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Ireland's political and cultural magazine
— April – May 2013
A
CTIVISTS from almost every county in the Republic have been
mobilising as a group called ‘Independent Resistance’. They
met in late March at a central location, Kinnegad, to focus on
campaigning and to adopt a guiding plan. The group which is
independent and not party-aligned has signed up to the following plan
for economic renewal, put forward by Professor Terrence McDonough
of NUI Galway:
. Default on the debt.
. Leave the Euro and create new punt currency.
. Build a good public bank.
. Guarantee a job for all (new jobs to be on, or about, the minimum
wage)
. Nationalise the Corrib gas fields with a compulsory purchase order.
Address the intolerability of many mortgages.
Dr Finbar Markey of presented proposals for a general mortgage strike
that would have an immediate and progressive impact on the Irish domestic
economy. The funds that were once directed out of the country to foreign
banking entities would remain in the country. Homeowners would for the
first time in five years have the confidence and the wherewithal to start
spending in their local shops, restaurants, and on products made in Ireland.
This would in turn create new, real jobs which in turn would create even
more jobs. A mass write down also offers the prospect of reducing wages
whilst at the same time increasing quality of life. With significant reductions
in the outflow of income to mortgage lenders and landlords, the cost of liv-
ing also drops dramatically alongside wage expectations, making inward
investment a very attractive option for many international companies. With
increased local spending, the possibility of a co-operative bank assisting
small and medium businesses, a rapacious banking system curtailed, and
the renewal of democracy and sovereignty, it is obvious that the people of
Ireland should at the very least start talking about a mortgage strike.
Group primary interests of attendees included evictions, fracking, turf
cutting, property tax and related issues, the built environment, All share
a primary interest in national economic redirection.
The group received reports from nationwide campaigns, signifying an
upsurge in activism:
• Paul Scannell of Meath Anti-Eviction Ireland reported on an upcom-
ing eviction of a year-old Meath farmer, of how the bank had tried to
seize his lands over a paltry loan that they refused to take payment for, how
legal fees for idle solicitors had risen to €, and that the eviction is
due for Wednesday th of March.
• Supporters of the anti-fracking campaign, Des Guckian and Joe Keaney,
of Leitrim spoke about national fracking developments, their fear that
the ante has been upped with regards to pro-fracking propaganda, and
their concerns that new legislation will mean fracking companies will
be able to by-pass planning laws and procedures. Keaney described his
recent correspondence with Pat Rabbitte and his attendance at a recent
local IFA meeting at which he held an anti-fracking banner before being
intimidated into putting it down. It was commented that there is a definite
split in the IFA.
• Supporters of the turf-cutters group (TCCA) Des Guckian and John
McNamara of Longford / Westmeath reported a recent district court case
in which turf cutters had been hauled before the courts for using machines
to cut their turf.
• Niall Doyle reported on the young archaeologist involved in a stand-o
with armed Gardaí in Limerick having re-occupied the apartment he had
been evicted from the day before. He reported that the young man was not,
as reported, armed and did not threaten anyone’s life other than his own.
• John McNamara of the People’s Voice reported on a recent occupation
of Westmeath County Council’s meeting chamber and plans to re-occupy
it during the upcoming monthly meeting
• Jim Miller of Spirit of Éireann (Westmeath / Laois) reported on devel-
opments in the GM crop saga and the proposals for an equine vaccination
trial in Offaly.
• Dundalk activists reported on the planned visit of Enda Kenny on the
th of April to the Ballymascanlon Hotel.
• Aisling Butler of Dublin reported on the mix up about the attempted
eviction of an elderly cancer sufferer and her daughter from a house in
Drumcondra the previous week and how members of “Anti-Eviction
Taskforce” (AET) had called off supporters, claiming the situation was
resolved, but also, she said, insisting on the elderly lady taking flowers
from a bailiff against her own will.
• The upcoming protest at Dublin Castle on the 13th of April (EU annce
ministers meeting) was also discussed and it was agreed that Independent
Resistance campaigners would protest it was agreed another banner will
be ready for that date, highlighting the economic strategy as outlined by
Terrence McDonough.
• A discussion was held about advancing the “Attack the Tax” anti-prop-
erty-tax campaign.
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news
Independent Resistance
announces a mortgage strike
Six-point plan, co-ordinated activism and now a mortgage strike
