As the hypocritical farce which was the 26 county states dishonest attempt to misrepresent and hijack the anniversary of the Easter Rising fades for another year the real work of reclaiming the republic for the people carries on in the background . The National 1916 commemoration Committee was founded in 2001 with the express purpose of commemorating and remembering the ideals , aims and sacrifice of the 1916 rising in a dignified and fitting manner as the 100th anniversary of this momentous event draws ever nearer . It is essential Irish people are made aware of the yawning gulf between the aims of 1916 and the reality of the corrupt, servile neo-colonial 26 county state , which stands in fundamental opposition to everything 1916 was about - the sovereign ownership of Ireland, its territory and resources, by the people of Ireland . With the ongoing foreign occupation of our northern territory , the theft of our national resources - gas , oil and the imminent privatisation of our water resources in the north , the use of Shannon to facilitate mass murder , kidnap and imperialist ventures throughout the globe it can be stated quite honestly that Ireland today remains a subjugated land , outside of the ownership of the Irish people . Irish sovereignty in all its forms has been cast aside by native capitalists in ignnominious servitude to foreign masters and landlords . The National 1916 Commemoration Committee urges all Irish citizens to stand against these multiple usurpations of our sovereignty , to reject the states hypocritical ceremonies in future and stand with them in commemorating the ideals and aims of 1916 . It is essential this debate is kept alive and as part of our attempts to do so we present this article examining the motivations and aims of the 1916 leaders . read full story / add a comment

Detail of the destruction of the natural environment which will happen if Shell’s proposed pipeline and refinery is not stopped by people power. read full story / add a comment

With a press release in one hand and a baton in the other, will they take power in Mayo?
An analysis of recent developments in the Corrib gas conflict, particularly the Cassells report, as we can see public relations overdrive and preparations for repression going hand in hand. read full story / add a comment

Geologist view on Oil Exploration in Ireland read full story / add a comment

This is a parody of a U2 song, spurred by Bono's involvement in the purchase of a video game company that contracts with the US military, and is about to release a video game based on mercenaries taking over the nation of Venezuela. read full story / add a comment

Has anyone noticed how an increasing number of national projects are now managed by proxy on behalf of the State?

Increasingly, the service providers are US headquartered multinational "consultancy companies", with interests divergent across a broad spectrum of "engineering services", "environmental consultancy", "construction" etc.
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Folks, Pat Rabbitte, Leader of the Labour Party said some not very nice things about me on a recent visit to Limerick. I dont have the full copy of the text but his comments were mostly about my indiscipline regarding various comments i have made about the state of Labour movement, my opposition to the mullingar accord, etc etc etc

Hope its ok to publish my response here. I have sent same to local media read full story / add a comment

what are we coming to read full story / add a comment

The following is based on accounts I recieved from many local people in the Erris region of how thanx to inference from Noel Dempsey and others, the mediation process became hi-jacked by a small but noisy group of Shell apologist's who are well known locally for their contempt for local peoples legitimate concerns about the current projects affect on there health, safety and the local terrestrial and Marine environment. It goes some way to explain certain bizarre findings in the Cassels report , such as the lie that the project has the backing of the majority of local people etc. when the the truth one finds from visting the area is obviously quiet the opposite
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The train's rolling stock and interior :dated.

The exterior: over the carriage couplings, new paint-work, inside each one had a leak, which wet all
luggage of passengers.

The Bathrooms: smelly and small.

No trolley, food car or facilities to heat bottles, change diapers, breast feed.

No facilities for disposing hygenically of sanitary equipment.

Exacberated by a 25 minute delay outside Heuston.
Intending greeting parties waited and left, as the board lit up 'on time'
and then the Castlebar train vanished off the board. This is travelling, Celtic Tiger style.

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"what if everyone who opposed the USA united?"

That has been a question for a very long time, it has found a few answers through the end of the war & immediate post war period (1944-1950) when it first became apparant that the US led recipe for neo-liberal imperialist and globalised hegemony just might turn out worse than the 19th century European imperialist order. It brought the world through the cold war superpower camps, to then be countered by the Sino-Soviet split, It brought a young and charismatic Fidel Castro to the UN to appeal for a non-aligned block to then be countered by time. But the question has never really resolved and is being asked again, most recently in Tehran this weekend where the President of Oil producing Venezuela is meeting with the prime minister of Iran Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. They share much in common - they've both written open letters to Bush. They're both into sport, Chavez favours baseball whereas Mahmoud is a soccer fan. read full story / add a comment

The Pitstop Ploughshares have never had an easy ride with the mainstream media. From the lies broadcast about the nonexistant assault on the Garda in the hangar. To the oft reported fabrication that the Irish taxpayer was picking up the "US2.5 million for repairs to the warplane. The powerful defense testimony was largely censored form the Irish media. Now the battle of the myths rages post-trial Alos a frightening repsonse form the White House to the jury's acquittal in Dublin. read full story / add a comment

Bush apologises to Tony for shipping Bunker Busters through Britain without permission last week. This week he ships more munitions through Britain having received permission. read full story / add a comment

I am very sad to hear about Ted Grant. I met him first in the late 1960's and from him I came to understand the basics of marxism. He defended the method of marxism throughout the entire difficult period of the post war period. In particular he defended the orientation to the mass organizations of the working class and the struggle for the revolutionary program within the working class. This laid the basis for maintaining a working class orientation and analysis and program in Ireland where I lived over many of these difficult years. I have great memories of Ted explaining his ideas at meetings and conferences and in discussions.

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I picked up Frans de Waal’s latest offering as I’m interested in human evolution and a book which promised to discuss the behaviour of the common chimpanzee, its sister species the bonobo, together with humans promises insights into the biological underpinnings of empathy, aggression, sexuality and the like. read full story / add a comment

Irish News July 25, 2006 Tuesday

Racist attacks increasing despite quiet march season

Racist attacks have risen by 35 per cent in a year, averaging five attacks every day.

Despite successful efforts to minimise tensions around flashpoint Klu Klux Klan parades, this summer has nevertheless seen a marked rise in racist attacks when compared with last year. Latest police figures show that since April there have been an average of 38 racist attacks across the north every week. read full story / add a comment

The Gardai are being placed in a position where the whole responsibility of road safety is being placed on their shoulders and supported by the Road Safety Authority. According to Bertie, we re all to blame for the carnage so stand back and be prepared to be wipped and later fined for such blatent abuse of our road traffic regulations. Dont blame the government, they try and do their best but people insist in driving cars and causing damage. Read on read full story / add a comment

A montage of pictures mostly form Indymedia sites around the world, images mainly of conflict in the Lebanon.

Warning Contains Graphic Images
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One of the intimacies of war is death and lamentation.
It was one of the intimacies of civilised society too, before the issue of
death becme a taboo, something to be fought and dominated. Especially
within the capitalist framework, wherein a few days entitlement to remove yourself
from the rat-race is the nod to the process of grief.
Wakes, in the houses of the head were a common practice in Irish society. They were
structured rituals which involved every member of the family and extended family
in their individual capacity as mourner, story-teller, Keener and waiter. read full story / add a comment

I am a Palestinian Muslim living in Ireland and I must speak out against the war against Israel which is bringing war down on Muslim heads in return.
Take another look the map of Israel.
It is a tiny sliver of land been the Mediterranean and the Jordan River.
If Israel was not militarily powerful holding back the enormous miltary forces of Egypt, Syria, Jordan and Saudi Arabia would be simply impossible. In a matter of hours Israel would be invaded if armies broke through the defences of the Golan Heights or crossed the Jordan River valley, encompassing the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth, or swept through the Negev and surrounded Al Quds and Tel Aviv from three sides.
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