Irish Left Review

English Translation of Metropolitan Observatory’s Crisis and Revolution in Europe Now Available for Free Download

Donagh — Wed, 30 May 2012 09:16:50 +0000

“‘This crisis is a scam’ and ‘We won’t pay for the crisis’ are cries heard across the squares of Europe today. They are shouted by the Greek indignados, in the Spanish squares of the 15M movement and by the strikers in France in 2010. And, with somewhat different resonances, in the revolutions on the other [...]

What’s it going to be like if you don’t vote yes? Have you ever seen Mad Max? Have you ever been to Longford?

Donagh — Tue, 29 May 2012 17:03:29 +0000

What’s it going to be like if you don’t vote yes? Have you ever seen Mad Max? Have you ever been to Longford? Already widely aired through social media etc, but this Dole TV clip about the Fiscal Treaty is classic so bears repeated viewings.

What Happens if Ireland Votes No?

Jenny O'Connor — Tue, 29 May 2012 15:12:10 +0000

Would Ireland be able to secure a second bailout? The Yes campaign claim that, in the event of a No vote, Ireland would be denied EU funding should she require a second bailout. The No campaign claim that a second bailout could be secured elsewhere, often citing the IMF as a likely source. However the IMF’s previously [...]

Dublin’s newspapers declare open season on Palestine solidarity campaign

David Cronin — Tue, 29 May 2012 14:46:59 +0000

Yesterday Ireland handed over 2.25 billion euros ($2.8 billion) to a bunch of wealthy gamblers whose names have not been revealed. These “bondholders” - as they are politely called - lent money to Allied Irish Bank, when it was still in private hands, four years ago. Now, parents with disabled children will have to cope [...]

A bit rich of Lagarde to lecture the Greeks on paying taxes. She doesn’t pay any on her 381k salary

Donagh — Tue, 29 May 2012 14:25:28 +0000

A bit rich of Lagarde to lecture the Greeks on paying taxes. She doesn’t pay any on her 380k salary There was plenty of justified outcry at the comments of Christine Lagarde in her Guardian interview over the weekend about how Greek parents have to take responsibility if their children are being affected by spending cuts. [...]

The Economic Consequences for Germany of the Crisis in the Eurozone

Michael Burke — Tue, 29 May 2012 10:23:07 +0000

This article originally appeared in Socialist Economic Bulletin on Sunday May 27th. Germany derives enormous benefits from the existence of the Euro. As Europe’s most productive major economy, it has a ‘home’ market where currency risks have been eliminated, along with the possibility of competitive devaluations. Its trade with the rest of the world also benefits [...]

Decisions must be made that are in the interests of the Irish people

CPOI — Tue, 29 May 2012 09:46:19 +0000

At the regular meeting of its National Executive Committee the Communist Party of Ireland once again called on working people to resist the bullying and ideological terror now being unleashed by the Government to force the people to support the Austerity Treaty and to come out and vote No. There is nothing in this treaty for [...]

Rabbitte’s rush to give away offshore rights could cost us billions | Colm Rapple

Donagh — Mon, 28 May 2012 20:52:31 +0000

Rabbitte’s rush to give away offshore rights could cost us billions | Colm Rapple Colm Rapple on the conclusions of the Oireachtas committee on oil and gas exploration which he also submitted evidence to. It’s official. The terms at which we give away rights to potential offshore oil and gas reserves are far too generous. That was [...]

Why the Treaty Won’t Work

Michael Burke — Mon, 28 May 2012 11:35:10 +0000

There are many reasons to vote No in the forthcoming Treaty on the austerity pact. One of them is that it is simply unworkable. The current Treaty is the latest attempt to deal with the structural problems created by the single currency by administrative rather than economic means. In effect, it applies a series of rules [...]

Poem for the anti-Fracking campaign

David Lordan — Mon, 28 May 2012 11:07:14 +0000

Poem for the anti-Fracking campaign Beware the one who talks to you of your children’s future for he carries an Earthquake machine that will rubble the lives of your children. Beware the one who talks to you of Investment and Community Projects for he will bribe the weak and the craven among you and invest in division and hatred. Beware the one [...]