Welcome to Belfast Gonzo, a new poltical blog from Northern Ireland. With only two posts up so far, it promises to add greatly to the ongoing online debate. It’s well worth the read! Thanks to reader Howard for the tip! Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty
Contraversialist Michael Moore looks set to hit town for the Feile an Phobail festival – with what looks like an ample supply of wind-ups, up his sleeve! Just found an interesting, but very lengthy critique of Moore’s career and polemical style in Dissent magazine. In fact he seems to be breaking out in the news everywhere. Peter Cuthbertson’s none too complimentary. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics …
Though this interview of biologist David Sloan Wilson, may seem a hundred miles from Northern Ireland, it does throw up some interesting questions on groups and co-operation. Whilst he is clearly talking about micro-organisms here, much of his work has been self consciously looking for analogies with human social behaviour: The fundamental problem of social life is that selfishness beats altruism within a group. But altruistic groups trump selfish groups. It’s amazing that you can take such a controversial theory …
It doesn’t seem to get any better for Trimble’s UUP. Plans had been afoot to get the disciplinary hearing on the conduct of three rebel MP’s, when the party’s Chief Executive Alastair Patterson was pulled in for questioning on allegations of corruption. Jeffrey Donaldson has said he believes this simply adds to the discredit of his party’s internal procedures. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the …
William Scholes has an interesting piece on the Ulster identity of the Ulster Unionist party. The historical crest on the side of the party’s headquarters possibly stands out more to Nationalist eyes than to a Unionist Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty
Thanks to the bloggers at Abbey Road and Occasional Victories. We also been getting hits from David Steven’s etcetera blog who’s post on BBC journalist Andrew Gilligan has been attracting attention from many of the bigger bloggers in the US. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty
John Laird (Lord Artigarvan) reviews one of the quietest and uncontroversial Twelth of July Orange celebrations in many years, and outlines moves afoot to develop cultural outreach and allow it to become more widely accepted as a celebration by all sections of the community in Northern Ireland. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, …
The next high profile trip to the new Law Courts at Laganside in Belfast may result from a threatened action by Sinn Fein to force Lisburn council to adopt power sharing arrangements that have become increasingly a feature of local government in Northern Ireland. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and …
In an attempt to get the knowledge revolution to operate more smoothly on both sides of the border a new website called ExpertiseIreland.com has been launched by the Trade and Business Development Body to promote closer relationships between business and academia. Oh, and it speaks eight languages, including Ulster Scots! Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking …
Environment blogger Matt Prescott reports on the success of the plastic bag tax in the Republic and the extension to that notorious fouler of footpaths, chewing gum. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty
Several of the Unionists we spoke to in the run up to the publication of A Long Peace?, drew a direct analogy between the moral outlook of rural Orangemen and the typical rural Fianna Fail voter in the Republic. This uniformity of moral outlook is probably most eloquently demonstrated in the fact that to all intents and purposes abortion remains outlawed in both jurisdictions. The High Court in Belfast recently rejected an attempt by the Family Planning Association to pressurise …
Perhaps there is a long term solution to the annual marching season. Striking possibly the most conciliatory note from Sinn Fein in the roll out of their outreach policy, Mary Nelis has hinted that Republicans need to come to terms with “…the cultural identity of the unionist and protestant people and the manner in which they express their identity.” Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the …
After last month’s abortive move against the rebel UUP MP’s the party has been hard pressed to recompose an disciplinary committee that is acceptable to all parties and thus litigation proof. Tomorrow’s meeting of the party’s constituency Chairs and Vice Chairs on the subject, may provide some insight as to the feelings of the constituency associations as opposed to the directly nominated UUC. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet …
Barry White is frustrated by a lack of realism in current messages coming from Nationalist politicians. What’s needed he argues is a decisive break with the past. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty
Further to the discussion here on Slugger, Colin Harvey advocates fast track and comprehensive implimentation of local Human Rights legislation as an integral part of the Belfast Agreement. …an institution which owes its existence to the Agreement should respect the conflict management strategy which it reflects. It does not promote multi-ethnic integration as the way forward. Many may regret that it does not, but that argument has little support in Northern Ireland. This means accepting that Irish nationalists and British …
Fianna Fail Senator Martin MAnsergh argues that the recent feud within the UUP is indicative of an historical resistance of rebel elements within the party to accept simple majority decisions. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty
Gregory Campbell continues to question the value of the uncapped costs of the Blood Sunday inquiry. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty
Both the SDLP and the Unionist parites called for the publication of the Chilcott inquiry into the break-in at Castlereagh police station last summer. For ver shortly afterwards most Unionists have been convinced that the break in was orchestrated by the IRA, and Sinn Fein have been just as adamant that they had nothing to do with it. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider …
New York based journalist Stephen McKinley, took a trip north of the border at the weekend to witness the slowly diminishing custom of the Orange march amongst the high rise blocks of Toronto. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty
Brian Walker believes that the fear of future open ended inquiries means that the Human Rights agenda has been all but abandoned by the British government. He pleads for renewed backing for its commissioner Brice Dickson. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty
