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October 25, 2005
Rosa Parks 1913-2005
Rosa Parks, whose brave and dignified act of civil disobedience in 1955 inspired the modern civil rights movement, has died at the age of 92. At It Comes in Pints, Emily links to CNN's obituary, and this one, and adds some thoughts of her own, as does Jo over at JoBlog. The Guardian, meanwhile, notes this quote, by Rosa Parks - "It was just a day like any other day. The only thing that made it significant was that the masses of the people joined in." Update Also worth pointing to the Guardian's obituary of Rosa Parks, which notes the facts of that day, rather than the myth. October 18, 2005
Getting some perspective...
ULSTER Unionist and Jewish - Alex Benjamin argues that Fr Alec Reid's comparison of unionists to Nazis wasn't just offensive to unionists. Anyway, if unionists are Nazis, how come the BNP has decided it ain't worth their while to set up shop here? [more] Lack of enthusiasm for truth... TOM Luby has some interesting speculation about why a full public inquiry into the murder of Pat Finucane is not on the cards - it's not really in the interests of either Sinn Fein or the British Government. It's another good reason to be honest and see the utter futility of a Truth Commission, since it's pretty clear no-one has any intention of going anywhere near the truth. They have mixed success anywhere, and who could have confidence in it? Would it just be better to forget? October 09, 2005
Protectionism gone too far..?
LORD Laird has taken up the case of a family from Northern Ireland who have been refused permission to buy a house in the Connemara Gaeltacht (Irish speaking area). It's not because the family don't speak Irish, but apparently don't speak it well enough. September 15, 2005
Paisley: governments must deliver genuine Equality
Ian Paisley has been insisting that the riots arose directly out of Unionist alienation from the stop start peace process that has seen visible benefits for Nationalism and none for Unionism. He wants the government to tackle 'blackspots of discrimination against Protestants' and called for "an economic deal must be established to deliver equality." September 13, 2005
Saying Sorry is the hardest thing...
FACTOTUM go to court later today, claiming that Belfast City Council has curtailed its right to free speech through The Vacuum, a free arts magazine that the council sponsors. Factotum believes the Council is in breach of the Human Rights Act, by trying to impose conditions on magazine content. Looks like someone will be saying Sorry at last! [more] September 10, 2005
Too many 'rights'...?
MI5 chief Dame Eliza Manningham-Buller has asked the British public to discuss which of its liberties it is prepared to sacrifice in the war against terrorism. [more] August 31, 2005
Another statement Ruaned...
SINN Fein has called for eBay to stop selling DVDs of Irish Travellers' bare-knuckle fights. Without a trace of irony, Catriona Ruane stated: "We are against the exploitation of violence in any way... They shouldn't be selling racist incitement to hatred." She obviously hasn't visited Sinn Fein's online shop in a while... August 21, 2005
Sunday reading...
THE loyalist threat to newsagents selling the Sunday World - a tabloid newspaper famous for exposing and ridiculing paramilitary groups - is an attack on freedom of speech. Yet the response from the Government to this situation today is in marked contrast to the way in which Mo Mowlam showed her solidarity with the paper when its offices were firebombed a few years ago. Sadly, all the NIO tea and sympathy in the world won't change the fact that no-one has been prosecuted for SW journalist Marty O'Hagan's murder, and the threat is all too real, as arson is regarded as a serious option by the UDA today. [more] August 16, 2005
NI Priest to stand trial in Kenya
Co. Fermanagh priest is to stand trial in Kenya for organising a lands right protest. He was put in prison but released on bail on Monday. Interesting to see what actions will be taken by the Catholic hierarchy to campaign on his behalf. [more] August 07, 2005
Pride Parade Passes Peacefully
The Parade in Belfast yesterday was one like no other seen in Northern Ireland for the rest of the year. Rainbow balloons, boats, jazz bands, disco dancing and Spiderman on a quad bike – It was Belfast Gay Pride 2005. [more] August 03, 2005
Never mind the Diplocks
It appears that there is no end to the SoS's generosity in the aftermath of the Historic Statement. Suspected terrorists are to be given the right to jury trial, at precisely the moment when the right is to be withdrawn from certain ODCs. Down south, the policy has, of course been moving in the opposite direction, with the minister hinting that it's not only terrorism, but organused crime which concerns him. Of couse the policy may yet change, not least as the scourge of shinnerdom now appears to be bored with his job. July 21, 2005
Government sidetracking Unionists...
The Newsletter editorialises on the appointment of Bob Collins. It notes that both of Unionism's main parties have questioned the government's intentions of promoting both Human Rights and Equality agendas in that community. [more] July 20, 2005
Who is applying to be Commissioners...
It seems that Sylvia Hermon some interesting answers to a recent question (scroll down) in the House of Commons, regarding the affliation of people applying to become members of the Human Rights Commission. Interestingly, Labour and the Alliance Party come top of all original applicants with any party affliations: eight each. The SDLP scored 6, the UUP 4 and the DUP 3 applicants. Strangely, Sinn Fein had none. Even the Lib Dems (who don't organise in NI) had 2. Thanks to Alan for the heads up. June 29, 2005
McBride case to go to Europe...
JEAN McBride is to appeal to the European Court of Human Rights after her latest bid to have the convicted murderers who killed her son thrown out of the Army. It's intensely embarrassing for a Government that throws out soldiers guilty of smoking a spliff to retain convicted murderers in its ranks, but the Army seems to have the rest of the State over a barrel on this issue. June 22, 2005
In the public interest, or the State's...?
AT the launch of the new Public Prosecution Service the other day, Attorney General Lord Goldsmith said that the Government was intent on building a justice system in which everyone could feel confidence. Yet the new service is as unaccountable as the old one in one respect - it does not have to state why any prosecution is dropped. In the past, when the Director of Public Prosecutions dropped a case "in the public interest" for no given reason, it sometimes left suspicions that the State was protecting an agent or informer who had been involved in a serious crime. [more] Government goes for another cover-up... WELL there you go - the Government proves once again that it simply cannot be trusted to do what it says, as the inquiry into the murder of LVF killer Billy Wright is to be conducted under the terms of the Inquiries Act, and not the Prisons Act. This will mean evidence does not have to be given in public "for security reasons". [more] June 17, 2005
DUP angry at new HR Commissioner...
Can a former politician do a deal where a human rights professor couldn't? Clearly the DUP is not impressed with the appointment of Monica McWilliams. There may be some heat left over from past encounters. And Ian Paisley's words have a fairly final ring to them: "The government must now remember that the unionists will have nothing to do with their commission. They will not take any part as long as they have a chairman, or chairlady, who cannot be trusted by both sides." [more] June 16, 2005
McWilliams to tackle Bill of Rights first
A fair rule of thumb is that when you take over a new office is that you pick on a high level project and run hard and fast with it. You just need to be sure you can realise enough success to christen your term with. In this interview with PA, Monica McWilliams clearly believes she can succeed at the hurdle which arguably did for her predecessor: the proposed Bill of Rights. The presence of Ards Democratic Unionist councillor Jonathan Bell, is more notable as a conduit for the considerable amount of thinking his party has given to this issue than for his past colourful history. Could be a very bumpy ride! June 12, 2005
Speaking out against Ignorance and bigotry
Ireland's President, Mary McAleese, has spoken out against homophobia during a visit to St Columb's College in Derry writes Garbhan Downey in the Sunday Times McAleese backs gay campaign [more] June 06, 2005
Homophobia still seen as a 'respectable prejudice' ?
Angelique Chrisafis in the Guardian today takes a look at the increasing levels of violence and harassment faced by members of the Gay and Lesbian community in Northern Ireland. An estimated five homophobic murders in the past six years and homophobic incidents increased by 300% in the past year in Derry, "now dubbed the "gay bashing capital" of Northern Ireland." Gays and lesbians under siege as violence and harassment soar in Northern Ireland . [more] June 02, 2005
Family deported minus 7 year old child
A row has broken out as Gardai in the ROI, during a mass deportation of Romanians, failed to include a seven year old child whose present whereabouts is unknown.Boy, 7, left behind as family deported [more] June 01, 2005
It's That Man Again
Seems like buses, or Orange marches - nothing for ages then a bunch come along together. UTV carries a press association story that could raise a few hackles - Laird wins Hevesi backing on jobs - as it is claimed that Lord Laird has "secured the backing of an eminent American businessman to tackle alleged discrimination against Protestants in the Irish Republic." [more] May 18, 2005
Identity Card issue shifts focus to national identity.
The Belfast Telegraph's Brian Walker takes a look at the thorny issue of the introduction of ID cards to the United Kingdom in New ID cards storm on way. The UK, Ireland and Denmark are the only EU countries without ID cards and the proposed intoduction of ID cards in the UK could cause major problems unless Ireland simultaneously introduces them. Row in Dáil UTV carries a report,Lenihan 'kebab' comment causes uproar,that Fianna Fail's Conor Lenihan, the Minister responsible for Overseas Development, made a racist comment which he later withdrew. Should he resign ? May 14, 2005
Domestic violence just "something that happens"?
A Northern Ireland crime survey for the Northern Ireland Office for 2003/2004 has found that 11% of men and 19% of women surveyed have been victims of domestic violence. Incredibly, the number of those who considered it "wrong but not a crime" increased from 29% in 2001 to 35% in 2003/2004 while those who consider it just "something that happens" dropped from 27% to 16%. [more] May 12, 2005
Justice challenge to DUP...
WILL the DUP meet the challenge that the father of UVF murder victim Raymond McCord has issued to them? In his call for equality, Mr McCord seems to imply that the DUP has done more for a republican family that fell victim to IRA members, than Protestant victims of the loyalist UVF. Maybe, given that police informers are alleged to have killed Mr McCord's son and Andrew Robb, there just isn't enough political capital for them to make. [more] Lawrence investigator to probe Nelson case... THE former police chief who led the inquiry into the Stephen Lawrence murder investigation is to head the probe into the Rosemary Nelson murder investigation. The work done by Robert Ayling, who was appointed by the Inquiry into Mrs Nelson's assassination, formed a large part of the evidence to the Macpherson Public Inquiry, which uncovered "institutional racism" in the Metropolitan Police. McCartneys under threat, but from who...? POLICE have told the sisters of republcan murder victim Robert McCartney that there is a threat to burn them out of their homes and business. The PSNI said the threat came from "criminal elements", although it is not yet clear if this is a reference to the expelled IRA members alleged to have carried out the murder. [more] May 11, 2005
Family accuse Loyalists of brutal assault.
Belfast Telegraph's Mary Fitzgerald has an article, Brother 'beaten and left for dead', in which the family of Stephen Nelson, who died in March, 6 months after a severe beating at a nightclub, have accused loyalists of the brutal murder. [more] |
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