The Presidential election in Ireland and the racist bump

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Last weekend saw a presidential election in Ireland where the clear victor was a left wing poet (and career politican) called Michael D Higgins who got 56% of the vote.  However a no hope candidate who was, 1 of 3, yes 3 hosts of the TV show Dragons Den running for president managed to boost his vote from close to nothing (2%) to 23% through the simple trick of Trump like racist remarks directed at the Traveller Community, a very small ethnic group who until recently were nomads but were forced to all but bandon that life by the Irish state over the last couple of decades. 

In the aftermath of the result the media reached for the same sort of lazy analysis about 'econoic anxiety' and people 'left behind' that was seen in the US after Trump was elected.  In this video Andrew argues that the exit poll data tells a very difrerent story.

Video - all of 2018 March for Choice as it passes down the Dublin quays

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This video shows all of the 2018 March for Choice pass down the quays in Dublin.  This year we had won the refrendum but much is left to fight for in terms of the details of the legislation and standing down the inevotable anti-choice attempts that will be made once the lefislation comes in to intimidate doctors,  as welll as women and pregnant who will finally be able to access free, safe and legal abortion in Ireland. [video]

Claire Byrne Live and the anarchist menace

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We missed this last week.
 
-Quote- 

Claire Byrne: [Take Back the City] "have pledged to train up volunteers on how to occupy vacant buildings across the country. We have them here tonight, we're going to talk to them in a minute but first of all I want to come to you, councillor Paddy Smyth because you believe this group are anarchists, is that right?"
Cllr Paddy Smyth (FG): "Well, they're disobeying court orders, they're taking possession of property that isn't theirs, and effectively if we don't have property rights, we don't have ownership rights in this country, we do have anarchy, so, yes." [1] 

-End quote-
 

Long term empty houses highlighted in Kildare

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As part of the Take Back the City National Day of Action, housing activists with Housing Action Kildare had a banner and leaflet drop in Newbridge on Sept 22nd, centred around a 4 bedroom house that has been empty for up to 7 years and is owned by a bank.
 

Moral philosophy and abortion

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The debate around abortion is sometimes characterised as an opposition between the morals of the church and personal morals. But is this an accurate description? Moral philosophy can broadly be defined as the branch of philosophy that contemplates what is right and wrong. It explores the nature of morality and examines how people should live their lives in relation to others. But a closer look at what characterises moral philosophy leads to the conclusion that while the expression “relying on personal morals” may come across as a useful shortcut to describe what the pro-choice stance is about, it is also a misuse of moral terminology which has the effect of casting a positive light on moral philosophy, rather than helping us come to terms with the deeply problematic nature of this field. As I hope to make clear, arguments in favour of abortion rights are rooted in anti-authoritarianism whereas moral philosophy can only exist as a rhetorical tool of authoritarianism (even when it is used with good intentions).

Let Them Drown: Climate Change is War - and Wall Street is Winning audio from #DABF 2018

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This audio is an independently organised panel from the 2018 Dublin Anarchist Bookfair on the bleak reality of climate change and its intersections with financial capitalism, state politics and migration. [audio]

Ending Direct Provision: Migrant Voices speak out about the Asylum process in Ireland at #DABF 2018

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People currently in Direct Provision talk about the dehumanising conditions and the large profits being made out of their suffering by the companies that own the direct provision centres. People don’t understand why we ended up in Direct Provision, we hope to bring our stories out of the shadows of Irish society. [audio]

MERJ launch Reproductive rights of migrants and ethnic minorities in Ireland

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Last night we were at the launch of ‘We’ve come a long way; Reproductive rights of migrants and ethnic minorities in Ireland.’ The books a collection of 16+ pieces by authors from migrant or ethnic minority backgrounds living in Ireland written in the context of the successful decades long struggle to Repeal the 8th Amendment.

 

How my politics is intersectional - audio from panel at 2018 #DABF

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Panel from the 2018 Dublin Anarchist bookfair on the intersection between race politics, class and gender in Ireland with a particular focus on the current housing struggles and the Together for Yes referendum campaign / Repeal movement. [audio]

Rojava: Eyewitness to a women's revolution - report back from a May 2018 trip at #DABF 2018

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The 12th Dublin anarchist bookfair heard this account from Wendy, a Human Rights & immigration lawyer who visited Rojava in May 2018 as part of a fact finding delegation. [audio]