BBC reports that company "ignored accident warning"

Protesters against the Corrib gas scheme have often highlighted the appalling terms of the contract whereby the shareholders of the Shell, Statoil, Marathon Oil, and even the people of Norway, will gain more than the people of Ireland from the exploitation of Irish natural resources. Others however, claim that private operators simply would not be attracted to the Irish scene if the government didn't give them such a good deal (so what difference would it make?).

However the thing that no-one can argue about is safety. No-one believes that people should be forced to live beside an experimental piece of industrial equipment carrying explosive gas at extremly high pressure, if there is a chance that it might explode. Everyone agrees- if it's not safe, it shouldn't be built.

Shell say it is safe, but the following report from the BBC casts doubt on the company's attitude to safety.

... read full story / add a comment

Now that Stephen Walt and John Mearsheimer have broken the taboo in the mainstream American media establishment of not only pointing out that the Israel lobby exists, but actually analyzing it from their perspective, the only place that open discussion, analysis and debate about the lobby remain firmly taboo is, ironically, ON THE LEFT! It’s a taboo imposed on the left by certain leftist icons and their suppression – if not censorship – of free expression and debate on this topic in progressive venues (lectures, panels, press or broadcast). Even some Palestinian-Americans have been forced to knuckle under to these leftist icons’ denial of the power of the Israel lobby in exchange for those icons’ or certain progressive/leftist groups’ political support.

For example, as of this writing, where is an informed rebuttal to Noam Chomsky's dismissive position on the Lobby or at least an honest, open debate about the lobby on the national radio program Democracy Now? So, I wanted to incisively debunk at least some of the major arguments used by certain Left icons in denying the power and influence of the Israel lobby in U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East and in suppressing discussion of its power domestically. Now, some people will bring up a red herring list of other possible influences in U.S. Mideast foreign policy to deny my analysis, but here I am dealing with THE ISRAEL LOBBY and how leftist icons respond to that topic. My ultimate position is: whatever our positions on the lobby, do we get to honestly discuss and debate it in formal public settings? Please read more: ... read full story / add a comment

Filthy American capitalists make money from the Internet. ... read full story / add a comment

The world’s most cowardly leader, John Howard, has surpassed even himself with his latest spineless effort of making a gift of the (once sovereign) Australian nation to the Yanks. The clearest indication of America’s newest colonial acquisition is the construction of permanent US military bases in the Northern Territory and Western Australia. Those who imagine that US bases are not an indication of US military or economic supremacy, think again. Locating all the US bases on the globe is a revealing exercise. Without exception all the bases that exist outside continental USA have been built after either military or economic CONQUEST. ... read full story / add a comment

Harney is in the news for opening the shiny new private healthcare facility and for admonishing Consutlants for not recommend the National treatment fund programe, both projects seem to help the 'crisis' but merely funnels money to private heatlhccare rather then building capactiy in the public system.

TÁNAISTE OPENS IRELAND’S SECOND WALK-IN URGENT CARE FACILITY
http://www.vhi.ie/press/190606.jsp
The private clinic, which is a joint initiative between VHI and The Well, aims to treat and discharge the majority of its patients within one hour.

Opening the facility, The Tanaiste and Minister for Health and Children, Mary Harney TD said, " I am pleased to open the second Vhi SwiftCare Clinic This is a unique partnership between Vhi Healthcare, The Well and DCU that will provide a community based urgent care centre in North Dublin. There is a natural synergy between the partners and I welcome this initiative. Vhi Swiftcare Clinic is a walk-in urgent care centre based closely on well established Australian and US Models. ... read full story / add a comment

U.S. President George W Bush has launched an intensive diplomatic effort to persuade North Korea not to test a long-range ballistic missile that could reach the United States. ... read full story / add a comment

Welcome to the twenty-first century, welcome to social retrogression and the new barbarism – primitive theological values and barbarism have temporarily stolen the post-modern age. Quite an irony in today’s highly advanced society but the reality of barbarism and retrogression are undeniable. The world’s most advanced technological nation is a perfect example. America has succumbed to theological ideology and all the bigoted, avaricious, violent values associated with primitive religion and barbarism. A crusader, a mental deficient who fancies himself a ‘holy’ knight of the Middle Ages battling the forces of ‘evil’, leads the USA; a literal mental retard and social regressive leads the world’s ‘leading’ nation. ... read full story / add a comment

According to a report in the Sunday Tribune, cheap fags peddled around Ireland have dangerous amounts of chemicals - six times as much lead as in regulated cigarettes and high levels of arsenic.

"Fake cigarettes seized by Customs in the North contained 160% more tar, 80% more nicotine, and 133% more carbon dioxide than genuine cigarettes." ... read full story / add a comment