Benjamin Zephaniah’s break-up of UK and the republican dimension

Benjamin Zephaniah’s unexpected death on the 7th December at the early age 65 has been a shock to the countless thousands, maybe millions, who have come to love his work. His autobiography, The Life and Rhymes of Benjamin Zephaniah, is a very powerful book.  It draws on a range of life experiences that few others…

The Uighurs and the Palestinians

This article compares  the treatment  of the Uighurs in Xinjiang (Eastern Turkestan) by the Chinese imperialist state with the treatment of Palestinians by the  racist, apartheid Israeli state backed by western imperialism – US, UK and the leading  EU powers. The author is a Chinese student with a partial Uighur background. This article was first…

The cultural is political: Gig for Gaza and the rebirth of Irish cultural activism

Padraig Mac Oscair wrote this article for Rupture, the ecosocialist quarterly of RISE – Revolutionary, Socialist, Internationalist and Environment. He reviews  the recent ‘Gig for Gaza Fundraiser’ in the 3Arena, as well as highlighting the clear link between the cultural and the political in expressions of solidarity from Ireland. THE CULTURAL IS POLITICAL – GIG…

Media, migrants and mobs in Dublin

Anne McShane wrote this response to the racist riots in Dublin in November 23rd , which was first posted by Weekly Worker. She argues that People Before Profit says the state is soft on far-right groups, but failure to deal with the housing crisis is the main problem. MEDIA, MIGRANTS AND MOBS Dublin hit the…

Less shock and more strategy needed after Geert Wilders victory

The following opinion piece was written by Mehran Khalili for Diem 25. In the light of Geert Wilders election victory in the  Netherlands Mehran  argues whenever a disruption candidate does well on the right, the reaction from the mainstream and the left is anything but analytical. That has to change. LESS SHOCK AND MORE STRATEGY…

This van provides a lifeline service to Ukrainians. Could it be under threat?

This article by Kataryna Farbar was first posted by openDemocracy. Kataryna argues that Ukraine’s mobile postal service braves shelling to deliver packages and pensions. But privatisation could be afoot. THIS VAN PROVIDES A LIFELINE SERVICE TO UKRAINIANS. COULD IT BE UNDER THREAT?   As soon as the Ukrposhta van stops in the centre of Kryva…

Silent Singing and John Maclean

 George Gun has written this article first posted on bella caledonia.  It commemorates the 100th anniversary of John Maclean’s death on November 30th 1923.  It argues against Maclean’s death being viewed mainly as a historical commemoration for academic historians, but that his politics in the last year’s of his life are highly relevant to the…

Bernadette McAliskey on Nationalism and the Far Right

The following podcast was made of Bernadette McAliskey’s contribution to the ‘We Only Want the Earth’ weekend school held on Inis Oirr.  It was reposted by bella caledonia on 24.11.23. BERNADETTE MCALISKEY ON NATIONALISM AND THE FAR RIGHT   ___________ also see:- To Scotland with love: A report from the ‘London Says Yes’ rally on…

Uday, One Day

The following poem was written by Jim Aitken and first posted by Culture Matters. Any extra comment by the editors of this blog is superfluous in the face of such a heart-rending killing. Uday, One Day by Jim Aitken In memory of Uday Abu Mohsen who lived only one day after being killed during the…

Remembrance and Hate Marches

This article by Mike Small was first posted by bella caledonia. It highlights how the British ruling class and UK state has created Remembrance Day to celebrate British militarism and warfare and not as a day to bring about global peace. They are now giving full backing to the settler apartheid, Israeli state attempt at…