The corrupt, vicious and illegal military junta that has Burma in its stranglehold for many years now is deliberately killing thousands of Burmese civilians by refusing to let the International Community distribute aid to the survivors of the recent cyclone. It makes me sick to think that such brutal selfishness still exists on such a massive scale on our world. Watch the video appeal for help from the Burmese Monks.

Stand with Tibet - Support the Dalai Lama.

For what it’s worth (I remain skeptical of the efficacy of online petitions, but I feel so strongly for Tibet that I signed this one anyway) here’s the link:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/tibet_end_the_violence/

What the Chinese have done to Tibet and its culture and people since their illegal invasion all of 50 years ago is outrageous, but has been studiously ignored by the rest of the World for selfish economic reasons. Tibet has even been removed from atlases as a country and merged with China.

Thanks to Bernie English for bringing this U-Tube video on what the Shannon-Heathrow slots mean to the Mid- and South-West of Ireland - have a look at it here and give it a good rating if you care at all about this part of Ireland.

Lots of kudos to Andy who made the video during his holiday time.

Driving back from Ennis this afternoon, I heard an item on RTE Radio One on the Camara Project, which accepts computer equipment from companies and individuals, refurbishes it and sends it to schools and other educational institutions in Africa which is in dire need of IT equipment and know-how.

The minimum requirements for the computer equipment is a PIII (Pentium 3 chip) PC - they don’t accept MACs because these are difficult to maintain and fix in Africa. First thing they do is wipe the Hard Drive completely to guarantee that the old data cannot be retrieved in future. Then they install a Linux-based Operating System (long live Tux!), and some educational programs including a HIV/AIDS awareness program. The refurbished machines are then shipped out to several countries in Africa, where they are put to excellent use.
This strikes me as a tremendous project as it avoids perfectly good computer equipment being dumped and contaminating the environment, and in the process it recycles the equipment so it can be used in health and education in Africa. So if you are upgrading your computer equipment don’t just dump it - visit the Camara website. Or just send them a donation.

John Gormley TD., the new Minister for the Environment, was yesterday elected leader of the Green Party by 64.5% of the vote. His rival, Patricia McKenna, received a surprisingly high 35.5% of the vote.

As a member of the Green Party for the last decade, I was entitled to vote which I duly did. I voted for Patricia McKenna for the following reasons:

1. I like her outspokenness - for me she represents the more radical side of the Green Party, and she is not afraid to say what she thinks without worrying too much about how it will be taken up or perceived by others. This is the sort of honesty that is almost completely lacking in politics in this country.
2. I agree with her stance on many issues including the (illegal) use of Shannon Airport by the US war machine to transport its troops to the killing fields of Iraq where they routinely murder civilians (if you think I’m exaggerating have a read of The Nation.)
3. She is a woman, and we need far more women in positions of power and decision making in this country to counteract the patriarchal “old-boy” bullshit inherited from our erstwhile British “masters” and all too eagerly subscribed to by the Status Quo that has ruled and misruled since the foundation of the State all of 86 years ago.
4. I could not bring myself to vote for John Gormley, after his betrayal by taking the party into government with the utterly corrupt and morally bankrupt Fianna Fail. The compromises on some of the Green Party’s core principles were a step too far and amounted to a sell-out.

John Gormley is seriously mistaken when he says that the sizeable vote for Patricia McKenna in yesterday’s leadership election does not represent a vote on coalition but only a vote for leader. It does! I know that there are many in the Green Party who have misgivings about where the party is going, and this was most definitely reflected in the 35.5% vote for Patricia McKenna. I myself have grave misgivings about the path the Party has chosen to go down.

On the way back from Ennis on Saturday afternoon while driving behind a bottle-green VW van with the Polish registration WSI 16TK, I saw an empty squashed beer can of the Heineken or Carlsberg variety judging by its colour fly out the passenger side window of the van. The can landed on the road and stayed there - another blot on the landscape.

This sort of behaviour is utterly unacceptable, as it shows a complete lack of respect for our countryside and for the other users of the road. It is bad enough when the culprit is a citizen of this country - it is even more so when the litter-lout is a “guest” in the country.

So, the pig from Poland who threw that empty beer can out the passenger side window hang your head in shame. You are a disgrace to your country, and if that is the respect you show for ours, you don’t deserve to be here at all.

The weather reflects my mood this evening - a steady rain from leaden skies drenching everything - with the Green Party Conference taking place in the Mansion House in Dublin. As a member of the Green Party I’m entitled to vote but only if I am physically present. Unfortunately it is not possible for me to make my way to Dublin mid-week due to work and family commitments. Needless to say I’m not happy about this, but there is nothing I can do except to wait for the outcome of the vote.

Regarding the vote itself, it is difficult to say how it will go, but I think it’ll be very tight whichever way it goes. A number of my colleagues in the Clare Green Party have managed to make their way to the conference and will be voting. I know that several will be voting for the deal as it will mean a chance for the Green Party to influence policy from within and, in the process, shut up all those who constantly make ridiculous and inaccurate statements about Green Party policy for once and for all. Equally I know several that will be voting against the deal on principal.

Initially, I myself was utterly against going into government with Fianna Fáil for many reasons, but on reflection I saw that this is the best opportunity the Green Party has of getting into Government and getting at least some of its policies implemented. In the past week, I have swayed between for and against. Suffice it to say that I still don’t know how I would vote were I in Dublin tonight. I would be making my decision on the strength or weakness of the deal on offer. I think many of my Green Party colleagues are in a similar position.

As a long-time member of the Green Party/Comhaontas Glas, I have very mixed feelings - as do many of my party colleagues - regarding the party going into government with Fianna Fáil. Fianna Fáil stands for everything I detest. It was therefore with relief that I heard the news late Friday evening that the talks had finally broken down.

Now, apparently the talks have resumed! I don’t know what’s going on and I don’t like it.

On this dull dank misty May morning I surfaced early and had already cast my vote by 8am. I always like to do so early, in case anything happens later in the day that might prevent me from getting to the polling station. Though short-lived, I savoured my three minutes in the voting booth, getting particular enjoyment from the precise placement of my number 1 in the box beside my preferred candidate. My number 2 was likewise placed without a moment’s hesitancy. My number 3, however, looked dodgy for all of 60 seconds while I mulled over whether I should give a number 3 or not, but in the end my decision was to give a number 3. And that was that. I did get a frisson of gleeful satisfaction from ignoring the other 9 candidates, which I savoured before stepping out of the booth and placing my voting paper in the ballot box.
I’m looking forward with much anticipation to the count tomorrow and Saturday as I always enjoy that part best.

By the way, do cast your vote tomorrow! If you don’t vote you have no right to complain afterwards! And if you vote for the shower who subsequently mess it up, then you are partly to blame! Voting is a very serious and responsible duty. So do NOT under any circumstances vote for someone because your parents vote for him/her or because you have always voted for him/her, or because s/he has a nice smile/pair of tits/swagger/whatever. Remember your vote does matter so handle it with care.