Category Archives: Politics

from the Dail to the White House and back via Downing Street and elsewhere.

 

Liberty v. UK: European Court of Human Rights finds mass surveillance system violates the right to privacy (Digital Rights Ireland)

burma

Fair play though, for Denis.

Irish Presidency secures preferable trade terms for Myanmar/Burma to promote economic development (MerrionStreet.ie)

Digicel has spent $31m on application for licence in Burma (Ciaran Hancock, Irish Times)

mingDarren writes (via the all-new BS Android app) :

“In Brief” ~ I think it’s always a bit rich how newspapers don’t give the same prominence to the correction as to the original article.

Previously: Ming’s Attendance

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“The use of sponsorship and advertising is necessary for premium brands to maintain market share in a very competitive environment. Anything that impedes this could have a detrimental impact on the potential of the wider agri-food sector.”

“Like every parent, I am of course concerned to ensure that Irish people, and especially our youth, treat drink responsibly. I believe that more focused and targeted education in primary and secondary schools is the best approach in achieving that. Indeed, I see involvement in sport as a positive conduit to more responsible use of alcohol.”

John Bryan, President, Irish Farmers’ Association

Farmers back alcohol sponsorship of sports (Stephen Rogers, Irish Examiner)

Meanwhile…

Longitudinal studies consistently suggest that exposure to media and commercial communications on alcohol is associated with the likelihood that adolescents will start to drink alcohol, and with increased drinking amongst baseline drinkers. Based on the strength of this association, the consistency of findings across numerous observational studies, temporality of exposure and drinking behaviours observed, dose-response relationships, as well as the theoretical plausibility regarding the impact of media exposure and commercial communications, we conclude that alcohol advertising and promotion increases the likelihood that adolescents will start to use alcohol, and to drink more if they are already using alcohol.

Impact of Alcohol Advertising and Media Exposure on Adolescent Alcohol Use: A Systematic Review of Longitudinal Studies (Oxford Journals)

Also…

In 2009 Professor Iain Gilmore warned of “very little evidence that health messages work to prevent binge or harmful drinking“. Then Alcohol Concern Chief Exec Don Shenker also wrote of a “real concern that the very message ‘Why let the good times go bad’ will actually reinforce the notion that you need alcohol to have a good time”. Looking forward, Drinkaware has certainly not yet convinced the public health community at large of its role or ability to delivery activity that genuinely addresses alcohol misuse.


Drinkaware independent review raises questions for industry funded alcohol charity (Alcohol Policy UK)

Hat tip: Niall Crumlish and Brian O’Connell

(Photocall Ireland)

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Parody or conspiracy?

YOU decide.

Meanwhile, in Cork….

Via: Jamil Killuminati

Earlier: Cover Blown

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Brandon Bryant, a former drone operator tells NBC’s Richard Engel that on his retirement from the US military he was given a certificate showing his involvement in the deaths of 1,626 people.

Former drone operator says he’s haunted by his part in more than 1,600 deaths (NBC News)

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We are not questioning the legality under the Patriot Act of the court order disclosed by The Guardian. But we strongly object to using that power in this manner. It is the very sort of thing against which Mr. Obama once railed, when he said in 2007 that the surveillance policy of the George W. Bush administration “puts forward a false choice between the liberties we cherish and the security we provide.”
President Obama’s Dragnet (Editorial, New York Times)

The front page of the Huffington Post showing their feelings about the latest intelligence gathering revelations in the US. The New York Times also posted a critical opinion of their president. Ironically, Barack Obama’s office tweeted about providing wifi in schools earlier.

NSA taps in to internet giants’ systems to mine user data, secret files reveal (Glenn Greenwald, Ewen MacAskill / The Guardian)

Guardian pic via Simon N Ricketts

Previously: They’re Bugging Everyone

gil

A new campaign video has been released featuring celebrities and activists highlighting the plight of Bradley Manning.

With the commencement of Manning’s trial for leaking confidential information, let us remind ourselves of our own Eamon Gilmore.

And his briefing with CIA officials at the US Embassy, Ballsbridge.

“I think the Lisbon Treaty is dead. The Irish people have now decided in a referendum that they do not wish to have it ratified therefore Ireland cannot ratify the Lisbon Treaty and therefore the Lisbon Treaty falls.”

Eamon Gilmore, June 13, 2008

 

“There is no basis for believing that a second referendum would produce a different result which is any different from the first one.”

Eamon Gilmore following a meeting with French President Nicolas Sarkozy, July 21, 2008

 

“Gilmore, who has led calls against a second referendum has told the embassy separately that he fully expects, and would support holding a second referendum in 2009. He explained his public posture of opposition to a second reference as ‘politically necessary’ for the time being.”

Ambassador Thomas Foley, in a cable sent on July 23, 2008

 

 

Bradley Manning and us: a soldier for truth on trial (Guardian)

Previously: Wikileaks Day 2: Here Lies Eamon Gilmore

Gilmore ‘took opposing views in public and in private’ Irish Independent, June 1, 2011)

iam.bradleymanning.org