Direct Action For Grannies

Last night was the opening night for the Irish Social Forum, like a good little activist I was there surrounded by all the other good little activist that I have met. The idea of social forums is really great, it is networking system for anyone who thinks a better world is possible, with the understanding that there isn't just one way to create change. the one common thread between everyone is the against the neo-liberal agenda, basically anti-pritization and anti-war. So the slogans are our world is not for sale, co-operation not compition, and another world is possible. After the talks from a extreamly wide range of locations, people were asking questions one of where is the movement going. Everyone had different ideas for the next step. Paul, the presidnet of UCD student union, said that he thought that there is not one way to do things, that there are enought people to fight in all directions, on the street in the courts in politics, etc. He said that he wants to a movement that gets everyone out there but is accessible to everyone ie direct action for grannies!!!

today is a full day of workshops and tomorrow there is a parade. I don't know yet what will take priority the social forum or homework!! One of the workshops is on the ban coca-cola campaign. I don't know if the news made it to cananda or the states, apparetnly it is on all the indi media site, UCD banned coca-cola from its studnet shops. My whole class went to vote the other day, it was fabulous, 30 equality studies master students take over the polls. Basically the issue with coke was the human right issue of the Columbian Trade Union workers . . . it was beautiful to see democracy in action. Coke had a huge campaign to back lash the vote, they threatened people with job loses and such. In the past coke as sponcered the student shop and renivated it for them. There is all this talk of losing so much money and shops closing down. But I talked to Paul and he said that it was years ago when coke gave them money. And they have enought money to get by with out anyone losing there job or closing the shops. Everything is just coke spreading desent throughout the campus.

UCD gets active!!

. . . and so does tobie . . .

this wednesday is the elections for positions on the student union. I am going for the LGB position . . . so I have to write a speach and decide what I want to do this year. I'm a little nervous about how much work this will entail, but the experince will be deadly. I will get to run a anti-homophobic week and possibly a seperate rainbow week. I will try to get trans included in the LGB lingo and am thinking about a positive space campaign. Its all very exciting.

plus the gender queer group that I was talking about a few weeks ago is having its first meeting this monday :)

and on wednesday I'm doing a talk with the socialist workers student party on the sexist ads on campus adn the use of objectify womens bodies to sell a society.

off to do laundry . . .