Let's start with red lines. Here it is, Washington’s ultimate red line, straight from the lion’s mouth. Only last week Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta said of the Iranians, “Are they trying to develop a nuclear weapon? No. But we know that they're trying to develop a nuclear capability. And that's what concerns us. And our red line to Iran is do not develop a nuclear weapon. That's a red line for us.”

How strange, the way those red lines continue to retreat. Once upon a time, the red line for Washington was “enrichment” of uranium. Now, it’s evidently an actual nuclear weapon that can be brandished. Keep in mind that, since 2005, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei has stressed that his country is not seeking to build a nuclear weapon. The most recent National Intelligence Estimate on Iran from the U.S. Intelligence Community has similarly stressed that Iran is not, in fact, developing a nuclear weapon (as opposed to the breakout capacity to build one someday). read full story / add a comment

Occupy Belfast and other activists have liberated the empty and unused Bank of Ireland building on Royal Avenue, Belfast, in opposition to soaring homelessness, lack of affordable social housing and home repossessions. read full story / add a comment

Occupy Belfast Protest, City Hall Saturday 14th January 1pm Affordable Housing for Everyone- No Evictions, No Repossessions read full story / add a comment

The sixty million payoff to prison officers in Northern Ireland could be much better spent on addressing the causes of crime such as poverty, social deprivation and prison rehabilitation. Prison officers who served during the Troubles could walk away from their jobs with packages of more than £120,000 plus pension as part of a £60m redundancy programme aimed at ‘modernising’ the service. read full story / add a comment

In June of this year Art Ability – a community organisation assisting children and adults with disabilities - based in Agnes Street, Belfast, was given just one week’s notice that it’s funding was to be removed. A SIPTU organised campaign has been running since then to secure funding to protect this vital cross community organisation from closure, and to ensure its client’s needs were addressed. This campaign resulted in the initial securing of limited funding which did not fully protect the organisations future.

However, as a direct result of the SIPTU campaign we are delighted to be in a position to report that interim funding has been secured to enable the organisation to continue to operate. Art Ability will now be in a position to apply for further funding for the autumn quarter, and their doors remain open. read full story / add a comment

7 members of National Clarion Cycling Club are visiting memorials to the Int Brigaders in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Belfast, Dublin, Wales and onto London to mark the 75th Ann of the Spanish Civil War. read full story / add a comment

It is this time of year again when the spectre of sectarianism and division comes to the fore in the north of Ireland. It is a time when communities, kerbstones and poles are marked and carved into territory. There are those who will be living in fear and silenced from speaking out while the rest of us are told to turn the other check in the interests of peace and stability. It is unfortunate, if perhaps somewhat inevitable, that the now annual battles around the ‘marching season’ fall along religious lines. The Orange parades are being used to test the supposed 'neutrality' of the northern regime and the PSNI in particular. The losing side in this dangerous game however is likely to be the working class, as the confrontations and the sectarian attacks that occur around the Orange marches drive people further into ‘their own’ communities.

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SIPTU is calling on the public to come out in support of the week long festivities for Belfast Pride from 23rd – 30th July. The full calendar of events can be found online at; www.belfastpride.com/.

The 21st Pride festival which the organisers hail as ‘a celebration of diversity’ will culminate with Ireland’s largest LGBT parade, making its way through Belfast city centre on Saturday 30th July.
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SIPTU, the Trade Union representing the community and voluntary sector have appealed for calm in East Belfast, calling for an end to further attacks and praised the 'crucial' work of those community workers on all sides who were 'at the coalface' in dealing with the recent violence.

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The Northern Ireland Student Assembly (NISA) has called a protest in accordance with the Prime Minister, David Cameron's visit to Stormont to talk in favour of a corporation tax cut in Northern Ireland. NISA is encouraging young people and trade unions to attend the protest. read full story / add a comment

SIPTU’s campaign to reverse the decision to cut funding to Art Ability continues. Thankfully as a result of the Campaign some element of funding has been secured but not sufficient to ensure it can continue to cater for the needs of the most vulnerable in society. Indeed 4 members of staff have been forced to seek alternative employment despite having initially worked on without pay to protect the needs of the clients of the centre.

Art Ability provides training and support for 48 young people aged between six and 16 as well as 24 adults.
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IRSCNA's statement for the International Day Against Homophobia & Transphobia read full story / add a comment

The IRSCNA sends good luck wishes to the IRSP's candidates in the North's council elections read full story / add a comment

Tesco Metro, on Belfast’s Royal Avenue, had its labelling improved by anti-GM protestors on Saturday morning (23rd April). The additional labels warned consumers about the potential Genetically Modified content of meat and dairy products in store.
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A surprise new candidate for the West Belfast constituency has been announced. read full story / add a comment

SIPTU, the union for Boots workers here, called together workers from across the stores to listen to the concerns of their membership and to work together on a coherent plan for the year ahead. The meeting, which took place in the Europa Hotel, Belfast, on 1st March, was a resounding success for what has been achieved so far - and what can be achieved in the future with their input. read full story / add a comment

The Socialist Party is to stand Pat Lawlor for West Belfast in the Assembly elections on May 5th. He has already been selected as the Party's candidate for Lower Falls in the local election. read full story / add a comment

Community activists from across the north are joining SIPTU to work together in protecting front line community services in their local areas.

That was the clear message on Tuesday 11th January as community leaders from across the north met at SIPTU's Belfast offices to assess the potential impact of cuts to frontline services in communities and to develop an effective campaign to protect these 'invaluable services' and the projects and centres which deliver them.
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Approximately 1500-2000 people took the streets in Belfast today, marching from schools and universities to congregate at the City Hall, Belfast to protest the proposed increase in fees, which could see people being charged up to £9,000 a year for tuition. The protest was also against the cuts in EMA, a small fee paid to secondary school students from lower-income families to help pay for their final two years of higher education. read full story / add a comment

SIPTU activists mobilised at Belfast City Hall today (Thursday 9th December) joining with over 1000 students from across the city protesting against education cuts and the ending of EMA (Education Maintenance Allowance) for Secondary School Students.

The Student Demo lasted for over an hour at lunch time, with College students and Secondary School Students alike thronging the street to make a stand against ‘regressive and ultimately cruel cuts.’ read full story / add a comment