Friday, Jan 27th 2012
“What distinguishes The Wire most of all, however, setting it apart even from other high quality HBO productions, is that it is driven by a coherent worldview, by a social and historical analysis. The series signals the return of the grand narrative to the TV screen, but at a level of complexity and nuance never [...]
This article analyses the ‘assurances‘ in the specific area of security and defence that the government is persuading EU leaders to sign up to, ostensibly to allay concerns in Ireland about the Lisbon Treaty. These ‘assurances’ are, in reality, simply political statements that, in themselves, have no legal status. They are only legally valid if [...]
This post was written and published on the 12th June last on the Irish Penal Reform Trust Director’s blog. It is being republished here with the kind permission of IPRT.
In response to a number of serious incidents at Mountjoy this week, IPRT was asked to make public comment on a number of radio programmes. [...]
HOW AND WHY FIANNA FAIL AND ITS ALLIES HAVE BROUGHT THE IRISH ECONOMY TO ITS KNEES
Introduction
The day after Ireland was officially declared to be in recession (Thursday 25th September, 2008) Taoiseach Brian Cowen was quick to reiterate his oft-repeated claim that global factors were behind Ireland’s current economic woes. “What is clearly recorded are global [...]
One of the most encouraging signs in these days of a fractious, fractured Left is the success of a small number of websites devoted to fraternal discussion among socialists. These include Dave’s Part, Socialist Unity, and Liam MacUaid’s web page as well as at least one fan site.
This could surely be a momentous moment for [...]
Angry Arab on developments in Iran after the election
As’ad AbuKhalil (who runs Angry Arab) writes from Oslo on the Iranian situation, and how it is being viewed by Western politicians and the media.
“Typically, I support neither side in the Iranian situation: but I support those Iranians who are struggling against both sides. I have [...]
Sinn Fein Held its Own….Just
Sinn Fein’s performance in the June 5th elections should be measured by their ability to just about maintain the levels they enjoyed in their 2004 surge, where it trebled its council representation and secured a Euro seat, says Eoin Ó’Broin.
“The fairest assessment of our electoral performance in the 26 counties in [...]
Shell To Sea protester at Glengad, being thrown off the Van Oord ship Rasenden Bol by Shell Security. He hit his back on a protruding bit of metal on the way down and was injured.
Also, Pat O’Donnell’s account of the sinking of the Iona Isle.
“At 2am on Thursday morning, Pat O’Donnell’s boat the [...]
Amos Elon (1926–2009)
Tony Judt’s NYRB tribute to the Israeli journalist and biographer Amos Elon:
For much of his working life Amos Elon was a journalist, employed by the liberal daily Haaretz. During the 1950s and 1960s he worked frequently as a foreign correspondent ranging from Communist Eastern Europe to Washington, D.C. He used to tell a [...]
Today, UNITE the union launched their ‘Growing the economy: A Programme for Economic Stimulus‘. It constitutes a fundamental challenge to the economic orthodoxy that dominates the current debate by outlining an alternative investment approach to the economic and fiscal crisis.
It’s premise is simple enough: Fianna Fail’s deflationary budgetary policies are not working. In fact, they [...]
