Joe Higgins: Not just on the streets,
but also on the information superhighway.

This Sunday (24th May), the Socialist Party candidate in the Dublin Euro Election Campaign, Joe Higgins, will be doing a live online video Q&A session, to give people throughout Dublin the chance to directly ask him questions. Starting at 5pm, he will be answering questions as they come in, live on video through his website . To watch the video, or ask a question people simply have to log on at 5pm.

The event, which his campaign believes to be the first of its kind for Ireland, will also reach out to those in the online blogging community, who the campaign are keen to engage with. As well as taking questions from the internet, a number of ‘bloggers’ will also be at the event, taking place in the IFI in Templebar, with plenty of time to interview Joe.

RELATED LINKS:

- More information about the bloggers side of the event: - "Open Invitation to Bloggers"
- "Joe Higgins Launches Online Euro Election Campaign": Click Here
- "Joe Higgins - Why I'm Standing": Click Here
- Information about all the candidates running in the Dublin European Elections, and a chance to ask them all questions by email: Click Here

Socialist Party of Ireland website
Joe Higgins website

Dr Horgan leaving court after the case
against him was dismissed

A case brought by the state against human rights activist Edward Horgan as a result of his requests to have a suspected CIA rendition plane searched at Shannon was dismissed in Ennis yesterday (20th May). Judge Mangan, presiding over Shannon District Court, dismissed the case on the basis of legal arguments made by Mr Horgan’s defence council.

Related Links:

For further details of the incident on 18 June Click Here.

For details of all CIA-linked rendition flights and US military use of Shannon airport Click Here.

For report of deaths caused by US interrogators Click Here.

Marching Against the Education Cuts

“I am totally depressed as I believe a huge amount of work has been totally undone … support structures to assist the most vulnerable have been undermined, which will mean that discipline and pastoral care structures will be affected”

•  Principal, boys' secondary school, Leinster

The Association of Secondary Teachers of Ireland (ASTI) has published a report into the effects that the cuts to education, announced in Budget 2008 (and reaffirmed with the April Budget of this year), will have. Most of these cuts will not become noticeable until the new school year, when it may be too late to have them reversed.

Related Links:
* Click Here for education articles on Indymedia.ie
* Resist or Resign: On Tuesday a delegation from the Dublin City Post Primary Branch of the Teachers Union of Ireland protested at the ICTU HQ in Parnell Sq, Dublin. The delegation was led by Branch officers, supported by branch members and students from UCD.
* Event Notice: Dublin: Protest Against the Education Cuts
* Another Day, Another Protest against the education cuts

It's a pity they weren't thrown out of court as quickly

On Monday 11th May eleven defendants charged with public order offences while protesting the M3 through the Gabhra Valley, Meath, appeared before Trim court. Three more defendants were unable to return to Ireland and their cases were heard in their absence.

Seven of the defendants had been arrested on 18th July 2007 while protesting at Blundelstown at the Hill of Tara. Others were arrested on 14th September 2007 and 26th July 2007 and 13th March 2007.

Quotes from Court Observers:

* "The Public Order cases proved to be very interesting. Each case before the Court on Monday was dismissed as the Gardaí had failed to investigate as to whether anyone being charged had lawful or reasonable excuse. Offences under the Public Order Act, for the most part, specify that in order for an offence to be committed, there must not exist a reasonable or lawful excuse."

* "The cases on Wednesday were similar to Monday's cases, with the exception of the assault case. However, there was more argument to be had, unlike those on Monday, which usually only took seconds once a Garda witness was turned over to the defence for cross examination."

* "The crunch came when the Garda, having been asked to describe what he'd do today, in similar circumstances, under the provisions of 19c of Section 24 of the Housing Act (Miscellaneous Provisions) which adds a whole new set of offences into the Public Order Act, showed the Court that he had not the beginnings of a clue. A Garda must describe the offence allegedly being committed and what his or her reaction to it is. The Garda described his reaction only and thus failed in his duty."

Reclaim the Streets
"Another World is Possible"

On Saturday Afternoon, Galwegians and their friends from around the country and world, came together on newly renamed (by us), Anti-Shop Street, to take back our space from the capitalist, consumerist culture which has taken it over, with its bizarre ideas of a life dedicated to shopping, spending, buying and profit, so that we could share an experience of another world, where everything is free, people share and give food, fun, stuff and life, simply because they can and it just feels good!

Related Links:
Reclaim the Streets website | Reclaim the Streets on Wikipedia | Reclaim the Streets, Dublin - photos 2004