International

Sensationalist maybe, but the Sun carries a devastating set of photographs that stands in for many thousands of people’s lives in the face of a devastating natural diaster. The Economist gives it’s leader over to a reflection on the scale of the disaster – which still seems not have registered with a lot of people. As part of a special reports their science correspondent looks breifly at what might be done in advance of another such incidence:The advice seems simple, …

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There is a centenary that will be celebrated across the world in 2005. It’s the centenary of a world-changing year that saw a combination of imagination and science that is unlikely to be equalled by any single individual again. It’s the World Centenary of the ‘miraculous year’ of a 26 year-old patent clerk in Bern, Switzerland – 2005 is Einstein YearUnlike certain self-obsessed party-political fund-raising, there are already events organised in Ireland and around the world to celebrate 1905 as …

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A tsunami early warning system for the Indian Ocean area could be set up within a year, according to yesterday’s FT. One of the most shocking things about the Boxing Day disaster, is that even where communications were good, no one knew what was on its way until it was too late. However n the short term, one of the biggest problems will be the lack of infrastructure on the ground to cope even with the aid currently being offered. …

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Darran McCann reckons that Venezuela is the most likely place the Colombian Three may have run to. According to Catriona Ruane on RTE this lunchtime, none of their defence lawyers or herself know where the three men are. 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

As Sinn Féin try to resurrect the campaign to pressurise the media, and politicians, in regard to the 3 Sinn Féin activists currently MIA in (or out of) Colombia, these quotes from a Sinn Féin TD sprang to mind – “There is huge outrage and anger that once again we have seen people convicted.., not on any evidence, but on the word of a [police officer].. This case should never have gone before the.. Court in the first place.. This …

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The three men sentenced to 17 years in prison for travelling on false passports have escaped before the authorities in Bogata could arrest them, when their earlier aquittal was reversed by an appeal court. The first question that comes to mind here, is how Bertie Ahern will handle affairs if and more probably when the three turn up in the Republic? Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics …

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Brian Wheeler with a report on the Westminster E-democracy Group/Hansard Society/VoxPolitics seminar on the role of the Internet on the US election last month. My own report should be online later. 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

The Winter 2004 edition of History Ireland is out and full of interest. Major articles include a review of the History of Travellers (Sinéad ní Shuinéar), ‘Educated Whiteboyism’: the Cork Tithe War 1798-9 (JG patterson) and most interesting – Bigotry in ‘Bama: de Valera’s visit to Birmingham, Alabama April 1920 ( DB Franklin)- If you thought the sectarian politics of Ulster were bad, they pale into insignificance when compared to Alabama!from page 31 ” The governor of Alabama, Thomas E. …

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easyjet announces new routes between belfast international and geneva, majorca and inverness Philip Weir

In the FT, Christopher Caldwell has a fascinating analysis of a shift away the from the post war social democratic consensus that is beginning to kick in Europe every bit as much as it already has in the US. He looks at that most controversial decade, the 1960s.He goes back to the social activism of the sixties: “The movements of the 1960s wiped out local injusticises, but they are a global phenomenon, and those local injustices are not why the …

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Ahem, not for Iraq, or Afghanistan, but for Northern Ireland?? I’m afraid we’ve already got two of those already (three if you include the literary one for famous Seamus) and we still haven’t got a deal. Enough said. 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

Good news at last. Richill woman Annetta Flanigan and two other hostages have been released after 27 days in captivity in Afghanistan. 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

c-span are carrying a series of discussions from the library of congress on blogging and dealing with information in the digital age. first guest speaker was david weinberger, senior internet advisor on howard dean’s presidential campaign. Philip Weir

IRAQ kidnap victim Margaret Hassan is feared dead. Hassan, an aid worker, had Irish roots and her family believe her captors have now carried out their threat to kill her. Sickening. Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com

Boris Johnston was in Israel/Palestine last week. He was already contemplating the legacy of Yasser Arafat, in the wake of the bomb in Carmel market in Tel Aviv set off by one of the youngest suicide bombers in the history of the conflict, Amar al-Far.After visiting the site of the bomb, he went to see the now demolished house of the bomber (a routine to discourage others), and then to Arafat’s compound: “For a final verdict on the motives of …

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Yank in Ulster doesn’t post much to his blg, but it’s often worth reading what he does do. This is a short consideration of the controversial nationalist figure of Moqtada al-Sadr who, Yank claims, is avowedly anti sectarian. 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

Although the victory of President Bush gave rise to a lot of sweeping claims (not least that of massive voter fraud), the Economist tells US liberals and European secularists not to panic, and looks at the underlying layers of cultural changge this election may have signaled and how the president has a freer hand than many outsiders belief to follow his own instinct.Particularly interesting is the policy preference differences between Catholics and Protestants, which may have some resonances at home: …

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