In her first conference call with journalists since becoming chair of the Kimberley Process (KP), US Ambassador, Gillian A. Milovanovic has moved to limit the scope of any reform of the KP definition of a “conflict diamond”. Ambassador Milovanovic said: “I do not foresee within the Kimberley Process, per se, going beyond the question of rough diamonds.”[1]

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The threat of a military provocation by Tel Aviv against Iran is very real, warns Israeli Marxist Moshé Machover

One thing is beyond any doubt: a major aim of Israel’s foreign policy is the overthrow of the Iranian regime. What is not generally understood are the motives behind this aim, and the present Israeli government’s preferred means of achieving it. In this article I would like to say something about the motives, and then explain why prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s preferred means is war - one likely to ignite a major conflagration. read full story / add a comment

This post is a quick response to an SWP internal members bulletin, which was presumably leaked by one of their members - available to read here: http://tomasoflatharta.com/2012/02/09/kubla-heard-from-...else/. It gives an insight to the real views of the SWP on a number of issues including the ULA and the CAHWT. I want to take up some of their points relating to the Household tax campaign, which I object to and to offer what I think is the real situation with the campaign. read full story / add a comment

"On 21st April 2010 I was convicted of assaulting a number of Gardaí in relation to Shell to Sea protests and sentenced to 6 months imprisonment. Remission for good behaviour means that prisoners will have their sentences reduced by a quarter, once you keep your nose clean. I was given credit for 2 weeks time served previously in 2009, before I was bailed out pending my appeal. So I spent 4 months in jail from April to August in the summer of 2010.
When I first arrived in jail, it was a shock to the system. Prison officers wouldn't be the friendliest of individuals, they behave a lot like police officers and don't have much respect for prisoners. When you arrive at reception your clothes and belongings are taken from you and you are issued with prison clothes - cheap jeans, a white t-shirt, a cheap shirt and underwear. You get clean bedclothes, a towel, soap and a toothbrush and you are brought to your cell....".
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“Our core concerns remain: what are the actual tank standards? What assistance will be available if we now need to upgrade our systems, despite having complied by the rules that the institutions of state set previously? Instead of answering these questions, Minister Phil Hogan has introduced draconian legislation which dictates that householders will be dragged through the courts and may be fined up to €5,000 if they cannot comply with his secret standards. The heavy-handedness, and lack of clarity surrounding this scheme stinks.” read full story / add a comment

Campaign Against Household and Water Tax read full story / add a comment

The regular bulletin from the Galway Alliance Against War read full story / add a comment

Dominic Magnone, of Greyhound and Pet World, has drugs convictions. Proof of this is clearly documented. Yet the Irish Coursing Club, which claims it abhors the use of prohibited substances to enhance the performance of greyhounds, accepted his sponsorship of the "Oaks" section of the National Coursing Meeting. read full story / add a comment

An Evening with Native American Activist Jean Ann Day: In Support of Leonard Peltier.

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In the murky world of wars, covert operations and so called intelligence agencies, it can be hard to work out at times what are the true motives behind any particular policy, campaign or action. In the case of Afghanistan and Pakistan it has been long stated that the aim of the US govt is to disrupt Pakistan and cause so much civil strife so as to lead to the breakup of the Pakistani state. And as part of the ensuing chaos, the aim would be to launch an operation to seize the Pakistan nuclear weapons so as to deny the only Muslim power of having these happens. This apparently would make the world safe. To do this the US needs to start a civil war and the northern provinces have been the target of multipe operations by the Pakistani army and also of Drone attacks by the CIA.

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Clonmult Martyrs Commemoration Committee

Clonmult Martyrs Commemoration Committee, members of Republican Sinn Fein Poblachtach, relatives and friends met recently in Midleton to organise the Annual Commemoration for Sunday 19th February 2012 at Midleton. read full story / add a comment

Of all the colonies in America, the most profitable to the coloniser was Saint Domingue, where the slaves produced more wealth for France than the North American colonies did for England. The French republic decreed an end to slavery, but Napoleon sought to reimpose it. The armies he sent to the island were defeated, and the victorious people renamed their country Haití, the indigenous name for the island. Haiti thus became the first free country of America in 1804, sixty years before chattel slavery was ended in the USA. For the crime of freeing themselves the people of Haiti have never been forgiven. The slave owners and colonisers feared the example they set. Haiti was later forced to pay 90 million gold francs to France to compensate the slave owners for the loss of their property, which took 150 years to pay off, thereby inhibiting any economic development.
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TD Richard Boyd Barrett is to address a public meeting in Killarney opposing the household charge.

95% of the eligible population have not registered to pay. read full story / add a comment

James Connolly wrote:

“An Irish Republic, the only purely political change in Ireland worth crossing the street for, will never be realised except by a revolutionary party that proceeds upon the premise that the capitalist and the landlord classes in town and country in Ireland are criminal accomplices with the British government, in the enslavement and subjection of the nation. Such a revolutionary party must be socialist, and from socialism alone can the salvation of Ireland come.” read full story / add a comment

Yesterday morning residents of Aghoos, Pollathomas and Glengad were woken by a convoy of heavy vehicles heading in the direction of Glengad. One person drove down to Glengad to see what was happening. At about 7.20am he was stopped by a Garda in Glengad who said the road is blocked. When asked who was blocking the road the Garda said “the Shell boys are doing a bit of work”. read full story / add a comment

Will the victims of 9/11 ever receive justice? read full story / add a comment

Last weekend some members of the Irish Occupy camps came to stay at the Rossport Solidarity Camp. There was good numbers already on the camp for winter and so along with our fellow city based campers we numbered 25 – 30. We decided to try shut down Shell’s Aghoos tunnelling compound for the morning. read full story / add a comment

Visit organised by Cork Against Fascism, as part of its UCC No Platform for Fascists campaign, to include two talks on the dangers of far-right politics. read full story / add a comment

It has been over 900 years since a woman became Pope. With a woman as Pope, and President and World Army leader of a new earth army can we solve the worlds problems. read full story / add a comment

Thursday February 9th at Chapters Books of Parnell Street, Seven Towers will be hosting our monthly Themed Reading, this time with a bit of a pre-Valentine's vibe. 'Love and Chocolate will be an hour of literature and laughs from 6:30pm to 7:30pm read full story / add a comment