The following article, written by Donal Fallon, to commemorate the the anniversary of the 1916 Dublin Rising was first published by The Tribune. HOW THE PARIS COMMUNE INFLUENCED THE 1916 DUBLIN RISING The Paris Commune of 1871 was still fresh in the memory by the time of Ireland’s Easter Rising – and, for 1916 leader…
Challenging the constitution – a review of Pete Cannell’s ‘Scotland after Sturgeon’
Allan Armstrong writes a review of Pete Cannell’s Scotland after Sturgeon CHALLENGING THE CONSTITUTION Anyone reading Pete Cannell’s Scotland after Sturgeon will acknowledge his fair-minded approach to Nicola Sturgeon. In terms of mainstream politics, Sturgeon, whilst leader of the SNP and Scotland’s First Minister, was “easily the most popular politician in the UK”. Pete…
Papering over the cracks, covering up the tracks : a review of Scotland after Britain
Allan Armstrong has written an extended review of ‘Scotland After Britain’, written by James Foley and Ben Wray, with Neil Davidson, entitled Papering over the Cracks, Covering up the Tracks. The Contents, the last chapter and Conclusion can be read here. PAPERING OVER THE CRACKS COVERING UP THE TRACKS A review of Scotland after Britain by…
25 Years On: in the debris of the Good Friday Agreement
The following article from Socialist Democracy (Ireland)examines the state of the Good Friday Agreement twenty five years after its signing, and finds it in tatters. 25 YEARS ON – IN THE DEBRIS OF THE GOOD FRIDAY AGREEMENT Now do we love Big Brother? The 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement is being marked…
Arundhati Roy on things that can and cannot be said: The dismantling of the world as we know it
We are reposting the Stuart Hall memorial lecture, first posted on thewire, given by Arundhati Roy last September. She is author of Azadi – Fascism, Fiction and Freedom in the Time of the Virus, outlining the ongoing fascistisation of India under Modi. In Arundhati’s lecture, she locates this process in a global context. Solidarity, speaking…
Homophobia in Uganda is a horrifying demonstration of colonialism and evangelism at work
The following article written by Alex/Rose Cocker was first posted by The Canary. It outlines the shared role of colonialism, and in particular Protestant evangelicals, in promoting homophobia in Africa, particular the ex-British colonies. Several of these evangelical organisations are currently involved in the transphobic offensive in the USA, UK and Scotland and in picketting…
Jewish refugee groups condemn Illegal Migration Bill and government language
The growing opposition to the Tories’ draconian and racist Illegal Immigration Bill was highlighted when Gary Lineker compared the government’s activities to those of the Nazis. The husband of Tory Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, Rael , who had family members killed during the Holocaust, was incensed by the comparison. However, Lineker was pointing to the…
The Winds of Change at Gartymore
George Gunn is a signatory to the 2023 Declaration of Calton Hill. In this thought provoking article, first posted by bella caledonia, George argues that climate activists should take inspiration from the Highland Land League’s slogan “Is treasa tuath na tighearna” (The people are mightier than a lord.) Allan Armstrong adds his own comment at…
“The Sturgeon era is over: Now what?” and “What we have learned from the SNP leadership election”
Mike Small and Sean Bell are signatories to the 2023 Declaration of Calton Hill. Quite independently, they have been making their own observations and commentaries about the current political situation in Scotland in bella caledonia. Recently Mike has written, The Sturgeon era is over: Now what? and Sean has written What have we learned from…
Remembering George Padmore
The following article on Trinidadian revolutionary, George Padmore, written by Perry Blankson, was first posted by the Tribune. REMEMBERING GEORGE PADMORE Trinidadian socialist George Padmore was born in 1903. His Pan-African organising helped to build the struggle against colonialism in the West – and to push independence struggles towards Marxism. Of all the many figures…