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

This week the US Department of Education proposed new student "borrower defense" rules. read full story / add a comment

New Senate legislation offers additional options for Puerto Rico to cut its debt. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Ed Markey (D-MA) and Kamala Harris (D-CA) introduced the US Territorial Relief Act. If Congress passes the act, US Territories that experience natural disasters could qualify for debt relief. 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 US Treasury is calling for greater scrutiny into the use of "anonymous" shell companies. Last week, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin urged Congress to quickly pass legislation to make the identity of shell company owners available to law enforcement. 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

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

DUBLIN DEMONSTRATION SUPPORTING Millions of Chinese, they Are Calling for an End to the Yulin Dog Meat Festival

A Demonstration by Irish Animal Rights activists is supporting other Vegan/Anti animal eating campaigners worldwide , especially Chinese activists who are hoping the Chinese authorities will crack down on the horrors of the notorious Yulin dog and cat eating festival from 21st to 30th june 2018. Officials failed to keep pledges to come down heavily on the appalling scenes of dogs being battered, blow-torched and butchered last year, leaving thousands of animals – many stolen pets – to die horrendously.

https://www.facebook.com/events/270969030137534/
(IRISH LINK)

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HORSERACING, HORSES DESERVE BETTER.
“HORSE racing abandoned on horse welfare grounds due to the extreme heat and distance of the race.” Not in Ireland.
Forcing and whipping horses to race in extreme heat, high temperatures and humidity, lack of air movement, poor ventilation, dehydration and exposure to direct sunlight all increase the danger of serious heat and sun related problems, Irish horses are no exception, especially when they are expected to perform at intense levels, just as racehorses are.
Racehorses suffering heat stress can collapse, sometimes resulting in death. Heat stroke, which occurs over a short period of time – usually when a horse is unfit. Behind the scenes lies a story of immense suffering.Some outcomes of heat stress are falls, seizures, heart damage/attacks and muscle and Soaring temperatures at Cheltenham has seen races abandoned.
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European Finance Ministers endorse a new Greece debt agreement that provides financing in exchange for maintaining austerity policies and economic reforms. read full story / add a comment