THE CITIZENS’ forum to be held at the RDS today has been “massively oversubscribed” with the organisers claiming more than 2,000 requests were received for the 1,000 places available.
The participants will discuss “alternative policies to tackle the recession fairly, reshape Ireland’s economy and assert progressive social values”.
A new civil society movement, Claiming Our Future, will be formally launched and the organisers say this “will be a turning point in the debate about Ireland’s economic recovery and will create a new movement for change that politicians can’t ignore”.
In addition to the attendance, the organisers say thousands more have participated in local events and social media networking since the initiative began last month. The movement is being promoted by organisations including Is Féidir Linn, the Community Platform, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, the Environmental Pillar of social partnership, Tasc think tank and Social Justice Ireland.
Claiming Our Future said it is “neither a political party nor an electoral initiative. It has no permanent staff and is sustained by volunteer effort and the contribution of time and volunteers from its supporting organisations”.
Today’s event is financially supported by the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust (€20,000), Atlantic Philanthropies (€20,000), the Community Foundation for Ireland (€5,000), the One Foundation (€5,000), Impact (€5,000) and Siptu (€5,000). Mandate trade union has contributed temporary office space, meeting rooms and support. Proceedings are being streamed live on claimingourfuture.ie
Siobhan O’Donoghue of the Community Platform said the response to the event reflected the appetite for alternatives to current economic and social policies.
“Politicians can’t afford to ignore this groundswell for progressive change based on equality, sustainability, inclusion and human dignity.
Former Equality Authority chief executive Niall Crowley said the new movement was creating a voice for people disillusioned with the direction of politics.
