#SaveOurShores: Nationalise Lough Neagh now!
This summer has seen a massive bloom of blue-green algae in waters all across the north. This has included Lough Neagh and the River Bann, North Coast bathing waters and lakes in Fermanagh. If you live in an area that has been affected by the blooms and you haven’t seen it you’re bound to have smelled it– a gassy smell which fills the air for days on end.
Imperialism in West Africa: Oppose war and capitalism!
Over the past three years a wave of military coups has hit the Sahel, the region where the southern boundary of the Sahara gives way to sub-Saharan Africa. These coups have occurred in former colonies of France such as Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Chad, and more recently Niger. Gabon in Central Africa has now also followed suit.
Toxic Algae in Lough Neagh – Private ownership to blame
Huge algal blooms like this form when pollution from farm run-off and sewage meet hot temperatures, linked to climate change. There have been multiple reports of family pets dying as a result of the toxic algae
Covid Inquiry: No real consequences for social murder
By Niall Dooris The Inquiry into the handling of the Covid 19 pandemic was officially launched in June…
#LE23: Sinn Féin surge, smaller parties squeezed
The elections were a continuation of what we have seen before: Sinn Féin and the DUP strengthening their positions and support increasing for Alliance. These elections took place in the midst of the cost of living crisis, and threatened cutbacks in the Stormont budget. While the main parties in the elections offered no way forward for working-class people, the strike action and campaigns to save services that have taken place over the past few weeks give a glimpse of the potential of real change.
What kind of union movement do we need?
The question has to be asked: what kind of trade union movement will workers need to deal with existing and future attacks on our living standards?
The ‘rainbow capitalism’ lie: Why LGBTQphobia is part of the system
As always, this Pride Month we will see major companies putting out Pride-themed advertising, changing their social media profiles and putting out anodyne statements about inclusivity. On one level, this is a fairly simple attempt to cash in on Pride, a tradition whose real roots are in the struggle of the LGBTQ+ community for equality. At the same time, it also reflects a deeper trend – sometimes called ‘rainbow capitalism’ – whereby LGBTQ+ rights are used to try to launder the reputation of an increasingly discredited system.
“The strike is still the most effective tool a union can use.” – Interview with MM worker
In May workers at MM Bangor took strike action, demanding an inflation-proofed pay increase.
UCU: Marking boycott puts employers under pressure
The marking boycott is a clear escalation in the dispute by UCU members, who have been engaged in industrial action since 2018. 145 UK higher education institutions will be affected by the boycott which could affect half a million graduations according to the UCU, as final exams and assessments will not be marked until employers meet the worker's demands.
Review: Blue Lights
What differentiates this show from other police dramas is its attempts to navigate the political dynamics of Northern Ireland. It avoids the case-of-the-week format of other cop shows in favour of a longer story centring around a paramilitary drug-gang led by the fictional McIntyre family.