From Genoa to the Gathering

The events of Genoa 2001 are still going through the courts, as the Genova Legal Forum puts the state on trial for human rights crimes during the Diaz raid and at Bolzaneto detention centre. Verdicts are in soon. Activist Trauma Support, on tour with films, information, and a donations bucket for the court case, will stop off in Dublin on Friday May 30th to open this year's Grassroots Gathering. We caught up with ATS's Mark Covell before he caught his ferry over.

Related Links: Genoa G8 on Indy.ie Activist Trauma Support Grassroots Gathering Details GG Homepage GG 2008 Reader

Sorry, it is not profitable to house you

Hundreds take to the streets over the collapse of regeneration plans for some of the most marginalised communities in Dublin.

'We'll be back', promised residents of St Michael's Estate, O'Devaney Gardens, Sean McDermott St and Dominic Street at a protest held outside Dublin City Council at a special meeting held on the evening of May 26th. Plans to redevelop the areas collapsed when wealthy developer, Bernard McNamara, cried off because he wouldn't make enough money.

Previously on Indymedia: O'Devaney Gardens | St. Michael's Estate | Reclaiming Dominic Street

Property Developer, Bernard McNamara was awarded the tenders on 5 multimillion Euro Public Private Partnership projects to develop five areas of Dublin. Communities who saw little of the Celtic Tiger are the first to suffer from the lack of real development which would have meant better housing, community spaces, creches and mixed living dwellings. The private sector, which has been sold to us by the government as the only solution to our social needs, is unwilling to deliver and now residents are demanding that the Government steps in to fulfill the needs of their communities.

'If you're broke enough for the bus you might just join the army'

Back in March I published a compilation of the first half dozen interviews I had conducted with anarchists in the North Eastern USA. Here I present another 11 such interviews recorded with 20 anarchists during a vast n of a journey that started in Miami, moved North to Cleveland, west to Bellingham and then began the long descent south to LA.

The democratic primary continued to be the backdrop as the months and thousands of miles passed by both in terms of my closing question and the conversations on dozens of Greyhound trips. But I passed through more besides, from counter-spying on Burger King HQ in Miami, to attending a Winter Soldier hearing in Gainesville. From witnessing the destruction of Detroit to speaking in the heart of Chicago. From a mini riot in Olympia on Mayday to journeys end in the vastness of LA.

Related Links: Speaking tour details Previous Interviews

If you were walking the streets of Paris this month 40 years ago, chances are you would be completely caught up and participating in a time that has since changed French society forever.

Then, France was on the verge of a total revolt with 12 million workers on strike, 122 factories occupied, and millions of students fighting for a radical change in the way the world was working. A spark that boldly called for revolution and dreamed of an end to capitalism appeared to come out of nowhere. Its ripples sparked further questioning and action in other parts of the world including our own little island.

Ultimately, Paris ’68 did not succeed, but that’s not to say that the spark has been fully quelled or, indeed, that it wont boldly appear again in what are still troubled times.

Scene of the crime

In mid April, Cork dock workers took action in support of the crew of The Defender, a cargo ship owned by Forestry Shipping from Riga, Latvia but registered in Cambodia.

The Defender had nine crew on board and was carrying cargo for delivery in the Cork area.Kevin Doyle spoke to Peter Andrers, Stephen McCarty and Timmy Ricken, members of SIPTU’s No 5 branch about the action.

Related Links: Siptu - International Transport Workers Federation