Left Tribune March 2011 by Labour Youth

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Volume 6 Issue 1– March 2011 Shell’s Role in Nigeria: Blood and Oil Page 4

The opposition to coalition : Colm Lawless Page 14

The Senate : Abolition or reform? Page 10

www.labouryouth.ie www.facebook.com/labouryouth www.twitter.com/labouryouth www.flickr.com/labouryouth

Also: Net Neutrality—What it’s all about Political Reform—The next steps

Table of Contents 3

Editorials and Message from National Chairperson

Shell’s Role In Nigeria : Blood and Oil

Political Reform : The Next Steps

Irish Neutrality : Time for a Rethink?

Branch Focus : Longford/Westmeath

The Tea and Toast Revolution

Labour Youth’s role in the new administration ; Colm Lawless

The Migration Muddle

The Death Penalty ; On it’s way out or here to stay?

Net Neutrality : The Lowdown

Palestine ; An Activist’s Experience

Labour Youth on the GE Campaign : Your Pictures

Poetry : The Poisoning by Michael D. Higgins

NYE Profiles

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www.labouryouth.ie

Message FROM THE CHAIR

I am delighted to present an introduction to the first Left Tribune of 2011. Labour Youth has been incredibly active over the last number of months with the general election campaign. I think that we should all be immensely proud of the result and in particular, proud of the campaigns of Deputies Ciara Conway, Derek Nolan and Cllr Patrick Nulty. I was proud of the response I received from members to campaign for these fine candidates. On behalf of Labour Youth, I congratulated these candidates on their sterling work. Each of them were thrilled with the commitment and dedication of Labour Youth members. In all of my time in Labour Youth, I can’t remember activism on the scale we saw during that election. Now that the result has been determined and the Labour Party is in government with Fine Gael, it is important that we maintain our emphasis on campaigning for our beliefs. Our ultimate objective has always been and should continue to be to work to achieve the ideals of democratic socialism and a fairer society for all. We must make use of our unique position in these unprecedented times to ensure that those who have no voice will be heard at the highest seat of government. The work goes on and Labour Youth will continue to be a radical force in Irish politics. I hope you enjoy this edition of the Left Tribune!

Comrades and Friends, It is my great delight to welcome to you to the first edition of the Left Tribune for 2011. We have endeavored to ensure that this edition and those to come later on in the year can measure up with the excellent standard that has been maintained over many long years by Labour Youth. In publishing this edition I am indebted to the Editorial Board, the National Youth Executive, and in particular Deputy Communications Officer Audrey Walsh, without whom this task would have been infinitely more stressful and less enjoyable. It is of course a crucial time for the Labour Party. We stand on the cusp of possibly the most important period of governance in the history of this country. The ideas outlined in the following pages cover a vast range of topics but all share one thing in common; a uniqueness of thought and creativity that displays the value of original ideas in rebuilding a more equitable and fair society in Ireland and abroad. Anyone privileged enough to hear Michael D Higgins speak at the Tom Johnson Summer School in July last year will have heard his message of young people having a tremendous opportunity to use language, thought, and inspiration to debate in modern society. Let this issue carry on in that tradition.

Mick Reynolds, Communications Officer Labour Youth 2010/11

Colm Lawless,

Comrades, It has been over two years since I tentatively approached the

National Chairperson, Labour Youth Labour stand at UCC Societies Day. In those two years we really

Editor:s: Audrey Walsh & Mick Reynolds Editorial Board: Conor Ryan, Osal Kelly, Declan Meenagh, Orla Hubbard, Audrey Walsh Contributors: Lisa Connell, Luke Dineen, Osal Kelly, Andrew Halligan, Conor Quirke, David Healion, Dan O’ Neill, Thomas D’Alton, Orla Hubbard, Declan Meenagh, Adam Fulham, Colm Lawless Liam Duffy Thanks to: Neil Ward

have seen a whirlwind of change take its hold. No longer the underdogs, we have been taken seriously by both the people and the media. No longer the outsiders we polled the highest we ever have and no longer the opposition we now sit braced to put into action the ideals we have for so long fought. For some of you, this is a journey that you have shared, even begun long before me, and for some this issue that you hold in your hands will be your first insight into Labour Youth, what we believe and what we strive to achieve. I would like to thank the progressive voices that have lent their words to this publication as well as the National Youth Executive, in particular our Communications Officer Mick Reynolds for all of the work that he has put into making this issue a reality. I would like to thank Mick and Conor Ryan particularly for their constant support and encouragement of me over the course of this year and look forward to continuing to work with them. All that’s left to say is enjoy the following pages and if you are interested in contributing to the Left Tribune please get in contact with us at lycommunications@labour.ie Yours, Audrey Walsh, Deputy Communications Officer/Editor

Interested in writing an article? Email: lycommunications@labour.ie

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Shell’s Role in Nigeria : used the release of the cables “Undoubtedly, Shell has from the online whistleblower used these dire ongoing site to demonstrate the grip political, social and eco- that Shell have on the wealth nomic situations to estab- of the country. Recently their lish powerful connections Executive Director released a in various countries in an statement highlighting that attempt to exploit those „Shell is not only doing busiwith the weakest voice ness in Nigeria, it has become within society”. a pseudo-political organisation bent on taking political power By Lisa Connell and undermining our national With oil and gas being two of anything experienced in the interest, national security and our most important everyday West. sovereignty.‟ Furthermore, commodities, using them for For many, the discusSocial Action Nigeria, another heat, electricity and transport sion on Africa produces imcampaigning group working necessary thought of the vast ages of disease, hunger, mal- in the region, has claimed that exploitation of these materials nutrition and social unrest. Shell is „more powerful than are not usually considered. We These images reflect the dire the Nigerian government.‟ only need to look at Rossport reality in many, though not The degradation of the in Mayo to see how even in all, African countries. Unenvironment by processes of Ireland natural resources have doubtedly, Shell has used natural gas flaring and oil been bought by large multina- these dire ongoing political, spills is far from the biggest tionals for a small price at the social and economic situations threat which the people of Niexpense of the citizens of the to establish powerful connecstate. However, when it comes tions in various countries in an geria face at the expense of Shell. Nigeria potentially to the multinational oil comattempt to exploit those with could become one of the richpany Shell the experience felt the weakest voice within sociest countries in the world in Ireland is by no means an ety. A recently released ranking as eighth largest isolated occurrence. The atWikileaks cable depicts how world oil exporters, however tempted obliteration of the the oil tycoon has inserted this potential will never be Irish right to Irish natural restaff into key ministries within sources is standard for multina- the Nigerian government ulti- reached as long as the militant links associated with the oil tional oil companies such as mately gaining access to poligiant remain. Shell. However, as history ticians every move in the oil shows, it is generally underde- rich region of „Niger Delta.‟ Campaigns seeking the veloped countries who receive The campaign group „Friends nationalisation of Nigerian far more severe treatment than of the Earth Nigeria‟ have natural resources were entirely

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Blood and Oil silenced whilst environmental and political activists who highlighted and campaigned against poverty, corrupt governing, environmental devastation and human rights abuses (despite an entirely non-violent movement) were severely repressed through extreme military campaigns resulting in the deaths of thousands of local peoples in Niger Delta. The entanglement of Shell staff in key ministries within the government means that there are indisputable links between Shell and the military dictatorship currently in place in the region. For many Nigerians this has simply marked the emergence of a neo-colonial regime which their government are actively engaging in in an attempt to dominate the revenue generated through the rich oil resources.

Nigerian students. The considerable changes which Shell have made arenâ&#x20AC;&#x;t the means they use to dominate control of natural reserves but instead are becoming far more efficient in concealing their involvement in the volatile state by directly targeting the educated youth.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sadly, the exploitation of underdeveloped countries by western economies through the means of multinational oil companies has become a reoccurring process which has established its place within history.â&#x20AC;?.

as Shell because the grip that they exercise over public life allows them to maintain control over the natural resources in the region. Sadly, the exploitation of underdeveloped There seems to be an countries by western econoactive discouragement of the mies through the means of Nigerian government to live up to its responsibility to pro- multinational oil companies vide many basic rights for the has become a reoccurring Although the military process which has established 70 per cent of the Nigerian leadership which once domiits place within history. As people who live below the nated Nigeria has ceased, Shell long as wealthy western poverty line. Simply put, still possesses a strong hold profit for a select few has been economies have continued over Nigerian decision making. placed ahead of the peoples' investment interests in oil reThey have made one of the serves in underdeveloped need. Nigeria is an underdelargest foreign direct investveloped, oil rich, country with countries, this cyclical procment proposals in Africa with corrupt governance, social un- ess is destined to continue and an eight billion proposal in the rest and unstable economic the poor will remain poor so investment of natural gas as the rich can stay rich. policies. Yet these factors well as the establishment of usually remain irrelevant to various scholarship schemes to multinational companies such

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Political Reform: Luke Dineen puts forward his proposals for a reform the Irish political system.

By Luke Dineen

If the current crisis has revealed anything over the last two years, it has been the woeful inadequacy of our national parliament to hold the government to account for its horrendous mismanagement of our economy. Our entire political system is structured to ensure that the executive of the day remains unaccountable. Electoral reform will change nothing, nor will gender quotas. Although I am sympathetic to both, each are akin to using a broom to sweep away the stench of the Augean stables of Ancient Greek mythology. Much more fundamental change is needed. Reforming the relationship between government and parliament, and ultimately parliament and the people will substantially reduce the likelihood of us sleepwalking into another crisis in 10 years time.

The most insidious way in which the government is able to ensure its own unaccount-

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“Sadly, the exploitation of underdeveloped countries by western economies through the means of multinational oil companies has become a reoccurring process which has established its place within history.”.

ability is through the party whip system. A constitutional amendment should be incorporated that prohibits any interference with the exercise by deputies of their conscientious, autonomous decision on any vote in parliament. This would destroy the deleterious influence of party oligarchs and give ordinary parliamentarians a real say in political proceedings. Another idea is the introduction of a device known as a „decisive minority‟. This would allow a minority in parliament (about a third) to insist on an inquiry and/or a debate on any matter, without guillotine. To those who claim that these measures would undermine a government‟s ability to legislate for its own agenda, my answer is that we live in a democracy, not an autocracy.

A genuinely reformed Seanad www.labouryouth.ie

The Next Steps can play an integral part of a functional Oireachtas. But this can only happen if the upper house is empowered, and given an identity distinct from the Dáil, to provide one of those „checks and balances‟ so missing from our current system. A reformed Seanad must be fully elected from a list system using the European parliamentary constituencies, and done so separately from a general election. More crucially, it should be given some form of veto (without which the Seanad will forever remain a redundant institution) over government legislation.

In no other democracy are the legislative and executive branches of government so fused as they are in Ireland. The notion that competent government ministers can be drawn from such a tiny pool of politicians is as absurd as it sounds. The Taoiseach should be able to appoint people from outside politics with genuine expertise in their field to become cabinet ministers, with the Dáil being able to accept or reject the nomination of anyone to ministerial office.

A transparent budgetary system

to replace the current archaic political theatre is now needed more than ever given the perilous state of the public finances. Never again should any future government be allowed to so criminally mismanage the peoples‟ money the way Fianna Fáil has done. The Dáil must be given a meaningful role into the allocation of the state‟s finances instead of the mere rubberstamp it possesses now. Thus quarterly exchequer reports and a draft budget in advance of the real thing should be presented to it by the government and debated thoroughly.

those of you who consider this to be a proposal so radical that only in Switzerland could it work, the Free State constitution of 1922 contained similar elements before the right wing Cumman na nGaedheal government abolished them.

If only some of the proposals I have outlined were implemented it would be significant, but if all of them were, then it would be a democratic revolution considering But most importantly, if the the painfully inert nature people are to have faith in future of Irish politics. The govIrish political discourse then ernment would truly be they must be consulted on a accountable to parliaregular basis. Direct democracy ment, and parliament is the only way to ensure that truly accountable to the sovereign authority ultimately people, whose authority rests with the people, not a po- would be unquestionable. litical elite. Deputies should be For the first time since subject to recall by their conthe foundation of the stituents for any wrongdoing state, the Irish people and citizens‟ initiatives should would have some sense be sacrosanct. With sufficient of ownership over our signatures, the public could be destiny. It is time we reable to force a plebiscite on any claim that sense of beissue it demands (constitutional longing, which was broor otherwise), and its outcome ken so long ago. must be legally binding. For

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Irish Neutrality :

By Osal Kelly

Osal Kelly considers the time has come for a reassessment of Ireland‟s neutrality.

has long been defined by neutrality. This really has its genesis in anti-British sentiment rather than any high principles, and we must question whether or not it still has relevance. If we define neutrality in terms of total noninvolvement in international affairs, it is hard to see what the point of being an independent country would be, as the ability to have a foreign policy defines a state as independent rather than autonomous. Even a relaxed definition allowing for a foreign policy but not war is problematic: we can hardly reject violence on a basis of principle as virtually everyone agrees that it can be justified in self-defence; surely were we ever in a situation where we had to defend ourselves, we would hope that others would help us, so it follows that we should be willing to help others defend themselves, too.

In Ireland, especially at the present time, we can have a tendency to be insular, thinking about ourselves first and regarding relations with the rest of the world as an afterthought. Whilst this attitude may have been understandable in times past, there can be no place for it in today‟s interdependent world, where we cannot go it alone, and must rely on others for our survival (as we‟ve discovered to our An active foreign policy cost). Our foreign policy would be beneficial to us, Page 8

in that it would enhance our influence in the world. It is absurd to suggest we are too small to be influential: England is barely larger than Ireland, and they were the most powerful country in the world for much of the 19th century. To be influential need not entail getting caught up in wars; on the contrary, a decision not to go to war would be influential. Currently, as a neutral nation, our non-involvement in wars is taken for granted and therefore has no influence; were we to abandon our neutrality, people would take note if we choose to stay out of a war - indeed, we would be more likely to influence other countries to stay out as well. As regards past wars, our participation in the Second World War would undoubtedly have benefited both Ireland‟s status in the world, and Ireland as an island. In 1940, Britain offered a re-united Ireland in exchange for www.labouryouth.ie

Time for a Rethink? Irish support in the war, and it is an offer which we should take very seriously: much of our scepticism is owed to the passage of time, and the fact that we have grown used to partition, but the situation was different back then: partition was relatively new, and, therefore, more easily reversible. Furthermore, the fact the offer was made at all was a major departure for a man like Churchill who was anything but sympathetic to Irish nationalism, and so gives us reason to take it seriously. The real reason why it was spurned was not a fear that the British were insincere, as is shown by the fact that de Valera, according to the Dominions Secretary Malcolm MacDonald‟s recollection, refused to guarantee Irish support even if a United Ireland was delivered. Clinging to our neutrality during the war could well have cost us our hopes of Irish unity, leading to a legacy of division, violence

“If we define neutrality in terms of total non-involvement in international affairs, it is hard to see what the point of being an independent country would be, as the ability to have a foreign policy defines a state as independent rather than autonomous”.

and bloodshed which is still out of control as the world stood by, show what the very much raw. devastating cost of inacAn active Irish foreign poltion can be. However, it is icy would benefit not just us not just a question of war, but also the world as a but also of peace: Norway whole. Our neutrality is a has played an exemplary major stumbling-block for role in mediation and conthe EU‟s common foreign flict resolution in Sri and security policy; were Lanka and Israel-Palestine, we to set it aside, the EU might be able to develop a and it could be argued this was because of not in spite united security policy, and of its NATO membership: act as a counterbalance to as a NATO member it is the unhealthy power curlistened to and taken more rently enjoyed by America. seriously, and the same It would also prevent unilatwould apply to us were to eral military action on the part of member states, such embrace an active foreign as when countries like Brit- policy. The time has come ain and Spain participated in to reassess our neutrality, the illegal invasion of Iraq. and to consider the ways in which an active foreign An active foreign policy would also enable us to par- policy would benefit both Ireland and the world as a ticipate in just, UNwhole. sponsored interventions. The appalling genocides in countries like Rwanda and Cambodia, which spiralled Page 9

Branch Focus : Longford/Westmeath

By David Healion We speak to David Healion, PRO of the newly established Longford/ Westmeath branch, on setting up a Youth branch in his local area. What steps did you and others go through to set up the branch in Longford/Westmeath? Actually, it was the senior members of the party in our constituency that noticed there was a lot of interest in the labour party among the youth of the constituency and it was then that got the first meeting organised. At the first meeting there was around 15 young people, from this we elected an executive, and from then we were the first Labour Youth branch in Longford Westmeath. Did you encounter any problems in the course of the branch being set up? Apart from the dreadful weather between October and January which prevented us from meeting up, there were no problems. How did you go about setting up the first meeting of the new branch, and how successful was it?

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For our first meeting we decided to make it a big event, so we booked a room in the Greville Arms Hotel and we invited the two labour candidates who were running in the election (Mae Sexton and Willie Penrose), the labour councillors in our area and the press to the meeting. The meeting was a huge success with over 20 young people there, getting us above 30 members. We also invited Darren Bates, the national recruitment officer for labour youth to attend, who gave a speech at the meeting. He spoke of how great it was to see such a big youth branch outside of a university or college. So yeah, I‟d say the first meeting was a huge success. What events do you have planned in the future? Hopefully we will be able to get some recruitment drives going in all of the major towns in the Longford/ Westmeath area. Also we will be doing something as regards the boycott Israel campaign, to create awareness in the constituency of the situation in Palestine. Fund raising will also be on the agenda for the near future.

What would you say are the main obstacles in setting up a branch in a non-college environment and how would you overcome them? I would say it‟s getting people interested and being seen as an organisation. In colleges and universities there are clubs and society days where people can join up if they wish, we don‟t have that avenue open to us. In my opinion the best way to overcome this is to make the organisation seen and heard, that way we would be in people‟s minds and we could get the youth in the area involved in the organisation, and hopefully with future events we will be able to do just that.

What advice would you give to someone hoping to set up a Labour Youth branch in their own local area? Talk to your local labour TD or councillor first of all, as they will be able to get you on the right track. Also if possible try and get people you know interested and involved. For meetings get posters up around the place so people can find out when meetings will be, and obviously set up a Facebook page. And on a final note, once the first meeting is organised, it gets a lot easier from then on as different responsibilities are delegated. www.labouryouth.ie

The Tea and Toast Revolution claims „that Irish political discussion is lacking direction and a serious analysis of how democrats should work together in creating a good society. In opening up debate, the website hopes to influence people to engage with politics and stir things up.‟ „The nature of political publications has changed.‟ Dan says. „In the past it took a great deal of organisation and money to create a well known magazine or paper. Now all it takes is a minimal amount of capital, a bit of imagination and a network of interested people to launch a solid political project.‟

Jason Cullen interviews Dan O’ Neill, Editor and cofounder of the political website www.teaandtoast.ie Teaandtoast.ie was founded to spark and liven up political debate in Ireland. It features articles by people from all walks of life, all age groups and political traditions with an emphasis on building a fairer, more democratic and more sustainable country. The website is not affiliated to any political party or group and has no explicit political positions on individual issues. It encourages debate to allow people to have their voices heard and to help them to shape public opinion. Labour Party member Dan O‟ Neill is one of the cofounders and the editor of the new website. Dan explained that the aim of the site is quite straight forward. He

Commenting on the nature of the project, Dan exclaims that, „They say that the beauty in the staple foods of bread and water is that they can so easily become tea and toast. Likewise a simple idea thought up in a cafe amongst friends can become an interesting adventure which is creating space for regular people to have a voice when it comes to politics. The beauty of the idea is in its simplicity and www.teaandtoast.ie is a simple project involving over 50 regular contributors and receiving over 3000 unique hits per week.‟ Dan notes that people in general are becoming disillusioned with being just spectators when it comes to politics. „People are fed up of listening to the same voices discuss issues in the same way again and again in the media. This kind of website creates a forum so badly needed in Ireland for political discussion because for too long we have had a political system that is closed to many. In most cases, the only time people engage directly

“This kind of website creates a forum so badly needed in Ireland for political discussion because for too long we have had a political system that is closed to many”. with politics is in the ballot box. People are tired of that.‟ The website uses social media to build up a readership for itself and is fully integrated with Facebook and Twitter. „The beauty of a collaborative website like Tea and Toast is that nowadays everybody is on Facebook.‟ „If someone writes an article, they might put it up on their Facebook wall. Then, their friends visit the site and word spreads.‟ The group want as many people as possible to contact them with ideas for contributions. Any subject with a political slant is likely to be taken and the site even has plans to publish a short, humorous play about politics in the near future. www.teaandtoast.ie has been online for the past 6 months and had its official launch party in the Corner Stone pub on the 4th of January. Anyone who would like to contribute to the website or find out more can visit the web address or email editor@teaandtoast.ie Since this interview was done, Tea and Toast has been nominated for an Irish Blog Award. We wish the best of luck to Dan and all the team at www.teaandtoast.ie.

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Why I opposed the programme for Government

“The underlying difficulty with this new „national‟ government is that the Labour Party does not hold the balance of power and as such cannot cause the government to fall by her withdrawal from coalition. The opposition is now led by a mishmash of ULA/ SF/FF TDs, the latter of which are utterly discredited “

By Colm Lawless

tions I took were not, however, for the sake of opposiElecting 37 deputies to the tion. A Central Council 31st Dáil was indeed a trimeeting was called for the umph for the Labour Party Monday immediately foland the values that we reprelowing the election. At this sent. In my own constituency point, Fine Gael had reof Dublin South-West, we ceived an overwhelming elected two TDs for the first mandate to govern – with time since 1992. Our breaksome 76 seats. The motion through in electoral terms put forward was to accept smashed the conservative the Party Leader‟s report on consensus that had dominated the election and to allow him our state for some 80 years. to open and conclude negoFor the first time ever, the tiations with Fine Gael, on Labour Party became the the prospect of forming a second largest party in the government. As Labour Oireachtas. The media had Youth‟s representative, I spun the idea that Labour was voted against the motion. destined to form a coalition with Fine Gael and continue In any country in Western the politics of the past. Europe, the second largest party always leads an oppoI, for one, was not willing to sition. Indeed, in the media, accept that presumption. it was seen as preposterous Labour Youth have tradition- to suggest that Fianna Fáil should form a government ally opposed coalition arrangements where Labour are with Fine Gael at the last election despite their the junior partner. The acPage 12

inherent ideological similarities. Given that FG were just 7 seats short of an overall majority, I believed it to be farcical to prop them up. Several independents indicated their willingness to support the new government, with or without Labour support – even Fianna Fáil didn‟t vote against Enda Kenny‟s nomination for Taoiseach. The underlying difficulty with this new „national‟ government is that the Labour Party does not hold the balance of power and as such cannot cause the government to fall by her withdrawal from coalition. The opposition is now led by a mishmash of ULA/SF/FF TDs, the latter of which are utterly discredited. In short, the new arrangement places Fianna Fáil at the helm of opposition – that was not the wish of the people. The people voted to isolate that party for the damage and destruction they inflicted on so many people. The recent election was an historic opportunity to reshape Irish politics for the better – on a left/right basis. We could finally abandon www.labouryouth.ie

Labour Youth’s Role in the New Administration the conservative nationalist consensus that has inhibited our development for too long. The only way of achieving this goal was for the Labour Party to form the opposition. Indeed many delegates were apprehensive about the idea, feeling that it would constitute abandoning the Irish people in their hour of need. My argument centred on the national interest – the party‟s electoral performance was a secondary consideration. I felt that by propping up a Fine Gael government, we were disregarding our duty to keep that administration in check. Not holding the balance of power in a FG government results in Fine Gael policies dominating the agenda – as evinced in the programme for government. We campaigned to the electorate on the idea of “Gilmore for Taoiseach” for some nine months prior to Election Day. The tact suddenly changed in the last week, when we adopted a „fair and balanced government „ line, which is far from what we achieved in the end. Despite my disagreement and the fact that I both spoke and voted against the programme, I respect the decision of party

members and will row in be“The recent election was an hind the mandate that Eamon historic opportunity to reshape Gilmore has received to lead Irish politics for the better – on a Labour into government left/right basis” with Fine Gael. expect that the Labour Party will leave a lasting impresIt has been consistently sion on the offices our Minasked of me what the role of isters and Tánaiste hold. It is Labour Youth is when the an immense challenge, dursenior party are in governing unprecedented times. We ment. Traditionally the youth will engage in closer diawing was associated with logue with the party to arprotest. I am a firm believer ticulate our views and input in constructive opposition, as on issues affecting young opposed to opposition for the people and broader civil sosake of opposition. Ireland is ciety. Despite opposing the still frankly an unequal programme for government, country. We still grapple Labour Youth should aim to with appalling poverty, exutilise the party‟s place in cesses of capitalism and the government as a platform to ongoing international crises have ideas brought to govaffecting ordinary people. ernment level. Our focus Labour Youth will act as a remains as our focus always voice for those ignored by was – to promote and camthe political establishment. paign for democratic socialWe will both commend and ism in Ireland. Our ethos or criticise the work of the sen- role has not changed in the ior party in government. We slightest. Page 13

The migration muddle around 170 countries in the world

the UN day against racism on the 21st

each with there own unique system,

the Migrant Rights Centre Ireland

some albeit only slightly, it is very

(MRCI) produced a leaflet on the facts

easy to fall victim of unforeseen ir-

about migrant workers in Ireland. In the

regularities between countries.

summary of their leaflet they say that “in the same way that Irish people have

From increased immigration into our

emigrated, migrant workers from differ-

country during the boom years to the

ent countries have come to Ireland to

increased emigration of young people

live, work and raise their families” and

from our shores today, migration of

that “migration will continue to be a

people and their rights when migrat-

feature of Irish life, now and into the

Thomas D‟Alton dissects the

ing is of key importance in the glob-

future.” The need for such a leaflet was

problem of migration in the context of

alisation of societies and economies.

defined in the context that “throughout

Ireland‟s current economic woes.

In recent times the Central Statistics

history, migration has been accompa-

Office (CSO) showed levels for the

nied by fears and negative myths and

year April 2009 to 2010 of emigra-

misinformation about newcomers” and

The movement of people has always

tion in Ireland show an increase in

since “many people do not have access

proved challenging, but sometimes

Irish nationals emigrating and a de-

to clear, accurate information about mi-

necessary due reduced economic op-

crease in non nationals and a net emi-

grant workers; when left unchallenged,

portunities, armed conflicts in volatile

gration increase from 7800 to 34,500.

misinformation leads to prejudice, ra-

regions, and political disputes and

One of the resulting factors from an

cism, discrimination and inequality.”

human rights violations in unstable

increase in emigration, especially of

Needless to say that we in Ireland could

and changing societies. The first ex-

younger people, is the potential lack

do better to inform ourselves and as we

plorers were free to come and go as

of economic capacity for the provi-

celebrate our own national saint's day

they pleased with the dangers biased

sion of the elderly in society which

on the 17th of March I hope we can do

towards the journey itself. In today's

the CSO gave as exceeding half a

so in the spirit of inclusion as a growing

modern age of transport getting to

million at the end of April 2010.

part of our national identity.

where you want to go is compara-

Though this may be offset by the

tively very easy. With this, however,

continued population increase that

While a nations people's treatment of

has come the restrictions and controls

may be mitigated by the extended life

migrants can be negative, so too can

that each country exercises on people

expectancy with advances in the

their government's attitude through its

going to and from there. These may

medical sciences.

laws, procedures and policies. This can

By Thomas D’Alton

not seem as dangerous as the perils of

be done on a national and international

risking your life travelling long ago,

One particular aspect of migration is

basis. To this end the Global Progres-

but there are real dangers and risks

the treatment and attitude of nation-

sive Forum (GPF), in an article on mi-

present due to a lack of pertinent and

als toward migrants. On the 15th of

gration, set out their agenda in order to

clear information available to people.

March 2010 as part of the European

ensure a freer movement of people

When you consider that there are

Network Against Racism (ENAR)

around the world. They stated that their

Ireland's week of activities around

“ main challenge is to put people first on

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www.labouryouth.ie

The migration muddle their organisations to increase participation in problem solving and to use “gender analysis as a tool to develop pro-women development initiatives”. Continuing on from the global objectives to the national level the focus remains on female migrants. The national objectives involve informing and educating women intending to migrate as to their rights in the country they're going to, to give training to migrant communities to promote awareness the migration agenda, both in the coun-

be necessarily capable of provisioning

try of origin and of destination, through

for a population increase. The second

the recognition and strengthening of the

objective acknowledges the need for

rights of migrants” and in addition to

migration in ageing societies, Japan

this to undertake a process of “ integrat-

being a prime example, and that a full

ing the issue of migration fully into the

and active approach is needed to ad-

global and national development, eco-

dress “he root causes of migration

nomic, employment, social and security

(poverty, conflict, demographic and

agendas, as well as ensuring greater

economic factors), the connection with

policy coherence between these agendas development, rights and employment, and between the stakeholders involved:

as well as the justice and security di-

governments, the business, international mensions.” The third objective is to organisations, trade unions, NGOs, civil

specifically deal with the root causes of

society and the migrants themselves.”

migration splitting different factors into what 'pushes' people from a country and

The GPF's has five global objectives.

what 'pulls' people to a country.

The first envisages an international policy to fully coordinate the security and legal policies of different countries in order to manage a sustainable flow of migration that is in the best interests of the countries themselves. This is ambitious but needed to address the day to day realities of mass migration to countries due to globalisation that may not

Since the GPF puts a particular focus on women migrants due to them making up a large percentage of migrants the fourth and fifth global objectives are given this focus. The fourth looks to allocate resources in origin and destination countries for specific programmes focused on women. The fifth objective

of issues impacting on the lives of women in their community in the new country, and “treating formerly trafficked women as victims rather than illegal immigrants in countries of destination and granting them rights to asylum and legal protection.” In summary, we ought to treat migrant workers as we would like to be treated if we were the migrant workers. Being aware of our rights in other countries that we may wish or need to emigrate to is important and more so for female migrants. However equally important is the political and social responsibility that exists for us to ensure that we are aware of the rights of immigrants coming to our country, and that we strive as a nation to afford them a comprehensive and coherent set of rights, privileges and justice that upholds their dignity and assists their assimilation into society.

seeks to work with female migrant and

Page 15

The Death Penalty port within pockets of society to remain in place as a disputed but practiced method of criminal punishment.

By Orla Hubbard

Orla Hubbard takes a look at the use of capital punishment worldwide and comments on the continuing trend of abolitionism versus a persistent core support.

Historically, capital punishment has been practiced in virtually every society. Today, it is actively practiced by 58 nations, with 95 countries abolishing it, and the remainder allowing it only in exceptional circumstances, such as wartime. Only five developed counties have retained the death penalty, but with the industrialisation of Asia this group is set to grow.

Worldwide, the death penalty is far more prevalent than one may think. In fact, over 60% of the world's population live in Capital punishment is a countries where executions take place. The four most populous source of extreme controversy nations in the world, China, Inin today's world. Most liberal dia, United States and Indonesia, societies see it as being a barbaric, and ultimately futile, vio- all apply the death penalty. It is important to remember that in lation of human rights. Howmany developing countries, parever its supporters are equally strong in their conviction that it ticularly those under authoritarian provides closure for the families regimes, capital punishment is of victims and is a just punish- used as a tool of political oppresment for the crime committed. sion. As long as these governments condone it, it doesn't need There has been a worldwide trend towards its abolition over public support. several decades, and speculaDespite the relatively widetion about when it will be abol- spread use of the practice, it is ished completely. However it is true that during the last 40 years worth considering whether the there has been a trend towards death penalty is indeed on its the abolition of capital punishway out after a slow downward ment around the world. A good spiral, or if it has enough sup-

Page 16

example of this was seen during the 1980s, when the democratisation of Latin America swelled the ranks of abolitionist countries. Continuing the trend of abolition, The European Union and Council of Europe have made the abolition of the death penalty during times of peace a requirement for membership. This encouraged Turkey in May 2004 to amend its constitution in order to remove capital punishment in all circumstances, so that it could move towards accession of the EU. On the whole this seems like it should leave opponents of the death penalty triumphant, and expectant of universal abolition which must surely be well on its way, albeit slowly. But do these small steps mean that we can realistically expect the practice to be discontinued worldwide? Abolition is normally adopted due to political change, or mass change of public opinion due to some external factor. Public opinion is moulded from both media coverage and the opinions voiced by influential figures. There are four main arguments which influence public opinion; The first is that the death penalty acts as a deterrent to would-be criminals. Ernest van den Haag, a Professor of Juriswww.labouryouth.ie

On its way out, or here to stay? prudence, wrote: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Execution of those who have committed heinous murders may deter only one murder per year. If it does, it seems quite warranted." On the other side of the argument are the statistics that most murders are committed in moments of passion and anger, or while intoxicated, when the accused is unlikely to be deterred by rationally exploring the possible consequences of their actions. The second argument is that the death penalty acts as the only fair method of retribution for the crime. The District Attorney for Oklahoma City believes that "For justice to prevail, some killers just need to die." Opponents of the death penalty counter this by arguing that it is impossible to teach that killing is wrong by killing. The third argument is that the death penalty carries the risk of executing an innocent person. Since 1973, for every seven people executed in America, they released one person on death row who never should have been convicted. If a car manufacturer operated with similar failure rates, it would be run out of business. The counter argument is that the need for reform is not a reason to abolish the death penalty. The Senate found the risk of executing an innocent person in the US

to be 'minimal'. According to Paul Cassell, a Professor of Law in Utah, "The mistaken release of guilty murderers should be of far greater concern than the ... mistaken execution of an innocent person."

the strength of the arguments and counter arguments from each side. It is clearly so controversial and so divisive because each side of the fence are equally strong in their convictions, and have the support of influential people and organisations to sway and hold public opinFourthly and finally, is the argument forwarded by the ion. This brings us back to the President of PUSH, a coalition question of whether or not capital punishment can realistically be said opposing the death penalty, claiming that it is discrimina- to be on its way out. tory in its application. He says It seems to be a practice that the lack of objective, measur- there will always be a degree of able standards as to when the support for, due to human emotions death penalty should be sought like grief and vengeance. But it is or applied, ensures that it will up to the leaders in society to probe discriminatory against cer- mote a higher level of conscience tain groups. On the retention- and an insurmountable respect for alist side is the repetition of human life if they hope to achieve the view that the existence of abolition. From the strength and some systemic problems is no conviction of the supporters' argureason to abandon the whole ments, it looks likely to be a long death penalty system. The US and mucky road ahead for aboliSupreme Court held that stationists. tistical studies on race by themselves were an insufficient basis for overturning the death penalty. The most striking aspect of the debate on abolition is

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Net Neutrality:

By Declan Meenagh

The Internet (capital I) is the system which you pay to access, it‟s publicly available and things like the web and email run on it. Your Internet Service provider (ISP), like Eircom or Vodafone, is the smallest network you connect to. You pay them to connect to the Internet. In the same way, companies pay to upload things on the internet, things like YouTube, Flickr and Facebook. In turn, they pay a bigger ISP to connect all their users to the Internet. And so we have the Internet, a global network of networks.

I think it‟s clear that to build a knowledge economy we need an open Internet, one where you can freely choose which information source to use, and where you have the fastest possible connection to the Internet. The threat:

Let‟s make a theoretical example. Imagine if an electronics company Net Neutrality and the made a deal with your electricity Threat to an Open Internet provider to only let you use electricConference passed a motion in ity on their products. This would be support of net neutrality, but unfair. What if you had to pay extra The Internet is serious business what is it about? for electricity you could use on what The Internet provides access to in- ever product you want. What if the formation on government, educaproduct makers had to pay so their tion, communication, health, all of products would run on your electricBackground: which are basic human rights. The ity? This additional cost would be First of all, let‟s talk about the Irish government needs to improve passed onto the user. internet, this is the simplified broadband infrastructure in the version, there‟s loads of recountry. sources about the Internet on But in reality, you pay for electricity the Internet if you want more by unit, which is the amount of elecinformation. Originally, the Labour MEP Alan Kelly said that tricity you use, and you can use it to Internet was designed as a like Finland, Ireland should make power a toaster from company A, a computer system which could access to broadband a universal cooker from company B and a comwithstand nuclear attack. For right. This makes so much sense. puter from company C. This is how this reason the whole thing was You can‟t build a knowledge econthe internet works at the moment. decentralised. Not long after omy without proper broadband. You pay for access to the internet that, it was realised that this and can use Facebook, Twitter or could be used for academic research, and it was opened first Labour has a great tourism policy, even Bebo. You can watch the RTE player, or YouTube or Vimeo. You to all of America, then graduand this relies on broadband. It can read the Guardian, the Irish ally to the entire world. A suggests tourism smart phone apps, CERN scientist, Sir Tim Bern- activity specific portal websites like times, the Daily Mail or the Sun. This is why a guy in a garage can ers Lee, developed the World surf Ireland and helping hotels and start a small company to share vidWide Web, a set of hyperlinked attractions to go online. eos, and sell it for 2 Billion dollars, documents on the internet. The and give everyone on the internet the web is part of the Internet, and many internets make up the The internet will facilitate job crea- tools to make their own TV station. Internet. tion. Behind every website or ser- This is YouTube. vice are highly trained engineers, sales staff, managers and lots more. The internet has endless possibiliThe word internet was shortThese are all graduates and these ened from internetwork, which jobs are clearly part of a knowledge ties. You can find information about any topic, you can exchange ideas means a network of networks. economy. with people from all over the world,

Page 18

www.labouryouth.ie

The Lowdown

and can express yourself in new ways. You can very easily have an idea, and put it online, either keeping it as a hobby, or turning it into a massive business, either way reaching millions of users. I don‟t exaggerate when I say that the Internet is one of humanities greatest achievements. ISPs argue that it‟s expensive to transfer videos from YouTube to your computer, but this is rubbish, you paid to access the full Internet, and YouTube, and all the other publishers, paid their ISP to serve videos on the Internet. It‟s just greedy, money grabbing companies who don‟t care about their customers and are double charging.

Google made earlier in the year. This is an issue on which the EU is developing policy, and it‟s something we need to watch carefully. Some ISPs offer services like video, music or news. We need to make sure they don‟t prioritise these services and slow down or block competing services.

What needs to happen: The Irish government needs to make it illegal for an ISP to accept money to prioritise web traffic, and we should work on it at an European level. Small businesses shouldn‟t have to pay this unjust tax to hundreds of ISPs around the world to serve content to their users. Our economic recovery requires a fast and open Internet, where companies can serve users all over the world without having to pay tolls.

The biggest issue with the proposed rules is that they don‟t apply to mobile internet at all. If such rules were implemented in Ireland then a lot of rural internet users would be denied access to a free and open For more information about internet. this, see the Lifehacker article “An Introduction to Net Neutrality: What It Is, What It Since the disastrous sale of eircom in Already, mobile companies are Means for You, and What the 90s, it was asset stripped and left plotting ways to charge customers extra for accessing services, look up You Can Do About It to rot. This means we can‟t build a Wired and the article “Mobile Car- [Explainer]”, and if you have proper broadband network, and we can‟t force eircom to put users first. riers Dream of Charging per Page”. any questions, I‟m on twitter: @dagda and my email is This sale put Irish broadband back 10 There‟s a leaked slideshow which dmeenagh@gmail.com shows a chart where users have to years. pay extra to access YouTube, Skype and Facebook on mobile Recently, the FCC in America pubinternet. lished some rules for net neutrality, but they don‟t go far enough. They are based on a suggestion which

Page 19

Palestine : An activist’s experience

By Adam Fulham top site that was within view of Gaza. We were quickly moved Adam Fullham writes about his away from the area by soldiers who own experience in Israel in Palesclaimed that a military operation tine and why he feels internawas taking place; 3 civilians intional boycott is the only solution. cluding a 91 year old man were Last September, I was a member killed by an Israeli tank in Gaza of a political delegation sent by that night. Labour Youth to Israel and PalesIn Palestine, we spent most of our tine. The trip, which lasted 2 nights in the „Hebron Hostel Hotel‟ weeks, took us from the likes of in East Jerusalem. It was here that Sderot in Israel to the Jordan Valwe came across holy landmarks ley in Palestine. In Israel, we also like the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the visited Tel Aviv, the Negev DeChurch of the Holy Sepulchre. I sert and West Jerusalem. Sderot is considered praying for my family an Israeli city which is less than a at the Wailing Wall but, as an agmile from Gaza. It has been the nostic, I felt it would be like talking target of Palestinian Rocket Atto a wall. tacks which, between 2001 and 2008, killed 13 and wounded doz- We encountered the separation wall ens of Israelis. Despite their very and passed a checkpoint crossing inaccurate aim, the homemade for the first time when we went to projectiles have caused millions Nablus in the West Bank. On the of dollars in damage and many same day, we passed another buildings in Sderot are fortified. checkpoint guarded by Israeli solWhenever a rocket is seen being diers who were joking that our fired from Gaza an air-raid siren passports would end up being used is triggered. in a Dubai assassination. While in Sderot we met with an Israeli group who led us to a hill-

Page 20

Well. We think they were joking.

In Ramallah we met with Fatah. While there we came across a 12 year old Arab American whose family had returned to Palestine from New Orleans after the disaster there in 2005. We also visited Deisha Refugee Camp in Bethlehem and got tear gassed during a peaceful demonstration in the village of Bil'in, where close to 60% of the land has been annexed by Israel for settlements and for the construction of the separation wall. However, Hebron was the most shocking experience of the tour. It's a Palestinian City where Israeli settlers (500 protected by 2,000 soldiers) walk around with machine guns. Shuhada Street, once home to a thriving marketplace, is the main road that connects the western part of Hebron to the eastern part. It is today a desolate and often empty settler-only street which is closed off to Palestinians, even though Palestinian houses line up along the street. These houses, which have had their doors welded shut, are home to residents who must www.labouryouth.ie

Palestine : An activistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s experience use the rooftops as a means of exiting and entering their homes. Every one of the welded doors has been painted over with the Star of David by fanatic settlers. There was a lane where settlers had taken over the second-floor buildings nets were put up between the first and second floors by Palestinians as the settlers kept throwing garbage onto people outside. While there we were stopped by Israeli soldiers every minute and weren't allowed to take any photos. All this in Hebron. A Palestinian city. Why boycott is the answer

Our get-togethers with nonreligious Jews in Israel made clear that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is not a 'Jewish-Muslim conflict'. It is an 'Arab-Israeli conflictâ&#x20AC;&#x; - a dispute over land and not religion. Israel's ridiculous demands of a future Palestinian state mean peace will not be coming to the region any time soon. At the Camp David Summit in 2000, Israel proposed dividing Palestinian territory into 4 separate cantons entirely surrounded by, and therefore controlled, by Israel. The Camp David Proposal also denied Palestinians control over their own borders, airspace and water resources while legitimising and expanding illegal Israeli settlements (colonies) in Palestinian territory.

It was great to see a world so different to Ireland and to talk with Israeli and Palestinian people. The cuisine was a particular delight... I ate hummus every day - I guess you could call me a humFurthermore, Israel's refusal to musexual. comply with international law and the failure of last year's peace neBut when it comes to politics, the trip gotiations are big reasons why I was an eye-opening encounter; this was rarely a happy experience. My visits to think a Third Intifada is inevitable. Indeed, the talks were always Bethlehem, Bil'in and, in particular, doomed when Palestine was being Hebron have convinced me that Israel is most definitely a racist, apartheid state. represented by a body that had no democratic mandate. The construcIts occupation of Palestine, refusal to comply with international law and con- tion of the apartheid wall and growing size of the settler populastant backing by the United States makes clear that boycott is the only an- tion (500,000 people) makes the swer. International boycotts work, they possibility of a viable two-state solution lessen with every passing were what helped end apartheid in day. Factors like this made me South Africa. wonder... The trip showed me how little a role religion plays in this conflict. We met with Christian and even Atheist Palestinian activists whose religious beliefs had no effect on their place in society.

What about a one-state solution?

Page 21

Labour Youth on the General Election Campaign

Top : Activists accompany party leader Eamon Gilmore on the Leaderâ&#x20AC;&#x;s Tour

Left : Campaigning for Ciara Conway in Waterford. Ciara went on to take a seat for Labour, the first female to hold a seat there since 1954. Bottom Left : Out in force for Derek Nolan in Galway West. Derek retained the seat held by Michael D. Higgins with an impressive share of the vote.

Bottom Right : Enda Kenny chickening out of a three way leaders debate; LY Activists outside Leinster House show the Fine Gael leader for the chicken that he is!

Page 22

www.labouryouth.ie

Poetry: The Poisoning by Michael D. Higgins A scent of stranger or elusive fox

less life,

And when time has robbed us

Across the fields you did not own

Of our time together I recall

But yet had made familiar

An older story that will not, should not die.

You walked in silence. Alone with you

And it is no melancholy now

They ran past furze bushes,

In memory I impose, my father,

That in another time,

On your response.

You sought to clear

I respect your anger

And, in much later years

At an act of cruelty

Past my escape to lecture halls,

Born out of a neighbour‟s spite,

I saw you in Clym Yeobright,

Know the abuse of such proximity

Bent to the side of a hill,

As authored this act

Tearing roots to make a clearance,

The inclusion of poetry in the Left-tribune, seeks to highlight the continuing legacy of The Left, Politics, Poetry and Ireland.

That left two dogs

That would not last.

All contributions are welcome and feedback appreciated; send to: Lmtduffy@gmail.com

Writhing in an agony

And for a moment now in memory,

Before a death

I must become my father,

That sparked anew

Recall that on the day he returned

A great despair

There was no sign of tears,

At all that you had lost.

But anger on his face

And now for me at a distance

His dogs had died.

In a strange space

And why should the writhing and the turning,

Lectures on community ring hollow

The moaning

Invocations to cooperation

In a slow death,

Make a dead echo

From a neighbour‟s poison,

Is it the fate of sons

Insufficient for the erasing

Be hidden?

To become their father

From memory

Such is the stuff of rural intimacies,

And in that fate

Of this terrible act.

Never to be forgotten.

Unavoidable

This stuff of rural intimacies

Recover

Should never be forgotten.

By Liam Duffy

Michael D Higgins‟ poems have been published in several Poetry Journals, including the New Irish Writing, Céide, Salmon Poetry Journal, Poetry Ireland, and Aishling. He has also published 4 collections; Betrayal, The Season of Fire, An Arid Season and his most recent book is Causes for Concern.

The Poisoning by Michael D. Higgins

Sharers of your intimacy

Now sinks the sun in burning red, And comes the night with shadows dark.

In moments lit by the senses A memory

True grief requires that truth be told

The night is long and I afraid,

Of grief and loss?

Making way who knows in time

Remember,

For such an amnesty among neighbours

And put a question now in fear,

When now I look and gaze

As would make a truce in space and time

Is it the fate of sons

At black and brown and great white chest

Where proximity offers no choice

To be their father,

At amber dotted eyes and head

Suggests instead a lying amnesia

And do old wounds reopen when

Of my great friend

To hide a neighbourly violence.

Space and time make even The crippling ends of life

Who placed his total trust In us who watched

For, if the truth be told,

His racing quest to catch

I must recall

As memory tears the cover

That it was in the autumn years of your hope-

Of those wounds that will not heal.

Page 23

Your National Youth Executive National Chairperson — Colm Lawless

International Officer—Mike Spring

As National Chairperson, Colm is responsible for the smooth running of Labour Youth as a whole, along with acting as the public face of the organization. He is currently Labour Youth’s representative on the Central Council of the Labour Party.

As International Officer, Mike is responsible for representing the organization at European level and beyond.

Email: lyinternational@labour.ie

Email: lychair@labour.ie

Vice Chair/Campaigns— Conor Ryan

Communications Officer— Mick Reynolds

As National Vice Chair and Campaigns Officer, Conor is primarily responsible for the formation and execution of Labour Youth National Campaigns. He also acts as Chair of the organization in Colm’s absence.

As National Communications Officer, Mick is the Chief Editor of the Left Tribune, and Chairperson of the Left Tribune Editorial Board. He is also responsible for managing the overall design strategy, and online presence of the organization.

Email: lycampaigns@labour.ie

National Secretary — Martin O’ Prey

Ed & Policy — Dean Duke

As National Secretary, Martin is responsible for taking minutes at all Labour Youth events, and at NYE meetings. He is also responsible for correspondence, accounts and fundraising.

As Education and Policy Officer, Dean is responsible for drafting Labour Youth Policy Documents, researching prospective Policy Positions, LY Political Training and Chairing the Policy Working Group.

Email: lysecretary@labour.ie

Email: lyeducation@labour.ie

Recruitment Officer — Darren Bates

Youth & Development—Neil Ward

As National Recruitment Officer, Darren is responsible for the recruitment and retention of new members. He is also the primary coordinator for the National Recruitment Campaign.

As Youth & Development Officer, Neil is the Labour Party Staff Member responsible for the administration of Labour Youth. He is also a non-voting member of the NYE.

Email: lyrecuitment@labour.ie

Email: neil.ward@labour.ie

PLEASE RECYCLE OR PASS ON

Page 24