The 1916 Proclamation

On the centenary anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising it is worth reflecting on what has happened since then and the aspirations of the proclamation to guarantee equal rights and equal opportunities to all its citizens and cherishing all of the children of the nation equally.

The Rising itself was doomed to failure from the start but as with life itself often the most unpredictable and unexpected things happen because despite the lack of initial public support, after the executions sympathies swung the other way and as they say the rest was history and the ripples spread out, because it has been said the fight for independence of India was inspired by the Irish Rising.

External Related Links: See also: 1916, left republicanism, anarchism and class struggle | Revolutionary Experiments In Ireland 1917-1923 | Reclaim the Vision of 1916 | Ireland 2016 | Official Centenary Programme
Historical: James Connolly - Labour in Irish History (1910)

Foreign media coverage of the reaction here

The anti-abortion movement was not cowed by the outcry over Savita's tragic death nor by the huge popular response marching in November. The Government plans legislation only to allow abortion when the woman's life is danger and the criteria for establishing that are not yet known. All opinion polls on the subject show a huge majority in favour of liberalisation of the laws -- a majority which is also rising over the years. The abortion rights movement has been publicly quiet for some time now while the opposition is loud and in public view. Can the movement for abortion rights summon the necessary militancy to achieve its objectives?

Maghberry prison

Maghaberry jail is where Irish Republican prisoners in the Six Counties who did not agree with the Good Friday Agreement remained while the Provisions walked out under the terms of the Agreement. Subsequently their numbers have been swelled by others also opposed to the GFA. Although the British and the Northern Ireland Executive's Justice Minister deny they are political prisoners, they call them "Separate" because they are separated from non-political prisoners within the jail. After broken agreements, ongoing harassment and violent and physically intrusive body searches, the prisoners now escalate their protest campaign.

Related Links:
The August agreement | RNU about prisoners in Maghaberry | Justice Minister defends body searches | Statement Maghaberry CIRA prisoners | United solidarity protest outside Maghaberry Jail 5th June 2011 (with Pól Mac Adam singing “Back Home in Derry”, lyrics written by Bobby Sands | “When I Get Out”, track from Ciaran Murphy’s CD “When We Take Control“ |

It has been said that we live in a business run society which is characterised by business parties masquerading as political parties and a 'political class' that implements policies which more often than not puts the interests of 'big business' ahead of the well being of the general populace. The unprecedented nature of bank bailouts in this country along with continued and debatable payments to bondholders with an apparent absence of serious public consultation let alone a referendum on matters with such wide-ranging and generational consequences seems to lend some credence to this characterisation of modern society.

Related Links:
Morgan Kelly tells it like it is AGAIN. Essential reading. | Show me the money | Tahrir comes to Spain | Reflections on President Obama's Visit to Ireland. | Come celebrate a decade of resistance to Shell | willing slaves |
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Phil is a journalist; Caroline a qualified psychotherapist. Kevin has just graduated with an MA in political theory and for Julie, music is the cornerstone of her life.

They are successful, confident, down to earth people.

But they’ve seen people, even their friends and families, look at them with fear and suspicion because of "those things"; because they had mental health problems.

Related Links:
Amnesty Ireland's Mental Health Page | Mental Health Ireland | SpunOut.ie's Healthy Mind Page | Head Strong | Grow | Aware | The Samaritans |