In Education, I Should Have A Voice Too

At all levels, the education system is under attack from the present government.

The savage cuts already announced at primary and second level appear to be just the first steps in what will be a sustained attack on the public sector in general and education in particular – both from the point of view of the provision of the service and the wages and working conditions of those employed in it.

Meeting Time and Place:
Saturday 28th February at the Teachers' Club, 35 Parnell Square, Dublin 1 at 14:00.

Related Links from Indymedia.ie:
Education on Indymedia.ie - Click Here
Feature: Protesting Against the Education Cuts Click Here
Opinion Piece: If You Think Education is Expensive, Try Ignorance - Click Here
Essay: Against Commercialism in Education - Click Here

Related External Links:
Event Notice: International Week of Action against Fees (etc.) - Click Here
New York Collective of Radical Educators (NYCORE) - Click Here
Education for Liberation Movement - Click Here
Free Minds, Free People Conference - Click Here
Essay: Anarchy in the Classroom, by Dr Judith Suissa Click Here
Educators: Want to Help Develop an Irish Database of Free Teaching Resources? - Click Here

Caoimhe Butterly on The Dignity
in International Waters off Gaza

Thousands have been protesting all over the world against the current military attacks on one of the most densely populated parts of the world - The Gaza Strip.

Hundreds marched from the Israeli Embassy to the nearby US Embassy in Ballsbridge, Dublin last night.

Palestinians both Hamas and Fatah supporters were part of these protests. Most chants were in Arabic.

The march returned to the Israeli Embassy where people surrounded it just as Gaza is surrounded.

An Israeli flag was also burned by two young women.

Images of last nights rally and march below.

Protests all over Ireland...
• Dublin, Dec 28 2008: 'Hundreds take to the streets to show solidarity and mourn for the people of Gaza' - Photo series
• IPSC at the US and Israeli Embassies: 'For the third day running Palestinian and Palestine solidarity activists demonstrated in Dublin against the ongoing Israeli assault on Gaza.' - News story
• Belfast Dec 29th: 'close to 100 people assembled in front of Belfast City Hall to protest at the barbaric Israeli bombing of the Gaza Strip. Those present included members of the Palestinian and Muslim communities in Belfast.' - More news
• The North West Solidarity Network, based in Donegal and Leitrim counties: 'We feel humanity does not do not have the option of standing idly by watching such horrendous events without trying to do something to stop it.' - More news
• During the protest at the US embassy some Dubliners took time to celebrate the new year by throwing shoes at George W Bush.... Photo Series
• On New Year’s Eve, Derry Stands up in Solidarity with Palestine - More info
• On New Year’s Eve, Dublin Palestine activists keep up the pressure on NYE and NYD - More info & pictures ... and even more nice photos

and, in case anyone forgot, Ireland's Shannon Airport is still Aiding and Abetting War in Iraq.

Caoimhe Butterly WatchBlog continues...CLICK HERE for latest updates
[ previous Caoimhe WatchBlogging here. ]

We haven't gone away, ya know

Seomra Spraoi opens new autonomous social centre.
Seomra Spraoi is back. After 10 long Seomra-less months a new home has been found, and work is underway to transform the space into a fully functioning social centre. A lot has changed since being forced from our last space. We've been pretty busy too.

Since moving out of our last address (at Mary's Abbey), we've been kept busy organising Ireland's first social centre gathering, hosted a large talk at the Dublin Anarchist Bookfair, and ran lots of fundraising gigs/quizzes. We've provided catering, kids' activities & entertainment at the Grassroots Gathering, organised a beach party, several people's kitchens & kids days. We've also restructured our working groups & learnt a lot about fire safety.

Related Links: Seomra Spraoi | Social Centre Stories | Seomra Spraoi on Indy.ie

Frequently Asked Questions as the mob film takes over the airwaves - ch. 802 UPC digital

Media that doesn't have any other distribution....................
.........................
..........other than the internet, screenings, dvds.........
........
a place where these films are broadcast and can be submitted to be put on the television.......

It had to come to this. Somewhere along the way the means of production and distribution of media would fall into the wrong hands and even indymedia would be fully co-opted for the armchair activist. Don't go out on the streets, don't gather at your screenings or media centres, don't pass samizdat video from hand to hand - now you can consume independent media through the goggle box.

Dublin Community Television is launching on 16th July and the launch night schedule gives a clue to the influences - premieres of Route irish and Torture is Us mark the Independent Media Bloc which shows activist videos from Ireland and the world. Below the fold is the guide to the launch in the handy form of a FAQ.

Related Links:
www.dctv.ie | Route Irish | Torture is Us | the scheduler. | PDF File listing some other DCTV programmes | Cameras Filming in New Theatre as part of Launch | Seattle Showdown - the first Indymedia TV series

The truth about the WRC

Yesterday Choice Ireland picketed the WRC on Dorset street - they intend to picket every Saturday (1pm) this month to highlight "the lies, bullying, and manipulation of the WRC.

Choice Ireland says "The WRC is located at number 50 on Upper Dorset Street. The sign above the door reads “WRC” but this rogue agency has many aliases. It was known as “Aadams” from 1995 until 1999 when that incarnation was shut down in the midst of an illegal adoption scandal. It reopened as the “Women's Counselling Network” and was more recently calling itself “Alpha” until a Newstalk exposé led it to change its name once more to the “WRC”. This agency is also known to misleadingly advertise in the yellow pages as “British Alternative Pregnancy Services” and “Choice for Women” in order to give the false impression that they will discuss all the options available to women in crisis pregnancy when they have no intention of doing so."

Related Links:Choice Ireland