Occupy Galway, fresh start thread

WallyGUFC

biko wrote: »

I do understand you but on the other hand they aren't causing any other trouble than being an eyesore for certain [middle class] people that want Eyre Square void of protesters.
And in my view, they show the council and the bankers that some people aren't just writing angry posts on the internet.
Some people are willing to put up with rain and cold for months to show their dismay at how the current and past establishment have ****ed us over. They should be lauded, not denigrated.

Lauded? You cannot be serious. What is so great about sitting in the square for 7 months, in tents, some of them claiming dole and not actively seeking work? They wern't protesting, they were literally just camping there. How much space in Eyre Square did they take up? This was space that the general public couldn't use for a whole 7 months. The fact that only 6/7 were there when the Gardaí rightly dismantled it shows how much of a farce and a joke it had become. Would travellers be allowed keep caravans there for 7 months? Would I be allowed camp there for 7 months on my own? Job well done by the council and the Gardaí, better late than never.

Dan_Solo

squonk wrote: »

So, Dan, given that you're attacking my stance on berating those who've done nothing but sit in tents for seven months, I'm sure you'll be able to list off in rapid order the verifiable goals they did have and their successes in achieving those goals. Once we all see that no doubt we'll all change out tune and lament the fact they've gone.

I'm equally sure you'll be able to rattle off a list of things they could have done instead of camping in Eyre Square that'd stop our government borrowing €100 billion to pay off collapsed private sector banks and developers.
They might have just sat around being an eyesore with a load of homemade placards, but I'm pretty sure that's 100 times more than you've done.

Wompa1

biko wrote: »

I do understand you but on the other hand they aren't causing any other trouble than being an eyesore for certain [middle class] people that want Eyre Square void of protesters.
And in my view, they show the council and the bankers that some people aren't just writing angry posts on the internet.
Some people are willing to put up with rain and cold for months to show their dismay at how the current and past establishment have ****ed us over. They should be lauded, not denigrated.

I faced the cold, wind and rain for years on my way to work. Nobody lauds over me

Also I just left Ireland and could have claimed all of my tax back for the last few months I was there and didn't because I thought I could do without it and the country needed it more than I did. No need to laud over me, I'm no hero...I just do what I do :rolleyes:

Dan_Solo

Robbo wrote: »

Speculation on my part, but the Council would most likely have title to the land Occupy were on. They are then free to make a complaint to the Gardai which the Gardai may act upon.

Fair enough, maybe that's what happened.
Is that what the council actually voted on, and if so why didn't they do this months ago? They've been moaning about OG all that time and couldn't be bothered to move them until the Volvo turns up?

Wompa1

Dan_Solo wrote: »

Fair enough, maybe that's what happened.
Is that what the council actually voted on, and if so why didn't they do this months ago? They've been moaning about OG all that time and couldn't be bothered to move them until the Volvo turns up?

I could be wrong here but I thought the reason they were willing to act now was because the business owners in Eyre Square had requested the camp be moved before the VOR?

Red_Wake

Dan_Solo wrote: »

I'm equally sure you'll be able to rattle off a list of things they could have done instead of camping in Eyre Square that'd stop our government borrowing €100 billion to pay off collapsed private sector banks and developers.
They might have just sat around being an eyesore with a load of homemade placards, but I'm pretty sure that's 100 times more than you've done.

Paying tax to help country >>>>>>>> camping out in the rain

Lockstep

Was passing through Eyre Square at 5am and was turned away as the Gardai were out in force and blocking it to civilians.

Surprising stuff although seeing Conneely's odious mug plastered around didn't help my thoughts on the matter.

I don't consider OG as having achieved anything but they didn't particularly bother me.

c_man

biko wrote: »

The local politicians are not doing themselves any favours and tbh a lot of them are already held in very low regard.

More of a mandate than the squatters tbh.

tightropetom

Dan_Solo wrote: »

I'm equally sure you'll be able to rattle off a list of things they could have done instead of camping in Eyre Square that'd stop our government borrowing €100 billion to pay off collapsed private sector banks and developers.
They might have just sat around being an eyesore with a load of homemade placards, but I'm pretty sure that's 100 times more than you've done.

He probably paid tax, helping reduce government debt... Just a thought :rolleyes:

mapaco

i agree with their sentiment but they werent protesting, they were camping.
an eyesore yes, but they weren't particularly in the way or interfering with the bankers/councillors/whoever they're annoyed about-which is what a protest should be???

theres been alot of protests in the last few years-and rightly so-i'm all for it and have been involved in a few sparsely attended ones BUT the only way they succeed is with numbers-7 people isnt a protest.
the only protest that worked is the medical card OAP one as far as i can see-because of the strength of numbers.

if the VOR or the Races werent on this year-most likely they would have been left in their camp.
a proper protest would have ruffled the right feathers and attempts to remove them would have been numerous.....

squonk

Dan_Solo wrote: »

I'm equally sure you'll be able to rattle off a list of things they could have done instead of camping in Eyre Square that'd stop our government borrowing €100 billion to pay off collapsed private sector banks and developers.

I could but I'd rather you address the question I asked you and which you have still not even attempted to answer, namely what were their goals as a protest group and how many of those goals were achieved?

Dan_Solo wrote: »

They might have just sat around being an eyesore with a load of homemade placards, but I'm pretty sure that's 100 times more than you've done.

I think you'll find that the tax I paid as a (luckilly) employed citizen enabled them to 'sit around being an eyesore'. I have my own personal causes that I am hoping to advance and I've done so by engaging with my political representatives when needs be. In any case, you don't know what campaigns I've been involved in or what I've done so you're being a bit presumptuous. Some of us manage to hold down work and do our bit for our country at the same time. In the end I may not have achieved much thus far in any of my campaigns but neither have OG except that in the meantime I've paid tax and public resources were not wasted moving me and cleaning up the mess I've made.

antoobrien

Dan_Solo wrote: »

I'm equally sure you'll be able to rattle off a list of things they could have done instead of camping in Eyre Square that'd stop our government borrowing €100 billion to pay off collapsed private sector banks and developers.

This kind of rubbish is what I detest about o.g. and the kind of rather gullible people that fall for their propaganda. It's only a pity that their lies won't die with the camp.

The Irish government have not borrowed or paid out anywhere close to €100 billion to banks or developers .

The money paid by NAMA (€30 bln) was paid to banks to buy loans - developers haven't got a cent of that.

The government have put approx €20 billion (including promissory notes) into the banks.

The government have promised to cover up to €62.5 billion in bad debts, through the stress tests - a figure they won't reach due to BOIs capital raising activities - including the promissory notes to be paid to IBRC.

But hey, don't let facts get in the way.

Galwayguy35

KittyeeTrix wrote: »

I was kinda busy myself working the past 5 years towards a degree for which I completed my last exam Friday gone so I'm not hugely up to date with world finances and all that jazz. But I do know it's ever so difficult to get a job in the midst of financial/economical breakdown.

These guys were just making a stand and for that I applaud them. I don't have a problem with them being moved on with regards to the aspects of the law but I do have a problem with the attitude of some people towards them.
I've been reading posts here and on FaceBook where people have called them all sorts of names and I cannot stand that sort of thing. By all means, disagree with their stance but do not start shouting about them getting the jobs that aren't there.

Bit off topic here as well but I'm gonna put it out there......43 of us just finished science (microbiology) degrees last week and already we've seen the difficulty in getting these jobs you've mentioned. One of the girls even showed me a job advert for a graduate Micro position needing 1-2 years experience!!! Where are these jobs?? I and many others in Galway would really love to know

You have to take any job that's going in a recession. People can't afford to be choosey these days.
As regards OG I think it's a reasonable question to ask were they working or how could they afford to sit in a tent for 7 months with no job.

Tym

It seems obvious from reading through this thread that the modding is biased in favour of the now defunct camp.

Yeah, that's quite apparent.

And since another poster mentioned propaganda, i'm just going to mention the rise in very, very propaganderish posters plastered around Galway. Seems to want people to unite without actually telling them what they're uniting against or under. I just think it's very simple to protest against taxes in the current climate and say they represent the 99%, when in fact they represent a group of the 99%. Which a lot of these middle class people in Ireland are part of the 99%.
Just to clarify, the posters I mentioned are The Socialist Party and the United Left Alliance posters, but they did multiply with the Occupy movement and it starts to dribble down into the occupy movement.

Tym

You have to take any job that's going in a recession. People can't afford to be choosey these days.
As regards OG I think it's a reasonable question to ask were they working or how could they afford to sit in a tent for 7 months with no job.

Yeah I'm curious about that as well.

KittyeeTrix

Galwayguy35 wrote: »

You have to take any job that's going in a recession. People can't afford to be choosey these days.
As regards OG I think it's a reasonable question to ask were they working or how could they afford to sit in a tent for 7 months with no job.

Not pointing this directly at you Galwayguy35 but feck it...................You've not been the first person to make this comment and excuse me if I might respond!!!!

Did I at any point say in any of my posts here that I expected in the middle of a bloody recession to get the exact job I wanted......


NO, I DID NOT.............:mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:

I did say that it was so disappointing to respond to graduate offers and to be told they now need 1-2 yrs experience:(

I don't think being a little pi$$ed off at that is a bad thing or am I supposed to smile my feckin head off at it??

This was my original post btw..

Bit off topic here as well but I'm gonna put it out there......43 of us just finished science (microbiology) degrees last week and already we've seen the difficulty in getting these jobs you've mentioned. One of the girls even showed me a job advert for a graduate Micro position needing 1-2 years experience!!! Where are these jobs?? I and many others in Galway would really love to know

Galwayguy35

KittyeeTrix wrote: »

Not pointing this directly at you Galwayguy35 but feck it...................You've not been the first person to make this comment and excuse me if I might respond!!!!

Did I at any point say in any of my posts here that I expected in the middle of a bloody recession to get the exact job I wanted......


NO, I DID NOT.............:mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:

I did say that it was so disappointing to respond to graduate offers and to be told they now need 1-2 yrs experience:(

I don't think being a little pi$$ed off at that is a bad thing or am I supposed to smile my feckin head off at it??

Yes it's disappointing but that's the reality I'm afraid. Things will only get worse I think.

KittyeeTrix

Galwayguy35 wrote: »

Yes it's disappointing but that's the reality I'm afraid. Things will only get worse I think.

I know and forgive me for the rant but it's been a tough few weeks and now at the end of it - it feels like it was all for nothing, ya know!!:(

They probably will get worse unfortunately

gordongekko

KittyeeTrix wrote: »

Galwayguy35 wrote: »

Yes it's disappointing but that's the reality I'm afraid. Things will only get worse I think.

I know and forgive me for the rant but it's been a tough few weeks and now at the end of it - it feels like it was all for nothing, ya know!!:(

what did you hope to achieve?

Lapin

Just wondering what exactly was achived by the Occupy Galway campaign over the last 7 months ?

I never had anything against them, but I can't see any results for their efforts, apart from giving Cllr Paraic Conneelly an opportunity the get his mug on the news. Again.

What has changed?

Galwayguy35

To be honest I think if people want to protest about something then the way to do it is to organise a street protest. The place looked a right mess on the news this evening as they were clearing it up. If I throw litter on the ground I get a fine and rightly so. These people should be also fined for the mess that was made. Fair is fair.

KittyeeTrix

gordongekko wrote: »

what did you hope to achieve?

Never mind......This particular Kitty is too old and too tired to fight with annonymous people on the interwebz

Have a good night!!;)

Good luck to the Occupy crowd.

Wompa1

KittyeeTrix wrote: »

I did say that it was so disappointing to respond to graduate offers and to be told they now need 1-2 yrs experience:(

Like somebody else had said about their own experience. I was applying for jobs back in 2006 before the recession and places were looking for 1-2 years experience. Sometimes a graduates position could be filled by somebody with experience in a slightly different area that is willing to start fresh in a new area. Just apply anyway.

If I wanted a job in my main area of study right now I'd have to do a Graduates position. I have over 5 years industry experience but there ya go...

biko

specialops wrote: »

It seems obvious from reading through this thread that the modding is biased in favour of the now defunct camp

Tym wrote: »

Yeah, that's quite apparent.

Please don't use the thread to discuss moderation. If you have issue with that then either PM me directly or if you're more comfortable with that, PM a Cmod.

I made my own position clear in the OP. I've banned both OG members and non-OG in the past for uncivil comments.
There are two caveats in this thread, don't be a dick and don't make stuff up. If you see anyone breaking any of these rules feel free to report.

Rob A. Bank

Lapin wrote: »

Just wondering what exactly was achived by the Occupy Galway campaign over the last 7 months ?

Like you, I don't have anything against them, but it appears to me that they have put the concept of the 99% and the fat-cat 1% into the lexicon.

"When push comes to shove, are you going to represent me or the 1% ?"

A useful question to ask politicians when they ask for your vote next time.

:cool:

Lapin

Galwayguy35 wrote: »

The place looked a right mess on the news this evening as they were clearing it up. If I throw litter on the ground I get a fine and rightly so. These people should be also fined for the mess that was made. Fair is fair.

In fairness the protesters weren't given a chance to clean the place up after the eviction. They weren't let near it.

And it doesn't surprise me that the place looked like a mess on the news.
Thats the image the Gardaí and Conneelly wanted the nation to see.

Cast your mind back a few months when the camp had to move from the Supermac's side of the square to where they were up to now.
They cleaned up after them and left the place spotless and there was no trace of their presence on that side of the square after they left.

Any time I passed the occupy camp, it was always well maintained, clean and well kept.

If anyone should be fined for giving a littered image of Galway today, its the Gardaí and that publicity whore Conneelly.

Redhairedguy

This video is featured on the Irish Times website. I was actually laughing at one point at the nonsense the guy was spouting. 'bodies in the street... chemtrails.. etc'

If this is what the Occupy Galway movement is represented by, then I'm sorry, but jesus christ you can't be serious.

inisboffin

Slightly off the main topic, but as people keep ranting on about being taxpayers, tax-donating philanthropists etc...

There *were* people involved with the occupy camp who *were* working and paying tax. I know this for a fact. I don't think it's fair at all to assume that everyone was in the same financial situation, much like those of us who are feeling the pinch in different ways.

antoobrien

Lapin wrote: »

In fairness the protesters weren't given a chance to clean the place up after the eviction. They weren't let near it.

They had, what was it, 7 months or so to clean it up?

Lapin

antoobrien wrote: »

They had, what was it, 7 months or so to clean it up?

Read my post properly if you're going to quote it.

I did say after the eviction.



What was that in post 1 about not being a dick and making stuff up.