(old feature...) In October (20th-21st) the World Economic Forum (WEF) will meet at Dublin Castle in Ireland bringing together hundreds of government ministers, economists, bankers and the heads of the worlds biggest multinational companies (see official WEF website nb webpages now disappeared). The focus of the meeting will be 'European Competitiveness - From Rhetoric to Action', with discussions on issues like boosting growth, reducing pensions and opening utilities markets and the privatisation of state services.
In opposition a coalition of civil society and campaigning groups are preparing a series of protests including a Carnival for Global Economic and Social Justice, as well as mass civil disobedience and blockades of the WEF meeting. The first all-island Irish Social Forum will also take place, forming itself as a Counter Summit on the theme of Co-operation, discussing alternatives to the WEF's agenda of neo-liberal 'competitiveness'.

See Irish Indymedia | Irish Social Forum (latest anti-wef discussion) | Deireadh Fomhair (anti-wef info) | Mobilisations Against WEF (1999 - ) | Other Corporate Media WEF Coverage


On Monday 14th June, Ireland's Evening Herald ran with the headline "Sinister Anarchy Plan for Dublin" (big pic), describing in a similar style to the pre-mayday press hysteria seen here, how groups were planning "large scale violent demonstrations" and had 'laid careful plans to engage the police in running battles'! Like several other articles already published it also contained errors in describing the WEF meetings, and of course failed to mention the reasons for the protests or the issues behind them.

Opposition to, and resistance against, the WEF meetings has been growing for several years, with protests and counter-conferences seen in the mountain tops of Davos (switzerland)and Salzburg (austria) as well as Melbourne (Australia), New York, Mexico and South Africa. Ahead of the Dublin meeting the Gardai police have been receiving special training in the use of their new telescopic batons, while groups opposing the WEF have called for the Gardai to use restraint after their disgraceful attack on a peaceful Reclaim The Streets party on Mayday last year. Next year Ireland will also see more international meetings, when it takes over the EU Presidency.

See Irish Indymedia
Irish Social Forum (latest anti-wef co-ordination)
Deireadh Fomhair (anti-wef info)
Mobilisations Against WEF (1999 - )
Other Corporate Media WEF Coverage