Posts Tagged ‘general’
Message of Social Movement (Ukraine) to Palestine Freedom Flotilla * Mensaje de Sotsialnyi Rukh a la Flotilla de la Libertad * Missatge de Sotsialnyi Rukh a la Flotilla de la Llibertat
Ukraine, the Ukrainian left, and the European Network for Solidarity with Ukraine (ENSU) were present in Barcelona at the farewell to the Freedom Flotilla in Gaza. A symbolic but very welcome action. We’ve made more friends. The message from our friends at Sotsialny Rukh is below :
Ucraïna, l’esquerra ucraïnesa i XESU presents a Barcelona al comiat de la Flotilla de la Llibertat a Gaza. Una acció simbòlica, però molt ben rebuda. Hem fet més amics. Ara el missatge enviat pels nostres amics de Sotsialny Ruhk:
Ucrania, la izquierda ucraniana y XESU presentes en Barcelona en la despedida de la Flotilla de la Libertad en Gaza. Una acción simbólica pero muy bien recibida. Hemos hecho más amigos. Ahora el mensaje enviado por nuestros amigos de Sotsialny Ruhk.
We write from Ukraine with respect for your courage and in solidarity with the people of Palestine. Having lived through invasion, occupation, forced displacement, and separation from our loved ones, many of us know too well what these mean. We also remember the history that has led to this day: the dispossession of the Nakba, the continuing violence and land-grabbing by settlers, the persistent denial of the right to return, and the suffocating blockade that has turned Gaza into an open-air prison. We see how civilians, women and children are disproportionately targeted, trapped on a narrow strip of land where famine has been manufactured and where homes, schools, and hospitals have become ruins. The paralysis of the so-called international community, unable or unwilling to intervene and put a stop to this madness, feels painfully familiar to us. We commend the dedication of the Freedom Flotilla, and we believe that solidarity, even when symbolic, can break the spell of inevitability. We add our voices to demands for a permanent ceasefire and an end to apartheid-like structures, for a future based on dignity, equality, and respect. May the path you embark on today become a safe passage for aid, and tomorrow, a corridor for freedom!
CATALÀ
Us escrivim des d’Ucraïna amb respecte pel vostre coratge i solidaritat amb el poble de Palestina. Havent viscut la invasió, l’ocupació, el desplaçament forçat i la separació dels nostres éssers estimats, molts de nosaltres sabem prou bé el què significa tot això.
També recordem la història que ha portat fins avui: la despossessió de la Nakba, la violència contínua i l’apropiació de terres per part dels colons, la negació persistent del dret al retorn i el bloqueig sufocant que ha convertit Gaza en una presó a l’aire lliure. Veiem com els civils, les dones i els nens són un desmesurat objectiu, atrapats en una estreta franja de terra on s’ha provocat expressament la fam i on les cases, les escoles i els hospitals s’han convertit en ruïnes. La paràlisi de l’anomenada comunitat internacional, incapaç o no disposada a intervenir i posar fi a aquesta bogeria, ens resulta dolorosament familiar.
Elogiem la dedicació de la Flotilla de la Llibertat i creiem que la solidaritat, fins i tot quan és simbòlica, pot trencar la idea d’una desgracia inevitable. Sumem les nostres veus a les demandes d’un alto el foc permanent i la fi de les estructures semblants a l’apartheid, per un futur basat en la dignitat, la igualtat i el respecte. Que el camí que empreneu avui esdevingui un pas segur per a l’ajuda i, demà, un corredor per a la llibertat!
ESPAÑOL (CASTELLANO)
Les escribimos desde Ucrania con respeto por su valentía y solidaridad con el pueblo palestino. Habiendo vivido la invasión, la ocupación, el desplazamiento forzoso y la separación de nuestros seres queridos, muchos de nosotros sabemos muy bien lo que esto significa. También recordamos la historia que ha llevado a esta situación: el despojo de la Nakba, la violencia continua y el acaparamiento de tierras por parte de los colonos, la negación persistente del derecho al retorno y el bloqueo asfixiante que ha convertido a Gaza en una prisión al aire libre. Vemos como los civiles, las mujeres y los niños son blanco de ataques desproporcionados, atrapados en una estrecha franja de tierra donde se ha provocado una hambruna y donde las casas, las escuelas y los hospitales se han convertido en ruinas. La parálisis de la llamada comunidad internacional, incapaz o poco dispuesta a intervenir y poner fin a esta locura, nos resulta dolorosamente familiar. Elogiamos la dedicación de la Flotilla de la Libertad y creemos que la solidaridad, aunque sea simbólica, puede romper el hechizo de la inevitabilidad. Sumamos nuestras voces a las demandas de un alto el fuego permanente y el fin de las estructuras similares al apartheid, por un futuro basado en la dignidad, la igualdad y el respeto. ¡Que el camino que emprenden hoy se convierta en un paso seguro para la ayuda y, mañana, en un corredor para la libertad!
‘I was raped by Mountbatten in Kincora at 11; he wasn’t a lord… to me he was king of the paedophiles’ – Journalist Chris Moore makes sensational new allegations in a new book
Chris Moore from Belfast is no ordinary journalist.
He has worked for decades on the Kincora child abuse scandal. After extensive new research he makes credible allegations about the British royal family’s Lord Mountbatten (killed by an August 1979 IRA bomb in the western Irish county of Sligo) and a wide-ranging British state cover-up.
A new book brings the story up-to-date.
Link :
Readers are recommended to go and see the film “Lost Boys” whenever they get the chance – despite the British State’s efforts to kill the story, aided and abetted by the Irish police force, An Gárda Síochána (Guardians of the Peace).
All of this is grim reading.
Robert Ballagh’s “The Thirtieth of January”: A Bloody Sunday Painting and the Troubles in the Two Bits of Ireland
In this interview the artist Robert Ballagh discusses the painting “The Thirtieth of January”, depicting Bloody Sunday in Derry in 1972. The conversation provides valuable insights into Ballagh’s personal experiences and artistic process, shedding light on the political and social context of the time.
The interview provides a unique insight into the historical and cultural significance of the painting.
Critical issues related to the Irish government’s response to the conflict, the impact of the Bloody Sunday event, and the broader social and political implications are highlighted. Ballagh’s commentary on the role of the Irish government, the impact on nationalist communities, and the establishment of the Special Criminal Court adds depth to the discussion.
Bloody Sunday Painting – the Thirtieth of January – Robert Ballagh
Thursday, January 20 2022. John Meehan interviews the artist Robert Ballagh in Number Five Arbour Hill.
We are talking about Robert’s painting : The Thirtieth of January, a representation of Bloody Sunday in Derry, January 30 1972.
John Meehan :
Why did you zone in on Derry’s Bloody Sunday , and put so much effort into making this painting? What makes it different from so many other big events during “The Troubles” in the north of Ireland, which lasted for 30 years, from 1968 to 1998?
Robert Ballagh
Well, it’s a long time ago now 50 years, but I have to say that it had an enormous effect on me, and I don’t think I’m alone with that historical experience. I suppose one thing I should say, I was only thinking about this, and I haven’t said anything about this experience to others. I’m a Dubliner. I’ve lived all my life in Dublin. But unlike most Dubliners – it wasn’t by design – I had an extraordinary rich knowledge of the North of Ireland, before the conflict began. Because I was a professional musician in a showband. We used to play at least once or twice a week in the north. So I was in every town village or city in the north that had a ballroom or ballrooms. And so I experienced the reality of life in that society, and became very aware of the sectarian differences, shall we say – the nature of the society, which people didn’t appreciate at all. I tell one very short story to illustrate that. We played fairly regularly in one of the very popular ballrooms in Belfast : Romano’s in Queen Street. We developed quite a following! In the show business vernacular the word groupie was used. These girls used follow us, they came down to Dublin once or twice to hear us. And we were playing one night in Romano’s.
After the dance, they came up and we’re talking to us. They asked “When are you playing again in Belfast?”.
I remember saying “Oh, I think we’re here next week.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yeah – we’re playing in a ballroom called the Astor” which I knew was in Smithfield.
And they said, “Oh, we can’t go there.” And I said, “Why?” – because it was a public ballroom. It wasn’t attached to any organization or anything. It was a public ballroom.
They said, “Oh, no, that’s a taig hall”
And it was the first time I realized, and we realized, that our fan base in Belfast was Protestant.
Weak Arm of the Law in the 26 County bit of Ireland – Police “Hug-a-Thug” Policy imported from the 6 County bit of Ireland
The boss of An Garda Síochána (police force in the 26 county bit of Ireland), Drew Harris, was recruited from the cops in the 6 county bit of Ireland. The people running the two states in partitioned Ireland have developed very close social, political and personal relationships since the the 1998 triumph of the Good Friday Agreement. I recently circulated details of Harris’s “Hug-a-Thug” policy towards growing far-right violence in the 26 counties to a 6 county political activist, who commented this was “reminiscent of the historic style of policing up here”.
Ruling class forces were extremely happy about the continuation of partition guaranteed by the 1998 Good Friday Agreement. They did not foresee that the foundations of partition in Ireland are more rotten than their constitutional plan conceding a Unionist Veto to a majority of the voting population of the six county state. The Brexit referendum result of 2016 lit a slow-burning fuse under the GFA structure; in the meantime we are witnessing the creation of a possible “United Ireland from Hell” which consists of knitting together the most reactionary features of both partitioned states in Ireland.
The following article from the Cedar Lounge Revolution Blog powerfully illustrates the dangers arising from importing 6 county softly-softly policing methods towards the far-right (loyalist paramilitaries), fine-tuned by Garda boss Drew Harris.
John Meehan April 22 2024
Weak Arm of the Law – Cedar Lounge Blog
Link : Weak Arm of the Law – Cedar Lounge Blog
So, Friday comes the news that the previous night:
Gardaí were called to the home of Children’s Minister Roderic O’Gorman on Thursday night when a gang of up to 12 masked men gathered outside his house and huge placards and banners were stretched across his driveway gate, along his wall and fastened to outside polls.
Read the rest of this entry »
Dublin Far-Right Racist Connections – A Sunday Independent story highlighted by Paul Murphy TD
Far-right racists regularly target Paul Murphy TD (People Before Profit), Dublin South-West. These sinister activists picket the homes of elected politicians; a few days ago they targeted the home of Green Party Minister Roderic O’Gorman, who is gay and is responsible for the housing of immigrants.
Paul Murphy observes :
Good that some media is finally drawing the obvious link between the far-right and the disgusting intimidatory scenes outside Roderic O’Gorman’s house.
This isn’t a lack of civility in politics.
It’s an organised attempt to undermine democratic rights.
https://twitter.com/paulmurphy_TD/status/1781954648292683804?t=c3ttmKhAR-_G9oNaoBVPyA&s=19
Picketing family homes is from the same playbook as burning 🔥 immigrants’ accommodation, city centre riots such as November 23 2023 in Dublin, and propaganda attacking the rights of specific national groups.
We offer one example: Ukrainians forced to live in Ireland, fleeing from Russia’s genocidal war.
Read the rest of this entry »Roscrea Co. Tipperary : “Mob shouting at tiny children as they cling terrified to their mothers”; “it is pure cruel hateful racism. no more excuses.”
January 15 2024 in Roscrea Co. Tipperary – Irish police protect Ukrainian immigrants entering accommodation as a racist mob howls abuse and threats of physical violence
Just so everyone is clear. the scenes from Roscrea show a mob shouting at tiny children as they cling terrified to their mothers. it is not about local services, it is not about resources, it is not about information. It is pure cruel hateful racism. no more excuses.
Rose Fleming on Twitter (X)
Paul Murphy TD (Dublin South-West, PBP) shows leadership :
These scenes are just the same as racist attacks on schoolchildren at the Belfast HolyCross School school in 2001 and 2002 :
For weeks, hundreds of loyalist protesters tried to stop the schoolchildren and their parents from walking to school through their area. Hundreds of riot police, backed up by British soldiers, escorted the children and parents through the protest each day. Some protesters shouted sectarian abuse and threw stones, bricks, fireworks, blast bombs and urine-filled balloons at the schoolchildren, their parents and the RUC. The “scenes of frightened Catholic schoolgirls running a gauntlet of abuse from loyalist protesters as they walked to school captured world headlines”
Belfast HolyCross Dispute
Many media reports state that Sinn Féin Tipperary TD Martin Browne and county council party colleagues are associating with the racists.
Enough is enough –
Activity like this has no place in any left-wing or anti-racist political party, full stop.
See reports here :
Roscrea Racket Hall Racist Mob – Cedar Lounge Revolution Reports
On Monday January 15 Gardaí defend immigrants entering accommodation in Roscrea, protecting them from a racist crowd. One Twitter (X) correspondent observes : “Roscrea.
Hang your heads in shame.
Thanks to Michael (Criminal) Lowry, Mattie (everything is a Conspiracy) McGrath and the two SF reps for emboldening this.” Racket Hall- John Madden
Horrific scenes this afternoon in Roscrea as terrified women and children are forced to run the gauntlet through a baying mob of anti-asylum seeking bigots. Gardaí and the Public Order Unit were in attendance in mass numbers. Gardaí remain at the scene. Racket Hall- Irish Rebel1965
The Irish Examiner report below gives us an example of Rosrea racist propaganda. The newspaper quotes a “Sinn Féin councillor” Michael Donovan. However, another SF councilor says Donovan is not a Sinn Féin councillor.
Read the rest of this entry »
Tomás Ó Flatharta 