A-Infos (en) anarkismo.net: Dublin protest to force the government to back down and scrap water charges sees 1000s on streets by Brian - WSM

The Irish government's attempt to introduce domestic water charges in Ireland is not going 
well. In fact, for them it's been a disaster because it's sparked off a huge upsurge in 
working class self organisation and direct action. Saturday saw thousands of anti-water 
charges campaigners flooding the streets of Dublin o to again voice their opposition to 
Irish Water & water charges and as a show of strength for the movement. ---- It has been 
fully understood since the very beginning of this campaign that Irish Water was simply a 
vehicle to be used for the privatisation of water services and infrastructure in Ireland. 
The right wing, neo-liberal political establishment wished to gift the most vital of all 
resources to capitalist interests who would squeeze as much profit out of commodified 
water as possible, while cutting off the water supply to anyone who couldn't pay their 
extortionate charges. However, due to a huge effort on the part of working class 
organisers, the water charges appear on course to be abolished. The significance of this 
campaign in laying down a milestone for working class self organisation will be felt for 
years.

WSM had initated an anachist meet up for the march at 70 Sir John Rogerson Quay where 
Apple (evading €13Bn tax) is registered in a filing cabinet along with about 700 other 
companies.  As it set off we reported "We are matching toward Capel St. bridge, where 
we'll meet contingents from Stephen's Green, Heuston Station, & Connolly Station. Massive, 
consistent direct action & mobilisation has left Irish Water clinging on by the tips of 
its fingers, suspended, waiting to fall. But 'suspension' of water charges is just a dirty 
trick designed to make us go home and forget, stop organising, only to find our water 
privatised and double charged in the near future. But we're not falling for this sleight 
of hand, and are pushing to deliver the finishing blow to the Irish Water heist. We 
haven't gone home and are still working to defend our very basic right to clean publicly 
funded water."

 From the stage at the end point of the rally at St. Stephen's green, assembled 
campaigners heard from a number of speakers and it was notable that most were not the 
usual faces from political parties that normally bore people quite quickly by telling them 
what they already know. Instead, the end of the march proved to be quite interesting with 
input from mental health and tax justice campaigners, along with some great music.

A man described the difficulty he and his family face as hidden homeless, having to move 
back in with his mother, with his wife and 3 kids (she having to bear the brunt of the 
situation while he's at work), but noting that 'this is a movement of hope'.

A letter was read out on behalf of one of the young people who are in court today relating 
to charges of 'false imprisonment' relating to the Jobstown protest earlier in the 
campaign, the speaker encouraged attendance at the court today to show solidarity and support.

 From the large screen beside the platform a video was played giving a brief account of 
the Standing Rock pipeline protests that are ongoing in North Dakota in the US.

Apple's thirteen billion euro tax evasion was of course to the forefront of the 
discussion, as was the fact that Ireland has paid 42% of the cost of the banking crisis 
even through we are less than 1% of the EU population.

Vicki Donnelly, a speaker touching on these topics, ended her speech by echoing the North 
Dakota indigenous anti-pipeline campaigners in saying that "We are not water protesters, 
we are water defenders".

There are now active and highly experienced local anti-water charge campaign groups all 
over the country who have built a 73% boycott of the water charges and are on course to 
defeat the government on this issue.

While most of these groups row in behind the national Right2Water campaign (which is 
composed of left wing political parties and trade unions) when they announce a national 
demonstration, the week-to-week organisation of the campaign is handled autonomously at a 
local level.

The Right2Water umbrella group does not direct local organising, though it can support it 
by providing large scale leaflet production for national demonstrations. The most recent 
Right2Water organised demonstration in Dublin gave an indication of the vitality and 
confidence of the national campaign as it presses forward, determined to force the 
government to back down and scrap water charges.

Black ballon highlights 13 billion in tax EU has ruled Apple owes Ireland but which 
government refuses to collect

http://www.anarkismo.net/article/29631
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