Pakistan floods leave one-third of country underwater

Flooding in Pakistan has left one-third of the country underwater, with 1,200 people dead, and thirty million internally displaced. The country’s climate minister has called it a “climate-induced humanitarian disaster of epic proportions”. Since June, massive flooding in Pakistan, 10 times the normal amount according to the European Space Agency (ESA), has exacarbated the already … Read more

“On the verge of collapse”: Inadequate DART services put hundreds at risk

NG, Gaillimh Recently, the Irish transport system found itself at the centre of controversy as hundreds were forced to disembark from the DART service between Dublin and Bray due to an unsafe lack of ventilation, and cover the remainder of the journey on foot. On what was one of the busiest days of the year … Read more

An Post Pensioners protest Minister Eamon Ryan’s failure to sign-off on 2% pension increase

Former employees of An Post were out in protest last Wednesday (3 August), to pressure Minister Ryan to sign off on an agreed 2% pension increase. The protest was organised by the Independent Workers Union. Below is a statement given to Forward by the postal workers representative Bernard Clarke: “Pensioners have seen virtually no increase … Read more

Communist Party of Venezuala members assaulted during workers rights protest

Members of the Communist Party of Venezuala (PCV) were attacked by state agents while engaging in a workers’ rights protest in Caracas last Thursday (21 July). In a statement by the party, they revealed that while marching alongside trade union activists in a Unitary Trade Union Platform-organised demonstration against plans by the National Budget Office … Read more

More hardship as school uniform prices in 6 counties reach record high

The increasing cost of school uniforms is yet another aspect of the ongoing cost-of-living crisis hitting working-class households in the 6 counties, with prices skyrocketing in recent years. On average a standard uniform costs the following: Blazer: £52 Jumper: £26 Trousers/Skirt: £26 Tie: £9 Socks: £9 Approximate Total: £122 All of these costs are before … Read more

Wildfires rage across Europe as Ireland records hottest weather in two centuries

Ireland experienced its highest recorded temperature in two centuries on Monday (18 July). The Met Éireann station in Phoenix Park recorded a temperature of 33℃, only 0.3℃ cooler than the temperature recorded at Kilkenny Castle in 1855. While many were able to enjoy the sunshine, the extreme heat poses a life-threatening danger to vulnerable people. … Read more

Fascism and the Fall of Roe v. Wade

OAP, Béal Feirste In ‘The Fascist Offensive’, Georgi Dimitrov lays out clearly what fascism is and how it operates. He writes; Fascism is the power of finance capital itself… The development of fascism, and the fascist dictatorship itself, assume different forms in different countries, according to historical, social and economic conditions and to the national … Read more

There is a Magic Money Tree

AH, BÁC Thatcher’s empowered female successor, Theresa May, was quoted as saying there is “no magic money tree” when being asked about raising taxes or borrowing more to make sure the NHS could keep running. What the slogan generally means is that there are insufficient state funds for important already state funded institutions (like the … Read more