Justin and Anne Morahan have started a petition to Pope Francis asking him to intervene in the case of Julian Assange. There have been recent reports of Julian's health deteriorating due to lack of light, fresh air, isolation (no visitors allowed). There are also rumours afloat that he may be removed from the Ecuadorian embassy in London and extradited to Mr Trump's United States where capital punishment is still in vogue. read full story / add a comment

The wildfires that struck Rafina, north east of Athens, have now claimed at least 80 lives with the number set to rise as many are still missing. This terrible catastrophe shows the interaction of climate change and austerity, both the result of a society that puts people before profit.

The fires in Greece take place in the context of an intense heat wave that is global in scale and has produced fires not only in Greece but in Northern Sweden above the Arctic Circle. Brid Smith TD visiting her sister in Sweden reports temperatures of 32C in the shade and 40C in the sun. In hotter parts of the world such as Algeria and Iran they are soaring well over 40C and approaching the limits of human habitability.

Fires, floods , droughts and intense storms – extreme weather in all its different forms – is what climate change means, not just rising sea levels in the future, and they are happening now. read full story / add a comment

This week the US Department of Education proposed new student "borrower defense" rules. read full story / add a comment

New Senate legislation offers additional options for Puerto Rico to cut its debt. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Ed Markey (D-MA) and Kamala Harris (D-CA) introduced the US Territorial Relief Act. If Congress passes the act, US Territories that experience natural disasters could qualify for debt relief. read full story / add a comment

The US Treasury is calling for greater scrutiny into the use of "anonymous" shell companies. Last week, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin urged Congress to quickly pass legislation to make the identity of shell company owners available to law enforcement. read full story / add a comment

The UN's globalization and neoliberalism seek to eliminate global freedom and western culture. It creates multi-culturalism and diversity which in the extreme undermines western culture but if a country is to survive it must defend its culture. The fake liberals, really a social class, drive both neoliberalism and globalization which gains the support of the swamp. Other political parties need to be chosen to overcome the swamp. For example, Donald Trump in America is having some success against the swamp. read full story / add a comment

The US Senate voted for Puerto Rico disaster relief in the form of food assistance with the passage of the "Farm Bill." The Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018, included Senators Marco Rubio and Kirsten Gillibrand's amendment to fund Puerto Rico's Nutritional Assistance Program.  read full story / add a comment

DUBLIN DEMONSTRATION SUPPORTING Millions of Chinese, they Are Calling for an End to the Yulin Dog Meat Festival

A Demonstration by Irish Animal Rights activists is supporting other Vegan/Anti animal eating campaigners worldwide , especially Chinese activists who are hoping the Chinese authorities will crack down on the horrors of the notorious Yulin dog and cat eating festival from 21st to 30th june 2018. Officials failed to keep pledges to come down heavily on the appalling scenes of dogs being battered, blow-torched and butchered last year, leaving thousands of animals – many stolen pets – to die horrendously.

https://www.facebook.com/events/270969030137534/
(IRISH LINK)

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European Finance Ministers endorse a new Greece debt agreement that provides financing in exchange for maintaining austerity policies and economic reforms. read full story / add a comment

As part of a worldwide protest, solidarity was shown in Dublin to Julian Assange. Mairead Maguire called on the Irish Government to mediate between Britain and Ecuador to secure his release. Mick Wallace and Clare Daly also spoke. read full story / add a comment

Explains why Irish capitalism is to blame as well as the irish hierarchy of rat crimes against women and children in Ireland. read full story / add a comment

Washington DC - On the first day of the 2018 hurricane season, G7 Finance and Development Ministers are reviewing proposals for debt relief and “innovative financing” when islands are hit by natural disasters. Also focusing on empowering women in the economy, the group meets in Whistler, Canada, through Sunday. These meetings will help prepare outcomes for the upcoming G7 Ministerial meeting that President Trump attends later in June. read full story / add a comment

The Vatican released an official assessment on global economics entitled, "‘Oeconomicae et pecuniariae quaestiones" or "Considerations for an ethical discernment regarding some aspects of the present economic-financial system." The document calls for improvements in global finance policies on debt resolution, taxation, financial crisis prevention and transparency.  read full story / add a comment

Ongoing abduction and rape of women and young girls by Turkish ‘Security’ Forces in Afrin, Rojava read full story / add a comment

he IAWM condemns the withdrawal by US President Trump from the Iran nuclear deal and the imposition of fresh sanctions on the country.

The IAWM also condemns Israel’s overnight attacks on alleged Iranian positions in Syria, a deliberate escalation of aggression which was no doubt inspired if not enabled by Trump’s decision.

The IAWM has long since condemned all foreign and local military action in Syria, including that of Iran, that has killed and maimed so many Syrians. We have called on numerous occasions for a complete and lasting ceasefire and for massive humanitarian aid to help rebuild the country. read full story / add a comment

At a meeting in Bonn during the UN climate talks, Climate Case Ireland is launching a website to seek support from members of the public. The website includes a one minute video explaining the legal challenge Friends of the Irish Environment has brought against the Irish Government’s failure to take the action needed to avert dangerous climate change read full story / add a comment

Since Rodrigo Duterte began his term as the 16th president of the Philippines in 30 June 2016, Filipinos and the international community have watched in horror at accounts of dead bodies found nightly in the country’s streets, linked to extra-judicial killings (EJKs).

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After dozens were killed and hundreds injured in the Friday demonstrations in Gaza, it appears inevitable that there will be further such killings and mutilations tomorrow as the protests continue. The following letter to the Israeli Ambassador in Ireland expresses fears that Israel will continue their unjust use of violence. read full story / add a comment

Officials from governments, the IMF, World Bank, the private sector and NGOs meet this week at the United Nations for the Financing for Development (FFD) Forum. read full story / add a comment

While the Irish media focus only Macron bombing Syria and making speeches in praise of the EU French workers and students are in full scale revolt against the French President’s neo-liberal policies.

The past few weeks have seen an explosion of resistance to Macron’s proposed anti-worker Labour Laws, his plans to cut 120,000 jobs in the public sector and introduce individualised “payment by results” for workers, along with his attacks on free higher education. Rail workers led the way but many other sectors have followed suit in mass strikes across the country. read full story / add a comment