Rosaleen McDonagh is contesting the Seanad Election in the Dublin University Constituency. She is a well known Traveller activist, feminist and writer.

Related Links:
Rosaleen McDonagh's website |
Review of Trinity College Seanad Candidates - 2007 |

Given it is just days away from the election and a new government, most likely to be led by Fine Gael, many are probably wondering what exactly is the current state of Ireland and what are the prospects for recovery. In short, things are bad and a recovery is very unlikely. There are also wider and bigger global issues and we are unprepared and should be doing something about it now.

Related Links: Committee of Public Accounts on Bank Bailout | Additional document list | IEA acknowledges Peak Oil

The only hope is that we have is that there is a public awakening to try and understand what has happened, where we are and the future we are hurtling towards. Only then, is there any possibility of some kind of social revolution to enable us to have any chance of coping with the challenges and by our actions, hopefully we may even trigger an European wide social transformation. But frankly the prospects of this positive development happening are zilch.

When the global credit boom came to a halt and hit Ireland on that fateful day in Sept 2008, Brian Lenihan, at the behest of the bankers made a fatal mistake with the bank guarantee that ensured no (large) debtor would be left behind. It might have seemed like a good idea at the time, but it would only have worked if the global economy bounced back and it was clear it was not going to unless like many mainstream economists who propagate the dominant capitalist ideology of our time, they assumed it was just going to be another small recession in the usual business cycle. But anyone who had been following events without their ideological blinkers on, would have realized this was going to be of seismic proportions.

The UNITE trade union, the second largest union in the Republic of Ireland has called on all working people to vote for a left wing government in the general election likely to be held in March.

“Workers should use their vote in the upcoming general election to bring about a left-wing government for the first time in the history of the state,” said Jimmy Kelly, Regional Secretary of Unite the union.

Related Links:

Unite Highlights ‘millionaire’ Windfall From Budget | Unite Publishes Alternative ‘people’s Budget’ | UNITE Calls for immediate resignation of failed political establishment | Unite bank workers protest at Dáil. |

The Iranian government’s campaign to mold ‘model’ Islamic citizens has not only fashioned a profound crisis of loyalty to the religious ‘ideals of the revolution’, it has nurtured action that many have silently prayed for - as the public sphere, the last bastion of the religious elite's grip on power, was shot open by their own guns Sunday.

Related Links: Secret Police Open Fire At Opposition Demo In Tehran | Support the Mass Stuggles in Iran | Iran: Leader Remains Supreme | Hands off the People of Iran -www.hopoi.org

Legacy of martyred flowers committed me to life,
Legacy of martyred flowers,
Don’t you see?
--Forough Farokhzad, Only the Sound Will Last

Since the close of polling late Friday, and the hasty confirmation of Mahmoud Ahmedinejad’s second term in office, protests have broken out across Iran. Many Iranians, who consider the landslide victory for Ahmadinejad a symbol of their country’s deeply corrupt political system, have endeavoured to force the government to nullify the results and hold another election.

In what can only be considered a classic case of state-repression, police and Revolutionary Guards have soaked the streets in blood; shooting into crowds of peaceful protestors, arresting scores of demonstrators, and targeting constituencies known for their criticism of the government. Just yesterday, the Guardian conservatively reported that as many as twelve students from universities throughout the country lost their lives as they courageously and openly opposed state forces.

The election of Joe Higgins as the third MEP elected from Dublin has marked a significant shift in Irish politics. With the Greens now wiped out clinging desperately to a dying government the election results have shown there is an alternative and hope for another Ireland.

Related Links:
Irish Left Review: Looking at the Transfers: The Dublin Count in the Local and European Elections | IrishElection.com: Libertas - in hindsight | Indymedia.ie: Former Greens call on the Green Party to withdraw from Government

Higgins victory reclaims the No to Lisbon vote as a left wing vote and diminishes the ability of the media to pin that on Ganley and Libertas and undermine the next leftwing not to Lisbon Treaty Campaign- that's if the government would dare to re run that referendum.

The first result out of the RDS was the Dublin South Bye-election. The tally's clearly showed a run away success for George Lee, which had probably been reflected in the unrealistic polls of 38% for Fine Gael in previous weeks. Sinn Féin just didn't have the trust. But it had been clear on the doors that Labour would clean up.