An Open Letter signed by 33 environmental NGOs objecting to biomass burning in Irish peat power stations and calling for those plants’ closure [1] has been submitted as part of an objection to ESB’s West Offaly planning application [2]. Dogwood Alliance [3] in the USA and Biofuelwatch in the UK and USA [4] slam ESB’s application for a post-2020 consent for the power station and its gradual conversion to biomass.
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The world’s 26 richest people possess the same wealth as the poorest 50%, a figure estimated to be 3.8 billion people read full story / add a comment

The Fine Gael led government is trying to break the nurses’ strike with a constant barrage of media propaganda.

They say that the country cannot afford the nurses’ pay claim, as other workers would also start to demand a pay rise if they won.

But Varadkar and Harris showed no difficulty in finding an extra billion euro to fund the National Children’s Hospitals – even though the projected costs grew by three times. Then bizarrely, they agreed to pay an extra half a million to the accountancy company, PWC, to find out why the costs were so high. read full story / add a comment

The €500 million proposal to build a Liquified Natural Gas [LNG] terminal on the Shannon Estuary in County Kerry is in the High Court tomorrow because the Planning Appeals Board ignored Ireland’s legal obligation under the Government’s Climate Change legislation. read full story / add a comment

Executives from the transnational financial institution HSBC contacted British military intelligence to discuss targeting of anti-fracking activists, according to documents released by Anonymous Europe. read full story / add a comment

Well I must say that although I have not seen much of the debate about Brexit I am impressed by Mrs. Teresa May. She has maintained a rational and forthright attitude. Many a good leader has been ditched long before the end of the road. But I hope she is able to lead this Brexit process to a satisfactory conclusion.

To be simplistic about it I do not think it is a case of The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland wrong; The European Union right. It's a big decision for EU as well as for UKGBNI. Candidly I think EU needs to review and adjust. There are many facets of the EU and The European Commission that are open to negative criticism. I need not retail them here. Most people can make out their own shopping list. read full story / add a comment

It seems that the fate of the Kurds and their allies and neighbours in this tormented part of the world depends on the quickly changing allegiances between a number of international players – none of which you would trust to walk your grandmother across a busy road read full story / add a comment

On Thursday, Judge Laura Taylor Swain delayed approval of a $17 billion debt deal between Puerto Rico "COFINA" creditors and the island's oversight board. read full story / add a comment

Through Thursday, the judge presiding over Puerto Rico's bankruptcy process will hear testimony about a debt deal to restructure about $17 billion of the island's $72 billion debt. read full story / add a comment

Solidarity/People Before Profit motion calls for Dáil support for nurses pay claim

Crisis in health service will not be addressed until we pay the nurses and end retention and recruitment crisis says TD

Bríd Smith said today that the nurses’ dispute was not simply a pay dispute, but was about the kind of health service we want in the future. read full story / add a comment

The Donegal Woman based on the life of my grandmother. On publication and without an agent and self published was number two on best sellers list in the North. "We'll Take A Cup Of Kindness Yet" Memoir and Manifest of my self John Throne. From Donegal small farmer Orange Order family to international revolutionary socialist via the Bogside Uprising and other struggles. read full story / add a comment

The workshop will take place from 14:00 to 17:30 on Saturday 26 January 2019 in The Strand Hotel, Omeath, Co. Louth. Keynote speaker is Glenda Byrne proprietor of Strandfield Cafe and Flower Market. We can cater for a maximum of 20 so let us know if you are coming. read full story / add a comment

Is there not something absurd (if not for the cost in human suffering) in Turkey’s ruling coalition’s deep seated venom for the social and cultural presence of its not-Turkish people? read full story / add a comment

Pharmaceutical companies paid out 6.6 million euros to doctors last year. These shocking figures emerged from a voluntary disclosure made by the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association, the industry body that represents the drug companies.

The money will influence how doctors prescribe drugs. There is good evidence of a conflict of interest when medical decisions are corrupted by money. read full story / add a comment

5G is being sold to us as enabling high speed internet, super quick download speeds, 'smart' devices including smart cities, smart cars etc and the 'Internet of Things' (ie where all products are connected wirelessly to the internet). In practice, this means that exposure to EM radiation will increase exponentially read full story / add a comment

Nobel Peace Laureate Maguire gives reasons for nominating thw Wikileaks founder read full story / add a comment

The Times did a valuable service by investigating the murder of a Palestinian medic by Israeli snipers, but undermined their own work with pro-apartheid framing and both-sides tropes. read full story / add a comment

This blog, my first, will in general aim to document the program and specifically my experiences on JobPath. Protecting their identities you will meet the other job seekers and staff, will there be villains and hero’s or stale biscuits and tea? The blog will be anonymous because I’m not sure how DSP or Seetec will feel about the real time, real person, review.

Why do a blog, I feel that it gives a window for the 115,000 people who will be invited to the mandatory scheme over the full 4+2 years. JobPath is discussed by politicians, by journalist and even on public forums, the vast majority of whom only get the opportunity to view from the outside in and so only see things from a superficial vantage point. My time embedded or if you like immersed in the scheme, gives a personal and unique opportunity to document my experience and is allowing me the privilege of blogging from the inside out. It requires some intrusion into my life and maybe some repetitive reading, it will require some commitment from myself and the thought of possible consequences leave me a little unhinged. However difficult it is personally, hopefully it will serve the purpose of shedding light on the truth in a way that turning up with a press pass or in a Ministerial car, never could do.

In November 2018, I received a second ‘invitation’ that I couldn’t refuse to do another 52 weeks of JobPath. Considering the amount of people who viewed the blog from all corners of the planet and the participants that the blog helped, along with the number of people who contact me for and offering me help, I’m going to do another 52 weeks of blogging under JobPath two. The aims will be the same. read full story / add a comment

Call for Oral Hearing for Galway City Ring Road

On the last day for submissions on the proposed Galway City Ring Road, environmentalists have called on An Bord Pleanala to hold an Oral Hearing.

According to Friends of the Irish Environment, the project will undermine national policy in Smarter Travel - A Sustainable Transport Future and its target to reduce work-related commuting by car from 65% to 45%. The environmental charity alleges that because the road will encourage greater use of private motor vehicles in Galway over the period up to and beyond 2050, it is also contrary to the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 which set a national objective of transition to a low carbon climate resilient and environmentally sustainable economy. read full story / add a comment

The Irish political establishment are rallying behind the KBC bank’s eviction of a family in Strokestown. They are shocked by the level of public support for the family and are trying to divert attention from the central issue.

Last Tuesday week, a private security company engaged in a violent attack on elderly people who were ordered to leave their house.

They punched, kicked and pulled people by the ears yet nothing was done to stop them. Instead the Gardai closed off a road to facilitate the eviction.
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