There will be a sizeable contingent of Irish rich and powerful among the 20,000 bankers and economists attending the IMF/ World Bank summit in Prague on September 26th.
But at least thirty Irish people will be there representing the interests of the rest of us... on the streets!
The Socialist Workers Party has helped to bring together this delegation of campaigners and activists. Money to cover costs was collected on community and workplace collections and through street stalls. there are representatives of many of the major campaigns and Trade Unions in Ireland.
Catherine Kennedy, a socialist and community activist from Bray, spoke about going to Prague at a recent Public meeting. "I am sick to the teeth of having decisions that effect the lives of my community and myself made thousands of miles away behind closed doors. I am going to Prague to stick two fingers up to these faceless bureaucrats and to show them we are not going to take it any more."
Catherine Van Os, a school student from Lurgan and a member of Revolutionary Youth is also going to Prague. She says "Prague is the next step in the huge movement that emerged in Seattle and Washington. It's great that people from Ireland are going to Prague because they can bring that experience back here and build resistance to the system in Ireland"
Mary Curran and Billy Ryan who are campaigning against the planned incinerator in Ringsend, Dublin are being sponsored by their community to go to Prague.
Other delgates include Harry Phelan of the Drogheda against Privatisation Campaign, Joe Moore, President of the Cork Trades Council, and Hugh a member of the ILDA national executive.
Shop stewards from SIPTU, MANDATE and the NRBU have also received sponsorship to go.
On their return all the delegates intend to hold a series of EYEWITNESS from PRAGUE Public meetings in colleges, workplaces and communities to bring their experiences before a wider audience in Ireland. If you or your trade union branch, residents association, organisation etc. would like to hear an eyewitness report contact Simon Basketter (simon.basketter@ucd.ie) and we will attempt to make a speaker available.