Platform for Change

Platform for Change (4¾), requiescat in pace

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on December 3, 2014, 5:10 pm

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Platform for Change launched in February 2010 to push “a positive political agenda which does not endlessly replay arguments linked to Northern Ireland’s ‘troubles’”. It wanted politics and politicians to serve the entire community and not to stymie progress and development. … the politics of recent years has too often looked backwards rather than forwards, inwards rather than outwards to the wider world. This makes no sense to a new generation of voters. In a blog post reflecting on the …

Platform for Change panel of politicians fails to inspire about how to overcome political inertia

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on November 20, 2014, 9:00 am

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Platform for Change’s latest – and perhaps last – panel event was hosted last night by Mark Carruthers in the Crescent Arts Centre. Around 40 people attended the session with its bizarrely worded title: Political Inertia to a Flourishing Society – How? The six panellists from centre-ground parties made four minute opening statements before the discussion was opened to the floor. Alasdair McDonnell (SDLP leader, MP & MLA) had come straight to the venue from the airport. He said there …

Political inertia to a flourishing society HOW?

Mick Fealty on November 6, 2014, 5:00 pm

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Just had this einvite pdf to a platform for change event in a couple of weeks. Good question even if the natural response is “well, if I was going to start, I wouldn’t start from here. Here being where a senior DUP MP’s off colour joke about the Irish Language in the Assembly (on which more later), and the deputy First Minister is selling his political partners in government (during talks) as a bunch of bigots. Nevertheless, it remains good …

Political morality, power, education … believing you are right or being open to debate? #p4cmorals + What’s Platform for Change’s purpose?

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on February 24, 2014, 11:48 pm

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Platform for Change’s look at political morality suffered from wet weather, a low turnout, an imbalanced panel and a topic that the room tended to engage with in a relatively passionless way. Robin Wilson chaired the evening, peppering the panellists’ contributions with quotations and observations. I’ve noted my sense of what I heard in the post below. However, for more full and exact quotes you’ll need to listen to the embedded audio. [Parts one, two, three, four] listen to ‘1/4 …

“Morals in politics and political morality” Platform for Change discussion (Mon 24 Feb at 7.30pm in Dukes) #p4cmorals

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on February 23, 2014, 10:29 am

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‘Moral’ issues continue to provoke not just debate but political controversy in Northern Ireland. Most recently it was the “furore” over the Reduced Shakespeare Company’s version of the Bible in Newtownabbey. But there are many other examples including the establishment of the Marie Stopes Clinic in Belfast and the availability of abortion; the continued lifetime ban on blood donation by gay men; gay adoption; equal marriage … [Ed – advertising on cigarette packets?] How should politicians address moral issues? Platform …

A spirited discussion about the issues on the Haass agenda

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on November 26, 2013, 12:28 am

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One of the recurring themes of tonight’s Haass/O’Sullivan panel discussion is that we often ask the wrong questions. Ask not if there’s light at the end of the tunnel, but why there’s no tunnel! It was the third panel event that Platform for Change have hosted this year. Trevor Ringland chaired (opening with a quote from Blackadder and A Long Peace by Messrs Fealty, Ringland and Steven) and the up-front contributions came from: Lesley Carroll (Fortwilliam Presbyterian Church; member of …

Platform for Change debating Haass/O’Sullivan agenda (Mon 25 Nov); East Belfast Speaks Out (Wed 27 Nov)

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on October 25, 2013, 2:40 pm

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The last week of November is shaping up to be a week of political hustings and community discussions. Looking towards the final stages of the Haass/O’Sullivan talks, Platform for Change are hosting a panel discussion in Dukes at Queens (aka, Dukes Hotel) on Monday 25 November from 7.30pm to 9.30pm. Previous events this year have explored flags (with a remarkable inclusive panel) and education. This time the panel tackling the agenda of the political talks and is appallingly titled: Parades, …

A coherent if one-sided Platform for Change discussion about education

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on June 25, 2013, 3:15 pm

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Last night Platform for Change hosted a debate looking at the potential for Northern Ireland to have a coherent education system. Around 65 people attended the two hour event in the Ormeau Avenue Holiday Inn. Initial five minute introductions from the panel of seven were followed by questions from the audience. listen to ‘1/5 First four speakers at @platform4change #p4cedu Education event’ on Audioboo Ciaran Helferty ex-QUB SU President, now with Amnesty/BMA Liam McCusker from Spirit of Enniskillen Bronagh Heatley …

Platform for Change asking if NI can have a coherent education system (Mon 24 June)

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on June 21, 2013, 8:30 am

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Back in February, Platform for Change came out of hiding and packed nine politicians onto a stage in the Belfast Holiday Inn to answer the question Can we now have a sensible conversation about flags? The Q&A format of the evening worked well, the DUP and Sinn Fein contributed (unusual for a Platform for Change event) and flag protesters along with 120 less worked up members of the public packed the room. On Monday 24 June, Platform for Change are …

Flags – Can we now have a sensible debate?

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on February 19, 2013, 8:30 am

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Last night at Platform for Change‘s Flags – Can we now have a sensible conversation? event, 120 or more people crammed into a room in the Holiday Inn to hear from nine local political representatives and to pose their questions. The two hour event, chaired by Robin Wilson, started with each panellist being given the opportunity to outline their position on the flag debate. listen to ‘Part 1/5 Flags – can we now have a serious debate? @platform4change’ on Audioboo …

Another cross community event at a GAA club

Turgon on August 12, 2011, 10:36 am

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I noted the event at Pomeroy GAA club to remember IRA terrorist Seamus Woods previously and Quincey has an analysis of the GAA below. The DUP Chair of the Assembly’s Culture, Arts & Leisure Committee Michelle McIlveen has now entered the debate. From the DUP website: It is simply not credible for the GAA to preside over rules which claim to prohibit sectarianism or involvement in party politics yet allow events like this to take place within property governed by …

Eames Bradley: if it is coming back; time to fight it again

Turgon on June 13, 2011, 11:35 am

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When I went trekking in Africa one summer with my sister I remember meeting a game warden with a Kalashnikov assault rifle in the Masai Mara. I enquired whether it was to stop poachers. He said no it was really for crocodiles and explained that if one tries to attack you the only solution is to keep shooting it until it stops moving. Then if there is any sign of life keep firing at it. Gladys has a blog below …

Forget about platforms. Why not just do it?

Mick Fealty on November 8, 2010, 12:01 pm

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Eamonn McCann thinks talking about change will have limited appeal unless it comes with a proposal for material change that people will be motivated to vote for: History teaches that the only occasions when sizable numbers of Protestants and Catholics have detached themselves from communal allegiance to make common cause have been occasions when they came together to fight together – 1907, 1911, 1932 and onwards to 2010. There is no recorded case of any such thing happening as a …