The National Transport Agency (NTA) wants to redesign all Dublin Bus routes. They promise a faster, more efficient bus service with more buses and better frequency for Dubliners. They also promise a more environmentally friendly transport system for the capital. If this was delivered it would mark a major step forward for life in the city. But the reality is not that simple. The plan hinges on 16 new radial bus corridors on the busiest routes – primarily linking outer suburbs with the city centre. At a future (non-defined) date, they also promise orbital routes to link the outer parts of the city together. read full story / add a comment

Yesterday the housing activist occupation at 35 Summerhill Parade entered its third day. Approximately 100 people attended the 'Leo’s Early Risers'* event yesterday evening to show solidarity and support to the local community and all those involved in the occupation. read full story / add a comment

European Commission issues Court proceedings against Ireland over water quality
More than 1 million Irish drinking water consumers affected by chemical exceedences

The European Commission has opened an infringement case against Ireland in the EU Court of Justice about the exceedances of the permitted level of the chemical trihalomethanes [THMs] in Irish drinking water. The proceedings, resulting from a complaint by Friends of the Irish Environment (FIE), cover not only the failure to meet the WHO and EU standards in water supplied to over 1 million consumers , but also the failure to comply with the obligation to ‘inform consumers promptly and give the necessary advice’. [1] read full story / add a comment

Imposing a President read full story / add a comment

Justin and Anne Morahan have started a petition to Pope Francis asking him to intervene in the case of Julian Assange. There have been recent reports of Julian's health deteriorating due to lack of light, fresh air, isolation (no visitors allowed). There are also rumours afloat that he may be removed from the Ecuadorian embassy in London and extradited to Mr Trump's United States where capital punishment is still in vogue. read full story / add a comment

The wildfires that struck Rafina, north east of Athens, have now claimed at least 80 lives with the number set to rise as many are still missing. This terrible catastrophe shows the interaction of climate change and austerity, both the result of a society that puts people before profit.

The fires in Greece take place in the context of an intense heat wave that is global in scale and has produced fires not only in Greece but in Northern Sweden above the Arctic Circle. Brid Smith TD visiting her sister in Sweden reports temperatures of 32C in the shade and 40C in the sun. In hotter parts of the world such as Algeria and Iran they are soaring well over 40C and approaching the limits of human habitability.

Fires, floods , droughts and intense storms – extreme weather in all its different forms – is what climate change means, not just rising sea levels in the future, and they are happening now. read full story / add a comment

This recently updated video shows animal exploitation in Ireland in a variety of settings, including slaughterhouses, farms, laboratories, hare coursing fields, and dairy parlours. read full story / add a comment

The Vegan Information Project are saying a sad farewell to Temple Bar Square in the heart of Dublin after featuring its "Vegan Information Day" events there since 2013. read full story / add a comment

Council planner ‘unable to do any enforcement files’
Blames 40% reduction in staff

A west Cork County Council’s planner was ‘unable’ to investigate an enforcement complaint ‘due to workload commitments’ as his ‘planning applications have to take priority’. [1]

Publication of internal mails detailing a ‘significant matter’ comes a week after Dr Áine Ryall of UCC called the lack of enforcement of environmental laws ‘a national scandal’ at a recent EU Law Conference. [2] read full story / add a comment

As some of our Politicians try to get scramblers under new Irish Legislation and other TDs shout about cycle rickshaws being dangerous, the elephant in the room i.e SULKY RACING is treated with silence. When we enquire about Sulkies, we are shuffled from the Dept of Agriculture to Department of Transport to the Gardai , no one wants to know.
Sulky racing causes extreme suffering, distress and death to horses nationwide and also poses an unacceptably high risk to public safety.

A young horse was seriously injured when they broke free from a sulky they were forced to pull on the Kilkenny to Waterford Road then smashed into an oncoming vehicle. The driver of the vehicle was uninjured but was left badly shaken by the incident. Due to the severity of the horses’s injuries, a vet had to be called to the scene to euthanize the horse to prevent further suffering.

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CHASE has applied to the High Court for permission to launch a judicial review against An Bord Pleanála’s decision to approve planning for Indaver Ireland’s incinerator at Ringaskiddy.

The application was mentioned in Court in Dublin this morning, 19 July 2018 by Maurice Collins Senior Counsel on behalf of CHASE. The matter was adjourned and will be heard next Tuesday morning, July 24th at 10.15am. It is anticipated that a decision will be made on that day on the request by CHASE for permission to proceed. read full story / add a comment

The UN's globalization and neoliberalism seek to eliminate global freedom and western culture. It creates multi-culturalism and diversity which in the extreme undermines western culture but if a country is to survive it must defend its culture. The fake liberals, really a social class, drive both neoliberalism and globalization which gains the support of the swamp. Other political parties need to be chosen to overcome the swamp. For example, Donald Trump in America is having some success against the swamp. read full story / add a comment

The Heritage Bill completed its passage through the Oireachtas last night, despite widespread opposition from environmental groups, opposition parties, and concerned citizens and farmers working together with biodiversity.

The Heritage Bill will allow for a relaxation of the dates of the closed period for the burning of vegetation and ‘the cutting, grubbing, removal and otherwise destroying of hedgerows’ contained in Section 40 of the Wildlife Act (1976 and amended 2000)[Note 1] The legislation will allow burning of our upland and lowland hills in March, extending the open period for burning by one month, and for the cutting of roadside hedgerows in August [Note2]. read full story / add a comment

BAOITE, is a new play by Darach Mac Con Iomaire, premiering this week at the Galway International Arts Festival.

A fishing family leads a desperate fight to defend their coastal community from the
imminent threat of offshore fracking ? but as the constant pressure of campaigning
mounts, hidden fractures appear in the once-solid clan... read full story / add a comment

News that a meeting has been arranged between Presidents Trump and Putin on 16 July was greeted with displeasure in many sectors of the western world, and especially by the military-industrial complex, the cabal of war-profiteering US and European oligarchs whose interests lie solely in maintaining their lucrative arms manufacturing empires. Trade is most important to them — but peace and friendship come way down their page of priorities, because it is enmity and distrust that lead to lucrative sales of weapons. read full story / add a comment

Dublin Film Qlub Season 8 'NO VICTIM: LGBTQ Experience Around the World' concludes with the screening of... United in Anger (Dir. Jim Hubbard, 2012) read full story / add a comment

Bríd Smith’s Climate Change Bill is designed to prevent the further issue of licenses for oil & gas exploration. Fossil fuels are the major contributors to global warming. LEAVE IT IN THE GROUND has to be the approach to prevent further catastrophic damage to our environment. Ireland, though a small country, could lead by example on this. read full story / add a comment

The US Senate voted for Puerto Rico disaster relief in the form of food assistance with the passage of the "Farm Bill." The Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018, included Senators Marco Rubio and Kirsten Gillibrand's amendment to fund Puerto Rico's Nutritional Assistance Program.  read full story / add a comment

A fundraiser to help get Rebel Reads into a new premises!

Over the past few months we have been working hard to set up Rebel Reads, and after the success of our membership launch in April, we're going to throw a party! read full story / add a comment

October 20th October 2018 - 28th October 2018
Olive harvest program October 20th 2018 - October 28th October 2018

http://tobe-there.com/en/contact-us

The olive harvest time in Palestine is a wonderful time for a visit. The trees are full of ripe olives and in solidarity with the Palestinian land owners we will be part of this traditional experience. You can either climb a tree or work down on the ground. We collect the olives on the tarps and then in buckets and bags. We will have traditional Palestinian lunch on the fields and we will visit an olive press. Besides volunteering on the land you will have the chance to discover Palestine and travel around with your guide Baha, to understand the reality of the geo-political situation. There are excursions to Bethlehem, Jerusalem and Lifta, Hebron and the South Hebron hills, Ramallah (the Arafat Museum) and Nabi Saleh, known for its continuous non violent resistance. read full story / add a comment