dissent

“How many times has a labour movement supported a liberation movement, only to find itself betrayed on the day of liberation?”

Pete Baker on December 22, 2013, 4:53 pm

| Readers 13

Speaking of dissent… The death of Nelson Mandela appears to have opened the door to some potentially significant criticism of the current leadership of the ANC. As the BBC reports, the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa), the largest trade union in South Africa, has withdrawn its support for the ruling party of government. From the BBC report The BBC’s Milton Nkosi in Johannesburg says this should be a wake-up call for the ANC not to take its anti-apartheid support base for …

Importance of Dissent: “The fool’s role is to speak truth to power…”

Mick Fealty on July 5, 2013, 7:56 am

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Interview with Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, of the Smurfitt Business School at UCD. He identifies three things to learn from the crisis: articulating the relationship between business and the wider society it operates within; Ireland’s overdependence on retail and construction and the need to build a more export led economy; and third the importance of dissent. Professor Ó hÓgartaigh’s presentation on the role of dissent is, at base, about understanding the utility of the fool within business… Here’s some of the …

“The Facebook campaign is one tactic…”

Pete Baker on June 9, 2012, 11:12 pm

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In response to the anarchy in Londonderry, and elsewhere, the PSNI have launched a Facebook campaign… Police are urging young people from all communities to help drive the figures down even further with help from social media. “The Facebook campaign is one tactic designed specifically to reach out to those over 16 who may have information,” said Assistant Chief Constable Drew Harris. “These groups are self-serving, self-named, accountable to no one, elected by no one and they are carrying out …

“Sinn Féin in my opinion has been slowly sedated…”

Pete Baker on May 24, 2012, 2:49 pm

| Readers 98

In light of Mick’s post, and now Brian’s follow-up, it’s worth noting an Irish News report today of Ballymoney Councillor Anita Cavlan’s resignation from Sinn Féin “over concerns it is failing prisoners”. From the Irish News report The Ballymoney councillor said she believed Sinn Féin had “lost direction” and “should be doing more to represent the prisoners”. “Sinn Féin in my opinion has been slowly sedated and now has been rendered unconscious by the intoxication of an illusionary power to govern,” she said. According …

POTD – No Bicycles

Moochin Photoman on July 20, 2011, 12:27 am

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(amongst other things) Moochin PhotomanPhotographer and visual artist based in Belfast. I have facilitated community based workshops with groups as diverse as visually impaired individuals in Dungannn, Travellers across Northern Ireland, Young Offenders and many community groups across Belfast. My work has exhibited extensively here in Northern Ireland in group and individual shows and has been shown in North America and i had my first solo international exhibition in New Zealand. I have been the recipient of a number of …

“they’ve all sold out on the Irish people.”

Pete Baker on May 16, 2011, 3:32 pm

| Readers 797

A Newshound transcribed report of the alleged assault and attempted intimidation of former Sinn Féin member, Colm Lynagh, in Clones last weekend includes this snippet. Gerry Adams delivered the oration at Jim Lynagh’s funeral. At that time, Martin McGuiness was already engaged in secret meetings with MI6 agent Michael Oakley. Yet Adams told mourners at the graveside: “Anyone who does business with the British, the SDLP or the Free State establishment are fools as they’ve all sold out on the Irish people.” …

“We don’t approve of young children engaging in this type of activity…”

Pete Baker on March 30, 2011, 8:43 pm

| Readers 55

The Belfast Telegraph has an update from the Ti Chulainn Cultural Centre in Mullaghbawn, south Armagh – where children, some of primary school age, were photographed in October wearing balaclavas, combat jackets and trousers, dark glasses and berets, and brandishing replica weapons including AK47s and Armalites. From the Belfast Telegraph update The Ti Chulainn centre in south Armagh has said that children dressed up as paramilitaries armed with replica weapons on its premises hadn’t “been part of an organised event” in the …

“sympathy is not the same as unequivocal support”

Blank on October 6, 2010, 7:58 pm

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Pete has noted coverage of ESRC Northern Ireland 2010 Westminster Election Survey. The report came with shock and awe coverage: Newsletter: ALARMING new figures show that 14 per cent of nationalists sympathise with dissident republican terrorists. UTV: The survey by the University of Liverpool shows that 14% of the nationalist community have some “sympathy for the reasons” why groups like the Real IRA, the Continuity IRA and Óglaigh na hÉireann continue their campaign of violence. BBC: Fourteen per cent of …

Unity? No chance. This is Republicanism

Blank on July 2, 2010, 8:52 pm

| Readers 28

I’ve been loath to touch the following as there is loads of gaming going on around it and it is difficult to identify where the truth is. So take a pinch of salt before reading on and making up your own mind. From what I understand during a recent meeting of the Familes Friends and ex-Prisoners group on Republican Prisoners, a member of the Republican Network for Unity (RNU) had property stolen. Amongst this property was an alleged internal communication …