The Polish-born pope, who died Saturday at the age of 84, also had considered the possibility of a funeral in Poland, but later left the decision up to the College of Cardinals, which decided to have him buried under St. Peter’s Basilica on Friday after a funeral in the square. read full story / add a comment

See link below for details of Cllr Martin's lobbying for the discounts. which were reported earlier on Indymedia.ie read full story / add a comment

The weather is fluky here in Cooley today with rain and depression coming down. The following text may do something to lighten the spirits of indymedia readers.

Some people think that The Archbsihop is just another venal cleric. Others may say that he is only a cod. However no-one can deny that he has in abundance the unusual gift of seeing what is (blindingly?) obvious.

The following is a post factum reconstruction by Archbishop Michael Desmond ("Dessie") Hynes of a talk he gave to the fifth annual winter workshop organised by Cooley Environmental and Health Group. The workshop entitled "Organisation and Health" took place on the afternoon of 29 January 2005 in The Strand, Omeath, Co Louth. read full story / add a comment

In advance of a meeting of the Irish Medical Organisation addressing soda in school, here are arguments that have been used in the United States in the ongong attempt to rid schools of caffeinated sugar water. read full story / add a comment

The M3 will be tolled twice in County Meath. read full story / add a comment

I was absolutely outraged and appalled, but not at all surprised given this 'Government's' track record that they have refused to give Dublin Bus the 150 extra buses for 2004 and 2005 that they were promised by this 'Government' under the National Development Plan (NDP) and that they, and indeed the Greater Dublin Area in general need urgently, until they have opened up the bus transport market to competition and the privatisation of routes to their rich friends, with the embarassing and humiliating position where Dublin Bus have had to actually beg for More Quality Bus Corridors (QBCs) Not to be opened until they get their 150 extra buses as promised! One other side effect from this nasty, petty and vindictive move by this 'Government' is that our eldery and disabled will have to wait even longer to have the whole bus fleet fully wheelchair accessible. read full story / add a comment

Is there another way of hitting the golfball out of sight without the skill and power of John Daly? Is it a sin to take pleasure in golf? The Golfing Union of Ireland seems determined in a jansenistic way to curb the single most sought after requirement and desire of everyone who ever made even the most rudimentary attempt to play golf. read full story / add a comment

Coca-Cola may be making noises in the UK to cut down its branding and marketing of caffeinated sugar water to children, but in the US they are steaming full bore ahead like a schoolyard bully. The "pouring rights" contracts at public schools are not just incredibly bad policy, but they have been challenged as unlawful. read full story / add a comment

This is a link to the list of recalled foods from supermarkets. The food is found to have a cancer causing food dye Sudan1. It is being taken off the shelves and if you have any of it at home, even if you bought it months ago, don't eat it.
Supermarkets in the Uk are offering refunds if you return with the wrappers, I assume they are doing the same here. read full story / add a comment

Today President Lula addressed thousands of activists in social movements in Brazil, and through them millions more across the globe.
And he got jeered by the impatient. You'll get that.

We live in the time of soundbytes.
& translators.
& interpreters.
& thinktanks.
& billionaire philanthropist pacifists with major stock in arms corps and undeclared interests in narcotic routes and the fine post-graduates who work for them spinning tissues of deceit and benovelance. read full story / add a comment

CASPIAN (Consumers Against Supermarket Privacy Invasion and Numbering)
has launched a worldwide boycott of Tesco in response to the retailer's
escalating use of RFID on consumer products. CASPIAN Founder and
Director Katherine Albrecht made the announcement to millions of viewers
watching BBC Newsnight, the popular UK news program, on Tuesday. read full story / add a comment

The latest McDonalds’ ad is telling. A man rushes to the counter and proceeds to push a microphone into the face of some bewildered kid bedecked in a green smock. “So what’s in your burgers?” he asks, in pursuit of the sort of anti-corporate expose that has fuelled Fast Food Nation and Super Size Me. Pressed, the kid blurts “100% Irish Beef.” read full story / add a comment

Will the democratic values of love, friendliness, listening, community, sisterhood, fun be squeezed out of the health system in my lifetime? What are the human priorities of the Health Services Executive? read full story / add a comment

Soda should be eliminated from public schools. read full story / add a comment

As I watched the annual Televised lottery numbers taken from the drum this morning by little orphan children, and the first prize awarded to a ticket whic had been bought in the Catalan Town of "Sort" which translates to the english "Luck", I thought about the concept of luck as one of the other writers of the collective in the last days as wondered about "Belief". read full story / add a comment

As a regular commuter from Celbridge it has become apparent that the level of service has gradually deteriorated over the past month. After a series of 1 hour waits at the bus stop I phoned the controller for the 67 route this morning. He informed me that the service is getting progressively worse but there is nothing that can be done about it. Previously when a bus was running so late as to miss its departure time, another bus was sent from the garage to cover it. This is no longer possible, as an application has to be made to the Department of Transport, because running extra buses can be construed as anti-competition. Effectively then, any attempt by Dublin Bus to stick to its timetable is deemed as unfair to private operators! A similar thing happened on No Car Day, when Dublin Bus tried to lay on extra buses.
Can it be merely coincidence that this downgrading of the 67 coincides with plans by Mortons (Circle Line) to introduce a "full" service from Celbridge in the New year? read full story / add a comment

ODDities take to the streets read full story / add a comment

New York State government is widely known to be dysfunctional. State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer seems determined to be part of the solution, rather than part of the problem. If principles of good government are followed, many positive things -- such as good nutrition in our schools -- will follow. read full story / add a comment

Is corporal punishment for children resurrecting itself in a new form? What are the aims and objectives of child and adolescent psychiatry anyway? read full story / add a comment

Minister Martin O,Donoghue denounces those who promulgate Ireland as a rip off country-or Fianna Fail as a rip-off government.. read full story / add a comment