Let me recap on what I think is the effectiveness of the idea of Real Democracy Now / Democracia Real Ya element of the 15-M movement. When it works, it engages people as citizens - but not merely as formally constituted political subjects but also as the primary constituents of society- and enables them to develop [...]

The commenter Tamarind left this comment on Niamh Kelly’s June 2nd post Violence in Barcelona. See also Real Democracy Ireland about Sunday J19 Protests in Dublin, Cork, Galway and Limerick. Also Hugh Green’s translated article on the Euro Pact by Juan Torres López and Alberto Garzón Espinosa
SEQUEL: PROTESTERS BLOCK ACCESS TO CATALAN PARLIAMENT AND JOSTLE [...]

It’s fascinating to see the dynamic of the critique of Brian Lenihan that has been offered over the last few days.
We started early over on the CLR, granted, though neither Garibaldy or myself in the day of and after Lenihan’s death did more than note firstly that this was a tragedy for him and his [...]

The June edition of An Phoblacht is out now.
Contents:
Editorial: From Wolfe Tone to today
THE NEW MP FOR WEST BELFAST, PAUL MASKEY
THE 1981 HUNGER STRIKE
COLLUSION AND THE ASSASSINATION OF A CIVIL RIGHTS LAWYER
NEW TD JONATHAN O’BRIEN - ‘The Dáil’s in Dire Need of Reform’
NEW MAYOR OF BELFAST NIALL Ó DONNGHAILE - Mayoral chain on young shoulders
THE [...]

Gideon Levy is a veteran journalist and columnist with the liberal Israeli daily, Ha’aretz. Along with Amira Hass, he is one of the few Israeli journalists - one of the few Western journalists - to take a long term interest in the Gaza Strip. His book The Punishment of Gaza is a valuable collection [...]

Whatever you wish to call it -euro-pact, Pact for the Euro, Euro Plus Pact- and from here on it will be known simply as the Euro Pact, public knowledge of its scope and function, in Ireland at least, has been extremely limited.
Whilst both the parties presently in government, and those that preceded them, campaigned [...]

Open Letter From Britain-Vietnam Friendship Society
Secretary: Len Aldis
To: Board of Directors
Monsanto Company
800 North Lindbergh Boulevard
St Louis. MO 63167
c/o David F. Snively. Secretary
Ref: 10 August 1961 - 10 August 2011
Dear Mr Snively,
Fifty years ago this August, United States Forces began spraying an herbicide manufactured by your company over South Vietnam. During the ten-year period, eighty [...]

After a grueling 152.8 miles, runners from Ballyhea in West Cork, will arrive at the gates of the Dail today 3rd June at 1-00pm to hand in their petition against the policy of the Irish government bailing out the banks.
The runners will be joined by people from Ballyhea and their friends from Dublin in [...]

Friday saw continuation of protests across Spain against the current political system in the country despite the ridiculous attempt by the Spanish government to place a ban on all protests coming up to the elections. It also brought with it one of the first clashes with police since the movement began. Barcelona was the site [...]

One of the most interesting aspects of the protests in Spain has been the emergence of the debate on democracy. Since September 11, democracy, or at least the Western capitalist conception of democracy, has been held as a sacrosanct ideal, heroically achieved by the people of Europe, America and the ‘West’ in general.
George W Bush [...]