Our blog has been chronicling developments in one of the most important socio-economic struggles in these islands since the Anti-Poll Tax campaign (see http://republicancommunist.org/blog/2015/03/27/sinn-fein-under-pressure-from-irish-workers/, http://republicancommunist.org/blog/2015/03/01/water-charges-independent-mobilisation-new-state-repression/ and http://republicancommunist.org/blog/2014/12/16/defying-water-charges-in-ireland/). The Irish government is attempting to collect specific water charges from the Irish people (water is already paid for out of general taxation), preparatory to privatising Irish water in…
The Economic Situation In Ireland And Martin McGuinness At The Royal Banquet
Emancipation & Liberation is publishing two articles from the latest issue of Socialist Democracy (Ireland). There is much talk of an economic ‘recovery’ in the UK by George Osborne. The first article examines another the claims of another economic ‘recovery’ in Ireland. The second article looks at the continued political degeneration of Sinn Fein in Northern…
DUP Bigots Move To Restrict Abortion Rights
After the tragic death of Savita Halappanavar in pregnancy, after being admitted to Galway Hospital and refused an abortion, most socialists are aware of the reactionary role of the Catholic hierarchy over women’s rights in Ireland (see Ireland and the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act/). The following article, written by J. M. Thorn of Socialist…
Haas Talks: The illusion of a progressive role for imperialism
We are posting two articles from the Socialist Democracy (Ireland) website. The first addresses the current Haas Talks concerning the growing Loyalist challenges to the Peace Process in Northern Ireland. The second highlights Peter Robinson’s sectarianism and capitulation to Loyalist base, something Haas, the British and Irish governments will accept. 1. THE HAAS TALKS The…
A Tribute To International Women’s Day
Our Emancipation & Liberation blog is posting our annual tribute to International Women’s Day. There are three articles. The first is by Susan Dorazio, a committed socialist feminist and member of the IWW, writes about the struggles of women care workers in the USA and Scotland. The second and third written by J. M. Thorn, come from…
Lisbon Treaty passed in second referendum
JM Thorn, Socialist Democracy (Ireland) analyses the defeat of the Irish Left in the second Lisbon Treaty referendum. The Lisbon Treaty was passed on October 2nd, overturning its rejection by the Irish people in June 2008. The margin of victory was emphatic – the ‘Yes’ vote winning by a majority of 67 percent of voters…
Bono Finally Finds What He’s Been Looking For – a Knighthood
by JM Thorn This article is reproduced from the Socialist Democracy website I have no embarrassment at all. No shame. Bono, 2006 The quotation above was Irish rock star’s Bono attempt at self deprecating humour. However, being devoid of the humility required to make it work as a joke, it stands more as a statement…
Respect victory – a new dawn for the left?
J.M. Thorn (Socialist Democracy, Belfast) looks at the implications of Respect’s election preformance The election of George Galloway as an MP for the Respect Coalition has been hailed as a major breakthrough for the left in Britain. Contesting its first general election, Respect overturned a Labour majority of ten thousand in the East End constituency…