Workers Solidarity Movement

The 1% Network has said that the tackling of wealth inequality must become a political priority.  Citing the TASC survey[i] published in mid-August which showed that 87% of Irish people believe that wealth is unfairly distributed, Gregor Kerr spokesperson for the 1% Network said: “It’s clear that ordinary people see tackling the unfair way in which wealth is distributed in this country as something which should be a political priority.  The government want to continue to take the easy option of cutting public services and taking money from the pockets of ordinary people.  But the rest of us know that it is unfair that the 1% who own 34% of the wealth should continue to be protected while the we suffer.”

“In the TASC survey, 91% of people said that active steps should be taken by Government to address this glaring inequality and reduce the income gap between low and high income earners,” said Brian Leeson of the 1% Network.  “Yet this is an opinion that is never heard from government and is seldom heard in discussions of the economic crisis.  It’s way past time for a discussion to begin on how this wealth inequality can be tackled.”

The 1% Network is holding a political walking tour “through the heartland of the Golden Circle” on Saturday 9^th October, meeting at Wolfe Tone Monument, St. Stephens Green, Dublin at 1p.m.

“The purpose of the tour is to bring home to people just how real the wealth inequality in our city is,” said Gregor Kerr.  “We hope by doing so to prompt a public debate on how we as a people can set about getting rid of this huge wealth divide.”

“Bankers, property developers, politicians and the rest of the 1% have visited ruination on ordinary people’s lives,” said Brian Leeson.  “This is an opportunity for ordinary people to visit them.  Everyone is welcome and we’d urge as many as possible to come along and add their voices to the demand for a just solution to the economic crisis.”

The 1% network is a coalition of socialist groups which has come together to oppose the cutback agenda of the government and to promote a socialist alternative to the current socio-economic system.  Organisations within the coalition include éirígí, Irish Socialist Network, Seomra Spraoi and the Workers Solidarity Movement.  The name of the coalition was chosen to highlight the fact that just 1% of the population control in excess of 34% of the wealth of the state.

For more information, contact Gregor Kerr 086 1501151or Brian Leeson 086 8071010 or log onto www.onepercentnetwork.org