An explosion on the Gaza border has left one Israeli soldier dead and three others injured. In retaliation Israeli troops enteredthe strip and killed one Palestinian. Decided that this was not retaliation enough the Israeli Airforce carried out airstrikes in Southern Gaza, wounding two people, one of whom was thought to be linked to Hamas.
Is this a break of the ceasefire? Israel said if Hamas fired Rockets they would enter the strip again. Hamas, who have never denied responsibility for its actions, have not cliamed this explosion. However Israel regardless carried out airstrikes. In my eyes that is breaking their ceasefire. How can Hamas be expected to continue holding back, if they will be punished for the actions of others. I feel this is merely bait to lure Hamas into breaking its ceasefire.
Israel, who have yet to pay for their war crimes, have bombed an area that has been virtually decimated in recent weeks, and is still starved of aid and shelter. This is unacceptable. Legitimate governments should not make decisions under, "Well they started it".
To further fuel my anger with the disgusting decisions of the BBC, they made "Explosion on Gaza Border Kills Israelis" ground breaking news on their website. When the airstrikes happened hours later, it appeared as an "Also in the News" article. The BBC can no longer convince me of their impartiallity.
I wish everyone would take leadership from Protesters in London, and refuse to pay their TV Liscence. Why should we be expected topay for this biased, uncaring company to remain as the dominate British TV company? Its wrong, immoral and unacceptable.
During the DR Congo war, when many hundreds have been displaced, and left in desperate need of aid, the BBC hosted an appeal on their own News show. Where was their impartiallity there? Where is the difference in the situation then and now?
We must fight this atrocity. Boycott Israeli good, and supporters of the Zionist movement. I will post a more indepth blog about this at some point this week. We must complian, through emails and letter to the BBC, to force them to actually be impartial.
You can email the BBC general director, Mark Thompson, at the following address:
I've been feeling very angry these days. I know this rant ignores many good and indeed great people in the world. But after all it is not directed at them. This message is directed at the people who see the problems we face and don't care unless it effects them.
At this stage everyone is gettin' ready to send their Monotonous, unpersonalised "Happy New Year" text messages to everyone in their phone book, inculding the occassional Associate they no longer speak to, or the people they don't even like. This in itself makes these messages a lie.
This year I will be refraining from texting anyone. I don't care for the new year; and why should I? What has Changed? The problems of 2008 don't disappear? Infact they come with us, and join the growing pile of problems that we will create in 2009, especially as we face almost certian Financial Crisis, worldwide. After the holidays end we go back to the jobs we hate, and the people we no longer wish to date, to Education and exams etc.
After a few weeks we will stop going to the gym and begin smoking again, without even realising that our "resolutions" were just selfish thoughts aimed at bettering ourselves.
44,000 Children here will still live below the Poverty Line Hundreds will still be dying of Cholera in Zimbabwae 12% of Zambian CHildren will still be orphaned as a result of Aids Women will still be Raped as a "Tourist Attraction" in Thailand Civil Rights will still be ignored in Tibet and Burma Palestinians will still be Opressed and UnFree Ireland will still be unfree UK Students will still pay too mych for education People Will Still Needlessly Destroy the Enviorment Scientists will still test on animals 33,000 Children will still die of Hunger... every day
and worst off all, People will still not give a fuck.
Yea Happy New Year Folks. 2009 is just going to be another miserable year for "Civilised" people of Planet Earth, where money seems more important than Life. What is Money? Money is Secular, Money is Debt, Money is Corruption.
Until the World wakes up and stops caring only for the size of their bank accounts and realise that people are dying on their doorsteps we won't see a Happy New Year. To quote the title of an Acoutic Revolution song, we have a "21st Century Famine" however I feel it is not a famine off food... it is a famine for Compassion, for caring and for Love.
An impressive video as part of the campaign for Amnesty Internationals "UnSubscribe" Campaign. In recent years I have chose not to follow Amnesty over their refusal to accept a ProLife stance, however I strongly believe in this campaign.
Today the Serve Thailand Volunteers left, for Six weeks volunteer work in various Project throughout the Country. Yesterday the group gathered in Dublin for a last chance to bond.
I Joined Them.
I got an early train to Dublin and went straight to check in to my room in "The Shinning Hostel", on Marlbourgh Street. I had booked a Bed in a 14 bed mixed Dorm, under the impression it was not the same room as the rest of the group. Once I got settled I realised I had forgot my list of Phone Numbers and had no way of contacting the group. I went to an internet Café and read every email I had from Serve but still found nothing. With the impression I was in the wrong room, and had no way of contacting them, I decided to count my losses and just go for food. I was aiming to eat for 5 Euro; In Dublin this is NOT possible. I opted for a Chippie called "Fusciardi's". The food was great, but being Dublin I got charged 2 Euro for a can of Pepsi. Darn Inflation!
At this point I was heading back to my Hostel, not really sure why. I was miffed and when I got to the door I decided to just keep walking, with no Idea where I was going. I turned down an Alleyway and was Happy, to say the least, when I saw Perrine, the group leader standing infront of me. God was definitely looking after me. We went into the nearest bar and waited a short while for others to arrive.
I love company, of Friends or strangers, so I really enjoyed the time spent here, getting to know new people, and talking to familiar faces too. With different people having different errands to run, for a short while it was just me and Perrine. I really enjoyed talking with her about Politics, Music and Travel; France in particular. Eventually everyone came back and the conversation lasted until the bar closed for the night. We went back to our hostel at this point.
I got talking to a girl about how I wasn't going to Thailand anymore, and the conversation led on to my time in Medjugorje, and my lost Rosary Beads. She reached into her bag and gave me a set of her own. I was really grateful. After all getting ready, we had a short chat with a Filipino man that was sharing our dorm, and tried to sleep. Though I didn't sleep for long, I was refreshed when I arose.
The group seperated and went to do there own errands again. My self and Pauline, the girl that gave me the Rosary Beads went to various shops to pick up what she needed. We got talking about the Bible, and our own Bibles before she left for a meeting. The rest of the group gathered, got some photographs taken and walked to a Thai resturant; unfortunately is was closed and so we opted for a Filipino resturant called "Café Milano". Pauline had rejoined at this stage. The food was great and then we made our way to the Bus-Stop so the group could get the 41 bus to the airport. Before leaving Pauline gave me her Bible. I was Very grateful for this.
I went no further than the Bus-Stop. As they drove off I began my walk back to my Train for Belfast. It felt like the longest journey ever. I really wanted to be on that Bus, and not this train. I knew that I'd be bothered, but I didn't expect to be this down about it.
I really hope the project goes very well, and all that all projects are successful. I have nothing to do with myself at the moment, as this is the Last place I really want to be.
Friday the 9th of May this year was Flip Flop Friday, the main Fundraising day for a charity called Serve. I wrote this Blog that night and never got round to posting it. So here it is.
Lifes Best experiences are often the unexpected. This was one. On wednesday 7th I got a phonecall asking me to travel to Dublin the next evening for Flip Flop Friday. Out of Character for myself, I accepted without even considering if I had any other commitments.
Thursday Night came and Chris O’ Donoghue and Martin Schneider picked me up and we had to make a stop at St Clements Retreat House. Having not been there since it was closed to the Public, I welcomed the invite, and went inside for a bit of a reflection.
I Miss It.
From there we travelled to Clonard Monsatry. We sold Flip Flop Pins outside the final Mass of the evening, then made our final arrangements before setting out. We made a 15 minute stop for food, and then headed on our way to Dublin. We only really got on the road at about half 10.
Most of our journey was silent due to tiredness. The only real sign of other travellers were the couple of red lights tinkering on further in the darkness, or the occasional golden glow of firey headlights coming over the Horison and disappearing past, as tired travellers made their late night journey. At about 12:06 Father Gerry decided he couldn't safely continue and stopped for a rest. So Chris took me and Martin on in his car, while Father Gerrys Bus disappeared behind us.
Three Hours, 2 Vehicles and One long journey later we arrived in the Cherry Orchard area of Dublin, just after half 1. We had a short chat and then retired to bed, anticipating the hard day ahead...
6:30 AM Friday Morning, 9th of May - Flip FLop Friday. We got up and got cleanedand headed straight out, round to Eoins House; who eagerly awaited us with Flip Flop pins and Flip Flop Costumes, for want of a better word. We were assigned Luas Stations and off we went. I boarded at Dumdrum and made my way to Stallorgan. Here me and Freddy dorned Flip flop costumes, and tried to sell our Flip Flop pins. After a miserable 10 minutes Luas Officers informed us that our Garda permission didn't extend to Luas property, and the people that owned the Luas didn't want us on their property. How's that for "public" transport.
We made our way into Dublin City Centre. Myself, Freddy and Martin had a quick breakfast and went straight to work out side Stephens Green Shopping Centre. Unfortunately so did "Guide Dogs for the Blind", "Denim Day" and the Labour party (Who on a off note were shamefully suggesting that people vote Yes to the Lisbon treaty, which promotes the decline of Irish Culture). After doing this for a while more people turned up to help out. Two off us took our guitars and took the street. Eventually Martin joined in on the idea, and then another person, whose name I have apologetically forgotten. At about half 6pm we packed up and counted out the money roughly. Myself and Martin went to have a meal at McDonalds. (Again on an off note I am choosing to no longer eat there as they are the official sponsers of the Bejing Olympics, Which I believe we should Boycott... but thats for another blog).
I left Martin outside McDonalds as he was going to Cork, and I was going to Belfast. I made my way to Connolly Station with a happy heart and a smile. A strange almost sad feeling came over me as I left the million cranes that is Dublins Skyline behind. I feel at home here... or at least Free.
Did you know, that 18 million people a year die, from Hunger? That means that around 50,000 die EACH day. Lets try and put that into perspective... The population of County Limerick dies each day from hunger. More than ten million of those death are Children. Thats 30, 000 per day.
30,000 Children that woke up this morning, won't be going back to bed tonight.
What about HIV/Aids. Just to bring that home a little; Did you know its not a foriegn disease? That 1 person everyday in Ireland is diagnosed with HIV/Aids. In Africa that number is 95,000. 95,000 people per day in Sub Saharan Africa alone are diagnosed with HIV/Aids. A further 65,000 on top of that die. 70% of all HIV/Aids cases are african. That said; 2.9 Million people worldwide died from HIV/Aids in 2006. This meant that 15 million Children lost their parents. In perspective... 12% of all Zambian Children found themselves orphaned.
Did you know Malaria kills more people per year than HIV/Aids?
Did you know that 872 Million adults in the developing world are illiterate? Thats one in four adults.
Why do I bring this up? Because You can help cure all these problems. You can make a difference. I hope to cause the burning desire in you, that I have within myself, to make that difference.
For those who are sceptical that any good can be done; Did you know that the number of people living in absolute poverty, ie. less than a dollar a day, has fallen from 1.25 Billion, to 980 Million? Did you know that the number of Children sleeping under malaria tents has risen, even if it is only 5% of Children under 5 in Africa?
Though these are great facts to hear, its just simply not enough. So How can you help? Its really simple.
Support local Charities such as Trocraire, Oxfam and Save the Children. Small donations, regular or irregular, can make a difference.
Have you heard all the talk these days of "going green"? Because this will not only help you, and benifit your children, but protecting the enviorment helps the worlds poorest people. Climate change, whether you choose to believe it or not, has ruined many farmland area's, leaving people in absolute poverty when their crops fail.
Buy fairtrade. When you are buying items, look for the fairtrade logo. It means that poor farmers are paid fairly for their produce. This means that they make enough money to support themselves, and improve their quality of life, thus decreasing their chance of disease, stops their Children dying from hunger and allows Children to attend schools.
(Product) Red. Click onto http://www.joinred.com. If you buy a (RED) product, the company will give profit to buy and distribute Anti-Retroviral medicine. So many big brands have signed up to this initiative, including Apple iPod, Motorola, Converse, Dell and Hallmark. Are you planning to buy the latest iPod Nano? Why not buy (RED)? It costs no more than standard, but you will help. How about cards? How often do you buy them? Birthdays, Pregnancys, Retirement, Get Well, Thank you and the list goes on. Why not look for Hallmark (RED)? It doesn't cost you any more than it would usually. Please check out the site. When you buy your new converse, buy (RED).
Not to mention, that you can make a difference by volunteering in these por countries. Check out Habitat for Humanity or http://www.serve.ie.
You don't even need to put yourself out to help... so please do.
I am an Irish Republican, who supports a 32 County Worker Orientated Republic, preferable Gaelic. I support Palestine and believe in a boycott of Israel. I believe in a Boycott of all Coca Cola companies. I believe in Ethical Shopping. I believe in supporting charity. I believe it is not good enough to simply ignore the injustices of the world. I have hope for Palestine, Burma, Tibet, Ireland and Eskual Herria!
In short, I'm an idealist
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