Details of National Hunger Strike Youth Weekend Announced

The weekend of the 12th to 14th of August will see young republicans from all over the country converge on Camlough in South Armagh for this year’s Hunger Strike Youth Camp.

The Hunger Strikes remain a key moment in recent Irish history and the weekend will be an excellent opportunity for young republicans come together in remembering the Hungerstrikers, and to learn more of that period in our struggle, as well as the opportunity to consider our present struggle.

It will be a weekend of discussion and debate, ceol and craic and all young republicans are encouraged to attend the event, and we are asking all party members to highlight this event to young republicans in your area, and to encourage them to attend. This is a camping type event, and activists will need tents.

There is a small registration cost of £9/€10, which covers buses, functions and other costs.
If you are interested in attending please contact the below.

- David Collins (0876112463; osfnationalsecretary@gmail.com )
- Luke Callinane (0868309431; lucas-oc@hotmail.com)
- Padraig Quinn (07834592880; padraig-quinn@hotmail.com )

Follow the National Hunger Strike Weekend on Facebook; http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/event.php?eid=146306055445580

Below is a provisional Clár for the weekend

Friday 12th

4pm Arrive in Camlough (transport can be arranged for people arriving by Public transport to Newry)

Set up site

6pm Break for Dinner

7.30 - 9.30pm Discussion and Debate ' Legacy of the Hunger Strike. Speakers Jim Gibney and Gerry McConville.

10.30pm function

Saturday 13th

10.30 Hunger Strike Exhibition

11.30 Bus Tour of South Armagh

2pm Break for Lunch during tour

3.30 Discussion and update on the basque country, with a speaker from the basque youth movement

4.30 pm TBC

6.30pm break for Dinner

8.30pm Function

Sunday 14th

2pm National Hunger Strike Commemoration, Camlough

Ógra condemns Joan Burton's comments

Yesterday, an article in the Sunday Independent quoted Joan Burton, Minister for Social Protection in the 26 counties, claiming that young people on social welfare choose it as a “lifestyle choice”. She believes that “what we are getting at the moment is people who come into the system straight after school as a lifestyle choice.” The most pressing question about this statement is; what planet is the Labour minister living on? This country has now the most serious levels of unemployment in a generation. According to the Central Statistics Office the unemployment figures now stand at 14.2%, that is 446,800 people signing on the live register. If Minister Burton feels that there is an abundance of jobs for young people on social welfare, then perhaps she should be given the brief of the Department of Finance and let her get the 446,800 people back to work. In a time of severe economic difficulty social welfare offers a net of protection to those who cannot find full time employment. Those who come straight out of education receive a mere Є100 a week. Basic economic understanding will tell you that Є100 will almost certainly go back into the local economy, therefore keeping someone else in a job and off the live register. If young unemployed people are unable to receive some financial assistance to help them survive then they will have no choice but to leave the country and seek employment elsewhere. If they emigrate they will not be of any benefit to the Irish economy and the current government will only repeat the mistakes of previous governments and encourage a brain drain from this country.

There is very little “lifestyle” to be had on Є100. Minister Burton is looking at a social problem from the wrong end. Instead of asking why there is a higher percentage of people in certain areas who rely on social welfare, or why the poverty gap in growing in Ireland, the Minister has lashed out at young people claiming that they are lazy. Yet when questioned on the issue the Minister was unable to give a figure as to how many young people were abusing the system. It seems that the Labour Minister has inherited the social bigotry of other parties and is failing to provide a real alternative to young people, or simply offer then hope. Ógra condemns Joan Burton's comments and calls on her to do more to aid and assist the unemployed youth of this country.