FROM THE NEWSWIRE:
"The language McDowell used at the December 1st conference is too weak for me. `The body could reflect the interests of all parties'. Why did he not say the Council definitely WILL reflect the interests of all parties? He is the Minister for Justice and he is bringing in a Press Council so the fact that he is unwilling to say anything definite is an indication of what I fear will happen in January when a foolish Cabinet that is wary of the Press will bring into law the Statutory Press Council proposed by the Legal Advisory Group on Defamation.

At that Cabinet meeting will be An Taioseach, who was displeased with coverage of his daughter Georgina’s wedding. Beside him will be Mary Harney who has twice sued for libel. Also there will be Ministers Noel Dempsey, John O'Donoghue and Seamus Brennan, who have all sued or threatened to sue a newspaper. Not forgetting Charlie McCreevy who in 2002 took Ireland from the international vanguard of open government into the dark ages of secrecy when he butchered our freedom of information laws. A society that has been rocked by revelations of corruption took a step back into secrecy. I would offer that the Cabinet is prejudiced and may use the opportunity to get us meddling journalists."

Other newswire articles:
A Dummy's Guide to the Press Council Issue
Why good journalism needs libel reform

The Crumlin / Drimnagh / Walkinstown anti bin tax campaign has started to return packaging to supermarkets under Section 29(i) of the Waste Management Act 1996.

Superquinn, Tesco and Dunnes all received trolleyloads of packaging.

After solidarity blockades, regular public meetings of 500+ and widespread non-payment (estimated at 80% +), the D12 campaigns tonight tried a new tactic - returning the packaging.

Each of the main supermarkets got a visit with about 15 at Superquinn, Sundrive Road and 50 at the Crumlin shopping centre (where Dunnes and Tesco have branches). The Supermarkets had got wind of what was up and had placed signs on the doors saying 'No Litter - we pay Repak and don't have to take packaging back.'

However, the campaign had letters to hand in to the store managers which quoted the relevant legislation

29 (i) requires the the owner or manager of a supermarket, service station or other sales outlet to provide, free of charge, specified facilities at such an outlet for the removal by customers opf packaging... and receptacles for the deposit of such packaging.

Each of those who returned packaging handed in the letter where they described themselves as ...

'a customer, consumer, environmentalist, a recycling fanatic and someone who demands that my rights be recognised'.

In Superquinn they accepted the rubbish, providing trolleys which were filled with packaging - I'll report later on how things went in Tesco and Dunnes.

Remember - Dec 12th the High Court, Monday 14th the estimates. The campaign hasn't gone away you know.

The Sweet Tale of a Small Bin Tax Victory in Dun Laoghaire Here
Every Sweet Tale Needs A Mr. Scrooge
Report on Anti-Bin Tax Campaign conference

The concept of the EU is still a popular one in Ireland as is shown by the detail of the results of a recent poll on the EU. It is a far less popular concept generally in Europe as is shown by the headline results of the self-same poll. This bodes ill for the ongoing negotiations on a draft EU constitution taking place at present in Italy.

The broad popular movement represented by the European Social Forum has advocated a Europe wide civil society rejection of the way in which Neo-Liberalism is consecrated as an official doctrine in the proposed Constitution as it now stands. The Declaration of the Assembly of Social Movements has instead called for a Europe 'based on the recognition of social, economic, cultural and ecological rights'.

Ireland will hold the Presidency of the EU in the buildup to the planned ratification of an EU Constitution in May 2004 and it seems inevitable that Ireland will become a battleground for these opposing conceptions of what Europe is and should be.

Domestic critics of the proposed EU Constitution on both the right (National Platform) and left (Democracy and Public Services in Europe Group) have begun to make their voices heard and it seems that the battle of ideas that raged during the Nice Treaty II debate will most likely be joined again at some point next year when a referendum on the new Constitution is held in Ireland. Watch this space!

Upcoming DAPSE Meeting: Sat 13th Dec
Upcoming 'Another Europe is Possible' Meeting: Sat 13th Dec