HOW DO I TREAT THEE? Let me count the ways. Statistics from the AFP-PNP over a 33-year period (1978-2010) report an aggregate of 29,553 fatalities in the ongoing conflict between GPH and the CPP-NPA categorized thus: 13,412 Communists (45%), 8,264 military and police (28%) and 7,877 civilians (21%). This further translates into 80 deaths daily for the period: 36 Communists, 23 soldiers and police, and 21 civilians.
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The key points so far are increases to PRSI working out at about €250 per year per person. Children allowance cut by €10. Property tax set around €500 per year for a Celtic Tiger era house. 10 cents on the pint.

Cuts to electricity allowance and telephone allowance for OAPs. The devil will be in the details. read full story / add a comment

Our political parties are at it again. They can't seem to stop. They are rezoning land in areas where the County Manager has already strongly opposed it and as usual FF councillors are at the forefront with FG very close behind. You would think that something might change after FF has led this country to economic ruin and has saddled everyone with debt that has nothing to do with them, restarted emigration and condemned the young, old and sick to cutbacks and poverty for an indefinite period with no end in sight. It all just goes to show the huge democratic deficit in this country and the fact that these self-serving political parties and their developer friends don't give a damn about anyone, the environment or our common future. And so we feel it is important to featurize this local but important story below.

Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown councillors are to vote on a murky rezoning project near Tibradden in the Dublin Mountains on December 10th, which breaches the county development plan and national policy, as well as policy on siting of facilities for older people. Most crucially it breaches the current limits of the no-building areas in the Dublin / Wicklow Mountains, which are a vital amenity for the whole community.

To date a majority of local councillors have been in favour, against the advice of the planners and even the County Manager - but have not explained their reasons for voting yes to this development. It will create a "retirement village" cut off from library, churches and other community contacts: perhaps isolation facility would be a better term. Despite all the scandals, it seems to be "business at usual" over at DL-Rathdown... read full story / add a comment

Wednesday 5th December 2012 will see the latest in a series of budget attacks on the working class. The sequence of events is now well established. read full story / add a comment

In a speech delivered in Belfast on 24 October 2012, Mairead Maguire declared that Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's Premier, is a war criminal. She also criticised Obama's stance on Israel, and the media's lies; and she called for boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel read full story / add a comment

The New Zealand Labour Party wants the rebuild of Christchurch following massive and tragic earthquakes to be from the 'Grassroots up, not the Beehive down'. So far the rebuild has, in my view, involved a fanatical top-down bureaucratic/Corporate control. From the 'grassroots' reflects the global ethical human rights approach of our council which emphasizes a bottom-up development and a bottom-up democracy. PS. the Beehive is where parliament meets. read full story / add a comment

NIGHT OF THE STARS - how many dogs will be injured or killed by Racing on Saturday??
DEMO AT SHELBOURNE PARK FOR THIS IGB BIG EVENT-‘NIGHT OF STARS’
DEMO STARTS AT 6.45 pm. 1st Dec [ SHELBOURNE PK TRACK]

‘There were whoops of excitement at Shelbourne Park’ when Minister Shane Mc Entee revealed details of the Night of Stars, Irish greyhound racing’s version of the Breeders’ Cup.

http://www.igb.ie/Talking-Dogs/NIGHT-OF-STARS-A-MASSIVE...NG-1/

For more on the casualties SEE http://www.greyhoundaction.org.uk/facts7.html#eire

we need to let those who are ATTENDING KNOW ABOUT THE INJURIES, DRUGGING, DUMPING,MUTILATING and DEATHS OF THOUSANDS OF Beautiful GREYHOUNDS AT THE HANDS OF THOSE RACING THEM.

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This article looks at the failure of successive governments to make full use of the natural resources of Ireland leading to the current strategy of heaping more and more new taxation upon the Irish people to make up for their loss of income read full story / add a comment

Exports are booming while business and political elites are determined to make ordinary Irish people pay for the financial crisis read full story / add a comment