Report from 3rd Annual Global Solidarity Summer School
Issued on September 12, 2011 at 12:34 PM
The 3rd Annual Global Solidarity Summer School, took place on 2nd & 3rd September 2011 in the Carlton Holiday in Galway.
Mr. Eugene McGlone, President of Congress; Professor Terrence McDonough, NUIG; Mariela Kohon, Justice for Colombia, UK; Michael Higgins; Moira Leyden, Chair of ICTU Global Solidarity Committee; Michael Gaffey, Deputy DG Irish Aid; Michael Dowling, Vice-Chair of ICTU Global Solidarity Committee;It was well attended by trade unionists from all over Ireland who were eager to learn about making links between the Climate Change and Decent Work Agenda.
A number of guest speakers took part in the Summer School presenting on a range of topics including climate change, economics, taxation, labour and disability in the workplace.
Prior to the official opening of the Summer School, Michael Higgins [son of presidential candidate Michael D. Higgins] addressed delegates on the importance of politics for change and particularly the issue of governance in Africa, of which he has some experience from his time working on the continent. He emphasised the necessity for the developing world not to be the victims of the desire and consumption of developed countries but that impulses should be towards justice and solidarity. Trade unions, he said, are best placed to deal with such issues.
Mr. Eugene McGlone, President of ICTU opening the 2011 Summer SchoolSummer School official opening by Congress President
The President of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, Mr. Eugene McGlone, then formally opened the Summer School. He stressed the importance of the school in terms of raising awareness and educating delegates to the many important issues for workers around the world. People, he said, joined trade unions for their own protection at work, it is then that they begin to look at rights and ethical issues both locally and globally. It is these workers who have the ability to turn their attention to the international arena. He then asked delegates to remember, that there is no such thing as a free lunch or a cheap holiday, someone somewhere he said, is paying the price for it.
Michael Gaffey, DG of Irish Aid addressing the Summer School
Irish Aid & Decent Work
Michael Gaffey, Deputy Director-General of Irish Aid [ right] was then introduced to the participants.
He spoke about the work of Irish Aid which he described as the Irish people's aid programme. It reflects, he said, the values we hold as a society and those values are reflected in the programme and throughout all the work that Irish Aid do.
He acknowledged the good relationship between Congress and Irish Aid, not only in terms of funding but in the full engagement with the programmes of the ILO such as women's entrepreneurship, disability, forced labour and child labour.
Combining Climate change with the Decent Work Agenda
Annabella Rosemberg, then gave her keynote speech to the Summer School via video. The full presentation can be viewed by clicking on the video below.
Lorraine Mulligan SIPTU; Professor Jim Browne NUIG; Gavin Harte, Stop Climate Chaos Coalition at the panel discussion on Climate Change, Green Jobs and Decent Work.Panel discussion on Climate Change, Green Jobs and Decent Work
A number of experts gave their views on climate change and discussed the links with the decent work agenda from a range of perspectives. Each speaker opened with some introductory remarks from their area of expertise from which a short discussion ensued.
The panel was chaired by Professor Jim Browne of NUIG and the panel was made up of the following speakers:
Professor Terrence McDonough, NUIG; Lorraine Mulligan SIPTU; Gavin Harte, Stop Climate Change Chaos Coalition - his presentation is available here. Liam Berney, ICTU spoke about maximising jobs in a green economy - more here. Neil Walker, IBEC and his presentation can be read here.
Colombia
A number of different speakers presented at this session on Colombia. Mike McCaughen, a freelance journalist, gave some detail to the history and background of the conflict in Colombia. He was a regular visitor to the country and saw close up, the difficulties and dangers which the Colombian people face every day. A startling statistic which he included in his speech was that 1 person is killed every 3 days in Colombia and these atrocities occur with little or no press or media coverage.
Mariela Kohon, from Justice for Colombia UK, then spoke about the work of the JFC UK.
John O'Brien then spoke about the work of the JFC Ireland which has recently been set up and works from trade union affiliations. John's presentation can be viewed here and to see the work of JFC Ireland, click into their site here
This concluded Day 1 of the summer school.
Day 2
Report from ILO/Irish Aid Partnership Programme
The following morning began bright and early at 09.30am with our first speaker, Barbara Murray, outlining the work of the ILO and their new Disability programme. Barbara's presentation can be found here.
This session was shared by John Coghlan of the NUJ who highlighted the work of the charity and the programme Disability Aid Abroad, which has been a fantastic success to date and which inspired many participants at the Summer School. He shared with participants how this programme had touched the lives of many people in Tanzania and due to the benefits of this type of programme they have been asked to continue their work in Uganda. His slide presentation can be viewed here. For more information on this very worthwhile programme click here.
Following a short break Paul Sweeney, Chief Economist from the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, gave us a global perspective on progressive taxation. He began with the Great Crash of 2008 and spoke about the polarisation of the labour market between 'cool and crap' jobs. He outlined four factors which has led to the change in the balance of power away from workers and citizens. To read more of Paul's presentation click here.
Mark Conroy then spoke about the Robin Hood Tax campaign and how important it is in the current crisis. His presentation can be found here and to find out more about this campaign log on to their website. Mark also has a facebook page dedicated to the campaign so if you want to become more involved you can find him here.