Over 30 years of anarchist writing from Ireland listed under hundreds of topics
SDLP leader pleas ‘poverty' as we face their cuts
Date: Fri, 2012-01-06 17:52
SDLP leader Dr Alasdair McDonnell has claimed that Stormont assembly members should be entitled to a ‘small increment’ on their 43,000 basic salary a year and better pension payments to keep them from ‘poverty’ in retirement. Yet again one rule for them and another for the rest of us as these gangsters on the hill expect us to bear the brunt of their vicious cuts in jobs and services being imposed by all our local political parties at the behest of their masters from Westminster.
Interview with Na Croisbhealai workers co-operative - organising without bosses in Belfast
Date: Fri, 2012-01-06 17:43
Na Croisbhealai workers-co-op is the latest centre to emerge in Belfast along with the Warzone centre providing a practical example of workers self-management in action. Located in the city centre the café offers a space to organise and agitate under every shade of the political left, and a delicious international cuisine from all corners of the globe courtesy of its chef Hugh Corcoran. In the same building is Fresh Claim photography hosting a range of impressive photos and colourful portraits from conflict zones across the world including the recent ’troubles’ in Ireland. Below is an interview with Jack Corcoran from the collective who talks about how it organises without bosses and its role in building a better society for all.
A Christmas Tale - Irish Health System experience
Date: Mon, 2012-01-02 15:07
Over Christmas I found myself at home babysitting my niece while my
"better half B" had to go to work. Around 3.00 o'clock B rang me in pain that was so intense I could not make out what she was trying to tell me. After a few attempts it turned out that she had pain in her lower belly and she was on her way to the GP.
Communique about sabotage of US war plane at Shannon Dec 20 2011
Date: Mon, 2011-12-26 19:24
GAAW have published a communique from the group that sabotaged a US war plan at Shannon airport on 20 Dec 2011. This action has been only briefly mentioned in the Irish media as the 'vanadalism' of a plane, we reproduce the communique in full below and encourage others to do likewise.
Landlords pass household tax onto tenants
Date: Wed, 2011-12-21 16:11
The association representing Irish Landlords have urged their members to pass on the new Household Tax and the Second Homes Tax to their tenants (see statement below). This will amount to an increase of 25 euro per month. No doubt this is part of the "sharing the burden" that the government go on about so much. It gives the lie of course to the government claim that the less well off will be exempt from the household tax.
Ten Years of the PSNI- What has changed?
Date: Wed, 2011-12-21 11:34
This year marks the ten year anniversary of the continuity RUC/PSNI with former Chief Constable Hugh Orde once referring to the force as the ‘most democratic, accountable police service in the world.’ However, despite the cosmetic changes and window dressing the reality on the ground in working class communities is in stark contrast to the propaganda media blitz waged by the status-quo.
Public opinion doesn't exist - Shock and horror as ruling class tells us what we think
Date: Tue, 2011-12-20 11:29
Last month, a Red-C opinion poll in the Irish Examiner stated that some 48% of the 1,010 adults surveyed believe that Ireland should continue complying with the terms and conditions of the EU/IMF bailout. Somehow this translated into the headline “Majority of public want us to obey bailout”. On the poll’s own premises, this statement is untrue, unless 48 is now greater than 52 per cent. To be sure, opinion polls aren’t necessarily false. In terms of straight-forward questions about people’s intended behaviour - like “how will you vote in the next referendum?” - their accuracy tends to be borne out in subsequent voting patterns. However, when more complicated questions come into play, like those concerning Ireland’s compliance with an EU/IMF bailout, opinion polling, as a mode of honest inquiry, starts to encounter serious limitations.
“Nobody’s Unpredictable”
- Orwellian tagline for marketing research company, Ipsos
Vita Cortex Workers continue occupation
Date: Mon, 2011-12-19 19:59
Workers are continuing their occupation of the Vita Cortex plant in Cork city today. The workers began their sit in on Friday, the day the doors were due to close. The workers are protesting over the non-payment of redundancy monies due. With over 800 years service between them there is an outstanding entitlement to €1.2m in redundancy payments. The reason given for the non-payment is a stand off between the company and NAMA. The money is in accounts of a sister firm frozen by NAMA.
Independent Workers Union hold successful benefit in Belfast
Date: Mon, 2011-12-19 13:53
Up to 100 people attended a benefit organised by the Independent Workers Union in Belfast last Thursday. Members and supporters listened to a passionate speech given by IWU organiser Tommy McKearney at the Na Croisbhealai workers café on the need to organise in our workplaces’ and build an alternative to the rotten neo-liberal model being imposed on us. Tommy gave a similar talk at the workers co-operative in Octoberand can be viewed here.
Vaclav Havel's role in history
Date: Mon, 2011-12-19 13:26
Two leaders died over this weekend. Kim-il Jong, the isolated “dear leader” Stalinist North Korea, and Vaclav Havel a playwright, and former dissident, an ex prisoner who become the leader of his country out of the dark times of totalitarianism and into the light of the free markets. The story in the west will be spun in this way as people understand simple stories of good guys and bad guys.