You can't decommision attitudes (*Harsh Language*)

So there is alot of talk these day about how we all want to move towards peace, especially since the decommissioning of the loyalist weapons has been spoke about these days. Maybe I'm just a pessimist but I'm not wearing the rose tinted glasses everyone else must be wearing.

We are certainly in a period of less conflict, but is it peace? Well anything other than a physical peace? No, it is not. Still we see flags hoisted to mark ones territory from another, Kerbs painted and the typical traditional hate marchs that happen each year at this time.

Yes at this time each year the loyalist communities try to claim ownership of the month of July. The fresh flags are hoisted, the murals touched up and the sectarian bigoted activities begin. The Fenians are expected to stay either at home, or to leave for the month, at least until after the twelth.

It's not hard to see that with all the talk of loyalist decommisioning, that little has been done to decommision the attitude that the taigs don't belong. In recent years the "council" has hung signs stating "Glengormley; Its Your Town". However at the same time every year, in a completely hypocritical move, they allow the scrap metal to be erected that states "This is most certainly NOT your town; It's ours". The Orange arch cover in anti-irish and anti-catholic sentiment is erected right in the centre of the village, a s'posed public area.

A year ago, at Easter a women was forced, by the PSNI, a s'posed impartial Police Service, to remove her Irish flag. The national flag of her country. And Yet with out any arguement, permissions or consideration for the lowly second class "tims", hundreds of anti-irish flags, UVF Flags and flags of the Foriegn "Union" are hoisted all around my village, where I live. Again to remind me, that I merely have residence there. I'm not part of the community. I'm second class.

Then begin the bigot hate parades. The "Loyal Orange Lodge", an organisation that claims to be religious, march through Nationalist area, all over the occupied state, playing songs such as "Kick The Pope" and lyrics such as "Up to our neck in fenian blood 'til the day I die", with band names such as "KAI: Kill All Irish" and waving more sectarian flags. They claim its their traditional routes. I guess they are right. Hate is their tradition. What has kicking the Pope, Killing fenians and harassing locals got to do with christianity? About as much as the "Christian" Ku Klux Klan who marched the streets of the south, harassing and harbouring hate against the "second class lowly niggers" and waving their flags to represent hate.









Then comes the enviormental nightmare of the bigoted Alcohol fueled hate fires. All over the occupied state once again, huge piles of wood are stacked, made ready to be set alight on the 11th night so that local hoods, loyalists and bigots can dance to sectarian music, flags wrapped around them and reminise of the old days where it was okay to hate fenians openly. Anyone that tries to argue these fires are anything other than a hate celebration, is undermined by the use of Irish Flags, Pope models and, horrifyingly, the names of children killed by loyalist bigots used as toppers for their fires.





Note the Use of Sinn Féin posters.








Note the use of a "Papal Figure" on the top






Note the use of many Irish flags, and a poster displaying the 10 men who died on the 1981 Hunger Strike, who died for the rights of Republican and Loyalist prisioners.







Note the writing on the flag. It says "Fuck Micky Bo". This is in relation to Michael McIlveen. A 15 year old boy, beat with Baseball bats, and had his head kicked and jumped on, by fully grown loyalist men. He was 15, and he died at the scene. Why? He was a Catholic.

Mervyn Wilson Moon (20), of Douglas Terrace, had admitted murder at the start of the trial. Christopher Andrew McLeister (18), of Knockeen Crescent, who had been on trial for murder, was found guilty of manslaughter. Paul Edward David Henson (19), of Condiere Avenue, was convicted of affray and criminal damage. Man Slaughter and criminal damage?? The UDA then threatened the father when he tried to have the flag removed. Striking similarity can be found in the Robert Hamil and the Kevin McDaid cases. Police have accepted now that members of the UDA and the Pride of the Band Orange flute band were involved in murdering Kevin McDaid, beating up his wife Evelyn and issuing threats to his son, and the family of Damien Flemming.

So what do I make of the loyalist decommisioning? Not a dam thing. The UVF, the UDA, the RHC and the LVF were all involved in collusion cases with the British Army and the RUC, and nearly all of them, if not all, were members of the "Loyal Orange Lodge". Nearly every RUC member was also a member of both paramilitaries and the LOL.

The IRA decommissioned four years ago, and only now are we hearing of loyalists making the move. Not only that but they have been considering financial grants to help them do so. That is the biggest insult imaginable to the families of the 1,000 innocent people slaughtered by those bastards. The UVF have claimed to have decommissioned everything and the RHC claim the same. The UDA "have begun" the process. The LVF haven't made a mention, and it seems no one is gonna ask either. With the UVF/RHC, they had three witnesses, whom they chose, and now expect to move into a political role. This is a disgusting thought.

When the IRA decommisioned, the loyalists threw every possible road block imaginable. They demanded they chose the witnesses, and then refused to even consider decommisioning until the Army Council was declared no more. They did it. Four years ago. At this stage if the IIDC report the decommisioning of weapons I will accept that. But I will not accept the legitmising of their bigoted beliefs, by allowing their "army council" to remain.

Further more we have been reminded of the words of David Irvine, a loyalist paramilitary himself, that the "war is over". To even consider the actions of the loyalist paramilitaries to be a war is an insult to the intellegience of any Catholic, regardless of wether they are Republican or Nationalist. Most of the 1,000 killed had no involvement in either the IRA or even Sinn Féin. Most were working class Catholics just trying to live a life. Kidnapping Catholics, pulling them into a black taxi and slaughtering them with butchers knifes in an alley can in no way be called a war. They were not, and can never be legitimised as an army.

They were a band of armed bigots, out to kill anyone Catholic or Irish, and when that was no longer acceptable, they took their hate out on eachother and terrorised the normal, true Protestant people.

To call loyalist paramilitaries or the "LOL" a Protestant organisation, is an insult to the many great Protestant churchs in our world. It is also an insult to the Protestant history of the Irish people. Many of the Irish revolutions were led by decent working Protestant citizens, both in Political and armed arenas. Many men and women involved in the rebirth of Irish culture were of Protestant denominations.

The point I want to make is, its a simple fact that we are not in a time of peace because mindsets are the same. We only want peace, as long as its "our" peace. The loyalist idea of peace, is that we don't use weapons anymore, and that we Irish Republicans, just accept that this is "Northern" Ireland, and just forget about a United Free Ireland. To help us on our way to this thought process, they will of course hoist the flags, sing the songs and parade on the streets and continue to antagonise the locals.

You Can't Decommision Attitudes

God Bless
Peace

"Speaking for You" Maybe... Not for Me

My University, as well as Queens I assume, provide free copies of the "Belfast Telegraph AM" everyday, and so it has become the paper I read. However I have noticed it doesn't usually agree with me politically. Anyway its that time of year again where Political campaigns start, and leaflets are distributed while Politicians try to convince votes out of the very few non hardened voters, who do not know yet where their loyalty lies, or have become disheartened with their usual party of choice. Today in the Telegraph was a campaign leaflet from Jim Allister, who is running for the European elections. I'm assuming I won't open the telegraph anytime soon and find a campaign leaflet for Mr Colin Duffy.

I thought I would address what I read, and give my opinions.

On the main page, where he addresses the Economic Crisis, I would have to say I agree with his big words. It’s hard to argue against the fact that "restoring economic stability and prosperity must be the priority of all". He rightly says there is "no quick fixes, but there are certainly pitfalls to be avoided". However as said these are big words, but he does not yet address how he plans to rebuild the economy. However this section of these leaflets is to grab attention of readers and press them to read further, not to detail in-depth what they wish to do.

However upon opening the leaflet you get an immediate sense of what kind of Politics this man administers. The first section inside the leaflet is entitled “Consistently Resisting Sinn Féin". This displays the same dead-end politics that this part of country can no longer accept. It uses the same dead language of Unionist politics from the 70's and 80's relating Sinn Féin to terrorists, claiming they hold "affinity, not just with ETA and FARC, but closer to home with relentless pursuits of
issues such as the Northern Bank Robbery...". It further talks about IRA/Sinn Féin. Jim Allister refuses to move into the 21^st Century, where the IRA have not only ceased fire, decommissioned but also disbanded. He refuses to recognise that Sinn Féin, on numerous occasions since 2009 started, have condemned violence within the current Republican movement, and even went as far as to call armed Republicans traitors. Furthermore he accuses Sinn Féin of a crime; A crime for which they
were not charged, found guilty or in anyway proven to be connected too.

Within this section Mr Allister talks of the "failed Marxist agenda to which Sinn Féin is aligned". Sinn Féin are a socialist party, that believe in workers rights, and that the people come first. Socialism, in the way Sinn Féin talk about, has not yet been tried on our capitalist island, and so how can Mr Allister claim it is a failed agenda. He accuses Sinn Féin of belonging to "the communist block". Sinn Féin are not a communist party.

Jim Allistar is stuck in a dead era, where he chooses to ignore the people with whom he has differences, and thus stops any advancement in the Peace he claims he wants, but discriminating against 50% of the population with the occupied territory. Jim Allister for example, would definitely not represent my views in Europe, because I am both Irish, and Republican.

Lets move on to section two; "Opposing Foolish Legislation".

Jim attacks the EU for the Working Time Directive. It seems reasonable at first glance, as who would disagree that when "Families are struggling to make ends meet" that workers are no longer allowed to work more than 48 hours per week. I guess if we listen to Jim Allister, I would agree that this is a ridiculous ruling. However through reading the regulations you will see that there is an opt out clause.

"If you are 18 or over and wish to work more than 48 hours a week, you can choose to opt out of the 48 hour limit. This must be voluntary and in writing." - http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Employees/WorkingHoursAndTimeOff/DG_10029426 Now to me this seems reasonable. It means that workers can not be forced to work overtime, which would be unfair treatment of staff. Now I will not make my mind up now, but I do not see this as foolish. It seems that it allows you to work overtime if YOU, the worker, choose too. One can cancel the opt out agreement at anytime the wish, by giving "one week's to Three months notice". This seems reasonable. As I said not 100% sure, but seems reasonable to me. Sorry Jim.

Section Three; "Peace-Funding A Wasted Opportunity".

In this short section, Mr Allister complains that "money has been wasted". If further says "No one has been more critical of the waste and direction of much of the Peace Funding than Jim Allister". Now I don't think that Jim Allister really means money should not be put into Peace, thought it sounds that way. However he does not explain how he believes this money should be sent.


Section Four; "Holding the Line against the Lisbon Treaty".

Finally something we can agree upon. Within this section Mr Allister claims he is opposed to "the haemorrhaging of national powers to Brussels". I was very much against the Lisbon treaty as one would read in my Blogs before. I was utterly disgusted that I had no say in the referendum, as an Irish citizen living in Ireland; I was denied the right to vote due to British Occupation. The British government promised the people the chance to have their say, however they did not actually follow this promise through, and denied the people, thus denying Irish men and women a say also. How and ever I had very different reasons for not supporting Lisbon that can be found in my blog on the topic, so I won't discuss them again here.

The back of Jim Allister's leaflet contains short extracts from his speeches made in Europe, entitled "Speak for You in Europe". For the most part Mr Allister you most certainly do NOT speak for me.

1. "The Antrim Murders"

Once again in the extract, Jim Allister uses this as an excuse to attack Sinn Féin as terrorists, due to connections in their past, to the Irish Republican Army. He complains about having "three convicted IRA terrorists as Government ministers" and makes reference to how Martin McGuinness was once referred to as "The Bogside Butcher". He is ignoring completely the real situation in which the "Antrim Murders" have brought the Peace process. Jim is very quick to attribute the term Terrorist to Sinn Féin, but I'm curious would he be as quick to say the same of the PUP, UPRG and the DUP, all of whom have had connections to armed Loyalists. I would say he would hold his tongue a little tighter at least.


2. Climate change and Political Correctness

"...the proposed climate change package, we have emission-reduction demands which, if met, would reduce food production when we need it most. Faced with the choice of feeding the world or ticking climate change correction boxes, I am afraid I am on the side of common sense".

How can you be on the side of common sense if you show little signs of having any? Climate change is a debatable topic. Some believe in it and some do not. What no one can deny is that we are mistreating our planet, and it is being left in a terrible state in some places. No one can deny that the planet is heating up, thought some believe it is a natural occurrence that has happened throughout global history. My theory is, even if that is true, there is no sense us helping it along its way, and thus we must protect our environment, which means "ticking climate change correction boxes.

The fact is simple, that due to global warming, many farm lands within the developing/third world have already been irradiated. This means two things. That food production that Jim Allister is talking about is going to suffer either way. What use is it to pick food over climate change, if you can no longer grow the food in the current environment?

However it alot means that many third world countries are going to suffer. We in the "developed" or rich capitalist countries, for want of a better word, create most of the problems, as we produce a lot more pollution; however it is the developing world that bears the brunt of the suffering. Like most things that affect the third world, our nations cause them. So to ignore climate change is to ignore the world’s poor. That’s a nice attitude to take Jim.


3. Same Sex Marriage

At this stage I am already pretty sure that Jim Allister will not be getting a vote from me, and this brings me one step closer to concreting that decision. I want to address two things here. The first is his opening quote, and the second is the topic of same sex marriage.

So the quote he chose to begin this extract from states that "A society consumed by rights is a give me give me society, which has lost its balance". It is clear that Jim Allister does not believe in rights, as he completely disregards any Republican idealism as terrorism. However this statement is ridiculous. If someone was to remove a single right from Mr Allister, I have no doubt in my mind he would shout foul about it, and so he should. Every single person deserves their rights, as all people are supposed to be seen as equal. So maybe society will "lose its balance" as Mr Allister puts it, but in the defence of Human rights then so be it.

Now to address the topic of same sex marriage, many would think is a predictable one coming from me. I am a Roman Catholic and I would be quite conservative about it for a young person. However, I have my beliefs and I have to disagree with taking rights away from anyone. Jim Allister says "The natural order is Man and Woman. We pervert it when we demand equality for its very antithesis". So basically what we have here is Jim Allister saying once again, that because he doesn’t agree with this particular group of people, they deserve no rights.

When I read the bible I am told two things. For me, it would be wrong to be Homosexual. However the bible tells me I can not judge anyone, and I am a firm believer in this. I have no problems with homosexual people, and in fact have friends who are homosexual. I don't even give it a second thought. If two people of the same gender wish to go to the registry office, and have a civil partnership or marriage, I don't mind. It is not costing tax payer’s money. It is not destroying the economy, or causing wars. I do not see why it is even considered a topic of importance to Politicians, in a time where the world is at war, the economies are failing and people in general are suffering.


4. On Israel and Hamas

This is another sticky topic. In this troubled part of the world, the two divided communities tend to disagree on things, even things that have little or no connection to our conflict. As many Nationalist and Republican people began to show growing support for the Palestinian people, we seen saw the Israeli flag popping up around Unionist and loyalist estates. We see people on both sides complain about the others view on the situation when they have no understanding at all about the Middle East conflict.

I am sure if you read my blog I have no need to reassure you of my opinions on Palestine. So all I can say is me and Jim disagrees again. He supports Israel yet states "I abhor terrorism". Obviously not.


5. The Irish Referendum result

Hold the press folks. Jim says something here that makes sense to me. I disagree with his use of the term country but to hear that he publically said " The disrespect for the lawfully expressed opinion of a small country [It’s a partionist state Jim] on the treaty of Lisbon is Palpable" is admirable. I would agree that it shows more "politics of the bully boy" than that of a democracy.


6. The Maze Shrine

Now frankly my opinion on Long Kesh isn't really in agreement with anyone. I would keep it as is, for museum and tourism purposes, like Kilmainham or Crumlin Road Gaol. However once again the word of Mr Allister, make me lose even more respect for his ability as a Politician. He refers to Long Kesh as a place where "the most vile and vicious terrorists were properly incarcerated". Does he even have the first clue what he is talking about here? The treatment of Prisoners in Long Kesh Concentration Camp was regrettable in a modern "civilised" society. This is not only republican sentiment; William Smith, the first Loyalist prisoner stated “Long Kesh was a dreadful experience for anyone who was there”. In reference to the guards in the Kesh he said “They would come in and for no apparent reason smash up things, destroy your property. That was just part and parcel of prison life.”

I would like to hope that in his sweeping statements about terrorists, that he was at least recognising Loyalist paramilitaries under the same title. However he goes on to say that "Irish Republicans - who love to wallow in self pity" would turn it into a shrine to "Some of the most evil terrorists known to this generation". Firsly, who does he think he is? What right has this Racist anti Irish man got to speak of 50% of the population of the occupied state like that? If I was to say "Loyalists - who love to wallow in hatred", he would publically shout foul once again. This man is not fit to be a Politician. How can a man that talks like this also complain about "Bully Boy Politics". Furthermore, although I do not see the IRA/INLA prisoners as terrorists, if he is going to paint them as "the most evil" he must also acknowledge that the Kesh held some evil loyalist terrorists also. After all William Smith also said “When the republicans went on hunger strike and the dirty protest, they were fighting for the same rights as we were”.


Conclusion

I could write a lot more, but I have shown here, that I can agree with Jim Allister on a few points, but that my disagreements out weigh them points completely. I can guarantee that Jim Allister will not be receiving my vote. He is a bigot and is clearly stuck in 1980's politics, where he still does not accept that Irish Republicans have rights. He claims to represent "Ulster" and yet ostracises 50% of the population that he will be "representing".

AirPlot

It started like most good ideas around here, with a conversation down at the pub. And there have been many times over the last few months when I wasn't sure we were going to pull it off, but we're now the proud owners of a small piece of land within the site of the proposed third runway at Heathrow.

We're expecting the government will announce that they're going ahead with expansion at Heathrow this week and we now need you to join us. Sign up now to get your own piece of the plot. It's not a financial thing, but you will be included as an owner on the legal deed of trust. -Greenpeace (http://www.greenpeace.org.uk)

God Bless

Peace

Happy New Year??

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.

Going Green?

Well, again its been a while. I just can't get myself into blogging since my return from Europe. I've wrote blogs, but deemed them uninteresting, and didn't post them. Up until now that hasn't bothered me, but now these days it does. I haven't been able to find inspiration. However this one is a rant in reference to a conversation I had recently.

I am quite enviormental. I would be an advocate for "going green". My discussion here is how non enviormentals tend to make a bigger thing out of it than Enviormentalists do. What do I mean by this? Well simply when you talk to people about "Going Green", their immediate reaction seems to be "Oh thats too much hassle". Well really its not that hard at all. Simple things can make a big difference, however people undermine them. For example, if your not in a room then turn the light out. Not watching TV; Turn it off. Going to a nearby store, walk don't drive. Many people think that its a whole other life being an "Enviormentalist", so much so that I'm not sure I want to relate myself to the word anymore.

"Going Green" can be simple changes to the way you do things, and just a little more extra thought. One thing that came up in our discussion was how they thought going green meant cutting out luxuries such as Air Travel. Where as some enviormentalists do choose not to use Air Travel, it is not an essential change. I for example have travelled three times by plane this summer. Infact we do not need to cut any of the luxuries out of our life; We don;t need to watch less tv, reduce Computing time, travel less etc etc. Just try the simple things.

1. Don't leave the Lights on if your not in the room
2. Turn of the TV at the mains, when your done watching
3. Turn of your PC at the mains
4. Don't drive unless you have too
5. Wash at Forty
6. Recycle

Recycling is the only change, that really takes more hassle. It does invovle sorting your waste, and may involve travelling to recycling bins or bays. Though for most of the North of Ireland, recycling bins are available from the councils, and will be collected in the same way as your waste bins.

So yeah thats all I wanted to say really. It may not seem that interesting to anyone, but trying the little things will help the enviorment, if we all start doing so. What other benifits are there? Well, you will save money, and in the time where the Worlds economy seems to be heading towards crisis, many countries already there, then we could all do with saving a few pennies. You'll spend less on electricity and less on gas. It benifits you and the Enviorment.

So yeah try the Green option for a while, and see what you think about it.

Sorry about the Self righteous Enviormentalist talk

God Bless
Peace