Your article in the summer 2011 edition of ‘Emma’ entitled ‘A Black Spring’ expresses concern about the possibility of a Muslim Brotherhood dominated government in Egypt in the future after the transition period. You conclude that the easiest aspect of the fight is with the violent jihadists; and whilst Bin laden is dead, the doctrine of jihad lives on. In another article*   you say: “...the gradualist approach is far more likely to win the prize of state power. All that Khomeini did before he came to power in Iran was to preach the merits of a society based on Islamic law. He did not engage in terrorism. Yet he and his followers took over Iran – a feat far greater than bin Laden ever achieved. In Iran the violence came later.” 

In reality, however, ‘doctrine’ alone was not the reason behind the brutal Islamic movement’s rise to political power. In Iran, for example, the rise of Islamism was aided by the US-led foreign policy of creating a green or Islamic belt around the then Soviet Union during the Cold War. At a conference in Guadeloupe, Western powers decided to back Islamism at the expense of a left-leaning revolution that was crushed in order for the Islamic Republic of Iran to establish itself. In fact, to secure power, the regime slaughtered an entire generation. As a result, we have witnessed the rise of the political Islamic movement for several decades.

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A fuller report from today’s Irish Independent on the Labour capitulation on Low Pay is carried below.

Not alone has the Labour Party agreed to the scrapping of the Sunday premium for low paid workers, it has also agreed to allow employers to claim inability to pay and ,if successful, to pay a lesser rate for normal working days. In circumstances in which demand is being continuously removed from the economy by government, this can only lead to continuous reduction in the direction of the minimum wage and the effective collapse of the system. Compliant employers will be progressively undermined by those paying a lower rate.

The scrapping of the Sunday premium will simply add to the profits of highly successful multi-national retail chains at the expense of their employees.

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On 88th anniversary of Lausanne Treaty which divided Kurdistan into four parts, Kurds in Ireland launched a 3-days hunger strike today outside European Union House. read full story / add a comment

Arts Minister Jimmy Deenihan has received an application from the Irish Coursing Club for this year's hare netting license. This will enable coursing clubs nationwide to capture hares for cruelty sessions. read full story / add a comment

Kukutza Gaztetxea III, is at imminent risk of eviction and demolition. "International Demonstration" for the next 16th of july that will depart from the city of Bilbao at 18:00. We need your help in order to spread the word. read full story / add a comment

Last week Shell put a notice in the paper that they will be starting the next stage of construction on the pipeline soon. The national campaign and the local community are preparing for this. As part of the ongoing opposition there will be a day of mass action on the Friday following when work begins again. We are calling for as many people to make it down to the site at Aughoos and take part in stopping Shell. The call out will go out via indymedia, this website and our mail update list. read full story / add a comment

Call for poetry, short-stories, photography and art work read full story / add a comment

Until recently, Irish religion has been seen as defined by Catholic power in the South and sectarianism in the North. In recent years, however, both have been shaken by widespread changes in religious practice and belief, the rise of new religious movements, the revival of magical-devotionalism, the arrival of migrant religion and the spread of New Age and alternative spirituality.
As recently as 2007 Ireland was being described as “one of the two remaining ‘blind spots’ for the study of religions in Europe”, (Ireland's New Religious Movements 2011 - see the link below)
Now the details of a new MA course on Contemporary Religions have been announced by the Department for the Study of Religion in University College Cork. read full story / add a comment

The following is an unofficial translation of a letter sent by 26 Israeli academics to the minister of Welfare and Social Services, Moshe Kahlon, in protest at the recommendations of a recent government sponsored report on ‘the cult phenomenon’. read full story / add a comment

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

Got any positive, funny or random stories from your squatting experiences? read full story / add a comment

We are calling out for folks to come & help prepare the camp for Party against the Pipe.
No experience or skills needed, just come along and get stuck in, there's loads to do! read full story / add a comment

IRSCNA's statement for the International Day Against Homophobia & Transphobia read full story / add a comment

The Mayne river and associated woodlands which have been a habitat for a wide range of species, bats, kingfishers, otters and a wide range of native flora are under threat due to potential development. read full story / add a comment

Responses to the economic crisis and the bank bailout in Ireland, Greece and Portugal, and reflections on recent revolutionary events in the Arab world will feature among the many topics up for discussion at the 6th Annual Anarchist Bookfair which will be held in Liberty Hall, Dublin on Saturday 14th May. read full story / add a comment

The Association for Improvements in the Maternity Services Ireland (AIMS Ireland) has created a short survey to look at the needs and options available to women for using water during their birth and labour in Irish Maternity Units. read full story / add a comment

Talks taking place in County Galway on the health and environmental effects of mobile phone masts, and what to do about it, with two renowned experts. read full story / add a comment

Protest to take place outside CRH AGM tomorrow

On the eve of Irish multinational CRH's Annual General Meeting the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) are lodging a complaint with the OECD accusing CRH of complicity with Israel's violations of international human rights law and humanitarian law. The CRH AGM takes place at tomorrow Wednesday 4th May at 11am in the Royal Marine Hotel in Dun Laoghaire. read full story / add a comment

Latin America Solidarity Centre
Cultural Promotion, Development Education, Campaigning Solidarity
5 Merrion Row Ph: +353-1-6760435
Dublin 2 Fax: +353-1-6621784
Ireland Email: info@lasc.ie
Url: www.lasc.ie read full story / add a comment

Video of the April 8, 2011 attempt to visit The Pentagon by 25 citizen activists:
Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/user/chatareena#p/u/0/Qjvi5ItQwRE
Part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIXUM8wMkXU read full story / add a comment