If you’re looking at a report in the media, one of the first questions the experts say you should ask is “Who produced this report?” Depending on the answer to that question, your understanding of the report can change dramatically.
For example, I came on a report about Sammy Wilson recently. It consisted of four pages, and inside the four pages I found ten photographs of Sammy: two on the first page, two on the second, two on the third, and four photographs on the last. Since it had the word ‘Westminster’ in its title and an image of the British House of Commons, I assumed the report had been produced by some source within Westminster – an all-party committee, perhaps - and I was mightily impressed. Ten photographs inside four pages! The East Antrim MP must have really made his House of Commons colleagues sit up to get that sort of attention. ... read full story / add a comment

Director of Tan War film The Wind that Shakes the Barley rejects British tabloid ‘vitriol’ against his work saying ‘partition has failed’ and the unionist veto should be replaced ‘by a way of unravelling the sad legacy of the 1921 treaty’

The acclaimed film-maker Ken Loach yesterday hit back at British press criticism of his award-winning film on the Tan War.

Speaking exclusively to Daily Ireland last night, the 69-year-old director said some of the criticism had been of an “amazingly vitriolic and personal nature”.

He said it had been movitated by a “deep-seated imperialist guilt” over the partition of Ireland and the subsequent years of conflict that had resulted.

Mr Loach said the British government should now acknowledge that “partition had failed”. He said the “unionist veto” on political progress should be replaced by a way of “unravelling the sad legacy of the 1921 Treaty.” ... read full story / add a comment

Belfast actor Niall Cusack attended the launch of the republication of Ruth Dudley Edward's biography of Patrick Pearse, at Queens University Bookshop. He recounts Ruth's performance, including his own bit-part in the proceedings - taken from the just published June Irish Political Review.

Ms Ruth Dudley Edwards in person inspires a number of adjectives - 'frail' first and foremost. One thinks of Blanche in 'A Streetcar Named Desire'. Other adjectives include: fragile, confused, nostalgic, brave, timid, hopeful, pessimistic... oh, one could ransack Roget!

She chose to devote her entire speech at the launch of her book in the Bookshop at Queen's in Belfast to a review in this journal (May IPR page 3, graphic attached) and to the absurd allegations made by 'a well-known eccentric' called Jack Lane. 'He may be here now!' she cried, with great bravado, peering around a uniformly sycophantic Queen's academic audience. A shudder went round the room. But no, the Great Ogre was conspicuous by his absence. ... read full story / add a comment

Protest against the Michelle Bachelet "capitalist approved socialist regime" in Chile have been underway for weeks now. The focus being the proposed educational system reforms which will effect mostly secondary level students.

Those same students have started to take to the streets, where indeed their future leadership will meet. As has been noted and made apparant, we may no longer look to the recruitment human resources of corporations or even the three dismal university faculties of law, economics and journalism for the qualities which are required to bring our planetary inter-connected peoples to a sustainable and just future.

And during today's nation wide stoppage of all secondary schools these teenagers found themselves facing tear gas, water cannon and brutal police repression. None of them can remember Pinochet.
They're learning... ... read full story / add a comment

The second Tara Session was held last night in the Dice Bar, heralding a summer of hot Tuesday nights! Musicians, bands, a DJ: all in a great venue, with a good-looking crowd and all in a great cause – what more could a body ask for? Except of course to do it all over again, through the summer.... ... read full story / add a comment

There have been a number of interesting stories circulating about Frank Fahey recently. The former minister for the Marine and Natural Resources was instrumental in the initial planning stages of the Corrib Gas scheme, and was at the time accused of using "bullying tactics" to secure Shell's preferred option - an onshore pipeline connecting the sea bed with a giant gas refinery built on a peat bog at Bellinaboy.

While questions have been asked about the Minister's close working relationship with Andy Pyle, CEO of Shell Exploitation Ireland, and whether he was lobbying for them with simply the best interests of the people of Ireland at heart, his critics have not had much firm ammunition to throw at him.

Eyebrow-raising stories of his financial dealings have always circulated as gossip, and he had to repay a large sum for misusing government stationary a few years ago. Many people have questioned how a former teacher can have amassed a huge property portfolio, but it all doesn't add up to that much really. Up to now, he hasn't had to fear having to resign.

The revelations in the article below about a Moscow Hair Salon might change all that.

Of course, if a central archiitect of the scheme to build the pipeline was forced to resign because of financial impropriety, then we could add that to the many questions that have arisen about the reasons
for government backing of the giveaway of natural resources, stretching right back to Ray Burke.

I wonder if Fahey will survive a summer when the Fianna Fáil party is getting jittery about the upcoming election. There was a curious comment about Frank Fahey in the Irish Times article way back when he was appointed Minister, looking back now it seems ironic:

Quote: On Mr Fahey's new role in the Marine and Natural Resources, a Fianna Fail source said yesterday: "There is not too much damage he can do in Marine and Fisheries." ... read full story / add a comment

Letter in Galway Advertiser ... read full story / add a comment

By any other name

Tonight's Channel 4 news lapsed into Newspeak again in a report on the killing of women and children by coalition forces in Iraq.

It is over two years now since the full extent of the torture in Abu Ghraib was revealed. And following the recent revelations of US executions of civilians, the reporters could not make this connection more obvious. As if 'scandalous' war crimes have not been committed since then. As if these incidents exist in isolation. ... read full story / add a comment

This is an important but disturbing video from Portland which shows the way the cops film people in the crowd at demonstrations and go out of their way to zoom in on particular features so as to identify people who are just exercising their democratic rights. They also go out of their way to instruct their camera crews to follow and film anyone who is masked up or covering their face in any way. ... read full story / add a comment

( I saw this posted on UK Indymedia)

Norway: Afghan refugees on hungerstrike

After a demo on 22 of may, afghan refugees are escalating with a hungerstrike their protests against the decision of the norwegian government for their immediate deportaton to afghanistan.

26 May: 23 Afghan refugees started a hunger-strike in a central park in Oslo.
More refugees are expected to join the hunger-strike within the next days.

More than 800 Afghan refugees were marching in Oslo streets. There were also many Norwegian, Pakistani, Iranian and Kurdish activists, despite the weather that was so bad and raining.

There were also another 4 demos in the north and south of Norway. Pepole from many refugee camps participated in these demonstrations.

The refuges said:
"We said if the Gov don't comply our demands we will start massive hunger strike.
We will continue the protest until we succeed in our demands.
Our demand is to live safely somewhere in this world.
We need your support." ... read full story / add a comment

The latest pamphlet from the ISN concerns the socialist movement in Italy between 1943 and 1948. It is available to download as an adobe PDF from the “pamphlets and articles” section of the ISN site. ... read full story / add a comment

Did I hear that word again (communist)? The comment/accusation was directed at the Timorese Prime Minister Alkatiri during an Oz ‘newscast’ – certainly puts an interesting slant on the Timor situation! I was reminded of the emerging independence of the Congo and the short life of its charismatic leader, Patrice Lumumba. The intervention of the CIA and the subsequent assassination of Patrice were entirely ‘coincidental’ events! ... read full story / add a comment

Today's papers carry the story of Martin McGuinness, MI6 spy. ... read full story / add a comment

In recent weeks, there has been a veritable tsunami of establishment media drivel against those who demand that the Irish government halt the give away of the country's oil and gas reserves and stop pandering to the multi-nationals, much of it from the O’Reilly controlled press. ... read full story / add a comment

Have you ever been so impressed by a documentary that you’ve recommended it to others? Retired US army colonel Ann Wright did just that on Monday – and was promptly handcuffed for engaging in “seditious” activity.

Wright’s trouble began when she set out to attend the court martial of a soldier accused in the Abu Ghraib prison abused scandal. The 29-year army veteran arrived at Fort McNair in Washington, DC, only to learn that the court martial was being held at Fort Meade in Maryland.

As she was leaving for Fort Meade, she happened upon some anti-war friends at the Fort McNair’s gate who had some postcards advertising a film called “Yes Sir, No Sir!”, which is about American soldiers’ resistance to the Vietnam War. She’d seen the movie and was very impressed, and she felt others in the military might benefit from catching it during its limited engagement in Washington this week. ... read full story / add a comment

9000 of the US EPA's own scientists crtiicise........the EPA ... read full story / add a comment

Last weekend a story broke in the UK, of how a Home office official had offered a speedy asylum process to a Zimbabwean rape victim (18) in return for sex.

Many Irish people might have missed this, being concentrated as they were on asylum seekers in St. Patrick's cathedral, and since then Mc dowell's legal disaster which puts our children at risk and has blown the lid on the judicial treatment of underage sex and the questionable sentances handed down.

The UK story makes an interesting "compare & contrast". ... read full story / add a comment

Blair assassination 'justifiable' - Galloway ... read full story / add a comment

Alan McCoombes Jailed ... read full story / add a comment

It looks as if we will be able to lead the Catholic Church on a merry dance regarding the 'Rhythm Method'. This method, the only one approved by the Vatican may kill off more embryos than other forms of contraception. Pope Benny will not be well pleased. Extract below; full article at the link.

pat ... read full story / add a comment