March for a Decent Public Health Service

by Sharon . - Individual . Sun Mar 30, 2008 17:21

.... from the 'Health Protest' event held on Saturday 29 March 2008 in Dublin can be viewed here -

http://11sixtynine.blogsome.com/2008/03/30/saturday-mar...blin/

Thanks!

Sharon.

by Purplemonkeydishwasher Sat Mar 29, 2008 17:20

The rain stayed off and there were loads of people, I wish more had joined from the
streets but we stopped the city.

get Mary Harney the fuck out, we will ask again... and again...and again.

Then we shall ask John Gormley why he supports privatisation and capitalist collapse.

Keep going at them they do not deserve their jobs for the fear they have caused, and every TD
is on health insurance.

by x y z - cynics united Sat Mar 29, 2008 12:01

The message - that the public needs and wants a better health service - is already well known. There isnt a country in the world that doesnt demand this. The Government has shown that it can ignore a march of 100,000 people quite easily and win an election (or two). Even if say, 20,000 people came out on this protest, Mary Harney can easily say that efforts are being made to improve the health system, say for example with the consultants negotiations - never was there a more prime example of a group of "workers" exhibiting nothing but naked greed - when exactly does €200k a year not become enough to live on?

For what its worth, any time I've been in hospital in the last four or five years (twice, once for an operation and the other for treatment after a traffic accident) I received a very high level of care. I'm not saying the system is perfect, other people have walked into A+E and had to wait a lot longer than me. But this hyperbole around the place such as statements like "Ireland has a 3rd world health service" is total bullshit. I've seen a hospital in Leosotho and they would beg for services anywhere approaching those of the worst in Ireland.

The public wants what the public gets. FF more or less won the last election - obviously people are happy enough with the running of the country that they re-elected the same people who've been in power for the previous ten years, even if they are a shower of corrupt gombeens. And the public will do it again next time, more or less. You watch.

by - Fri Mar 28, 2008 19:30

This man has asked Bertie to make a statement on Mahon, in so doing he has stood
shoulder to shoulder with his cabinet colleague Mary Harney whose attempt to
impoverish a nation's health for profit is why the government is in deep trouble.

a proper health care system for all, we do not buy the US version of wealth,
of exploitation and spending money on war machines!

Stands shoulder to shoulder with harney...

by Sam Fri Mar 28, 2008 16:58

ALL OUT tommorrow.

''Rain will spread to all areas early tomorrow, turning heavy and persistent. Brighter weather with showers will follow. Continuing windy, with highest temperatures of 8 to 11 degrees.''

:(

by seedot Thu Mar 27, 2008 23:54

The march, like the public meeting on the 11th February, originated with the DCTU and the youth committee of ICTU.

http://www.indymedia.ie/article/85950

The health unions have all come on board - SIPTU, INO and IMPACT spoke at that meeting along with a doctors representative. Other health unions have joined in (and will be present at the march) as have various patient groups and hospital action groups.

There's a video of that meeting doing the rounds (DVD and on DCTV cable 802) which shows contributions from Labour, SF as well as a variety of other left wing political groups from the floor. Having seen both SF and labour posters around town and knowing that the smaller left groups have been v.active in postering and leafletting the political parties have rolled in behind this and lived up to the comitments made at that meeting to support the march. For labour people in particular there would be a large cross over with the TU activists who have been working on this both in Dublin and around the country.

Surprising participants in the build up have been Newstalk and TV3 in particular Ireland AM. I think these media have seen the drawing power of this issue and decided to get on board a bandwagon rather than suddenly being converted to public investment and state provision of services. Also health makes for cheap radio / television as it gives them a chance to rollout a lot of human interest stories - but this seems to have contributed to a momentum that is building quite strongly.

Interestingly, compared to other recent mobilisations this has not really happened on the internet being based in union halls and mainstream media outlets. Indymedia has been muted with the emergence of posters such as nosey, radio listener and Dr. Spock throwing a bit of FUD into the mix despite their protestations of full support (with reservations and suspicions of course) being noticeable over the last few days.

Here's to a good day out and a growing campaign. A&E won't be fixed on Sunday no matter how many people come out - but the bones of a strong campaign may have a bit more flesh on them.

Support a Decent Health Service

by nosey Thu Mar 27, 2008 22:37

There are a number of very interesting points made in another thread on this march which people seem to have missed
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/86884&comment_limit=0&c...24401

I wouldn't agree on all the points made but some are valid.
Who are the organisers of the march apart from the DCTU and what kind of turnout would be considered a success? To what extend has the larger left wing parties like SF and Labour been involved?

by Sharon . - Individual . Thu Mar 27, 2008 21:14

Hi !

RSF has requested that its members and supporters should meet up first at the Parnell Street Office (223 Parnell Street) between 2pm and 2.30pm and then proceed to the Garden of Remembrance .

Looking forward to a good day !

Thanks!

Sharon.

RSF placard for Saturday , March 29 , 2008.

by Radio Listener Thu Mar 27, 2008 13:45

"Brenda Power of Newstalk 106"

That is a terrible, terrible decision. She is probably the worst possible voice on health matters - hysteria, scapegoating and apolitical explanations are her game.

It's a completely craven situation when the unions pander to Denis O'Brien's scare-mongering pointless moaners and give them a credible platform. Total joke.

by D_D - DCTU Thu Mar 27, 2008 13:26

1.Poll on breakingnews.ie: 'Can the Health protest achieve anything?'

Get tapping.

2. Clarification of speaker: Dr. Teresa Graham will speak for 'MRSA & Families, Waterford'.

3. Want to help leaflet city centre late shopping this evening? Meet at GPO at 5.15.

4. Brenda Power of Newstalk 106 will address the march (briefly, like all the other speakers).

A word of explanation. She has requested to speak. She has been fronting a long radio campaign about Health and about our Campaign. The station workers are coming on the march with a banner. We are not in the business of promoting any one radio station. We recognise the enormous 'talk radio' contribution that Joe Duffy of RTE has made on the issue. He is welcome to speak also, but, as will be appreciated, he would not be a free agent in this.

by Fin (Jack White branch WSM) Thu Mar 27, 2008 13:19

If anyone is interested some of us in the WSM were thinking that an Anarchist block on the health march on saturday would be a good idea. So bring your flags banners etc and yourself to the garden of Remberance at 2-30.

by Myles Wed Mar 26, 2008 19:11

"Dissolve the Army Council"

who's putting them up anyways? no organisations name to be seen. Bizarre.

by D_D - DCTU Wed Mar 26, 2008 16:52

Thanks JK for bringing that up. I meant to do so. If you read Indymedia, would the sticker stickers, who are covering up the details of the march on some (e.g. Labour Party ! posters) please think about what you are doing?

This is a march of direct medical and material relevance to almost everybody. It is a matter upon which there is unprecedented social and political unity. You have a right to send out your message, though what difference it's substance will make at this stage is open to discussion.

But please pick on the strong, not the weak, to deface.

by J K Wed Mar 26, 2008 15:24

A Green and white sticker has been placed over the date and venue on a lot of the posters in Dublin city centre area. Sticker is quite professional and reads : Time now Ladies and Gents please, over figures sitting around a table, under this reads : Dissolve the Army Council We can guess the AC meaning, but any clues as to the defacers ?

by Mark C Tue Mar 25, 2008 20:11

I'm probably a bit late getting this up, but here's a flyer for the Campaign for a Decent Public Health Service that someone might be interested in printing/distributing.

Also available here:
http://www.educate4free.com/images/march_for_a_decent_h...e.jpg

and here:
http://www.educate4free.com/images/march_for_a_decent_h...e.pdf

and here:
http://www.educate4free.com/images/march_for_a_decent_h...e.tif

Mark.

A5 Flyer .jpg

by Pharm Tue Mar 25, 2008 18:49

http://www.ipu.ie

by Pharmacists and Homeopaths Tue Mar 25, 2008 18:45

The pharmacists are postering outside their shops nationwide, saying that the HSE are attacking the
medical card and drug support schemes (this is after the methadone strike)

we have to see that FF /PD profit-making is masquerading and that they are at the forefront of
corporate bullshit in this country, one of the reasons that FG/lab did not make a dent is that their
policies are similar and people really have had enough.

The health shops accuse the government of working too closely through the IMB and FDA/Codex on
agressive food-labelling and supplement reductions, in order that they can buy the raw materials for
manufacture, infantilise the consumer and sell everything back at profit. The green junior minister
allowed for EU GM pig feed to be imported into ireland as a result of the high price of US feed, the price
increase was caused by the bi-ethanol industry buying up the land in the US to produce bio-fuels. both RTE
and I.T ignore the health shop and pharm campaigns which are driven in the EU by the right and FF
allignments.

FF have consistently pushed corporatism as opposed to indigenous industry and food production,
aggressive planning legislations allow GM outfits apply for rights to cultivate on our land,
incl reports on this newswire about areas of Meath being utilised in this manner- processed food
is incredibly bad compared to cooking from natural ingredients and long term health implications
are unexplored in the drive for profit. The dietary aspects of certain condition such as coeliac, GORD
and asthma cannot be underestimated and huge industry such as envisaged for the Ringsend area
is combined with reduction in community hospitals. simply put profit is what it is about and
we have had ten years of quality of life reductions to benefit people who really do not care about
the health and well-being of the nation.

by Michelle Clarke - Social Justice and Ethics Tue Mar 25, 2008 17:07

Children need atttention presently but there are no units of care, other than adult. This is highly unsatisfactory.

Children with attention deficit disorder need care at a local level....this is not happening. There are inadequate staff and more importantly inadequate funding from Government.

There is an increase in mental health problems with older people.

There are increased levels of suicide and the related core problems that surround suicide.

The disorders like Anorexia, Bulimia are very real and take considerable time, counselling and professional care to deal with the problems. Anorexia is one condition but what goes forward in health problems over time, is often ignored.

Time is here and stigma must stop. As the medical profession come out and seek universal health cover for people suffering from cancer, we need a strong Mentor to embrace Mental Health - we need a form of visionary - someone like Patch Adams....the film.

A keen review needs to be carried out of on children who are not part of the group (the one in five often known as the floater child).

The interaction between Neurological illnesses e.g. Chronic Fatigue/ME which applies to young children also and psychiatric conditions. One often predisoses another.

Funds and acumen are needed to improve the quality of life who have mental health, neurological conditions e.g. traumatic brain injury, viral and the consequences of alcohol and drug addictions.

This body of people need a voice and those with the voice are probably too ashamed. What a pity?

Roman Philosopher
Seneca

CENTURIES BEFORE MODERN MEDICINE - THE ROMAN PHILOSOPHER, SENECA GAVE VOICE TO THE DESPAIR AND UTTER ESTRANGEMENT OF THE TORMENTED SOUL'

Behold me in my nakedness, my wounds, my secret
Grief, my despair, my betrayal, my pain,
My tongue which cannot express my sorrow, my
Terror, my abandonment.

Listen to me for a day...an hour...a moment!
Lest I expire in my terrible wilderness, my
Lonely silence. O God, IS THERE NO ONE TO LISTEN?

And what happens when there is no one - no one to listen, to comfort, to console. There can be the longing and searching for death. THERE CAN BE THE RISK OF SUICIDE'

Extract:
Bookshops can be havens that harbour answers to questions......This quotation is from a book I bought on Behavioural Medicine made ridiculously simple by Frank C. Seitz, PhD.

Michelle Clarke

'Knowledge is no load'

by D_D - DCTU Tue Mar 25, 2008 10:45

The march will assemble from 2.30 pm at the Garden of Remembrance, Parnell Square.

There will be some speeches there before proceeding to Molesworth Street, via O'Connell Street, D' Olier Street, College Street and College Green, bottom Grafton and Nassau Streets and Dawson Street.

At Molesworth Street there will be further speeches.

There could be slight changes to this route on the advice of the gardaí.

by Vercingetorix Mon Mar 24, 2008 14:41

Where are you marching to from Parnell Square?

by Passer By Sat Mar 22, 2008 20:56

The SWP, WSM and SP were all leafleting seperately today at the GPO for this demo. This is quite unique and great to see.

Tell your workmates, neighbours and friends.

Lets make Saturday big.

by D_D - DCTU Fri Mar 21, 2008 15:02

The Speakers at the march, not necessarily in this order, are:

(Don't panic! They'll be divided up into speakers before and after and limited to short speeches)

Janette Byrne, Patients Together
Conor MacLiam, husband of Susie Long
Prof. John Crown, Consultant Oncologist
Peadar McMahon, Health Service Action Group, Monaghan Hospital Community Alliance
Dr. Orla Hardiman, Consultant Neurologist, Doctors Alliance for Better Healthcare
Madeline Spiers, President, Irish Nurses Organisation
Kevin Callinan, National Secretary, IMPACT
Louise O’Reilly, National Nursing Official, SIPTU
Walter Cullen, Industrial Organiser, Unite (ATGWU & Amicus)
Speaker from 'MRSA and Families'

There will be a Volunteers Meeting on Tuesday 25th at 5.30 pm in Liberty Hall.
There will be Press Conference on Wednesday 26th at 11 am in Buswells Hotel, Molesworth Street.

Anyone available to leaflet next week, or seeking leaflets contact 087 6229686 or dctuhealth@gmail from Monday on.

Events worth leafleting: e.g. the Easter Rising Commemoration on Sunday at 1.30 pm in Parnell Square? Teachers Conferences (leaflets on way).

Outside of Dublin: note that the local SIPTU Branch has authority to hire a bus.

by . Thu Mar 20, 2008 20:01

.

Bertie Ahern - Fianna Fail

by D_D - DCTU Wed Mar 19, 2008 12:29

Very presumptuous; it was the gremlins what did it. Thanks to the collective for the prompt correction

SIPTU Branches have been authorised to hire buses to the march. So locals, Trades Councils, other unions, health and hospital campaigners, etc., seeking transport to Dublin might contact their local SIPTU office about a bus.

by Ian Tue Mar 18, 2008 22:54

I presume the original author has mixed up the dates and it is Saturday 29th not Friday 28th

by D_D Thu Mar 13, 2008 13:45

Excellent leaflet!

by Health Working Group - Workers Solidarity Movement Wed Mar 12, 2008 12:05 wsm_ireland at yahoo dot com

Workers Solidarity Movement are producing 10,000 of the leaflet attached to promote the march on 29th March and to encourage people to attend.

If you'd like to help out, feel free to download the leaflet and print some out or pick some up at the Anarchist Bookfair (http://www.wsm.ie/bookfair)

WSM Leaflet Promoting the March 0.43 Mb