 July 2003 - No.70 |
|
 Defend
Our Public Services - Fight the Bin Tax |
THE
DEATH of a child, whose life saving heart operation was postponed at
Crumlin Children's Hospital due to staff shortage, has tragically exposed
this government's neglect of the health service. Fianna Fail and the
PDs have cut funding to a health service that is already over-stretched
and in some areas on the point of breakdown due to decades of underfunding.
 |
| North:
Water Charges - "We Won't Pay": Non-Payment Campaign Set Up |
THE
RESULT of the "consultation" on water charges was a resounding
NO! All the meetings opposed the idea of charges. The proposed privatisation
of the water service was also rejected. The
response of the government has been to ignore the unanimous opposition
and carry on regardless. The so-called "Water Reform Bill"
will still be introduced, to become law in June 2005.
|
| Special
Feature: Iraq - Bush's Vietnam? |
IT
IS becoming increasingly clear that the Bush administration is intent
on creating a permanent military presence in Iraq as part of its strategy
to "control" the oil resources of the Middle East. Very few
still believe the fanciful lies of Bush and Blair that they used to
justify the war against Iraq; the longer the occupation lasts the more
it is obvious to all that oil, profit and the stability of the US and
the world economy was their real motivation.
|
| World
Economic Forum: Defend Our Public Services |
DUBLIN
HAS the odious task of hosting the World Economic Forum (WEF) from
19 - 20 October. But what is the WEF agenda for Ireland?
Mary Harney and her cohorts in government can hardly conceal their
glee that such an event is to be held here. She recently stated that
the "..forum will have the capacity to influence change and drive
the reforms needed to build competitiveness..". No prizes for
guessing what reforms Harney is talking about.
|
| Clondalkin
- Community Action Against Cuts |
200
PEOPLE turned up to a public meeting against cuts in Community Employment
Schemes in North Clondalkin, Dublin, in July. This is an indication
of the latent anger that exists because of the pro-rich bias of this
government. |
| Clonee
School Scandal |
THE
SCANDAL of underfunding education is nowhere more evident that in west
Dublin with its young and fast-growing population. In Clonee in particular,
hundreds of children are being taught in prefabs and have no guarantee
of any school building at all next year. |
| Community
Employment - Thousands of Jobs Axed |
LISA
MAHER spoke to Iris in Whitechurch (Dublin). Iris is in her 50's and
lives on a widow's pension. "They are cutting back on social
welfare, closing down our work places and taking away the CE Schemes,
the only way we had of getting a bit of training to improve our skills.
I paid my taxes all my life and reared a family. I think this government
has gone mad." |
| Joe
Higgins Column: Government Still Evading the Questions on Iraq |
IN
THE last week of the Dail before the plenary sessions adjourned for
the summer, I thought it was appropriate to call the government to account
regarding one of the major issues dealt with during the first half of
the year - Iraq. |
| NI
Assembly Elections: Can Sectarian Politics Be Challenged? |
WITH
THE Assembly in long term suspension, the main political parties are
once again enjoying the luxury of permanent opposition. They have suddenly
found their voice again and are able to lay the blame on Westminster
for cutbacks, privatisation and other unpopular policies.
|
| Editorial:
UUP Split Inevitable |
IN
THE last few weeks, the UUP has been convulsed by its most profound
crisis since 1974. This crisis will have major consequences for the
peace process. A full scale split in the UUP is now inevitable.
Most likely, Trimble will see off his opponents and will be left in
firm control of a much smaller UUP. It is possible but unlikely that
Donaldson will claim the prize of the UUP, forcing out Trimble and his
allies, who would then have to consider the prospect of forming a new
broadly pro-Agreement unionist party. |
| Local
Elections 2004: Socialist Party Challenge |
THE
LOCAL and European elections next year will be the first electoral test
for the FF/PD government since regaining power last year. The deep anger
and resentment at their lies and cut backs means that there is the real
potential for both of these parties to suffer heavy losses as working
people seek pay back.
|
| North:
No Support for Water Charges |
ON
20 JUNE the deadline for submissions to the consultation document "The
Reform of Water and Sewerage Services in Northern Ireland" ended.
This document was published after the parties in the NI Assembly Executive
accepted that the water service would have to be self-financing. It
stated that water charges would be introduced by 1 April 2006. It also
presented different options on how the water and sewerage service would
be privatised. |
| North:
Shipyard Land Sold for a Song |
185
ACRES of prime development land in East Belfast are to be sold for a
song. Olsen Energy has agreed to sell off the land, which was once part
of the Harland & Wolff site, for £47 million. |
| North:
Residents Defend Historic Site From Developers |
RESIDENTS
IN the Mountsandel neighbourhood of Coleraine have voiced their disgust
and outrage at a proposed plan to build 14 new houses in the area
despite encroaching upon the oldest known historical settlement in
Ireland. |
| Iran:
Strikes and Protests Shake Regime |
THE
LAST four weeks have witnessed mass protests in Iran as thousands
have taken to the streets in opposition to the government of Mohammed
Khatami. The recent events were sparked off by government plans to
privatise certain sections of university facilities. The protests,
reflecting the palpable anger in society, developed into anti-regime
protests as thousands took to the streets to show their anger at the
lack of democratic rights and the failure of the government to deliver
a decent standard of living for the ordinary people of Iran.
|
| Nigeria:
Mighty General Strike Ends With a Compromise |
THE
EIGHT-DAY Nigerian general strike, which ended on 8 July, was a marvellous
demonstration of the strength of the working class and the weakness
of the political class.
|
| Workplace
News - North |
SACKED
AIRPORT Workers Resume Pickets - Strangford Students Support Staff
- Social Workers Maintain Action - RAil Workers Begin Break With Labour
- Civil Service Left Landslide (PCS).
|
| Workplace
News - South |
CIE:
FREE Travel Protest Against Privatisation - Cork Lockout: ADM Threatens
Closure - Dept Agriculture: Bullyboy Managers Defeated - Third World
Camps on Building Sites.
|
| North:
Stop Racist Attacks |
THERE
HAS been an undeniable rise in racism in Northern Ireland, whether
it's bullying in schools, graffiti, vandalism or physical attacks.
|
| Bin
Tax: No Way, We Won't Pay! |
THE
GOVERNMENT has given Councils the power not to collect waste from
households refusing to pay the bin charge. The mis-named "Protection
of the Environment Bill, 2003" was passed in the Dail in early
July and now all that is needed for it to be enacted is the signature
of the President and the Minister. The battle against double taxation
bin charges is now entering a crucial stage.
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