We fight for real democracy, in Europe and internationally
The “real democracy”movement expresses the genuine aspirations for a society in which people have a real control over their lives, and are no longer at the mercy of a handful of ultra-rich “banksters” and corrupt politicians who hijack jobs, public services and living standards of millions just to increase their profits.
We have all been inspired by the revolutionary struggles in Egypt and Tunisia, which has put the idea of revolution back onto the agenda. Then the new wave of hope awaken by the “real democracy”movement which started in Spain has rapidly been echoed to one degree or another in Greece, Portugal, Italy, France, Belgium, Britain and Poland.
The assemblies in squares all over Spain gave a lively picture of people coming together, discussing and making their own decisions for the future. The debates on the Sytagma square in Athens showed how Greek workers and youth have taken this up.
Assemblies in factories and workplaces, neighbourhoods, schools and universities are needed to continue the struggle and to build a powerful and united movement of workers, young people and the poor, democratically organised from below with a fully accountable, and removable, leadership. These can be linked together at local, regional and national levels. Therefore, delegates of these assemblies should come together – but always under the control of these assemblies and subject to recall.
These assemblies can be the basis of a struggle for real change in the interest of workers, youth, the unemployed and pensioners. A struggle that would replace the corrupt politicians living the lives of the upper class and disconnected from the majority’s concerns by elected representatives living on an ordinary worker’s wage.
Putting people’s interests rather than the profits of the bankers, bosses and rich as its main objective, a real democracy would use the wealth of society to end poverty, unemployment and the destruction of natural resources, put in danger by nuclear disasters or climate change.
Be part of the movement
The Spanish movement is mobilising on 15th June for a demonstration in Barcelona against the vote on the cutbacks in the Catalan parliament. The Madrid assembly calls for demonstrations in all European cities on the 19th June. The Greek movement is mobilising for a general strike on the 15th June and asks all participants to occupy the squares afterwards.
We call for international solidarity action on and around the 15th and 19th June:
■For real democracy – end the dictatorship of the bankers, bosses and their politicians. For a democratically planned economy putting the wealth of society in the hands of the millions not the millionaires.
■We are not commodities! Free health and education, decent jobs and contracts for all. Money for jobs & education – not for bankers, share the work without loss in pay!
■No to cuts, privatisations and redundancies! Make the big companies, the hedge funds and the banks pay for their crisis – nationalise these institutions under democratic control and management!
■Kick out the troika of thieves – EU, IMF, European Central Bank – from Greece, Ireland and Portugal! This is not our debt, we won’t pay it!
■International solidarity against cutbacks, racism, unemployment and poverty. For international joint action including strikes and general strikes.
■For a Europe of the workers and the poor, not for the greedy capitalists!
Organise and support protests, walk outs, strikes and occupations – campaign for international solidarity actions on the 15th and 19th June, as a first step towards the building of an internationally coordinated mass struggle against austerity!
IT DOES not come as much of a surprise to most people in Northern Ireland to hear that, yet again, the Assembly has managed to make a monumental mess of things. But the decision of Environment Minister Sammy Wilson to ban the broadcasting of a government TV ad encouraging people to switch off electrical appliances when not in use in order to save energy has left even the most hardened political cynics open-mouthed.
"Minister Gormley's annoucement that the funding necessary to improve the water infrastructure will amount to €1.8 billion comes as no surprise given the legacy of neglect and the absence of water conservation as well as rain and grey water harvesting measures advocated by myself and others during the buidling boom.
CWI statement