Don't get sick in ireland, a friend recently advised me. Of course my friend was referring to our antiquated and underfunded hospital service where there is a better chance of catching MRSA than getting a bed. Lo and behold only a matter of weeks after this comment was made to me and I fell ill. Thankfully my illness didn't necessitate a visit to hospital, however my doctor did advise me that I would be off work for a month and maybe longer and that I should rest and avoid any stressful situations.

Not to worry, I thought, sure I'm insured against this type of thing. I pay my P.R.S.I(almost 5 grand between my own and my employers contribution in 2005) and can therefore claim disability benefit. No problem there. But what about my extortionate rent? I could claim rent allowance from my local C.W.O. So I set about it. First, I had to find out where my local C.W.O operated from. I phoned what used to be the health board and after six phonecalls(daytime rates from a mobile at 55cent per minute) I discovered where to go. So off I set, down to the local health centre which turned out to be a short bus ride away. I would have walked but I am sick and walking any distance is a problem, naturally. No problem said the C.W.O, just get this form (s.w.a 3) filled out. One section to be completed by me, one by the landlord and one by Dublin City Council.

A run down of what filled the newswire over the past 12 months.

Over the last 12 months, the site has grown from strength to strength, with a huge increase in readership, a wide variety of subjects and issues being covered, and more people regularly contributing quality material to the newswire. To welcome our readers and contributors into the new year, the editorial collective have compiled a comprehensive review of the events and stories of the year just gone, that were published on Indymedia Ireland.

We hope that 2006 will continue to see IMC activities increase and improve. Dont forget that you can write for us too - thats the beauty of open publishing. You can become the media with a click of the publish button. We want your stories, images, audio and video!

2005, the second warmest year on record, beaten only by 1998, was another year of freak weather and climate chaos, from drought, to flooding, to hurricanes, much of it caused by the collision between society and ecology that is global warming.

Global warming is principally produced by adding more carbon dioxide, from burning fossil fuels, such as oil, gas and coal, to the naturally occurring ‘greenhouse effect’.

This is where greenhouses gases such as carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide in the atmosphere trap a portion of the suns’ rays on earth. Other contributory factors include the production of methane in farming, and deforestation, as plants consume carbon dioxide.

This article looks at a range of new research on the impact of climate change on the Arctic that has come out in late 2004 and throughout 2005.

Related Links:
Wikipedia entry on Arctic Climate Impact Assessment
Rising Tide
Climate Indymedia
Wikipedia entry on Global Warming
2005 was the second warmest year on record

The economic boom in Ireland and the construction boom that has come alongside it has led to a growth in the importance of environmental campaigns. There has frequently been a large gap between the environmentalists involved in such campaigns and the left - including anarchists.

Sean, one of the 'Carrickminders' and now a member of the Workers Solidarity Movement gives his view on what can be learnt from the recent struggles.

At the end of this article is an extensive collection of links on community based ecological struggles, both national and international, as well as links to further analysis.

From the Newswire:
Having worked in a Bodyshop in Dublin for almost 5 weeks during the year, I was disgusted and appalled at how they treat their staff and mislead the public into thinking that they are environmentally friendly, their products not tested on animals and are for fair trade. Working there was a real eye-opener.

Related Links:
In 1998 London Greenpeace, the anarchist/ecological group two of whose members were dragged through the courts by McDonalds in McLibel, Britain’s longest ever libel trial, ran a educational campaign against ‘green consumerism’ in general and The Body Shop in particular, for more details see: What's Wrong With The Body Shop
London Greenpeace Response to Body Shop Statement
FAQ on the Campaign