Apathy not the solution for society, says European advisor

People cannot rely on politicians to act in their interests, but apathy is not the the solution, says a European diplomat.

The former advisor to European Commission president Manuel Barroso, Philippe Legrain, author of The European Spring, is among a panel of internationally renowned commentators taking part in this year’s Limerick Spring Festival of Politics and Ideas.

Mr Legrain will take part in The Big Debate, one of the festival highlights, which sees a panel of local and international economists, writers, filmmakers, activists, and academics tackle the question ‘Where Does Power Lie?’

RT @LimerickSpring: Find out why is @plegrain coming to the Limerick Spring. Just 5 more days to festival kick off! pic.twitter.com/bhP2P5Fn5R

— Constantin Gurdgiev (@GTCost) April 12, 2015

Speaking ahead of the event, Mr Legrain — who has stated publicly that Ireland was treated appallingly during the banking crisis — said people can not rely on politicians to act in their interests.

“Limerick Spring is a fantastic grassroots initiative to encourage a politically active citizenry — and it promises to be a lot of fun too,” said Mr Legrain. “As the crisis has shown, people can’t rely on establishment politicians to act in their interests. But apathy is not the solution.

“You need to get involved to help shape a brighter future, a fairer society and a healthier democracy, as we are also trying to do with our pan-European movement for a European Spring.”

Echoing those sentiments was panelist Thomas Fazi, author of the Battle for Europe, who says Europe’s future may indeed appear bleak, “but only if we follow the mainstream narrative, which keeps steamrolling through the media the notion that there is no alternative”.

“But this is a lie,” he said. Concrete alternatives to the current austerity regime are being developed, and even being lived out, every day by social movements, co-ops, critical economists, unions, radical parties, and even ordinary citizens. It is time to unite, to get organised and to get our voices heard.

‘We are the leaders we’ve been waiting for’ is the theme for this year’s event, which runs from April 17-19.

DISCOVER MORE CONTENT LIKE THIS