Archive for the ‘European Union’ Category
Justice for Ukraine – Bring the Stolen Ukrainian Children Home June 1, 12.30pm, The Spire, O’Connell Street Dublin 1 – Endorsements : INTO; INTO Dublin North City Branch; Labour party; Social Democrats; Ivana Bacik TD plus many others
Justice for Ukraine – Bring the Stolen Ukrainian Children Home June 1, 12.30pm, The Spire, O’Connell Street Dublin 1
Part of a Day of Action on June 1 2025, International Day for Children
Assemble Sunday June 1, 12.30pm The Spire, O’Connell Street
Link :
INTO : Mark International Children’s Day (1 June) by protesting the forcible transfer of nearly 20,000 Ukrainian children to Russia.
Statement, Ivana Bacik TD, Dublin Bay South. Labour Party Leader
“‘Since 2014, it is known that Russia has abducted nearly 20,000 Ukrainian children. Protests against this barbaric war crime are occurring all over the world, and Russia’s criminal actions have been condemned in the European Parliament and across EU Member States. I commend all activists who are taking part in protests against Russia’s abduction and deportation of Ukrainan children. I have raised this issue in Dáil Éireann (the Irish parliament) and have demanded that the Irish government takes appropriate action to express the strongest possible condemnation of Russian war crimes.’”
Statement, John Boyle, General Secretary, Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO)
“ The INTO endorses the campaign to end the forceful transfer & deportation of Ukrainian children & return them all, ending the enforced Russification process & militarisation”
Statement. Cian O’Callaghan TD Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats (Spokesperson Foreign Affairs)
“The Russian invasion of Ukraine is unprecedented, unprovoked and perverse. Putin’s despotic behaviour and war crimes have irrevocably changed the geopolitical landscape and made us realise that we can no longer take peace in Europe for granted. One of the most sinister aspects of this invasion has been the thousands of Ukrainian children who have been taken from their homes and brought to Russia. I fully support the protest taking place on International Children’s Day calling for their safe return to their families and their homes.”
Statement, John Lyons, Independent Left, Dublin City Councillor
In the three years of death, destruction, hardship and misery endured by the people of Ukraine as a result of the Russian Federation’s illegal invasion of their country, one particularly reprehensible and disturbing aspect of Putin’s war of aggression and annexation is the forcible transfer of at least 20,000 children and young people from Ukraine into Russia or Russian-controlled areas of Ukraine.
The Yale School of Medicine has summarised the scale of the crime against humanity involved: “Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine includes a systematic campaign of forcibly moving children from Ukraine into Russia, fracturing their connection to Ukrainian language and heritage through ‘re-education’, and even disconnecting children from their Ukrainian identities through adoption. Children documented by the Yale Humanitarian Research Lab (HRL) range in age from four months to 17 years, and many have families looking for them in Ukraine.”
As an elected representative of Dublin City Council I endorse the overwhelmingly supported May 8 resolution of the European Parliament, demanding the return from the Russian Federation of Abducted Ukrainian children and give my full support to the June 1 International Day of Action in support of this urgent cause.
June 1st is International Children’s Day, a day when people across the world raise awareness of the importance of children’s well-being and the need to protect them from all forms of violence and discrimination. Sadly, millions of children in Gaza, South Sudan, Ukraine and elsewhere are having their lives taken, their futures destroyed.
For the children of Ukraine abducted by Russian forces, we must demand their immediate safe return to their families, to their homes and homeland.
Supporters Include :
The Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO)
The Labour Party
The Social Democrats Party
Dublin North City Branch (INTO)
Ivana Bacik TD Dublin Bay South (Leader, Labour party)
Duncan Smith TD Dublin Fingal East (Foreign Affairs Spokesperson, Labour party)
Marie Sherlock TD Dublin Central (Health Spokesperson Labour party)
Cian O’Callaghan TD Dublin Bay North (Foreign Affairs Spokesperson, the Social Democrats)
John Lyons Dublin City Councillor (Independent Left)
Lesley Byrne Dublin City Councillor (Social Democrats)
Tanya Vyhovsky State Senator, Vermont, USA
European Network for Solidarity with Ukraine (ENSU)
Irish Left With Ukraine (ILWU)
Individual Personal Supporters Include :
Nóirín Greene (Senior Irish Trade Unionist)
Des Derwin, Vice Chair, SIPTU Dublin District Council
Tadhg Mac Pháidín, Teachers’ Club (Cumann na Múinteoirí) and INTO
Gregor Kerr Dublin North City INTO
Joanne Doyle, District 14 CEC Rep INTO
Máire English, District 4 CEC Rep INTO
Máire Lineen, District 15 CEC Rep INTO
Peter O’Toole, District 7 CEC Rep INTO
Seán Mullin, Chair INTO Lisburn Branch
Sinéad Dowling, Craobh Dhún Laoghaire INTO
Feargal Brougham, Dublin North East INTO
Joe Duffy, Blanchardstown Branch INTO
Caroline Farrell, Dublin Tolka INTO
Noelle Moran, ASTI Global Solidarity Committee
Kevin Doyle, Irish Writers Union
Conor Kostick, Executive member Irish Writers Union
James Kearney, Dún Laoghaire Labour Party
Spark Deeley, illustrator
Paddy Cole, Chairperson, Labour Party Trade Union Group
Tracie Tobin District 13 CEC Rep INTO
Kate Relihan, Blanchardstown Branch, INTO
Statement issued by the general secretary of British TUC Paul Nowak and other information :
International Actions for Ukraine’s Stolen Children, June 1 2025
Resources :
European Parliament Resolution, May 8 2025 : Return of Ukrainian children forcibly transferred and deported by Russia
Justice for Ukraine – Bring the Stolen Children Home June 1, 12.30pm, The Spire, O’Connell Street Dublin 1 – Updated with Fresh Endorsements, May 28
Justice for Ukraine – Bring the Stolen Children Home June 1, 12.30pm, The Spire, O’Connell Street Dublin 1
Part of a Day of Action on June 1 2025, International Day for Children
Assemble Sunday June 1, 12.30pm The Spire, O’Connell Street
Statement, Ivana Bacik TD, Labour Party Leader
“‘Since 2014, it is known that Russia has abducted nearly 20,000 Ukrainian children. Protests against this barbaric war crime are occurring all over the world, and Russia’s criminal actions have been condemned in the European Parliament and across EU Member States. I commend all activists who are taking part in protests against Russia’s abduction and deportation of Ukrainan children. I have raised this issue in Dáil Éireann (the Irish parliament) and have demanded that the Irish government takes appropriate action to express the strongest possible condemnation of Russian war crimes.’”
Statement, John Boyle, General Secretary, Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO)
“ The INTO endorses the campaign to end the forceful transfer & deportation of Ukrainian children & return them all, ending the enforced Russification process & militarisation”
Supporters Include :
The Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO)
The Labour Party
The Social Democrats Party
Ivana Bacik TD Dublin Bay South (Leader, Labour party)
Duncan Smith TD Dublin Fingal East (Foreign Affairs Spokesperson, Labour party)
Marie Sherlock TD Dublin Central (Health Spokesperson Labour party)
John Lyons Dublin City Councillor (Independent Left)
Lesley Byrne Dublin City Councillor (Social Democrats)
Tanya Vyhovsky State Senator, Vermont, USA
European Network for Solidarity with Ukraine (ENSU)
Irish Left With Ukraine (ILWU)
Individual Personal Supporters Include :
Nóirín Greene (Senior Irish Trade Unionist)
Des Derwin, Vice Chair, SIPTU Dublin District Council
Tadhg Mac Pháidín, Teachers’ Club (Cumann na Múinteoirí) and INTO
Gregor Kerr Dublin North City INTO
Joanne Doyle, District 14 CEC Rep INTO
Máire English, District 4 CEC Rep INTO
Máire Lineen, District 15 CEC Rep INTO
Peter O’Toole, District 7 CEC Rep INTO
Seán Mullin, Chair INTO Lisburn Branch
Sinéad Dowling, Craobh Dhún Laoghaire INTO
Feargal Brougham, Dublin North East INTO
Joe Duffy, Blanchardstown Branch INTO
Caroline Farrell, Dublin Tolka INTO
Noelle Moran, ASTI Global Solidarity Committee
Kevin Doyle, Irish Writers Union
Conor Kostick, Executive member Irish Writers Union
James Kearney, Dún Laoghaire Labour Party
Spark Deeley, illustrator
Paddy Cole, Chairperson, Labour Party Trade Union Group
Statement issued by the general secretary of British TUC Paul Nowak and other information :
International Actions for Ukraine’s Stolen Children, June 1 2025
Resources :
European Parliament Resolution, May 8 2025 : Return of Ukrainian children forcibly transferred and deported by Russia
Justice for Ukraine – Bring the Stolen Children Home June 1, 12.30pm, The Spire, O’Connell Street Dublin 1
Justice for Ukraine – Bring the Stolen Children Home June 1, 12.30pm, The Spire, O’Connell Street Dublin 1
Part of a Day of Action on June 1 2025, International Day for Children
Assemble Sunday June 1, 12.30pm The Spire, O’Connell Street
Statement, Ivana Bacik TD, Labour Party Leader
“‘Since 2014, it is known that Russia has abducted nearly 20,000 Ukrainian children. Protests against this barbaric war crime are occurring all over the world, and Russia’s criminal actions have been condemned in the European Parliament and across EU Member States. I commend all activists who are taking part in protests against Russia’s abduction and deportation of Ukrainan children. I have raised this issue in Dáil Éireann (the Irish parliament) and have demanded that the Irish government takes appropriate action to express the strongest possible condemnation of Russian war crimes.’”
Statement, John Boyle, General Secretary, Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO)
“ The INTO endorses the campaign to end the forceful transfer & deportation of Ukrainian children & return them all, ending the enforced Russification process & militarisation”
Supporters Include :
The Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO)
The Labour Party
Ivana Bacik TD (Leader, Labour Party)
John Lyons Dublin City Councillor (Independent Left)
Lesley Byrne Dublin City Councillor (Social Democrats)
Nóirín Greene (Senior Irish Trade Unionist)
Des Derwin, Vice Chair, SIPTU Dublin District Council
Tadhg Mac Pháidín, Teachers’ Club (Cumann na Múinteoirí)
Gregor Kerr (INTO)
European Network for Solidarity with Ukraine (ENSU)
Irish Left With Ukraine (ILWU)
Statement issued by the general secretary of British TUC Paul Nowak and other information :
International Actions for Ukraine’s Stolen Children, June 1 2025
Resources :
European Parliament Resolution, May 8 2025 : Return of Ukrainian children forcibly transferred and deported by Russia
County Meath Group Delivers 107th Vehicle to Ukraine for humanitarian use : Trim (Ireland) to Lviv (Ukraine)
This report, written by Tim O’Brien, comes from the Irish Times, May 16 2025
Meath-based Ukraine support group passes milestone of 100 vehicles delivered
‘Lviv is a very strange place now with almost no men, just women and young women tending the graves’
Link :
Meath Based Ukraine Support Group Delivers 107th Vehicle to Ukraine for humanitarian use
A Co Meath-based group has just returned from Ukraine where they delivered their 107th vehicle to the war-torn country for humanitarian use.
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine the group has delivered four-wheel drive vehicles, ambulances, buses and vans, most of them filled with medical supplies.
The vehicles are used by the army mainly in ferrying injured soldiers and civilians to hospital from either the front line or from Russian drone attacks.
The latest convoy of vehicles left Trim on May 3rd with 16 vehicles and 31 drivers taking turns to drive through France, the Netherlands, Poland and on to Lviv in western Ukraine.
Volunteer driver David Duignan of Dunderry, who has been on a number of such trips said the experience was emotional, having visited a cemetery in Lviv where more than 1,000 new graves of Ukrainian soldiers, added since the war broke out, are accompanied by images of the young men who died.
Read the rest of this entry »New pope breaks with Francis to support Kyiv and ceasefire push
Credit where credit is due :
New pope breaks with Francis to support Kyiv and ceasefire push – Financial Times
Christopher Miller in Kyiv and Amy Kazmin in Rome
Days after his election as head of Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV calls Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Pope Leo XIV has called Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss Ukrainian children abducted by Russia and a western-backed 30-day ceasefire, in a shift from the previous pontiff who had struck a more neutral stance on Moscow’s war. Ukraine’s president said on Monday that his first conversation with the new pope, who was elected last week, was “very warm and truly substantive” and thanked him for his support.
“We deeply value his words about the need to achieve a just and lasting peace for our country and the release of prisoners,” he said. The Vatican confirmed the two men had spoken on the phone but declined to provide any further details. “I carry in my heart the sufferings of the beloved Ukrainian people,” Pope Leo said on Sunday, and called for “an authentic, just and lasting peace as soon as possible”. “May all the prisoners be freed and may the children return to their families,” he added. His explicit support for Ukraine in its years-long war against Russia’s invasion was met with appreciation from Ukrainians and especially the country’s Catholics.
Polls: Trump’s approval rates at 100 days slump – Everywhere, including Ukraine and the USA
Opinion poll numbers are very bad for the rapist-gangster US President Donald Trump. Details below come from Ukraine and Trump’s homeland, the USA.
Nearly 90% of Ukrainians do not trust Donald Trump, who is now marking his first 100 days as President of the United States.
Source :
100 Days of Trump and 90% of Ukrainians
Each year, the New Europe Center commissions an opinion poll. As part of the tradition, we ask Ukrainians how much they trust various foreign leaders.
Although Trump had not yet been inaugurated at the time of the last opinion poll, the New Europe Center still asked respondents for their opinion about him. The result was fairly optimistic — last year, nearly half (44.6%) of Ukrainians expressed trust in the new American leader.
Some might have considered this level of trust too low. However, compared to other European countries, the Ukrainian assessment was actually quite high. A few months before our opinion poll, the Pew Research Center found that only 16% of people in France trusted Trump, 30% in the UK, and the highest support came from Hungary, at 37%.
This relatively high score in Ukraine was seen as a reflection of general disappointment with the hesitant policy of Joe Biden’s administration toward supporting Ukraine, as well as hopes for peace based on the promises made by the newly elected president.
Read the rest of this entry »British Supreme Court Quashes a progressive Scottish Law protecting human rights of Transgender People- Sinn Féin Confusion
David Cullinane TD (Sinn Féin, Waterford), his party’s health spokesperson, seems to believe that bigoted legal discrimination against transgender people, a tiny vulnerable minority, is OK – in his own words it is “common sense”.
Cullinane’s statement below is senseless in more ways than one. A bluesky correspondent observes :
When Sinn Féin in the 6 threw trans people under the British terf(*) bus recently there may have still been some doubt where they’re at. This removes any doubt.
This is a Sinn Féin TD arguing for the removal of Irish citizen’s rights using a British court decision in aid of that position. #Ireland
Link :
https://bsky.app/profile/uilliammac.bsky.social/post/3lmxfqzprjc2r
- terf = (Trans Exclusionary Reactionary Feminist or Trans Exclusionary Radical Feminist)
It’s remarkably embarrassing that Cullinane, as a republican, has no idea how the British state is constituted. A Brit court delivered this judgment. It overturned a Scottish High Court decision. That said, many Scottish independence supporters, for example around the reactionary Alba Party founded by the late Alex Salmond after he was accused of rape and sexual assault, are also cheering this decision – brought to us by the same Brit court that killed off the prospect of a second independence referendum in Scotland.
Transphobia is destroying progressive movements everywhere.
Luckily, transphobia is unpopular in many parts of Ireland.
Read the rest of this entry »‘Do you like being shackled?’ Data shows ‘Trump slump’ of foreign tourists avoiding the US – Alternet.org
P:olitical Poison is spreading – across the globe police state practices are mushrooming. The articles below paint a frightening picture of Donald Trump’s USA.
‘Do you like being shackled?’ Data shows ‘Trump slump’ of foreign tourists avoiding the US
Link :
Do You Like Being Shackled? Data shows ‘Trump slump’ of foreign tourists avoiding the US
According to preliminary government data released on Tuesday, visits to the United States from abroad declined by 11.6 percent in March compared to the same month last year, with international arrivals from China seeing a decrease of nearly 1 percent.
Wolfgang Georg Arlt, the CEO of the China Outbound Tourism Research Institute, told ABC that the number of leisure trips taken by Chinese citizens to destinations such as Disneyland, Hawaii and New York is significantly declining and is unlikely to rebound until after President Donald Trump has left office. He referred to this trend as the “Trump Slump.”
The U.S. tourism sector anticipated a strong year in 2025 for foreign visitors. After a significant increase in international arrivals in 2024, some predictions suggested that this year’s numbers could match those seen before the COVID pandemic.
However, just three months into the year, there has been a sharp decline in international arrivals. Amid reports of tourists being detained at the border, many travelers from other countries are opting to avoid the U.S. in favor of other destinations. Reacting to the administration’s harsh immigration policies, several nations have updated their travel recommendations regarding the U.S. Recently, Germany amended its advisory to stress that having a visa or entry waiver does not ensure admission into the country. The UK Foreign Office also updated its guidance to highlight the importance of adhering to all regulations, noting that U.S. authorities strictly enforce entry rules and violations may lead to arrest or detention.
Read the rest of this entry »
Tomás Ó Flatharta 