Hello everybody,
I have just uploaded my updated website www.gerryrice.com
If you have seen my older version and still have it on your computer, right-click on, especially, the HomePage at least, and in the drop-down menu left-click on the "Reload" link or the "Refresh"
link to load the updated site. This is the price a whistleblower has to pay for his trouble in Northern Ireland - 35 years and counting....
You will know that you have accessed my website update when you see the following first line at the top of my HomePage and under the title Prologue:
Voltair said, "It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong."
Please let me know what you think :-)
Gerry. read full story / add a comment

Mash Direct: Northern Ireland food company that hosted Prime Minister accused of denying rights to employees.

It was with astonishment that many employees of Mash Direct read the headlines of Newtownards Chronicle (27/05/2010) following the stately visit by Prime Minister David Cameron to the food production factory in Comber, County Down where they routinely spend 60 hours or more of their week. Manager Martin Hamilton spoke eloquently of the growth of the firm through, ‘determination and hard work’ and said nothing of the determination of those who do the hard work to have their basic employment rights upheld within his expanding business.
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Education Minister Caitríona Ruane joined a large group of Ógra Shinn Féin members today at Down’s County Museum in Downpatrick, to launch Sinn Féin’s Youth Manifesto ‘Creating the Future’, for the upcoming Westminster election.

The Museum was selected as a site of historical significance, it previously being home of the County Gaol where United Irishmen leader Thomas Russell was executed on 21 October 1803.

The youth manifesto which was drafted by members of the party’s youth wing Ógra Shinn Féin forms the basis of the work and policies which Sinn Féin will be carrying out regards youth in the next 5 years.

These include education, suicide prevention, drug and alcohol awareness, calling for the abolition of ASBO’s, road safety, youth job creation, creating affordable housing, and progressing Irish Unity.

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A young nationalist couple in Banbridge have been harassed by British Intelligence agencies over the course of the past twelve months due to their friendship with a member of Republican Sinn Féin in Newry. Most recently an elaborate hoax bomb was left outside their home.
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Fujitsu workers in the North have begun 3 days of strike action in opposition to a massive assault by bosses on conditions. read full story / add a comment

The Joe Conway Cumann of RSF, Newry, Co. Down, have congratulated the youth in Mayobridge and Attical for their resistance to the British colonial police (RUC). read full story / add a comment

The Northern Ireland Assembly was meant to be interdependent. After ten years there is no sign of its being interdependent. Why? read full story / add a comment

GEORGE BUSH – NOT WANTED HERE
We are appalled at the news that George Bush will visit Belfast next month. It is disgraceful that his visit is as a result of an invitation issued by the First Minister and Deputy First Minister.
This part of the world more than most places has an understanding of the deep damage and pain that war and conflict produces. George Bush is internationally regarded as a warmonger. The so called “war on terror”, now rebranded as the “war for democracy” that he has championed has inflicted that damage and pain on countless millions.
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Newcastle Ógra Shinn Féin have criticised the NI Electoral Office for the convoluted procedures that young people are forced to go through in order to get on the electoral register. read full story / add a comment

A Newry RSF member was approached by MI5. read full story / add a comment

East Down Ogra Shinn Fein played a key role in Easter parades across the county, including Newcastle, Castlewellan and Downpatrick. The Ogra colour party lead the parade in Newcastle and Downpatrick and followed the senior colour party in the Castlewellan march. The colour party consisting of activists from Kilcoo, Newcastle and Ballynahinch proudly marched in commemoration of Irelands patriot dead and sought to show to the public that Irelands youth would continue to play a pivotal role in the struggle for re-unification. read full story / add a comment

The IRSP Ard Comhairle learned with dismay and anger of the assault, arrest and detention of our comrades in the Free State last weekend on trumped up charges.
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Striking Classroom Assistant held a protest outside the Belfast office of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions on Monday to demand a trade union inquiry into claims that the majority of Classroom Assistants have voted to accept managements offer.

The offer was forced through a meeting of the Joint Negotiating Council for education workers in Northern Ireland last Friday by the employers and GMB/UNISON. The decision was taken despite the opposition of the biggest non teaching education trade union, NIPSA, and the abstention of T&G.

During the period of strike action Stormont Education Minister Catriona Ruaine has made repeated calls for NIPSA to ballot its members. NIPSA has pointed out that every offer made by management has been brought to consultation meetings of members but in an effort to clarify the situation and to remove the Ministers excuse for not negotiating offered to ballot members last week. This offer was ignored.
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A young member of Ógra Sinn Féin last Saturday night noticed that a building was flying a Union Flag in Newcastle, County Down Ireland.

This "butcher's apron" flag is of course offensive to many Irish people, and since the building belonged to the avowedly sectarian "Orange Order" the young man decided that the best way to peacefully protest was to scale the building and remove the offending symbol.

Sadly, after removing the flag, the young ÓSF member lost his footing and fell from the roof, injuring his arm. He has received medical treatment and is recovering.

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Classroom workers across Northern Ireland are preparing for a ballot for strike action which if successful will close schools across the country in September and October. read full story / add a comment

Christian Aid's Cut the Carbon 1,000 mile march from Northern Ireland to London will launch from Bangor Marina at 12 noon on Saturday, 14 July 2007. The march will highlight the devastating impact global warming is having on millions of poor people in developing countries. read full story / add a comment

In Northern Ireland we must pay rates - by law. The rates payments go to pay for government services. When corrupt government authorities refuse to provide those services which have already been paid for, the ratepayer has a right to refuse payment. read full story / add a comment

How can the five main political parties in Northern Ireland succeed in bringing peace and prosperity here when they have actively succeeded in destroying the home life, prosperity and peace of a hard-working family as they worked unceasingly over these past 30 years - and still work - to cover up a massive housing fraud?
Gerry Rice. read full story / add a comment

The MP for Newry and Armagh Conor Murphy and South Down MLA Caitriona
Ruane, welcomed over 60 members of the Padraig Pearse cumann of Mourne
and Crotlieve Ógra Shinn Féin at the group's official launch at
Warrenpoint Town Hall on Friday, July 21st.
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Green Party Councillor, Brian Wilson, on the Education Board for County Down has voted for the removal of concessionary bus passes for children. read full story / add a comment