|
 |
Cork Corporation has imprisoned it's seventh anti- bin tax protestor. Antoin O hAnnrachain was gaoled after refusing to pay a fine imposed for leaving his uncollected refuse on the steps of the City Hall. Antoin spent three days in Cork prison for his principled stand. The Householders Against Service Charges staged protests outside the city hall during his time in prison and he returned with other campaigners the following Monday to again deposit refuse on the steps of the city hall.
The Corporations entire "waste management strategy" is under severe pressure. Residents in Bottlehill are still strongly resisting the attempt to impose a superdump on their community, there is a growing campaign against the proposed incinerator in Ringaskiddy in Cork Harbour, residents near the massive city dump are demanding the promised closure, now years overdue be implemented and commercial waste collectors recently blockaded the city dump over cuts of 75% in the quantity of commercial waste being accepted. In short plans to privatise, burn and dump in the countryside are under attack on all sides.
The anti-bin tax campaign looks set to up the ante with a campaign to extend non-payment. The campaign is engaged in intensive discussions on future strategy. Bouyed by public support over the gaolings and the rapid growth of the Dublin campaign the resolve of the activists has been strenghtened.
James McBarron (HASC - personal capacity)
On Thursday the 27 September the local county councillors were invited to a meeting in the Liberties to explain their position on the bin tax. About 60 residents turned up to hear what they had to say. Unsurprisingly, not one councillor showed up. Not one sent a representative in their place. They know how unpopular the bin tax is and are running scared. A representative from the revenue department of Dublin Corporation; the man who is in charge of collecting the money did attend and was happy to answer questions on the tax.
He said that by mid to late October they expect to know who has paid and who hasn't. At the moment less than 20% have paid. The bills and bins are being sent out along routes followed by the bin men, which could be why some people in areas have them and some people don't. Later on, we will be charged by weight.
On Monday the 1 October a picket of 100 people demonstrated outside City Hall as the Corporation met to consider the estimates for the next year. Groups from the Liberties, Walkinstown, Rutland Street and other areas attended. Although there were three motions on the agenda calling for an end to the tax, these were placed at the end of the agenda, and so surprise, surprise, were never discussed.
The failure of the councillors to turn up to the Liberties meeting and to discuss the motion on the bin charges indicates that the councillors are afraid to debate the issue. They know how unpopular the charge is, and hope that if they ignore it, it will go away. It is the councillors' hope that they are all seen to be against this charge as we approach a general election despite the fact that a majority of them voted for it a few months ago. They want is us to quietly pay. Unfortunately, for them this isn't happening. The rate of non-payment remains high in the city. If you haven't done so already, join the campaign. Put a 'non-payment' poster in your window. Tell your friends and neighbours you aren't paying this unjust tax. By standing together, we can defeat this charge. Get some leaflets (phone Dermot on 087-6277606) from the Campaign and organise your area against this unjust tax.
Aileen O'Carroll (Liberties campaign - personal capacity)
|
|
Workers Solidarity Movement |
 |