The Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI)
have suspended Trocaire's advertisment for its
Lenten Campaign on Gender Equality.

YouTube: Watch The Video

Indymedia.ie contributor Seamus writes:
The BCI have pulled this ad, saying it is investigating complaints of it being 'too political'. Little other information has been made available.

At the most basic level, this is an act of censorship and is anti-women. This is made all the more visible given that tomorrow is International Women's Day, a day that, among other things, serves to highlight the radical inequality experienced by women globally.

Now, while Trocaire are a branch of one of the most anti-women organisations of the world, the Roman Catholic Church, they should be commended for thier campaign shift away from perpetuating the 'black baby' syndrome - the racialised representation of development in Irish society - and 'development as chairty' model of public relations.

Section 10(3) of the Radio and Television Act, 1988: 'No advertisement shall be broadcast which is directed towards any religious or political end or which has any relation to an industrial dispute.'

Related Links: Trócaire warns of conspiracy of silence on International Women’s Day — BCI's stated reasons — RAR 2005 Demo Against Female Genital Mutilation

Gerry McGeough

Arch-Catholic, novelist, ally of Justin Barrett, former I.R.A. volunteer, and failed gun runner Gerry McGeough is standing in the Northern Ireland Assembly elections on a traditional republican platform in the Fermanagh/South Tyrone constituency.

This article (taken from the newswire) analyses the politics and ideology of Gerry McGeough, his Hibernian magazine and other conservative and right wing nationalists that identify themselves as republicans. It outlines the background of Gerry McGeough, his past involvement in the Provisional Irish Republican Army, his current activity as editor of the extreme right-wing The Hibernian and explores their ideas and interpretations of nationalism, republicanism, religion, mysticism, sex, immigration, Masonic conspiracy theories and secularism vs. theocracy. The article also provides some historical background on the right wing aspects that have featured in Irish republicanism.

Related Links on Indymedia: Fascist Ex-Provo Exposed — Justin Barrett’s cohort appears on Radio Free Eireann — McGeough Rants On — Craobh Gál Gréine commemoration — The Other Side of the Anti-EU Coin, Justin Barrett on Tour — Fascist Barrett Scores with the Great and Good of NUIG — Barrett’s Friends and Supporters — 'Statement regarding Justin Barrett debate at UCD on 13th October 2004 by the AFA' — Justin Barrett gets a hand from UCD's L&H to organise — Debate on EU: left wing or clerical-conservative — Youth Defence Prints 50,000 Anti-Gay Leaflets — Inside the World of Dissident Republicanism — Interview with Irish Pro-Choice Activist — Cork’s First Ever Pride Parade a Triumph! — USI says ban on gay marriage breaches human rights

Other Related Links: Neo-Nazis at Lit. and Deb. Forum in NUI Galway (UCDSU) — What Youth Defence Didn’t Mention (UCDSU) — “More debates:” The alternative republican strategy for a united Ireland? (Slugger O'Toole) — Architects of Resurrection Ride Again — RSF article on Aiséirí

Jail the Corrupt Politicians

El Bull says:The march was half way down O'Connell St. by the time I arrived. There were some very pleasant folks at the front the march, who were handing out “brown envelopes”, which summed up very nicely the core of the problem in Co. Mayo – the sell off of our natural resources by corrupt politicians. Wearing entertaining masks and engaging very amicably with all standing by on the footpath, they captured the spirit very well.

As it turned out, there was a S2S pamphlet in the envelope, rather than a stash of cash. I also was handed leaflets for Marxism 2007, further S2S info, a flyer on the IAWM demo at the FF ard fheis and a copy of Workers Solidarity – plenty of reading to keep me going, or anyone else on the footpath who was inclined to take whatever literature that was offered. The rest of O’Connell Street was fairly impassive while watching the ensemble go by.

There was a group of maybe a dozen or so “rugby balls” went up the centre island of the street – lads with rugby balls, each about the size of a 32” wide screen TV, on their heads. These rugby balls ended up by the Falun Gong stall that was set up in the middle of the centre island, so it was a day of all sorts of interesting stuff going on in town – I should really get in there more often.

Related Links: Review of Our Story · Announcement of National Demonstration · Breaking News of the last Friday's Events (incl. Audio Reports) · Another Report of the Occupation · Photographic Report · Solidarity Action in Scotland last Friday

PSNI at Hillsborough April 2002

A Polish blogger and immigrant to Ireland warns of a British divide & conquer tactic in PSNI policing and recruitment efforts....

Mackozer writes: 'For many Poles, joining the police would be an excellent job opportunity, especially for former Polish police officers. They could join the PSNI and receive at least 4 times better salary than in Poland....

[Polish immigrants recruited into the PSNI] would be regarded as alien mercenaries used by British government to show the world that they fulfill the obligations of the 50–50 policy. This can be devastating for the assimilation and integration of Polish people into the Irish society of Northern Ireland. This 'job opportunity' can put all Polish people of Northern Ireland as a piggy in the middle - between two sides of the conflict - and face discrimination from both of them.'

Quote: ''Once a pool of qualified candidates has been formed, the Chief Constable will then appoint trainees on the basis of 50 per cent Roman Catholic and 50 per cent non-Roman Catholic.'' - PSNI

Related Links: RSF says Polish mercenaries not welcome / Last October: Racist attacks on Poles in Finglas / more immigrant news: indymedia.ie/migration / Also see: Free Derry Museum - a Review

To date residents and supporters of the Shell To Sea campaign have been staging an ongoing picket outside the Shell gas refinery gates in Ballinaboy. Numbers on average at these chilly weekday morning vigils vary between 40 to 60 people. The picket is a reminder both to the government and the petrochemical multinational that local residents are against the construction of the refinery and the laying of gas pipes in their area.

A national day of support was called, inviting people who empathise with this campaign to come up to Mayo on Friday 16th February 2007.This is what one person saw:

Related Links: Announcement of National Demonstration · Breaking News of the Morning's Events (incl. Audio Reports) · Another Report of the Occupation · Photographic Report · Solidarity Action in Scotland