Archive for the ‘Ernest Mandel’ Category
Greek Lessons For the Irish Far-Left – Maybe the current government is wobbling again?
Plenty of interesting ideas here for fighting left – the current Kenny-Gilmore Government might not be as stable as it appears, despite its bloated parliamentary majority.
Apparently, former Taoiseach Brian Cowen was none too happy with the two nude paintings of his corpulent frame hung by a “guerilla artist” in the National Gallery in 2009. Our nakedness can be a great leveler, and how quickly the veneer of unchallengeable respectability fades away when an image is planted of you naked sitting on a toilet gripping loo-roll.
We are presently seeing a slow striptease by Minister for Finance Michael Noonan of the impenetrable and seemingly interminable promissory note negotiations. We still don’t know who is negotiating on behalf of Ireland, though apparently it’s employees of the Department of Finance, the Central Bank and the NTMA.
But the shield of “technical and complicated reengineering” of the debts shouldered by us all in respect of the promissory notes given to three institutions, including Anglo, is slowly being lowered as we get a sinking feeling that negotiations, that have been…
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Labour MEP Nessa Childers Calls for a General Election
Childers call for a general election should be endorsed by all left TD’s opposed on principle to coalition with the right.
LP MEP Nessa Childers tweeted last night in relation to the latest news that the ECB is ruling out this particular ploy by the Irish government. Hmmm… not looking good for the ambitions of the latter in relation to these matters.
Very depressing news re ECB. The people need to be consulted about the future at this point. That means a general election.
That’s a very good point about democratic legitimation.
Which State Has Invaded Nine out of Ten Countries on Earth?
Or what quality does this select band of states share?
Andorra, Belarus, Bolivia, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of Congo, Guatemala, Ivory Coast, Kyrgyzstan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Mali, Marshall Islands, Monaco, Mongolia, Paraguay, Sao Tome and Principe, Sweden, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Vatican City?
Here is a link to the unsurprising answer :
British have invaded nine out of ten countries so look out Luxembourg
And Union Jack wavers wonder why they provoke ridicule :
Germans Laugh at British Absurdity
Not seen much on British TV because this
piece was deemed a potentially anti-monarchy satire and so was not promoted too much in the UK.
Update :
The Journal.ie writer did not mention regarding the brilliant sketch “Dinner For One”: Freddy Frinton was an anti-fascist who blocked the screening of his sketch in Germany for 30 years.
And finally, Hitler comments on the Union Jack fluttering in Belfast :
A major mistake by the Red Green Alliance – International Viewpoint – online socialist magazine
http://www.internationalviewpoint.org/spip.php?article2820 Lessons here for all forces favourable to building new anti-capitalist parties – some issues are non-negotiable principles.
“Greek Democracy is in Tatters” – Tariq Ali on the Future of Greece and the Left’s Role Today
Tariq Ali on the Future of Greece
Good stuff here :
What must be the Left’s role today?
To unite against the enemy. To refrain from fighting each other. To build the broadest possible united front against the collaborators who put the interests of bankers before those of their own people. That is the first and most important task. Sectarianism is always useless but in these times is a crime and not just in Greece, though sectarianism with Greek characteristics is never a pleasant sight.
http://www.counterpunch.org/2012/11/15/tariq-ali-on-the-future-of-greece/
Time to Make our Voices Heard, Say Organisers of November 24th Anti-Austerity March
Time to Make our Voices Heard, Say Organisers of November 24th Anti-Austerity March
The groups organising the Anti-Austerity March on November 24th today (Monday, November 19th) held a joint press conference.
Chairing the press conference, Tommy McKearney, speaking on behalf of the Campaign Against Household and Water Taxes, said:
“The CAH&WT is urging all campaign members and supporters to take part in the national pre-budget anti-austerity demonstration in Dublin on Saturday 24th November. With the OECD reporting Ireland’s unemployment rate as the fourth highest among developed countries and clear evidence of household incomes falling, December’s budget must not cause still more damage through further cut-backs. The CAH&WT message is straight-forward : The Coalition must be told loud and clear on 24th November that it was not elected to impoverish the people“, Mr McKearney said.
Speaking on behalf of the Communities Against Cuts campaign, Lynda Scully said:
“This year’s budget will cut €1.7 billion from public expenditure. If the last five budgets are anything to go by, this will be disproportionately targeted at the poorest and most disadvantaged communities, devastating the community sector by removing local services and jobs. If this is allowed to happen we will see closures throughout the country in youth services, child-care, elder care, training and education projects, local and community development and drugs projects. This march is for the people to stand up and let the government know the last five budgets have not worked, and nor will this one”.
John Bissett of the Spectacle of Defiance and Hope said:
“On Saturday November 24th community groups from all over Dublin and beyond will be joining the Spectacle of Defiance and Hope to articulate their anger at the continuation of austerity measures which will be further exacerbated in the upcoming Budget”.
Michael O’Reilly of the Dublin Council of Trade Unions said:
“After five austerity budgets, 300,000 of our fellow citizens are unemployed and one million people are living in deprivation. Yet on December 5th the Government is set to introduce the sixth austerity budget since the onset of the crisis. That is why we are asking people to join us on November 24th and send a clear message to Government Buildings in advance of the Budget: We need to change direction and start focussing on growth and investment rather than destructive cuts”.
ENDS
For further information contact:
John Bissett (Spectacle of Defiance and Hope) 087-9889132
David Connolly (Communities Against Cuts) 087-9073573
Gregor Kerr (Campaign Against Household and Water Taxes) 086-1501151
Alex Klemm (DCTU) 087-2606139
The November 24th Anti-Austerity March will take place at 1 pm on Saturday, November 24th, starting from Parnell Square
Tomás Ó Flatharta 