Analysis

Abortions rights are just one part of the struggle for full ( reproductive ) freedom

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Anarchist pro-choice banners cross the Liffey near the Custom house, DublinThe demand for abortion rights is a shallow one if all that it means is a right to a safe and legal abortion. The demand for abortion rights must be brought into the greater battle for full reproductive freedom.

Reproductive freedom means that if someone is pregnant and does not wish to be they are supported, financially and emotionally in that decision. Likewise, if someone wishes to have a child they should not be constrained by, for example, financial issues.

People's need for housing before markets property speculators and bankers

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People's need for housing has to be put before the considerations of the markets, the property speculators, and the bankers.

Property is once again on the rise which means this is a great time to be a landlord as you kick tenants out on the streets on some pretense, only to get in a new batch at a higher rental rate. The neo-liberal agenda has really given a free hand to the landlords to do what they wish, whilst the banks are only too happy to take homes of families who cannot meet their mortgage obligations, so that they can sell it or rent it out for quick cash.

The political policing of the AAA - if voting changed anything..

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Garda letter to AAA banning them from collecting money with anarchist sloganSometimes the old ones are the gold ones. The attempt by the Irish state to damage the electoral chances of the Anti Austerity Alliance by hitting them where it matters - in the pocket - reminds us of how shallow parliamentary democracy is. The Anti Austerity Alliance is the political front the Socialist Party runs under but for the next elections its unified with the SWPs People Before Profit as the rather lengthy AAA - PbP.

It's broadly understood that cash determines who wins an election more than any other factor. Indeed with the US presidential election, for almost a century, the winner has always been the candidate who had the most money behind them. So in terms of influencing the outcome of an election denying a party the right to fundraise is probably the single most effective tactic short of banning them outright.

“We want them back alive!” Dublin Solidarity with the Disappeared of Ayotzinapa, Mexico

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Can you imagine the state using its police force in order to create opportunities for capitalists to make money? Can you imagine natural resources not being used for the benefit of an ecologically sustainable society and instead being used purely for corporations' profit?
 
Over a year ago, on the night of 26 September 2014, a group of student teachers in the Mexican state of Guerrero were ambushed by municipal police as they travelled in a convoy of buses through the city of Iguala. Five people, including two students, were killed when the officers opened fire on the buses, and another student was later found dead, his body showing signs of horrific torture. Forty-three other students simply disappeared without trace [1].
 

Eviction in Phibsboro - June 2015 - video & interview

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This video shows the view from inside the house evicted on the last Tuesday evening June 2015 by a large gang of Garda in Dublin operating without a search warrant or eviction order.

To the 4,000: We say ‘you are not alone’ - March for Choice this Saturday

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Ask yourself a question. A relative, a friend, a neighbour, a co-worker or a stranger on a bus comes to you and says that they were pregnant but exercised their right to choose and secured a termination. Would you then imprison them for 14 years?
 
If you wouldn’t jail someone for exercising their right to choose, then you might consider joining the 4th Annual March for Choice will take place in Dublin this Saturday, 26th September. The day marks the Global Day of Action for Access to Safe and Legal Abortion. The march will assemble at the Garden of Remembrance from 1:30pm.
 

Refugees Welcome! Racists Out! Counter protest in Belfast

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The Protestant Coalition has called for a "Protest against refugees/terrorists heading to the U.K" to be held in Belfast City centre on the 27th of September.

Homeless Direct action occupies DCC office in Coolock

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A housing direct action is took place this morning (14 Sept) at the Dublin City Council (DCC) office in Bunratty Civic Centre, Coolock in Dublin. Mother’s and their children who are in need of housing occupied the offices in order to force the council to answer their questions. In particular they want to know why many people are discovering there isn’t even emergency accommodation available.

Some of the mothers are currently living in hotels or B&B's (which DCC pay for) with their kids while others are couch surfing in the homes of friends and relations. There are a huge number of ‘hidden homeless’ in such situations.

Racism against Irish refugees - we should know our own history

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Cartoon showing racism against Irish Refugees during famine - simian featured refugee with whisky bottle and flaming brand on top if barrel of Gunpowder"As a housing activist who is seeing directly family after family evicted, fighting with them to stay in their homes, facing court to open up buildings and fighting more generally so that everyone has a home and housing is a right, I don't want to see housing and homeless used to attack refugees. We can help the homeless AND refugees. Get involved in housing and homeless groups, get involved in anti-racism groups, take down this government, tear down this racism, sexist, classist state."

Housing activist Seamus Farrell used this powerful image of anti Irish racism from the 19th century to remind us that the refugees fleeing Syria have far more in common with us than the billionaire's that run this county. He circulated it with the following text during the week

"We Have to Look After Our Own" - How to Make Generosity Mean

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"We need to look after our own" is one of a family of phrases which are dangerous despite being superficially reasonable.

No, it's not just common sense and pragmatism. At root it is an expression of egotism, exclusion and callousness, although it worms its way into our minds by preying on our healthy desire to care for our family, friends, and other loved ones. One minute we want to care for someone close to us, the next minute we are parroting fascists.
 

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