To the surprise of the politicians who set it up the Citizens’ Assembly made a clear call to overturn our out-dated and anti- women ban on abortion.
Marnie Holborow An overwhelming 87% of the Citizens’ Assembly voted against retaining the 8th Amendment as it currently exists. It expressed the view that socio-economic reasons were grounds for terminations up to the 22nd week of pregnancy. It recommended that terminations should be allowed without restriction up to the 12th week of pregnancy. The assembly took the view […]
The British Pregnancy Advisory Service has said it will provide a free after-care helpline to women in the Republic and Northern Ireland who have bought abortion pills on line. The agency said that while adverse effects of the abortion pill were unlikely, they were concerned that women might not always seek help when they needed […]
The economic and political impact of the Brexit vote is enormous, by any reckoning. Marnie Holborow looks at it's implications.
The economic and political impact of the Brexit vote is enormous, by any reckoning. Marnie Holborow looks at it’s implications. The UK, the EU and Ireland face a political crisis, a possible recession and a period of prolonged uncertainty. With Remain votes in Scotland and Northern Ireland, there is likely to be a second Scottish […]
The strike at Mondelez (formerly Cadbury’s) plant in Coolock, Dublin, forced the management to withdraw their attempt to outsource 17 stores staff.
The strike at Mondelez (formerly Cadbury’s) plant in Coolock, Dublin, forced the management to withdraw their attempt to outsource 17 stores staff. The 350 production workers at the plant staged a strong picket on Monday and Tuesday 7 and 8 March. SIPTU and UNITE workers stood together, supported by staff gathered at the gates, and […]
In January this year, when Alexis Tsipras gave his speech following the magnificent Syriza election victory, he said: ‘Greece is turning the page. It is leaving behind austerity and five years of humiliation so that people can live in hope and dignity. We shall end the vicious circle of austerity because the verdict of the people makes the Troika a thing of the past’.
In January this year, when Alexis Tsipras gave his speech following the magnificent Syriza election victory, he said: ‘Greece is turning the page. It is leaving behind austerity and five years of humiliation so that people can live in hope and dignity. We shall end the vicious circle of austerity because the verdict of the […]
Pablo Iglesias, leader of Podemos, the new radical party in Spain, is fond of quoting the Italian Marxist, Antonio Gramsci. A recent article of his, entitled Trench Warfare and Political Strategy, Iglesias cites Gramsci as being the first to understand the strategic importance of creating ‘hegemonic narratives’ which draw consent across the social spectrum.
Pablo Iglesias, leader of Podemos, the new radical party in Spain, is fond of quoting the Italian Marxist, Antonio Gramsci. A recent article of his, entitled Trench Warfare and Political Strategy, Iglesias cites Gramsci as being the first to understand the strategic importance of creating ‘hegemonic narratives’ which draw consent across the social spectrum. Podemos, […]
Language is a powerful weapon. Collateral damage was used during the Gulf War to describe dead or wounded civilians. Israel military commanders described the massacre of 1,200 Palestinians as mowing the lawn. Drone operators, from the safety of the Creech Air Force base outside Las Vegas, describe the humans that they kill as bug splats. The US military talks about shaking and baking for flushing people out with phosphorus and then killing them with high explosives.
Marnie Holborow, who lectures in Applied Linguistics at DCU and is author of a new book on ‘Neoliberalism and Language’, discusses the political uses of words. Language is a powerful weapon. Collateral damage was used during the Gulf War to describe dead or wounded civilians. Israel military commanders described the massacre of 1,200 Palestinians as […]
