#occupy Ireland

* Base Camp – Writer’s square (opposite st Annes cathedral)

The Occupy Movement – What is it?
...
On Sept 17th 2011, protesters in New York City took to Wall Street, to protest against record bank bailouts, bonuses for bankers, massive unemployment, repossessions and vast inequalities of wealth in the US and the Globe.

“1% of the worlds populations owns more than 40% of the worlds wealth”

This protest has been echoed in over 900 cities worldwide. Protesters aim to represent the 99% of the population being forced to pay for the economic collapse brought about by the greed and corruption of the top 1%. We as individuals, strive to end the exploitation of the working & middle class.

Why are we here?

With rising interest rates, higher cost of living, inflation, wages being frozen or decreased and more tax cuts for the rich, combined with the highest national + global debt seen in modern history. Is it not any wonder why our economy is crashing around us. Our politicians have proposed cuts to services like healthcare, education & welfare in a bid to curb this crisis. They want to borrow more money and use you! The taxpayers, as collateral!

We as a unified people should be heard and we can no longer bear the brunt of the mistakes of the rich(1%). “Too big to fail banks” have and are currently failing. Services are being cut, but there was no shortage of money when the taxpayers bailed out the banks to the tune of £850 Billion.

Our Aims?

* Tax the 1% - Bankers and corporations alike (£123 Billion in unpaid taxes!!!)
* Invest in the 99%, Education, Health & Public services
* Support struggles against the Cutbacks
* Build support for the upcoming Strikes on Nov 30th 2011
* Show there is an alternative to Austerity & Greed. Let the people be heard!
And many more!

Come down any day between 6pm and 7pm to our general chat about our goals and aims or come down Anytime to Support us as the 99%. You are Vital to this campaign! Protect your Future! Protect the Future of the Generations to come.

Facebook & Twitter – Occupy Belfast

I was down at the picket on Friday at the invest NI, is this organised by the same people?

not too su

not too sure... there was supposed to be a GA this evening @6.30pm... will check...
Should be a good spot, foreby it being out of the way a bit of City Centre etc...

I will get down to it anyway, I was hoping that something like this would start in Belfast.

was down at #99% earlier for a very brief while mid afternoon... round about 10 smaller tents n a larger Tarpaulin kinda info centre? tbh didnt have time to stall around to chat today though will be buzzing around when i can... about 4 or 5 hovering about... n a guy playing guitar... Im presuming tent occupants may have been working, uni etc... so im guessing it may be livelier after teatime?
lol'd @ the 'archictecture crew' within the bin bags n upside down umbrellows hanging off a tree 'next door'... was told it was to represent 'the evolution of space'.. wasnt stoned enough to engage with them!! hope someone took a pic or they around for a few days? They did stress they werent part of the 99% crew thankfully!!

Fair play to the lone protester outside the bank of Ireland (nr the library) handing out leaflets in his bloody surgeon out fit.. that took balls!!

seen some of the local press giving the camp a mention.. not sure of radio or TV interest as yet?

will be coming tomorrow...see what the craic is...

strong possibility I will be around tomorow too.. will PM ya as soon as I know the scéal...
Has anyone else here, been down recently?

I haven't had the chance, but am hoping to get down there myself tomorrow.

well went there today..nothing happening at invest ni....

posted by a friend elsewhere re: #occupy Dame Street

perhaps the thread title should be changed to #occupy Ireland as there are a number of 'occupations' across the island?

Update from the Belfast City General Assembly November 1st 2011:

Roles and teams set up:
1. Camp security
2. Leafleting and postering team; Permanent team selected
... 3. Public coordination team
4. Media team
5. Official spokespeople
6. Camp assemblies alongside General (public) Assemblies
7. Team updates each evening
8. BNP protest: Tomorrow morning (November 2nd). Occupiers can meet at base camp at 8.00am or assemble at the Gasworks at 8.20am.

Lovely people....made to feel very much at home.....

was down for a while earlier..... took some pics with a new phone and hope to upload when i work out how to....

my thoughts:
Its grew... more tents than before and a 'good' feeling about... about a dozen hovering about at 230pmish..... there was some news crews there, dunno who for...
loving the fact that our crew are camped beside the Spanish memorial to the Belfast Anti-fascist crew....

¡No Pasarán!

Sort out Ireland first fs.

huh?
5 #occupy sites in our island?

The main occupation is that of the British state. See them wee hippy cunts can go fuck themselves.

one of the 5 is in the occupied statelet

funny enough I gave that 'occupation' angle slag to them*... imo they recognise the irony in belfast!!!!!
wee buns make big cakes

*I know what you are saying 'big lad'!!!

Aww that's sweet enough mate but to me it seems like a bunch of North Koreans going to Beijing to preach about human rights.

Belfast and the North in general isn't ready for this kind of protest. Lets be honest like!

6 camps now in Ireland......

From #occupy Dame Street (Dublin)

Just heard that occupy Belfast have occupied a bank of Ireland branch in the city centre, police are currently trying to persuade them to come out, sorry no link.

sweet move lol.. banks are well secure!

Statement from #occupy Belfast:

Photo of Police smashing the front door in an attempt to gain entry, they also tried to force their way in through a fire escape, to no avail.

Guardian coverage

like

Occupy Belfast interview with Mark Patterson on the repossession of the bank. Begins 1hr and 23mins in.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b019g9dh/Lunchtime_with_Mark_Patterson_including_News_at_One_16_01_2012/

more photo's @ Facebook

Interview with Occupy Belfast and situation on Royal Avenue (Slugger O'Toole)

Occupy Belfast

The Bank of Ireland Building on Royal Avenue has now been liberated for 36 hours. We are continuing to protest in the face of police harassment. We will not be deterred by police attempts to evict our legitimate protest. We are not breaking the law.

Today we have heard that twenty six thousand jobs will be lost from the public sector in the next five years. We currently have a youth unemployment ...rate that has increased by 155% in the past five years, so that now over 20% of young people are out of work. This, coupled with the imminent increase in tuition fees, amounts to nothing less than the destruction of our future. We refuse to allow this to happen.

As unemployment skyrockets, so too does homelessness. The possibility of owning a home has become nothing less than a pipe dream for increasing numbers of people throughout the country. For those who still own a home, the strains of keeping up payments are becoming unbearable and the future becomes ever more uncertain. When the banks foreclose, property ‘developers’ swoop in.

Premises, just like this one, will be left vacant until market forces and speculators decide that a sufficient profit can be made. This cannot be allowed to happen. These very buildings were built by our parents and grandparents who still had work to go to. We are left with no other choice but to take these buildings back.

In response to this social crisis our local politicians have proven themselves to be unprepared, unwilling, incapable or all of the above. Housing executive houses lie empty as people are evicted daily. There is no other option but to take action ourselves. By our actions we have transformed this space from a private milch cow into a community resource.

The cycle of lending, repossession and speculation must end. We have launched the beginning of that end and we encourage others to join in this struggle. This affects us all. We must reclaim the future. Join us. Solidarity is strength!

Signed:

THE OCCUPIERS

Occupy Belfast will be holding a Rally of Support for the Occupation on Saturday, January 21st, at 2pm outside the building, former Bank of Ireland on Royal Avenue. Following the rally there will be a public General Assembly whereby all are invited to participate in the discussion on where next for the movement.
https://www.facebook.com/events/330765476944231/