IRISH CHAPTER

THE NETWORK IN DEFENCE OF HUMANITY

WHO WE ARE:

We are the Irish grouping of The Network of Intellectuals, Artists and Social Movements in Defence of Humanity. The network is a worldwide movement of anti-imperialist thought and action fighting against all forms of domination and exclusion. We are honoured that the renowned Irish artist Jim Fitzpatrick granted permission to use his famous image of Che Guevara in our logo. The Irish Chapter is committed to the fundamental equality of all human intelligence and to the status of workers as organic intellectuals. We welcome contributions from everyone who seeks to imagine and construct a better world as part of a shared, international struggle against imperialism.

The network of intellectuals, artists and social activists “In defense of humanity” emerged in 2003, on the initiative of leading Mexican and Cuban intellectuals, having their intention expressed in the appeal ¨To the Conscience of the World¨, read by the prominent Mexican intellectual Pablo González Casanova on May 1st at the Revolution Square in Havana, as a result of the dangerous situation for Cuba and all the world progressive governments threaten by the North American Imperialism. At this difficult juncture, it convenes the First Encounter of Intellectuals and Artists in Defense of Humanity during October 24 & 25, of 2003 in Mexico City.

The movement became consolidated in the World Meeting of Intellectuals and Artists “In Defense of Humanity” held in Caracas in December 1-5th, 2004, with the attendance of 400 participants from 52 countries and diverse cultures who agreed on the need to build a barrier of resistance against the global domination that wants to imposed, as well as, go into the offensive with concrete denunciations mobilization and new alternatives. The first one, decided at this meeting, was to create a network of information networks, cultural arts action, solidarity, coordination and mobilization, linking intellectuals and artists in social forums, popular struggles and ensure the continuity of these joint efforts in an international movement in defense of humanity.

From 2004 to date, the Network has covered a path of actions and efforts, interrelating with other social movements and diverse sectors of society, based on the 10 thematic axes or principles enunciated in Caracas:

IN DEFENSE OF OUR PLANET FOR EVERYONE

IN DEFENSE OF THE INTEGRATION AND INCLUSION OF ALL PEOPLES

IN DEFENSE OF AN ECONOMY OF EMANCIPATION AND SOLIDARITY

IN DEFENSE OF SOVEREIGNTY AND INTERNATIONAL LEGALITY

IN DEFENSE OF UNITY IN DIVERSITY AND CULTURE FOR ALL 

IN DEFENSE OF KNOWLEDGE FOR ALL

IN DEFENSE OF POPULAR PARTICIPATION

IN DEFENSE OF THE TRUTH AND PLURALITY INFORMATION 

IN DEFENSE OF MEMORY

IN DEFENSE OF PEACE

This Network was thought, created and promoted by the commanders Fidel Castro Ruz and Hugo Chávez Frías, and other personalities such as the president of Bolivia, Evo Morales, the Nobel Prize winners Rigoberta Menchu, Adolfo Pérez Esquivel and Wole Soyinka, the Five Cuban Heroes, and among more than 15 thousand prestigious artists, intellectuals, scientists and social fighters from all over the world.

It has a transversal, horizontal and inclusive structure. The members are grouped and interrelated through national chapters and in some cases regional chapters or nodes in universities, institutes of thought, social organizations or thematic networks.

It is proposed to develop two fundamental aspects of activity: the mobilization of international public opinion around the ten thematic axes that govern it and or any just cause that needs to be denounced and defended, and the other aspect, the development of critical, anti-hegemonic thinking disseminated through printed and digital publications, seminars, conferences, research, virtual forums, etc.), where local initiatives are decisive.

In view of all the above, we invite you to support the incorporation and participation for the growth of the REDH as an independent social and intellectual movement and, at the same time, committed to social justice. The Irish Chapter of REDH is committed to Ireland’s internationalist participation in the creation of a better world.