May 222011
 

Today is Sunday 22nd May 2011 and Spain goes to the polling booth for the local elections. Since last Sunday (15/5) following large protests in Spain, many decided to stay on the streets. The support grew and by Friday evening there was over 25 thousand people gathered in Puerta del Sol, Madrid and more than 10 thousand at Plaça de Catalunya, Barcelona. All across Spain people came out in strength and ignored the ban of political demonstrations on the eve of an election.  The government decided not to enforce the ban as the protests are peaceful and very well organised.

Around the world demonstrations have taken place in solidarity with the protesters in Spain. The problems faced in Spain are the same as much of the western world under the thumb of recession and austerity measures. However, their unemployment rates, especially among the young are very high. They are disillusioned with their government and it’s main opposition. It is a familiar situation. There is little choice for people in the dominant political parties to really act on behalf of the people. The people must take politics into their own hands so real change and reform can happen. The protests movements in Spain, unlike here in Ireland, are not stagnant and divided. There is a sense of unity and a solidarity in Spain which should serve as an example to the western world.  Here are a people who have the stamina to act now for a better future.

Below are some videos with international media perspective followed by videos from activists themselves…

 

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May 092011
 

THE PHOENIX   |   Vol. 29. No 9    |   May 6th – May 19th 2011 |  Page  7

HUSH, HUSH!  : WHO HAS ACCESS TO CENSUS INFO?

In the last post on the census contractors, I mentioned there was some recent media reporting here in Ireland about CACI. I was referring to the latest issue of The Phoenix Magazine, which has a good piece on this story. Needless to say, I am grateful that this news has been picked up and happier still that it was by a publication with a good reputation for investigation. The journalist who wrote the piece was kind enough to pass me on the text of the story which is pasted in below for posterity. Some bits didn’t make the cut but the full piece is included here, as well as a pdf of the article as it appeared in print. (you can also read it by clicking on the image of it to the right). This edition is in your local newsagent for a bit over another week and I recommend you grab a copy. As always it’s a worthwhile read and this issue’s highlights include; a piece on Bob Geldof’s non-response to the IPSC about whether he should accept an award of an honorary doctorate from an Israeli university or stand up for human rights, an article about SDU spies from the USA round the back of the US Ambassador’s residence in the Phoenix Park (included on the pdf below), a primer for the Presidential Elections later this year, the usual round up of cute hoors winning or losing money in the courts, other business of movers and shakers, the state of the arts as well as, the always on the button, Craic & Codology. Grab your copy today.

 

On to the article…

 

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After a brief flurry of interest when Sinn Fein and ULA TDs raised questions on the subject, the Irish media were cheerleaders for the census and consigned objectors to the realm of conspiracist paranoia. But as the old saying goes: just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean there isn’t a multinational military contractor involved in processing your census form.

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May 072011
 

Last night I noticed that the parody video we made filmed back on Saturday 26th March, CACI & The Irish Census, has been removed from YouTube.

 

 

 

 

 

“This video is no longer available due to a trademark claim by a third party.
Sorry about that.”

was at : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXHSJyrhoS0

 

®™℗©✂

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Apr 152011
 

The Lost Dáil Tapes, Away Up North, Subsidiaries & Markets…

The latest on the story of the statisticians and the interrogators.
(if the story doesn’t load below.. please come back in a while… in the meantime, you can see the Lost Dáil Tapes on Youtube..
20110331 [Dáil] Adjournment Debate – Census of Population
and 20110406 [Dáil] Questions to An Taoiseach – Census

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