Assembly 2015 - Report and pictures

26 February 2023

Annual Assembly, Saturday 7^th February 2015, 11 am to 3.30 pm

UNITE premises on Middle Abbey Street, Dublin 1

Notes from the session ‘Activism since the Crisis: Reflection on Irish civil society’s actions and strategies for change’

Feedback from the group work following the presentation:

This year is a key moment to set positive agendas, that are value based
We should not waste 2016 by fighting over the space as civil society, use the space together
We should progress from a narrow to more future-focused protest, Civil society not always progressive, good at seeing/solving problems, but not always solutions/setting the agendas
Need to engage/ link with other campaign and movements
Find new ways to re-energize communities – strong empowerment to setting the agenda
Engage more with young people, outreach to 3^rd level/transition year students. E.g. through Future News.
Build more solidarity in Civil Society in times when funding is scarce
Encountering marketization is to stress collective interests
Political Society – Civil society fragmentation requires restricting/reversing the roles
We should support positive collaborations, e.g. ‘Good Energies Alliance’ (shift from ‘anti fracking’ message) or ‘People’s Energy Charter’
Do we need a left political alliance, do we have an Irish Syriza?
Contribute to countering narratives/do Public Education
Leave behind ‘corporate’ agendas
Keep the focus on values
Learn from others – international exchanges
Harness energy from activist groups
Involve Community /voluntary arm in collective bargaining
Government initiatives such as PPN’s, Open Government Partnership, Constitutional Reform need to be better publicized
Be self-critical – we (I) should do more
Take risks

You will also find the outcomes of the discussions on the Declaration (which we had in the afternoon) on the website from end of March.