The Council of Europe has called on Ireland to decriminalise abortion.

This week , the Council of Europe's Committee on Equal Opportunities issued a report saying all member states should guarantee women the right to a safe termination of pregnancy.

The report states quite clearly: “the Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men considers that a ban on abortions does not result in fewer abortions, but mainly leads to clandestine abortions, which are more traumatic and more dangerous.”

Some people estimate that the number of Irish women who travel to England every year is about 7,000. Since some women obviously use false British addresses, or disguise their origins in other ways, the true figure can never be known.

Related Links: Choice Ireland — Irish Family Planning Association — Safe and Legal Abortion Rights Campaign I had an abortion

Hacking Cable - talking to the future of television in Ireland

Your correspondent talks to The Scheduler, whose computer is connected to more than 300,000 TV screens around Ireland which receive material chosen according to the Scheduler's own 'logic system'. Using one of the most complex, egalitarian and incomprehensible algorithms written in plain English the scheduler delivers programmes to the viewers of Dublin Community Television (DCTV) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.


DCTV is a non-profit co-operative based station the likes of which are unheard of within the media landscape of Ireland.

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membership offers you a say in the station whether it is proposing programming or working on schedules etc. The station is evolving organically with different ideas and self-critics itself via the people who become apart of it.

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the essential motivation and ethos of DCTV is different we are non-profit organisation thus do not have to adhere to advertising demands as we have none. I feel this gives us a lot of autonomy over the schedule

On the Idiot Box
Revolt on DCTV , Seattle Showdown - Indymedia Video on DCTV
, Health Meeting on DCTV

Gluaiseacht members along with Shell to Sea campaigners, friends and British supporters took part in 3 different actions over the weekend of St Patrick in London. Here is a summary of their story!

Having started at Ennis in County Clare at 11am on Friday the 14th picking up people along the way a full coach load of bewildered people arrived on Rampart street home of the The Rampart Social Center. It is soon to be evicted so we felt lucky to be there.

Related Links: Gluaisecaht Corrib S.O.S Mayo Gas Info

Amnesty International says it has evidence that Shannon Airport has been used for so-called "rendition" flights by the CIA.

The human rights organisation says it has obtained flight records which show a jet operated by the US intelligence agency refuelled at the Co Clare airport in January 2004.


Amnesty's Irish branch says the evidence is unquestionable and it is no longer tenable for the Irish Government to accept US assurances that Shannon has not been used for illegal activity.

Related Links: Amnesty Homepage Press Release Full Report
RTE coverage Previous Indymedia stories on Rendition

At half past two on a crisp, sunny Saturday, over 140 people, of all ages, gathered at St Stephen’s Green front arch – exceeding all expectations – to attend the a Feminist Walking Tour marking International Women's Day.

Organisers with red screen-printed t-shirts (the image showing a high heel shoe and a boot – ready for walking!) mingled with the eager crowd, chatting, handing out information booklets, distributing green and purple suffragette ribbons and stickers to organise people into the two tours. There were activity sheets for the kids (and the big kids) and free lollipops for all!

The tour was organised by Choice Ireland and RAG, who came together to share their expertise and enthusiasm to promote a strong feminist message. “We didn’t want a protest march,” says one tour organiser, “but the walking tour was a fun way to get women out on the streets and celebrating feminism”.

Related Links: Choice Ireland — RAG