Joe Higgins speaks on 'Che and fight against capitalism today'

limerick | anti-capitalism | event notice Monday April 06, 2009 22:46 by Limerick Socialist - SP

Joe Higgins, Socialist Party TD 1997-2007, will be in Limerick on Thursday for a public meeting at 8pm in Pery’s Hotel, Glentworth Street. Speaking about his recent travels to Latin America making the documentary ‘Che’ he will focus on the movements he saw against neoliberal, free market policies in Latin America today and their relevance for people in Ireland.

Joe Higgins has been a prominent campaigner for workers’ rights in Ireland and a key figure in the anti-Lisbon campaign in which he highlighted issues such as workers’ rights, privatisation and the EU's neo-liberal policies. The meeting will offer the opportunity to discuss Che Guevara's life as well as current events in Latin America and in Ireland with Joe and to hear his analysis.

Joe's new TG4 documentary follows Che’s first trip around Latin America, the 'motorcycle diaries' and examines the legacy Che has left and how his ideals influence current movements and struggles against exploitation and imperialism in Latin America.

Che was a tiredless fighter for ordinary people whose socialist ideas are now inspiring mass movement's. While travelling through Latin America Joe Higgins saw how it is truly a continent in revolt. Every day there are protests and strikes. Particularly relevant for Ireland are the cases, some of which Joe saw himself, where workers threatened with redundancy have occupied and run their workplace, and fought for it to be nationalised. This is just one of many ways in which the ideas of Che are alive and well in Latin America, and how we in Ireland can learn from those struggles.

In fact, with the government stepping up their vicious attacks on workers and the poor in their new, 'mini-budget', the need for people in Ireland to learn from the example's in Latin America has never been greater.

The meeting will take place at 8pm on Thursday April 9th in Pery’s Hotel on Glentworth Street.