Over 30 years of anarchist writing from Ireland listed under hundreds of topics
Routes to freedom - the platform, its shortcomings and the WSM practise - does it remain relevant?
Date: Thu, 2015-10-22 14:48
One of the key foundation documents for the Workers Solidarity Movement is the ‘Organizational Platform of the General Union of Anarchists (Draft)’ This text was written in Paris in 1926 by a group that included exiled Russian and Ukrainian anarchists and was very influenced by the lessons they drew from the Russian Revolution. Three of the authors -- Nestor Makhno, Ida Mett, Piotr Archinov -- were then and now very well known anarchists, the remaining two -- Valevsky and Linsky -- I know relatively little about.
In this article I intend to examine whether this text has any relevance to anarchist organising today, some 90 years after it was drafted. In addition, what can we say about its shortcomings? Finally, I will look at some of the confusion the WSM ran into when trying to follow it.
What Will Be The Next Thing That Stormont Faces Collapse Over?
Date: Thu, 2015-10-22 11:02
Last December, after weeks of intensive talks the executive finally agreed upon the Stormont House Agreement, an Agreement that was primarily about economic reasons but needed to use the traditional technique of divide and conquer by throwing in sectarian issues such as flags and marches.
Report Confirms What Dogs On The Street Have Always Known: The IRA Still Exists
Date: Thu, 2015-10-22 11:00
A 'shocking' report which was revealed yesterday confirmed to us what we already knew: the IRA still exists.
30 Queer Men Turned Down to Donate Blood - End the Gay Blood Ban!
Date: Wed, 2015-10-21 12:30
During the rise of HIV and Hepatitis B in the 70s and 80s the UK Government enforced a blanket ban on men who have sex with men donating blood.
In 2011 this ban was changed slightly - the ban would only last a year after a man had sex with another man, meaning that if any queer men wanted to donate blood they would have to abstain from sex with men for a year.
An Anti-Abortion "Healthcare" Clinic Opening in Belfast
Date: Wed, 2015-10-21 12:28
Could you really trust someone who claims to be "Pro-Life" when their concern for you is only there when you are in the womb?
An anti-choice clinic is due to open in Belfast City Centre tomorrow, the 13th of October. The Stanton Clinic has as its vision "to close the doors of Marie Stopes" - Marie Stopes which, alongside the NHS, performs abortions when they fit the very restrictive legal criteria, along with other sexual health services.
Anti-Abortion Stanton Clinic Opens Above Travel Agency in Belfast
Date: Wed, 2015-10-21 12:27
An estimated 15 people travel from the island of Ireland every day in order to access an abortion. Yesterday, an anti-choice clinic opened in Belfast City Centre in the same building as a travel agents, something that shows the pure contempt, malice and disregard that the anti-choice zealots hold towards women and other pregnant people.
The Northern NAMA Scandal - a look at the shadowy world of Project Eagle
Date: Wed, 2015-10-21 12:22
Project Eagle, or Nama's northern portfolio, was landed in March 2014 by American private investment firm, Cerberus. If this sale has done anything, it has proven that good old fashioned political and economic corruption is not an exclusively American affair.
Nama, oftentimes referred to as the south's "bad bank" - as if there are any good ones - was set up in late 2009 as an attempt by the southern government to try and deal with the property loans issued by Irish banks.
Dignity and Decent Housing for All!
Date: Tue, 2015-10-20 12:49
There are over 5,000 homeless people across Ireland. And if current trends continue there will be over 6,500 homeless by the end of the year [1]. Our leaders worship the free market faith. We must organise together if we want them to bend to a social logic and the rule of fairness.
We do not expect those who inhabit Leinster House to solve our housing problems. Last week, Taoiseach Kenny ruled out state intervention in the property market to curb the cost of renting. “It is very clear that interference in the market to its detriment is not something we should do,’’ he said [2]. They call this ‘restoring confidence to the market’. We call this ‘destroying the fabric of society’.
Summer of evictions in Dublin - video interview
Date: Mon, 2015-10-19 12:12
An interview about the wave of occupations and evictions that took place in the first half of 2015 in Dublin.
Republican Prisoners in Maghaberry Protest for Basic Conditions in 2015
Date: Sun, 2015-10-18 12:00
Republican prisoners in Maghaberry prison will be coming off their protest on Monday 19th of October. The prisoners were on protest for 9 weeks because of the closing of a hatch in the kitchen that prevents ventilation and the prisoners receiving their food.
The prison administration struck a deal with the protesting prisoners, confirming they will open the kitchen hatch which will let the prisoner “prepare and consume meals in a dignified manner” [1]. Tomorrow the prisoners will return eating the two meals (lunch and dinner) which are granted by the jail.