Irish Citizens alone will determine fate of all Europeans ?

It is not widely known that Irish Citizens alone will determine the fate of all Europeans when we take to the ballot box on the LISBON TREATY.

We are the only country forced to hold a referendum on the new Constitution. This isn't a responsibility to be taken lightly ..no one should vote to enactment laws they do not understand.

We should also bare in mind that this re-written Constitution - in it's previous guises - was rejected previously by the people of Europe. How can you morally justify a vote that would reverse their decision unless you understand the proposed-treaty word-for-word.

If you fully understand the consequences of voting Yes, and agree with the changes, then so-be-it vote yes, but it is irresponsible and fool-hardy to approve laws that you do not fully understand purely on the basis of major political party opinion - they don't even understand it.

Voting NO does not reject Europe, it merely forces the EU to re-write their proposed changes in a language that is not designed to confuse.

The ‘father’ of the constitution, GISCARD D'ESTAING said: "Public opinion will be led to adopt, without knowing it, the proposals that we dare not present to them directly... All the earlier proposals will be in a new text, but will be hidden and disguised in some way...What was [already] difficult to understand will become utterly incomprehensible, but the substance has been retained."

Political leaders also admit that they will not allow their people a vote on the Lisbon Treaty because they know it will be rejected. French president NICOLAS SARKOZY says: "France was just ahead of all the other countries in voting No. "It would happen in all member states if they have a referendum. There is a cleavage between people and governments...A referendum now would bring Europe into danger. There will be no treaty if we had a referendum in France, which would again be followed by a referendum in the UK." So basically what we have is fundamental change without the consent of the citizens.

If the GREENs were not in a coalition government they would be calling for a NO VOTE - sadly that leaves only SINN FEIN calling for a no, tainting the against lobby as radicals. However Green MEP PATRICIA McKENNA spoke about it clearly here.

No more excuses - sort out the Health Service NOW!

Without medical insurance you could die on the street in America. In Ireland (at least for the moment) you'll make it as far as a chair in the Emergency Department (..but don't visit the toilet or you forfeit even that).

You're benefiting from an economic boom the foundations of which were laid by those same people dying on hospital trolleys today - and, just like the rest of us, when they were young, fit and healthy they never thought for a moment they'd find themselves in that desperate position.

I'm writing this because it's time you did something to afford them the dignity they (and in future someone in your own family) deserve. This Saturday (29 March) at 15.00 is your opportunity to show politicians that the Irish public have had enough smoke-and-mirrors.

If you're lacking inspiration watch SICKO on dvd before Saturday. The documentary looks at an American health system which has been allowed run-down to the extent that those citizens [who can afford the annual premiums] are driven to private medical cover for fear of not being treated. Hardly a coincidence since the medical insurance industry fiercely lobbies Governments to have (their) acts written into law.

If you're selfishly thinking 'I've got medical insurance' you'd do well to wake up to the story of husband and wife (once financially independent WITH medical insurance) who lost everything including their home when insurance failed to cover all the bills.

The scandal is that these companies employ teams of investigators to fine-comb your original application intent on establishing you had a pre-disposition all those years - their goal is to avoid successful claims which they term 'profit losses'. The documentary hears evidence from ex-Chief Medical Officers admitting they were paid huge bonuses to reach pre-determined 'rejected-claims' targets (rejections which baffle their doctor who recommended a particular treatment).

So how is this relevant to Ireland? Welcome to your future! This government clearly has no interest in a system that works - the ratio of hospital beds per capital has dropped from just over 5/1000 to 3.1/1000 now! I'd argue that the quality of our health service is intentionally being allowed run-down - it's a win-win for both Government and the medical insurance industry - society looses faith in the public system and flocks to private insurance.

Our Government is clearly reaching for the American model (remember all the talk at the last election about private hospitals?) instead of looking to Canada, the UK, France where society (both strong and weak) is supported by an efficient, subsidised, or socialised medical service.

Why? Well conveniently enough our government benefits directly. VHI HEALTHCARE is the profit-making state-operated insurance company and the government has written the so-called 'equalisation' rule into law, simply put this gives the company an unfair advantage making it next to impossible for competition to survive longer than a few years - remember British health insurance giant BUPA.

It's no secret VHI Healthcare has been flirting with the American health insurance giants for some time: and you don't need to stretch too far to imagine the sales-pitch '..the health system lays in tatters, this has pushed droves of citizens to private insurance, we control the company that insures them, 'equalisation' guarantees only VHI can run the distances, we've sewn it all up so your only realistic route into the Irish market-place is a take-over of our company ..we've put together a neat package with a big surge in policy holders, you can only do business with us'. [Has anyone explored the relationship between the deterioration in our health service and a big jump in VHI's membership?]

..and if you're thinking this government would never screw its own citizens remember the privatisation of EIRCOM!

How can Cuba provide a world-class health service despite having suffered under embargoes from both the US and EU while we have experienced an unprecedented boom and our health system lays in tatters.

There is simply no will - in fact the opposite is the case.

Trade unions and medical organisations are crying out for your support this weekend. Have a look at medmedia.com or here ..and take an hour of your day to join the public demonstration:

Sat 29 March
15.00
Garden of Remembrance
Parnell Square
Dublin 01

Pearl at Dublin Docklands

Went to see PEARL around the IFSC in DUBLIN DOCKLANDS last night, it's part of the St. Patrick's Festival weekend celebrations.

So many great street theatre groups arrive in Dublin and are then forced to restrict their show because of a bunch of bureaucrats who lack creativite vision or an understanding that while the Irish like to have the craic, we don't need to be caged in for 'our own safety'. (There is definitely a much more relaxed and involved audience at similar events in latin countries - can you ever imagine Ireland agreeing to a bull-run or city-wide tomato fight?)

So when we went along to the show last night we were in two minds. French street theatre company PLASTICIENS VOLANTS are certainly capable of putting on one amazing show, but would it retain it's sense of fluidity that is a hallmark?

Well what a show - giant helium inflated 'puppets' controlled by their 'handlers' with guide ropes - then smaller 3 meter sea-horse, crabs, shrimp, shellfish running through the crowds glowing colourfully in the dark. Rather than being focussed on a single stage area the action weaved over 60 or 80 metres, all around the Dock so that, no matter where you were standing, you'd find yourself caught-up in the 'underwater' battle at some stage, no where was safe.

We floated around the space, above us massive fishes and lobster protecting their giant pearl. Then out of no-where, somewhere behind us maybe, a giant sea snake is skimming over our heads (he must have been 20 or 30 metres long with a 4 metre girth).

He part-flew, part-bounced above us then dived head-first into the crowd about 5 feet from where we were standing. The music was thundering around the space almost drowning out the screams (we later heard he took-out an adult and a few kids).

A shrimp and a few crabs ran up to us as the snake slithered in chasing them in our direction. They trembled with fear, holding onto my jacket and clearly seeking help in some weird language. Somehow we got the message across that they should swim out of there fast and they fled (ok we were being selfish but they glowed like hell and were only drawing the snake's attention to where we were hiding).

What a show, it's repeated tonight again and, although it's listed as a ticketed free event if you don't have one go along anyway. There was no one asking for tickets last night.

19.30
Georges Dock / IFSC (International Financial Services Centre)
Dublin Docklands,
D.01
(take public transport, little parking around there)

don't forget Mothers' Day

In the US it's the second Sunday in May (this year it's 11th May).
In the UK and Ireland Mothers' Day falls on the fourth Sunday of Lent:
2nd March 2008

In these parts the tradition goes back to 'Mothering Sunday' when Catholics were supposed to travel to Mass in their "Mother Church" (or regional cathedral) rather than their local parish. With the Reformation, it had become an occasion for children to visit parents.

In the US the first known observance of Mother's Day occurred in Albion, Michigan, on May 13, 1877, the second Sunday of the month. Legend claims local pioneer, Juliet Calhoun Blakeley, called on other mothers to join her when she stepped up to complete the sermon of the Rev. Myron Daughterty, who was distraught. Apparently an anti-temperance group had forced his son and two other temperance advocates to spend the night in a saloon and become publicly drunk!

Blakeley's two sons, both travelling salesmen, vowed to return each year to pay tribute to her. At their urging, in the early 1880s, the Methodist Episcopal Church in Albion set aside the second Sunday in May to recognize the special contributions of mothers.

HANSARD & IRGLOVA to perform at the OSCARS

GLEN HANSARD and MARKETA IRGLOVA will perform their due FALLING SLOWLY at this year's OSCARS ceremony.  The track from the feature ONCE is nominated in the Best Original Song category.  The ACADEMY questioned it's validity to remain in competition since nominated songs must consist 'of words and music, both original and written specifically for' a motion picture whereas the piece has already appeared on two albums.

The Academy allowed the track to remain in competition following reassurances from Hansard and Director JOHN CARNEY that composition of the song began during discussions way back in 2002 whereas the script and financing for the film took a number of years to come to fruition.  The Academy accepted that 'the song was played in some venues that were deemed inconsequential (no less!) enough not to deem it in-eligibile.'

Once was made on an incredibly low budget of less than €150,000 with 'a couple of handi-cams' and according to a mind-blown Hansard 'we thought it would help sell a few albums'.   It did more than that, it won an audience award at the SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL which made FOX SEARCHLIGHT buy the rights.  During its first few months at the American box office it grossed more than $7 million!  

In the film Hansard plays a Dublin busker, and Irglova (niece of director Carney) is a street-vendor.  There is a palpable screen energy between the two who have been dating since filming in January 2006 - they first met 6 years ago when Irglova was 13.  Hansard admits 'I'd been falling in love with her for a long time but I kept telling myself 'she's just a kid''.

ready to become a director?

We placed a recruitment advert in today's IRISH TIMES to find a new Director for BOARDMATCH IRELAND. The position became free when BRIAN SHEEHAN moved to GLEN where he's the new CEO. All the SEXTON+ gang wish Brian the best of luck, he has been an absolute pleasure to work with. MIRIAM ENRIGHT (Director of Marketing) has taken-over as acting-MD at Boardmatch.

Boardmatch provide a very worthwhile service that helps people in business polish their leadership skills by volunteering on the boards (usually) of notforprofit organisations.


Here's how the ad reads:
Boardmatch Ireland promotes stronger links between business and the nonprofit sector via voluntary leadership roles at board level. Business professionals volunteer their skills and experience to nonprofit organisations, enabling stronger governance practices and increasing effectiveness in nonprofits while gaining new leadership skills at Board level. Introductions between business professionals and nonprofits are facilitated, principally, via a free web-based service.

Director - BoardmatchIreland.ie Based Dublin + Travel
We wish to recruit a dynamic Director to build on the great progress to date. Reporting directly to our Board, the Director will lead the organisation successfully delivering the next phase of our ambitious strategic plan.

You can download a full job description from: www.boardmatchireland.ie

SALARY:
A competitive salary is on offer to attract the highest calibre candidate

APPLICATION:
Please send a detailed letter of application and CV to: chair@boardmatchireland.ie

CLOSING DATE:
Friday 7th March 2008

Fidel Castro retires = 19 Feb 2008

HAVANA - Cuban leader Fidel Castro stepped down on Tuesday 49 years after taking power in an armed revolution.

Castro, 81, who has not appeared in public since undergoing stomach surgery almost 19 months ago, said he would not seek a new term as president or leader of Cuba's armed forces when the National Assembly meets on Sunday.

His retirement raised expectations for change on the communist island, and calls by Castro's arch-enemy, the United States, for democracy, but Cuba experts said limited economic reforms were more likely than swift political transformation.

"To my dear compatriots, who gave me the immense honor in recent days of electing me a member of parliament ... I communicate to you that I will not aspire to or accept -- I repeat not aspire to or accept -- the positions of president of the Council of State and commander-in-chief," Castro said in a statement published in the Communist Party's Granma newspaper.

U.S. President George W. Bush, who has tightened the decades-old economic embargo against Castro's government, said his retirement should begin a democratic transition.

Cuba's National Assembly is expected to nominate Castro's brother and designated successor Raul Castro as president. The 76-year-old defense minister has been running the country since emergency intestinal surgery forced his older brother to delegate power on July 31, 2006.

Raul Castro has promoted more open debate about the failings of Cuba's state-run economy, but he is unlikely to make bold political changes to the one-party state. Fidel Castro will remain influential as first secretary of the ruling Communist Party.

Want to live in the U2 Tower in Dublin docklands?

An Irish consortium is ear-marked to design and build the €200m U2 Tower in Dublin docklands ...and you could find yourself snapping one up for below market value!

Work should begin in 2008 and is to be completed by 2011. The Dublin Docklands Authority (DDA) Chief Executive Paul Maloney has said that the building will be 'breathtaking and inspirational and will offer spectacular views over Dublin Bay'.

It will include a hotel, residential and retail areas, as well as a recording studio for the U2 themselves. The DDDA also said that the building would feature a public viewing area at 100m and a public amenity area.

The residential element of the building will include 20% social and affordable housing and you might be surprised how easy it is to qualify! Get on the list for Social and Affordable Housing now - you can't lose by making an application and your chances are increased the longer you're on the waiting list.

Have a look at the DDA site or try the Dublin City Council site.

Great buildings - SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE

Have a look at The GUARDIAN's link here - interesting snap-shot of iconic buildings like the EMPIRE STATE BUILDING, London's 'GUERKIN' and the SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE.

The one on the Opera House gives an insight into what became one of the world's most publicised project management disasters. JORN UTZON the building's architect 'resigned' in 1966 before work on the shell roofs was completed - he emigrated and never saw the building in it's finished state.

He says himself "I had the best job anyone could get. I had the possibility with a number of people to concentrate fantastically upon an extraordinarily great structure for a purpose which was not for profit but for the stimulus of the mind.

"It was my function as an architect to support the actors in the house and help them present their drama in a better way; and you could not dream of a better entrance to this new world. When it became clear that our function was to stimulate the audience before the drama, to take them away from their daily lives, the architecture came by itself."

On his departure the interior designs were completed by local architects who did it no justice. He was cut off and knew practically nothing of the new plans for the interior, which depart radically from his own conception. As he describes it, it had a coherent philosophy which began with the life of the city and harbour and drew it toward the stage, and there was not to be a light or a tile which did not have its place in that philosophy.

The only authentic Utzon interior - the Reception Hall - was completed in 2004 and named in his honour.

He now lives in Mallorca and, although in 1999 he was appointed 'design consultant' to provide guidelines that will oversee its future conservation, he has made it very clear he has no intention of returning.

In 2007 the Sydney Opera House was declared a world heritage site!

Audio Terrorists at Seomra Spraoi Sat 13 Oct

It’s been confirmed and you'd be a lunatic to miss it. Long time collaborators AUDIO TERRORISTS and FORCE 10 are getting together on the 13th October 2007 (that's this Sat night) in SEOMRA SPRAOI.

Two rooms - with a suggested donation of EU8 !!

In Room 2 Audio Terrorists have:
- Ebauche vs Thalamus (Alphabet Set) SplatStep laptop DJ shenanigans
- Warren Daly (Invisible Agent) Live Electro Set!
- 2BiT (Invisible Agent) Dubset DJ set
- T-Woc (Alphabet Set) DJ set

and in Room 1:
- Captain Moonlight (his track 'Bertie Ahearn is a dirty c**t ..Michael McDowell etc.)
- Fono
- Chuck
- Plan B
- The Phat Controller
- Acidslacker

(These boyos are also behind the JIGS AND RIGS FESTIVAL on RATHLIN ISLAND. All profits there went towards the HILL OF TARA campaign. This year they teamed up with Deviant and a few of the Tír na gCASTA heads.)

Sat 13 Oct
SEOMRA SPRAOI off Capel Street
suggested donation eu8