GAMA workers and Joe Higgins fighting exploitation

Recent reports indicate that trade union activists are coming under increasing attack and in some cases these attacks are deadly. As globalisation and far right wing capitalism increases, so the attacks on trade unions and their members increase. Below is a ICFTU report which highlights the extent of the problem

Related Links: Classroom Assistants struggle | Assassination Attempts against Labour Activists in Iran | Cultural Workers Take on Property Tycoon in Galway | IWU exposes Abuse of Migrant Workers | Wildcat strike in Musgrave Warehouse | Coke Trade Unionists in the firing line in Colombia | GAMA workers

"I don't care about the law, I'm a member of the Gardaí"

Shell to Sea protestors yesterday successfully stopped Shell and RPS drilling on an SAC. Yesterday afternoon, Shell’s drilling work on the SAC known as the Glengad Bog Complex was successfully halted and Shell (& RPS) were forced to remove their equipment from the area. For the past 3 days Shell had been drilling test bore holes in the area surrounding Rossport Solidarity Camp.

Related Links: Rossport Still Resists | 14th Sept at Bellanaboy | Shell pipeline letters handed back | Rossport Solidarity Camp Eviction Report | Norway profits while Irish people face jail | Community outrage over unjust sentencing | NGO Report Slams Garda abuse in Mayo | Indymedia Rossport Archive

Where the Miles social centre was

This morning at 8.30 the Mossos arrived and carried out the eviction of anohter of Barcelonas most important social centres, Ruina Amalia, one of the last few squatted spaces in the Raval nieghbourhood of the old city. The centre was another of the critical spaces and nodal points of BCN's social movements, about 20 people lived in the squatted space and its social centre hosted a wide range of services and support to the social movement: Okupa office, ASF (architects sans frontiers: arx without borders) support, free internet access, Carcoma the popular carpenter, costume workshop, free shop, kilombo library, theatre and dance space, flamenco patio with cheap bar and cafe.

This is another severe blow to critical nodal points of the cities social movement. It seems blow after blow has been dealt out with no real response from the movements..... Is it time for a change of thinking or acting?

Related Links:Indymedia Barcelona 1, 2, 3,4 Other Indymedias: indymedia.org, indymedia.ie audio clip 1 Ogg clip 1 mp3, clip 2 mp3 video bbc video clip La Makabra indymedia.ie article Seomra Spraoi article 1 2 3 tribune article

Ruinaamelia; "We will continue to imagine resistance against the control of speculation logic and its accomplices." 0.2 Mb riot cops in cherry picker pluck defender of space from Miles roof 0.01 Mb

"The Right to Choose About Our Own Bodies"

The Republic of Argentina shares many sociohistorical parallels with the Republic of Ireland. Both have been traditionally conservative, christian nations, with the Roman Catholic Church having a privileged position of power in all areas of public life. Even so, due to massive demonstrations and strong activist commitment, coupled with horrifying stories which came to the attention of the press, it became impossible for the government to stay impassive any longer. While abortion hasn't become legal in Argentina, this article will explore its history, the parallels with Ireland, and recent developments which may be opening the way for safe and legal abortion in the South American nation.

RTÉ has announced a programme in its Hidden History series making controversial claims about IRA sectarianism during the War of independence. This is how RTE is currently publicising it:

Guns and Neighbours: The Killings at Coolacrease
“The bloody tale of a bitter land dispute, involving a family of Protestant farmers in County Offaly, which comes to a deadly conclusion during the War of Independence. Featuring interviews with descendants of the men who carried out the killings, this portrait of a forgotten atrocity features substantial newspaper archive research, IRA witness statements and military documents from the period.”

Related Links: The Story Starts Here | The Hidden History documentary strand returns to RTÉ