Workers Solidarity Movement

—Documentary filmmaker Robert Kenner uses reports by FAST FOOD NATION author Eric Schlosser and THE OMNIVORE’S DILEMMA author Michael Pollan as a springboard to exploring where the food we purchase really comes from, and what it means for the health of future generations. By exposing the comfortable relationships between business and government, Kenner gradually shines light on the dark underbelly of the American food industry.

Labour party Minister for Communications Pat Rabbitte has threatened public sector workers with further wage cuts if they don't deliver cost savings under the Croke Park agreement.  He claimed that since the country "was broke" in his words it is up to the workers to make savings by agreeing to redundancies and increasing their workload.

Erris: The Rossport Solidarity Camp have called the annual Shell to Sea Summer Gathering for the May Bank Holiday weekend this year so that it happens while key construction is still underway.  Shell to Sea campaigners from around Ireland will be travelling to the camp for a weekend of protest and meetings, come and join us.  Local Shell to Sea groups will be helping people to travel, already Dublin are running a bus down on the Friday.

Approximately 300 people attended a meeting in the Gresham Hotel in early April which “endorsed the formation of a campaign, called "Enough!" to resist the IMF EU deal and to demand a referendum.”[i] At first thought it seems to be a campaign which should be enthusiastically supported by anarchists and libertarians.  After all we’re always going on about grassroots democracy and about involving people in decisions about things that affect them. And didn’t the people of Iceland have not one but two referenda on their ‘bailout’ in the last 13 months?  If they can have two, why shouldn’t we have at least one!

The media narrative regarding the Corrib Garda rape remarks played out with sickening predictability. Sticking as closely as possible to the Garda Press Office line, the news media decided that this was an isolated incident: yes, it was inappropriate for Gardaí to joke about raping captive women, but the matter is under investigation, and anyway it's all just a bit of private banter between colleagues. No need for a wider discussion about societal attitudes towards women, or about the militarised policing of political protest in North Mayo and elsewhere. Up popped Kevin Myers to explain why men are the real victims here, oppressed by the 'politically-correct' thought police, while Vincent Browne informed us that rape jokes “are just part of the lingo of Irish males” and that's that.

Cork's Annual Mayday March, called by the Independent Worker's Union will take place Sunday 1st May, starting at 1pm from Connolly Hall, before proceeding up Parnell Place, along Merchant's Quay, down Patrick Street to congregate in Daunt Square.

Delicious all-vegan food at the Veg Out Cafe every Friday from 7-9pm in Solidarity Books, 43 Douglas Street (across from Fionn Barra's) - suggested donation 5 euro - all welcome!

Delicious all-vegan food at the Veg Out Cafe every Friday from 7-9pm in Solidarity Books, 43 Douglas Street (across from Fionn Barra's) - suggested donation 5 euro - all welcome!