Over 30 years of anarchist writing from Ireland listed under hundreds of topics
National
Sexual Assault: What Colleges Can Do
Date: Thu, 2016-02-11 13:45
An investigation is currently under way at University College Dublin following reports that up to 200 male students allegedly shared explicit images of women they had sexual relations with. The incident not only highlights a culture of misogyny in Irish universities, it also calls attention to the absence of material supports for effectively responding to sexual assault on campus. But what kinds of supports should students demand from Irish universities?
Trigger Warning: Discusses rape and ‘revenge porn’ image sharing
IBEC lobbies to keep the universal social charge and cut taxes for the rich
Date: Thu, 2016-02-04 12:51
As the 2016 General election got underway lobby groups had already set out their stall in terms of what they do and don't want to see in government policy. IBEC (the Irish Business and Employers Confederation) have launched their manifesto and have begun hosting political debates in plush surroundings. One of their most prominent calls to politicians is to leave the universal social charge untouched, not abolished, not reduced, and not modified to relieve lower earners from paying it.
The USC is often described in the media as Ireland's most hated tax, and it's easy to see why this might be so, it's applied to even those who are not earning enough to pay tax, or support themselves and their families.
Art activists mark Imbolc by renouncing Ireland's anti-abortion laws
Date: Mon, 2016-02-01 12:50
Tonight to mark St Bridget’s feastday performances are being staged in public settings across Ireland and London renown king Ireland's anti-abortion laws. St Bridget is one of four Irish saints who “are recorded as openly and miraculously carrying out abortions”, the feast day was the pre-Christian festival of Imbolg (meaning ‘in the belly’).
The organisers say
"The readings will take place at 6.01pm - following the traditional time for the ringing of the evening Angelus bells. Performers will each wear a blue item of clothing and read from handmade booklets. The Renunciation is an original work about the diverse circumstances of those attempting to access abortion services that are not provided in Ireland . The contents are based on legal cases and anecdotes shared with the producers of the work ‘The home|work Collective’.
Traveller and Homeless Families in Ireland: Dignity and Decent Housing for All!
Date: Thu, 2016-01-21 13:19
We built our cities and the houses of our cities. They are ours not to slave in but to master and to own.
Last night’s RTÉ programme, My Homeless Family, explored the lives of three homeless families living in emergency accommodation. They provided an insight into the appalling housing and living conditions faced by a large number of people at the moment.
WSM Publications - archived version of old paper which was replaced Nov 2015
Date: Tue, 2015-11-24 16:28
This is the text of the WSM publications paper as it appeared up to Nov 2015 when it was replaced by a complete rewrite of the paper. Tbhis version is preserved for archival purposes. [ go to current paper ]
A collectively agreed document on WSM publications as drawn up by National Conference. Amended May 2010 to add the section on the WSM Newsroom. Amended Spring Conference 2012.
100 years after 1916 will the Irish state recognising Traveller ethnicity
Date: Mon, 2015-11-02 16:50
2016 is fast approaching and we will be subjected to endless documentaries about that start of our bloody history as a nation. It will also be a time for analysis of how far we’ve come since the proclamation of this Republic.
In the proclamation there are lines which are aspirational, but grounded in the reality of experience of the rebels.
“The Republic guarantees religious and civil liberty, equal rights and equal opportunities to all its citizens, and declares its resolve to pursue the happiness and prosperity of the whole nation and of all its parts, cherishing all of the children of the nation equally, and oblivious of the differences carefully fostered by an alien Government, which have divided a minority from the majority in the past.”
Three Years On, We Remember Savita Halappanavar
Date: Wed, 2015-10-28 11:29
Today marks three years since the brutal and needless passing of Savita Halappanavar.
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.
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’.
Renua exposed as yet another party for the super wealthy
Date: Thu, 2015-10-15 17:41
It's not really a secret to anyone paying attention but Renua have really blown their cover with their pre-budget submission. Far from being any sort or radical departure they are yet another party for the wealthiest 1% who have been plundering our labour with the aid of every previous government.
As Michael Taft explains "Renua has called for a flat-rate tax. It represents a massive transfer from the lowest income groups to the highest income groups. It will require low and middle income groups to fund not only their own tax cuts but even higher tax cuts for those on much higher incomes.
... they want to cut inheritance tax to 20 percent while raising thresholds to €500,000. Someone inheriting €1 million would gain over €150,000."
