Reporting on Indymedia this evening, Andrew from the Workers Solidarity Movement (disguised as personal capacity) drew lessons from the large crowds who marched to Merrion Square in the bright and crisp December day.

How about a system where production is organised to meet people’s needs, where it would be regarded as insanity to have building workers idle while others go without adequate housing, where the idea of paying farmers not to grow food while hunger is still a daily reality in much of the world would be seen as immoral. This can only work when the means of producing and distributing wealth are owned in common, by all of society. That’s the meaning of socialism.
How about a system that takes socialism and freedom to be of equal value? One where people can do as they wish so long as they don’t interfere with freedom of others? One where you can have a direct say in making the decisions that will affect you? One where control is in the hands of the majority through democratic assemblies and councils? That’s anarchism.

Along with the anarchists reporting from the streets of Dublin, the Irish Republican Socialist Party informed us that both the IRSP and the masses of ordinary people made up a crowd of 50,000. Perhaps what we are seeing.....

...... will require the participation of many of our work colleagues, neighbours and friends. It is about the majority rejecting control over us by any minority group (whether it be employers or politicians). If we want the interests of the vast majority to be respected, then the vast majority must be in control.

Whatever, the anarchists and republicans were definitely along with the rest of us in learning something from na muinteoirí (teachers for our non-gaeilgeoir readers) today. Despite his intention to try and ignore our first answer and come back within a year with the same treaty for us to ratify the Offaly gentlemen currently holding the seal of Taoiseach (chieftan for the non-gaeilgeoir) will give up easy. You've always been thought to respect the elderly - now they're worth emulating.

Reports below the fold - add your own with the publish button. Add your photos and set your rights unlike most other sites.

The weather was good and the march got under way promptly at 12. Traffic into the city had been very heavy so it was obvious there was going to be a good turnout but nobody expected so many to come.

Related Links: 150 TCD students protest against Batt O’Keeffe, SU President welcomes him! | Public Meeting: Stand up Against the Cuts | Education on Indymedia.ie

"He blocks access to our education, we block his access to the opening. - Pa O' Brien ULSU President, advocate of a graduate tax and Fianna Fail member.

Minister Martin Cullen attended the opening of the newly built Irish Chamber Orchestra (ICO) building on University of Limerick campus last Monday evening. Ahead of the scheduled event, ULSU issued a press release headlined "UL Students to block Minister from ICO opening". What actually transpired was an entirely different set of events.

Related Links: Free Education for Everyone homepage | Limerick Blogger Report | Winter of discontent | March against Fee's

Seomra Spraoi opens new autonomous social centre.
Seomra Spraoi is back. After 10 long Seomra-less months a new home has been found, and work is underway to transform the space into a fully functioning social centre. A lot has changed since being forced from our last space. We've been pretty busy too.

Since moving out of our last address (at Mary's Abbey), we've been kept busy organising Ireland's first social centre gathering, hosted a large talk at the Dublin Anarchist Bookfair, and ran lots of fundraising gigs/quizzes. We've provided catering, kids' activities & entertainment at the Grassroots Gathering, organised a beach party, several people's kitchens & kids days. We've also restructured our working groups & learnt a lot about fire safety.

Related Links: Seomra Spraoi | Social Centre Stories | Seomra Spraoi on Indy.ie

Thirteen years ago today, on November 10th 1995, nine men from Ogoni land were hanged at Port Harcourt prison Nigeria. They had been tried in a military court by the Nigerian dictatorship. One of the men, the famous human rights campaigner Ken Saro Wiwa had been a particular thorn in the side of the Shell oil company, which found itself unable to operate in parts of the Niger Delta because of the work organisating people to peacefully resist against their destructive activities.

In stark proof of who controlled Nigeria at the time, his family had been told by Shell executives that he would be spared if he would help the company. Saro Wiwa preferred to die with honour.

Related Links: Who is Ken Saro-Wiwa? Ken on indy.ie Shell 2 Sea