SLIGO LEFT OPPOSE G8 SUMMIT

THE UNITED LEFT (U.L.) in Sligo has called on the people of the North-West to join the growing chorus of opposition which has emerged in response to the upcoming G8 Summit, which is due to take place at the Lough Erne Resort, near Enniskillen on June 17^th and 18^th.

The U.L views the event, which will see the leaders of the world’s eight wealthiest countries, including Angela Merkel, Barack Obama and Vladimir Putin descend on the region for high-level talks, as an important opportunity to pressurise world leaders to take immediate action on a vast number of pressing global crises, including the disastrous impact of austerity in Ireland and across the EU.

Speaking this week Cllr Declan Bree said, “We believe it is important for the people of the North-West to register their discontent with the policies currently being pursued by the G8 in a number of areas and we certainly will be participating in the Protest Demonstration planned for Enniskillen on Monday 17^th June.

“The G8 summit will see the main advocates of austerity come together to coordinate policies for making ordinary people pay for the crisis created by the banks and big business.

“In this context we want to make it clear to the likes of Angela Merkel, Barack Obama and the other G8 leaders that austerity is failing the global economy and has caused immense suffering to ordinary people, something which has been particularly evident here in Ireland.   People cannot stand meekly by while their futures, and that of their children, are sacrificed to patch-up a failing system which only serves the elites in our society.

“Our actions will coincide with those of a huge number of organisations, including those concerned with human rights, climate change and global poverty.   We expect to see over 10,000 people demonstrate in Belfast on the eve of the summit to demand action by the G8 on world hunger, and this has been endorsed by the likes of Oxfam, Trocaire, Christian Aid and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions.

 “We are seeing a complete lack of leadership by the G8 on these issues, and it is only by applying significant pressure can we bring about a policy change.” said Cllr Bree.