Dr. John O’Connor and Jessica Ernst from Canada gave a series of talks on ‘The realities of hydraulic fracturing and associated health risks’ across Ireland. This is a write-up of their talks on fracking in Sligo. read full story / add a comment

Yassamine Mather writes on the latest rather odd elections in Iran: how would you like it if all candidates for the Dail had to be approved by the Catholic Church? In these elections which were confined to conservatives, Khamenis faction won 75% of the seats leaving Ahmadinejad isolated. What does this mean for the people of iran? Yassamine says: For now, the supreme leader has got his way. Craven ‘reformists’ will not stop him; and imperialist sanctions, sabotage and war will only make things worse. Only the Iranian masses can put an end to this blood-soaked regime. Full text at link. read full story / add a comment

Teagasc, the agriculture and food development authority in Ireland, have
applied for a licence to grow Genetically Modified potatoes in Ireland.
Their application arrived on 27/2/2012 and the public has until 27/3/2012
"to make representations" about the application. read full story / add a comment

SPEAKER: JOHN MOLYNEUX

Thursday 8th March

1. Meeting at The Malton Hotel,Killarney @ 6PM

2. Meeting at The Grand Hotel,Tralee @ 8PM
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After last years successful workshop on digital security, Distilled Ideas, The Story.ie, Pixelapes and the Science Gallery are teaming up again to put on a practical workshop about Right to Information legislation. read full story / add a comment

show starts at 9:30pm on Sunday 1st April 2012 read full story / add a comment

Between the 20th and 24th of February 2012, 19 campaigners were tried at a 'special sitting' of Belmullet District Court, for alleged offences arising from protest against the Corrib gas project. Most of those tried were for Section 8 and 9 of the Public Order Act. Section 9 is obstructing 'the free passage of a person/vehicle’ in a public place and section 8 is failure to obey the directions of a Garda.

Overall the judge came down very heavily on the defendants. The hearings began only one week after public criticism from the minister for Justice Alan Shatter against what he called “protest tourism”. One campaigner received a prison sentence and three others received suspended sentences. Fines for all cases totalled €8350. read full story / add a comment

The Government's announcement of a referendum on the so-called "Fiscal Compact Treaty" (properly titled the Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union/TSCG) calls in question its original intention to introduce the quite different European Stability Mechanism Treaty (ESM) to the Dáil for approval of its ratification on Tuesday or Wednesday next, or else sometime in the present pre-Easter Dáil term, as the Taoiseach recently announced. read full story / add a comment

Responding to the Palestinian call for organisations to announce International Women’s Day to be a day of solidarity with the administrative detainee Hana Al-Shalabi and all female prisoners and women in the families of Palestinian prisoners, the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign is holding a solidarity vigil at the Spire on O’Connell Street, Dublin 1 from 4.30 to 6.30pm on Thursday 8th March.
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RNU delegates from across the country met at the Balmoral hotel Belfast on
Sunday March 4th to convene their yearly Ard Fheis.

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The World Water Forum (WWF) and the Alternative World Forum (in French: Forum Alternatif Mondial de l'Eau –FAME-) are going to take place from the 12th March in Marseille, France. Governments, organizations and civil society will gather to discuss, reflect on, and take important decisions about the future water. read full story / add a comment

This a free public event, however, spaces are limited, and booking is strongly recommended. Please send an email to edia.connole@gradcam.ie to reserve your place. read full story / add a comment

Well known blogger and economic and social anaylyst Michael Taft is due to give a talk on the alternatives to this governments policies of Austerity and cut backs.

What is the alternative to resource withdrawals, service reduction, privitisation and general belt tightening? And how do we get from here to there? read full story / add a comment

One week before the government deadline come to the

National Rally against the Household Tax

There is a National Rally of the Campaign on March 24th, in the National Stadium on the South Circular Rd, Dublin. It is open to all, and there will be buses coming from right across the country. This Assembly will bring together the campaign right across the country, and launch the final push before the registration deadline. Make sure to be there! read full story / add a comment

The Galway Alliance Against War has learnt that the British military display team, the Red Arrows, will perform during the Volvo Ocean Race Finale in Galway on July 1st. Another “war outfit” has also been invited, but has not yet confirmed. read full story / add a comment

As new details emerge which show that eight armed undercover British soldiers were targeting Sam Marshall at the time of his death in March 1990, a book to be launched this week will reveal further details.
The murdered man's relatives say , "As a result of information and facts concerning Sam’s killing which we have discovered in recent times, we are now convinced that members of British state forces, including British military intelligence and the Special Branch, were directly involved in the planning and commission of his murder. We also believe that British government ministers are aware of that fact.
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INTERNATIONAL WOMANS DAY-FREE MARIAN PRICE

Protest in solidarity with Marian Price to mark International Womans day.

@ 4:30 daunt sq Cork City. read full story / add a comment

SIPTU concerned about the massive job losses suffered and keen to ensure the C&V sector gain the recognition they deserve for their excellent work have organised a celebration of their work in Stormont. read full story / add a comment

There is an eerie sense of deja vu as the rhetoric used by the Imperialist leaders echoes that used in 2003 prior to the invasion of Iraq. Ben Lewis reports on debates in Westminster , international developments and the ever present danger of an Israeli attack on Iran. Full text at link.

The debate was initiated by Conservative MP John Baron, perhaps the only Tory MP who opposes an attack on Iran. His motion was simple and straightforward: “This house believes that the use of force against Iran would be wholly counterproductive and would serve only to encourage any development of nuclear weapons; and calls upon the government to rule out the use of force against Iran and reduce tensions by redoubling diplomatic efforts.” Malcolm Rifkind, Tory chairman of the intelligence and security committee, moved an amendment that completely changed its content. The amendment deleted everything except “This house” and replaced the rest of Baron’s motion with: “… supports the government’s efforts to reach a peaceful, negotiated solution to the Iranian nuclear issue through a combination of pressure in the form of robust sanctions, and engagement led by the E3+3 comprising the UK, US, France, Germany, China and Russia; and recognises the value of making clear to Iran that all options for addressing the issue remain on the table”.

The Rifkind amendment, which was passed by an overwhelming majority of 285 to 6. Those who voted against the amendment were Labour MPs John McDonnell, Paul Flynn and Dennis Skinner; Jonathan Edwards of Plaid Cymru; Mark Durkan of the Social Democratic and Labour Party; and Baron himself. read full story / add a comment

Today (4/3/12) the CDC in cooperation with residents in Charlemont Street continued to work on a communal garden for the area.

Spokesperson for the CDC and Charlemont Street resident Tony N commented: read full story / add a comment