to host a separate meeting in Ballbriggan due to increased numbers. I have already spoken to small groups about early partnerships. Most of the members are young enough and older people are slowing getting on board, most or all have had NO affiliations with any other group as of yet. In fact, REDBANNER, your analysis of the situation could not be any more incorrect. We are now ready to get on our feet.

Thanks again.

by Marcel Tue Dec 16, 2008 00:48

Redbanner speaks for me when he says the transformation of capitalist institutions and the morphing of USSR, China and former Zimbabwe freedom fighters into state control freaks and agents of dirigiste capitalist imperiums make a lot of marxist and leftist ideology ridiculously redundant. No current leftwing groups or thinking individuals in Ireland (or in the UK, France, North America etc?) are up to thinking anew on the whole concept of changing society for the better without avoiding the despotic intellectual and organisational traps that the USSR and other states fell into.

The other area where new thinking needs to be done is culture. Culture here is our whole way of living based on our cultural norms passed down to us through the centuries. It seems to me that western culture, that drew its inspiration from ancient Greece and Rome, is in a sorry state. Art values based on aesthetics and hermeneutics; family values based on marriage-bonded households; childhood based on guided innocence; science based on respect for human nature; second and third level education based on curiosity about knowledge and respect for teachers and fellow students - these and other inherited norms of western culture have weakened and/or been replaced during the second half of the twentieth century. Western society is in a fragmented state and is being offered other value systems like Islam.

Some politically conservative thinkers have written a lot about such matters, but alas thinkers on the left are in short supply. (What is Left anyway?)

Good luck to those people out in Swords, and I agree with other posters that they should be left to their own devices by devouring locust party builders and intense single issue soldier ants.

by Albatrot Tue Dec 16, 2008 12:03

I don't like the name. Sounds too academic and almost right wing. I think most people will see this as a group of students with no experience of real life, even if that is not what it is. Get a new name.

To Redbanner et al.
The problem lies not with the left, it lies with you for having had illusions in Stalinism, Maoism and Mugabe in the first place. All were counter-revolutionary trends within the left. Not all the left is the same.

by RW Tue Dec 16, 2008 14:16

Conor Murphy can you not see the irony in what you are doing?

You couldn't find one organisation out of all of the groups/parties that call themselves left wing that you could commit yourself too.

You then complain, and that is precisely all you have done so far, complain about others without actually outlining any credible political criticisms of the rest of the left.

You complain that they can't agree, that they are constantly fighting amongst each other (this isn't true in Ireland most of the left groups ignore each other most of the time and just get on with political activism). So what is your answer to this? Eureka you set up your own group!

Unity is the name of your group. Unfortunately for you this is the name of the Communist Party of Ireland's newspaper in Northern Ireland. Irony dear Conor in the spirit of unity with the left you split and set up your own grouplet......

As another poster said come back when you have actually done something credible and not just slag off everybody else who have been working for years whilst you have been doing????

by Interesing Tue Dec 16, 2008 16:22

indymedia can be very cynical, that is the people who comment rarely have anything positive to say.

However I tend to agree wit the criticisms of most of the posters, particularly the one above. It is very ironic what you are doing. You seem to be quite headless even if your heart is in the right place.

May I suggest your group put out a stall to actually tell people what you stand for.
Activism on a very small scale will achive only so much, without a programme you will find it very hard to maintain membership, enthusiasm and activity.

I am criticising in a constructive way, criticism is very necessary amounst the left.
People involed in many of the parties and groupings you so readily denounce are,in the main, hard working activists who have stuck it out during a very difficult period in Irish society.

by Activism Tue Dec 16, 2008 18:00

Good stuff. Hope it all goes great.....

by Godot Tue Dec 16, 2008 18:06

Is there somewhere to go where you are not obliged to except a specific 'set of rules' or ideology?

Due to size and a lack of resources, small politcal groups end up having to work with other groups in single issue campaigns. If a group lacks a basic set of common principles among its' members which it seeks to promote, both within and independent of single issue campaigns, what is the role of the group and the reason for its existence? A political group has to have ideas it wants to promote, a vision of the type of society it aims for, and tactics for how it believes that can be achieved.

Without a common set of polices and beliefs to promote, members will be confined to activity within single issue campaigns. While constructive involvement in these campaigns is welcome, it doesn't provide the base for a new group. If the group has no political basis or ideology, why would people become involved, rather than simply go directly to a single-issue campaign?

We will not corner ourselves with any one ideology
If their is no common basis, you can end up with a collection of varying and opposing beliefs which will bog down the group. Their has to be a clear basis of what you want and how you plan to achieve it.

I wish the group all the best and hope the people on board become involved in varying campaigns, I just fail to see how it can operate in the long-term. It's probably an indictment of the already existing current left groups that people are unwilling to get involved with them.

by Aaron Murray Tue Dec 16, 2008 20:23

I think its a good idea. I think what Conor.M means by not accepting an ideology is that he is not going to be an Anarchist, Communist or Socialist. It will be difficult for individuals to decide on what to do but not all people refuse to work effectively together, like others. I hope it all works out and I am going to mail him and see what the group is all about and offer some support. Don't be so critical everyone, I wish you all the best Conor!

Aaron

by Michael Gallagher - Photographer Wed Dec 17, 2008 00:21

..the farcical. This is absolutely ridiculous...another leftie microwave? Do any the others not have enough in common with you to go and at least talk to them? I smell a rat here.....In Swords...Claire Daly's constituancy and the local elections coming up?

So we have...

SP
SWP
WSM
PBP
CP
WP
Eirigí and this new one plus up do a dozen indolefties Any more?

Auntie Maggies Leftover Bagle National Usurpers ?

The 'left' in this country is an embarrassment and a laughing stock!

by Conor. M - Think Tank, Swords Wed Dec 17, 2008 01:19 liberalconormurphy at ymail dot com

Hi Michael.
I see your point about all the groups but, there's no 'rat' involved here, as you so venomously put it. I'm not sure why Clare Daly's name is mentioned in there, it doesn't look like we are going to be contesting the next elections.
Look, We are not Anarchists, Communists or Socialists. We are made up of a lot of people concerned about a few issues. Most of us are young and dont want to join any of the parties as we feel we don't belong with them. I will personally be meeting people from each and every group you named as well as others such as, animal rights groups and environmentalist groups. I'm not here to break any other parties, the fact is most with us have had no affiliations with any other group. I know there are going to be a lot of criticisms out there but all, or most of us have not had much experience campaigning, Some have. I want to help other groups as well. We dont exist to revolt and completely change the world over night. Most the people in the group dont know 'everything' about politics. It is a work in process but I am damn proud to be a part of it. There are people here just getting involved in politics for the first time and I'm very happy to see young people get involved. I am young myself, and there has only been positive reactions in the area. I can't defend everything, but we do not have to justify our group. We are concerned about some issues, there is no 'conspiracy' or 'plot' behind it.
Again, I am DAMN proud to be a part of this and I will hold my head high and fight for the existence of this group. Michael and all other critics, e-mail me. I do want to hear opinions as I said. I'm approachable, I'm not evil. I take criticism well, I've haven't ever been immune from it before. I just want to help without being labeled.
Once more, thanks to all the positive support out there.

Conor Murphy

by JP Wed Dec 17, 2008 01:58

The reason for your existence is very far from clear.

To summarise your post:

You think there's too much rhetoric about unity. You are in favour of unity. Therefore you have set up a new "think tank".

The group is going to be a group of people who discuss stuff and do stuff, but don't worry you won't reach any conclusions from the discussions (God no, that would be coming to an agreement with an ideology, even if it was a brand new ideology). Nor will you aim to do much flowing froming your discussions (because if you agreed to do things, that would amount to pressure for people to be active.)

...

All you have described is a group of friends who chat about politics, some of whom are also involved in some single issue campaigns. That's fine, there's lots of groups of people like that and they can add to campaigns. But how it contributes to "unity" is beyond me.

It isn't some accident of history that left groups cohere around certain ideas (programmes, ideology). That's because some method of analysing the world and a programme (a set of ideas) about how to solve the problems within it is necessary for a group to have a meaningful existence. That's the very essence of what a left group is - it's a group of people working together with a somewhat common analysis and programme (although of course with room for disagreements). They then try to implement that approach in the real world, building campaigns, their organisation and struggling for change. There is nothing wrong with that.

I also wouldn't be so dismissive of the achievements of the left in this country in the context of a very difficult time for the left, with the Celtic tiger etc. A fair bit actually has been achieved:

The left led a very significant anti-war movement in this country, bringing over 100,000 on to the streets. It lead a campaign that defeated the water charges. The SP assisted in leading a strike of hundreds of Turkish workers against Gama, winning tens of millions of euro in back pay. There was a strong campaign of non-payment of the bin charges and a significant, but unsuccessful struggle. Shell to Sea was a campaign built by a local community and ably assisted by the left that had a certain impact. There are countless other examples.

You seem to want the entire left to be all together and forget about those troublesome disagreements. But the disagreements that exist are real and aren't going to go away by pretending they don't exist. For example, the WSM are opposed as a matter of principle to standing candidates for parliamentary elections. The SP would argue that standing Joe Higgins was a big success and proves it can be done successfully. That is a real practical disagreement that justifies the existence of two groups. Both the WSM and SP could sit together in a "think tank" and discuss abstractly, but when it came to do something in the real world, real disagreements would come to the fore. So it makes sense for the two groups to be organised separately, but obviously work together on many issues.

If your "think tank" was ever to become serious and be more than one person posting on indymedia and actually try to have an impact, it would inevitably have to take decisions and come to certain positions. What would it say about the North? What would it say about standing for elections? What would it say about the trade union movement? The minute you therefore actually try to have a real impact in the real world you would become precisely what you have given out about - another (sub-micro) left group with particular ideas arguing for its particular approach.

To be honest, you come across as either an incredibly arrogant individual, or incredibly naive. I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt and say that you're innocent. If you want to set up a group and get people involved in campaigning etc, that's great, more power to you. But I'd say you need to prove yourself in action (not least that the group actually exists and isn't a literary extension of yourself) before getting too cocky about lecturing the left about unity etc.

by Conor. M - Think Tank, Swords Wed Dec 17, 2008 03:20 liberalconormurphy at ymail dot com

JP,
For Clarity. The group is for people to get introduced and involved for politics, and become 'socially' aware. I did not want to mention this but, two people who initially began this group, suggested so because they said left parties (I'm not a liberty to say) had basically tried to force their ideology on them and plunged them into campaigns they knew nothing about.

As for mentioning Ideology. I may have made a mistake in my initial statement. What I specifically meant was that we were not going to try to make someone except there is only one way to exist, Capitalism, Socialism, Communism, Anarchism etc. We will of course come to a general agreement on issues.

NONE of the people involved are my friends. You have easily come to a conclusion, I could equally suspect you are in fact arrogant. I'm not sure who you are involved with, maybe the Socialist party as you mention them, talking about them highly. Or maybe the Socialist workers you mention, maybe no one!

The unity idea was about actively working with other groups. I have personally heard, from more than one party, fierce and vehement criticism. I have personally seen opposite parties laugh at each others suggestions. This is not what I consider unity. Your attack on me, personally and the group has solidified my belief the left do not like, and I think its almost safe to say in some cases, hate each other.

I never said the left do nothing. If you want my own personal opinion I like people from the Socialist Party, The Socialist Workers Party, Labour, Workers Solidarity Movement and Sinn Fein and an array of other groups. I also like 'some' ideas from all these groups too. Some campaigns have been amazing and I have congratulated many for their involvements in campaigns. Again, fair play to everybody involved in any campaign. I'd much rather be supporting or doing something. As everyone here knows, most people in our society do nothing and I think it is because of attacks like this. I ask you, IS IT NOT BETTER WE DO THIS, RATHER THAN DOING NOTHING AT ALL?

We are making decisions, of course and we've had no real arguments or bad disagreements. I'm not doing all of this for nothing! About the name of the group, like I said the name is only temporary.

I hope this makes my views a little more clearer and I hope JP and all of the critics would e-mail and get involved in productive criticisms with me personally. I am open to suggestions and I am not afraid to ask for help. I am glad and proud to be apart of this, I am not going to get involved with other parties because I dont believe in everything they stand for. So I'll ask again..... Is it not better we do this, rather than doing nothing at all??

Conor

by RW Wed Dec 17, 2008 09:36

Conor you asked the question is it not better we do this, rather than doing nothing at all? All you are doing is sitting in a room and chatting about politics with no aim and no purpose. You are doing nothing and I predict this social gathering will never do anything of substance.

You are wasting your time. Go away Conor, have a good think about the world, decide what you think is wrong with it and try to find out how those problems can be fixed and overcome. Then take action.

Do you think you are doing something new and unique? Philosphers and politically active people have being doing this for hundreds of years. We know that the problem is the capitalist system and that you can ultimately only eradicate society's ills by getting rid of capitalism.

Was Karl Marx wrong Conor? Have you ever read Marx's analysis of capitalism?

You are both arrogant and foolish if you think that you and your casual associates who sit around and chat about politics are going to create a new political force and or philosophy.

by JP Wed Dec 17, 2008 09:56

"What I specifically meant was that we were not going to try to make someone except there is only one way to exist, Capitalism, Socialism, Communism, Anarchism etc."

This is a little confusing, but what you seem to be suggesting is that you are not anti-capitalist (which I suppose is consistent with not having any ideology). What sense in which it is a left group is obviously open to question then.

"NONE of the people involved are my friends."

My apologies - I will rephrase - you are a group of people who discuss politics and are involved in some single issue campaigns. Still, friends or no friends, not exactly earth shattering and probably not a step forward for left unity.

"The unity idea was about actively working with other groups. I have personally heard, from more than one party, fierce and vehement criticism. I have personally seen opposite parties laugh at each others suggestions. This is not what I consider unity."

Does fierce and vehement criticism mean there can't be unity on particular issues? No. When you have different groups with different ideas, it is is natural there will be debate between them. There's nothing wrong with that. If your "think tank" decides it is opposed to, say, animal testing, and another group is in favour of animal testing, hopefully you will engage in criticism of them.

The idea that unity is added to by there being one more group to work together is absolutely laughable. So instead of a unity of maybe 6 or 7 groups in particular campaigns (as currently happens), we'll be able to have unity of 7 or 8 groups. What a step forward for the left in this country!

"As everyone here knows, most people in our society do nothing and I think it is because of attacks like this. "

Do you really? Don't be ridiculous. What about the Celtic Tiger, what about the shift to the right of the labour movement, what about the impact of Stalinism? "Most people in our society" don't come onto indymedia and announce the formation of think tanks and then get debated with by other people on the left. Believe me, it's not why there isn't a high level of activity in society.

You seem to have an aversion to debate - all of a sudden it is an "attack". There's nothing wrong with debate betweeen different ideas, that is the only way issues can be clarified.

by Topper Wed Dec 17, 2008 12:00

Christ there's a lot of bitter bastards out there isn't there?

Good luck Conor - it is indeed better to be doing something than to be doing nothing at all, and let us know how you get on and what your group intends to do.

If you want my advice, avoid debating with any of the people attacking you on this thread unless they're willing to use either their real name or a regular pseudonym, state their politicial affiliation (if they have any), and give a quick outline of what they're doing themselves at the moment. It's a recurrent vice of Indymedia posters that they demand accountability from people without making themselves accountable to anyone - everyone else has to answer all their questions and justify themselves but the anonymous posters never have to answer any questions. You're wasting your time trying to convince the likes of them, so only engage with people who are interested in having grown-up discussions.

by a concerned citizen Wed Dec 17, 2008 12:17

This is amazing. I haven't been on Indymedia on a long time..... I remember it was once productive! JP and whoever else has problems with Conor, COP ON.
Give the guy the break. If someone does nothing, criticize them, if they are in the wrong group, criticize them, if they to start a new group........ criticize them. I can guess all the negative nancies are from different political groups and are really trying hard to break this guys spirit. Show some fucking support! THIS IS THE REASON I STOPPED CARING!
Good luck to all in Swords, take your time. Stop posting on Indymedia because your just going to get put down. SHAME ON ALL who cant just give one positive word. I'm sick of all your little pathetic attacks, Fianna Fail and Finne Gail are the wankers, not some young people who have hope!
GROW UP, YOUR LIKE CHILDREN FIGHTING OVER CANDY

Well done to all who criticized, I came on here to see if anything worth while was happening, just the same ould childish behavior from the left................... I wont be doing anything soon anyway.

by disillusioned lefty Wed Dec 17, 2008 13:28

It is nice to see some thinking outside the box for a change. Most Irish people will never touch a left group in the first place so a group like yours has a better chance of appealing to ordinary workers. A little advice dont get bogged down in talks with trotskyist groups it is a complete waste of time. Under no conditions allow 'trots' to join your group or they will turn it into a talking shop and bore everyone with their 'ideology' finally they will split your group and stop real workers joining in the first place. You dont need counter revolutionaries when you have trotskyist groups out there even the SWP have finally seen sense and have downplayed their brand of trotskyism to gain new members some people say they are in the process of ditching it as it is a liability when dealing with ordinary workers or unemployed workers or women or travellers etc. So keep up the good work and dont mind the failed lefties (and photographers) who have posted above ye are on the correct road.

by 'another' disillusioned lefty Wed Dec 17, 2008 15:58

The last few people's postings are the most sensible. I reinforce their statements. Don't mind all the rest. It is good to see something a bit different. I am a lefty but, I can not say I am an anti-capitalist or Trot, or libertarian because I can not say for sure the solution after Capitalism.
The way your group is, seems slightly unorganized. That is not criticism. It gives you room to maneuver and get yourselves together. Dont answer back to all the pessimists, they dont care what you have to say, its just an opportunity to attack you. But, by all means keep posting and tell us what your doing. I am genuinely interested to see how your group goes.
I wish all in the group the very best and congratulations for trying and hopefully doing, especially Conor for posting time and time again, defending his group against such blatant ignorance.
Get your act together, do it step by step, and I hope your group is a success, and Conor... go for it!!!!!

"all that is necessary for the triumph [of evil] is for good men to do nothing"

by Is it? Wed Dec 17, 2008 16:58

Conor,

You posted this thread for a reason, to announce a new grouping of activists.

That's good. I think everyone welcomes such an idea and formation.

Now it's done. Don't waste anymore time on this and go do something.

Are you or the swords think tank involved in anything at the moment?
There are plenty of issues in Swords, can you tell us if you are campaigning on anything or involved in existing campaigns yet?

Are you involved in any other campaigns?
The education and health cuts?

by Conor. M - Think Tank, Swords Wed Dec 17, 2008 19:34 liberalconormurphy at ymail dot com

I am involved with 'FEE'-free education for everyone. Some other members are independently getting involved. Our group fully support FEE. I will bring the issue up at the next FEE meeting and our group will actively engage with them. We are against introduction of third level fees.

We are waiting for a response from the environmentalist group 'plane mad'. They are against the expansion of Dublin airport. Other groups from Portmarnock are also involved for other other reasons. I believe we can play an active role in this campaign against the expansion of Dublin airport on the grounds of noise pollution, traffic congestion, envirnomental problems etc.

This Saturday we will be showing our support to the Greeks. The protest is against 'state murders'.

We are in the process of gathering information and planing the free distribution of information to the public. The information we will be distributing is what we would consider to be in the concern of the public. We have discussed locations in Dublin city and Swords town to set up stalls to inform the public of our group and to distribute the free information.

There are a number of issues on our agenda. We are coming up with solid campaign ideas before publicly announcing them.

Conor

by Anonymous Thu Dec 18, 2008 18:37

This group is terrible, you are a failure, what are you doing for this and that, blah blah blah.

You see Conor, this is what you will experience constantly on Indy. Like another post said, anonymous people come on here and say what they want without having to explain themselves. It's good to see people doing something, even if it is initially only talking and raising awareness.

Keep us updated, Chow

by John Fri Dec 19, 2008 23:56

You post seems to have attracted a lot of interest all right. You should be heartened, but as others have said. Don't get sucked in. Work out what ye want to do first then make it happen. The help is out there when you ask for it.
Refreshing indeed. Somebody criticised you for heart over head. A good place to start from I'd say
Keep moving!

by Whittington Sat Dec 20, 2008 06:44

Don't let the sniping begrudgers on indymedia deter you from thinking out your own ideas and acting on them modestly and methodically. You needn't expect to raise up Olympus. There's a Chinese proverb that says a journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step. So get on quietly with your chosen journey all you people in Swords.

by Paul o Sun Dec 21, 2008 18:47

It is funny how you talk about how you want unity and you were sick of the left attacking each other, then (SURPRISE SURPRISE) people come on attacking you. Poor old fella, this is what you get for trying to help. Now come on everyone, Down with that sort of thing!