Changing the world in the Network Age

Wow, 2011, what a year!

But already it feels like 2012 is going to be MASSIVE!!!

Who would have thought how quick and how far things would move, it seems we already live in a totally different world from the one that was, this time 12 months ago, before everything started to get turned on its head. As a fella said:

“Did you ever wish you lived in one of those major moments in World history, well guess what, you are in one of those moments”

From the tragic and hopeless act of suicide in Tunisia, when Mohamed Bouazizi set himself alight, a spark flew. From Tunisia to Tahrir Square and all of North Africa we saw the dawn of the Arab Spring, from there across the 8 miles that splits Africa from Spain and we saw the 15M movement or the #SpanishRevolution kick off. There was huge hope that the DEMOCRACIA REAL YA movement would spark all over Europe, it didnt. But then things took the most unexpected jump, right into the the belly of the beast into the heart of the corrupt destructive unfair system that is destroying our world; all the bankers and cronies in Wall Street. From there the #OCCUPY movement was born, and with things more so in the English languge, an idea has spread like wildfire all around the squares and communities of many different peoples all over this precious little planet. The Network Age is truly kicking off. We are a connected global community, same dreams, same pains. For so long there was little or no hope. Some, the ecologists and activists that were earlier labeled the “anti-globalisation” movement, had told us all that the entire system was about to fail, due to infinite growth on a finite planet being impossible and that leading to PEAK EVERYTHING… No one listened. But then from 2008 and the start of the “economic crisis“ (pity in english we only see the negative side of that important word; crisis) things began to change. Oil prices going up (again the transitionistas had been telling us all about this) which sparked food prices going up and unemployment spreading everywhere, here in Spain the unemployment rate is up to 23%. Difficult times, strange times, but great times to witness. Where can it all go, what do people want, how are trying to bring about that change?

In the following, you get a few ideas from the city of Barcelona, and beyond…

President Michael D Higgins and the “Real Irish Republic”

Towards a “Real Republic”…

Michael D Higgins, born 18 April 1941, the ninth President of Ireland

Our arts celebrate the people talking, singing, dancing and ultimately communing with each other. This is what James Connolly meant when he said that: “Ireland without her people means nothing to me”. Connolly took pride in the past but, of course, felt that those who excessively worshipped that past were sometimes seeking to escape from the struggle and challenge of the present. He believed that Ireland was a work in progress, a country still to be fully imagined and invented – and that the future was exhilarating precisely in the sense that it was not fully knowable, measurable.

The demands and the rewards of building a real and inclusive Republic in its fullest sense remains as a challenge for us all, but it is one we should embrace together.

Michael D Higgins is the newly elected  ninth president of Ireland and, like many, I think he will do a fine fine job, I wish him well.

He has always been an outspoken man, a passionate socialist who has worked for the rights of the downtrodden, a human rights activist, a poet, a feminist, a philosopher, a fierce critic of irelands involvement in the illegal war in iraq (irish state was officially “neutral”, but that didnt stop the govt), a gaeilgoir (irish speaker), a lover of the arts and culture of Ireland, a man of imagination and deep vision. As Diarmaid Ferriter (professor of modern history at University College Dublin) said, it was striking that Ireland had elected a politician who for decades had been “a thorn in the side of the establishment” — and now was the official face of Ireland. He said Higgins’ triumph reflected voter anger at right-wing politicians who had brought Ireland to the brink of bankruptcy.

To many the somewhat surprising theme of the recent discourse he has opened up over the last year is that of the “Real Republic“, it seems this has been a topic he has pondered all his life and now he is taking it to the national stage, to get us Irish to think about what it means, if it has been arrived at yet (no in his opinion) and how we might get to that better place he dreams of. Before being inaugerated he spent some time alone to “pause and reflect” in the “Connolly Room” before taking office.

Its interesting to ponder where his preoccupation has arrived from; Despite the claim that he is a Galway man, he was actually born in Limerick, but due to poverty sent out aged 5 to do his “rearing” in county Clare… This led to a difficult childhood, which was as a direct result of his father being treated badly due to the fact that he fought for the republican side during the Irish civil war after having being number 2 in the Cork brigade of the IRA in the Irish war of independence. He wrote a poem 2o years ago “Betrayel” (listen to him read it here) discussing his fathers treatment in “modern Ireland” and spoke candidly, acocompanied hand in hand by his wife  Sabina Coyne, on RTE’s Miriam meets (13.50 – 19.30 minutes) in 2010 about his feelings about the ill treatment his father suffered due to the vision of the “Republic” he fought for, temporarily created but that was killed off by the emergence of the Irish Free State. Its a complicated topic, there are many different takes on the topic, but one things should be very interesting; to see how this discourse unfolds over the following seven years.

Connolly's flag flown over GPO 1916

The 4 goals of Michael D’s seven year mission:

• The real republic
• Inclussive citizenship
• Creative society
• Ireland home and abroad

Related Links:

Irish Times: Higgins urges hope, courage | Vision of a new Ireland | A thinker unafraid to speak his mind | Full text of President’s inaugural speech | President will bring ‘nobility of spirit’ to office | Higgins declared president elect with one million votes | International congratulations for Higgins | Higgins pledges presidency of transformation in speech | Higgins’s archive speaks volumes for his passion Other Reports: Michael D Higgins inaugurated as President (RTE) | ‘We need to think about an entirely different kind of society’ (politico.ie) | A President for all the people (Irish Independent) | Michael D’s call to arms for a bright, confident and successful future (Irish Independent) | Poet, rights activist Michael Higgins wins Irish presidency (Associated Press) | The most passionate man in Irish politics (Hot Press 2004) Other Links: wikipedia | Facebook election page | Vincent Browne show: eve of Michael D’s inauguration Radio Interviews: Miriam Meets… Miriam O Callaghan with Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina Coyne | Today FM’s Ray D’Arcy Show | Ryan Tubridy interviews Michael D Higgins Videos (see below) The Real Republic: Renewing the Republic: Michael D. Higgins’ book (view inside here on Amazon)| Republic lost its way, laments new Irish President (Belfast Telegraph) | Time for a real republic: President Michael D Higgins (Eolas Magazine) | Renewing the Republic (Irish Times series) | President calls for an inclusive republic (Irish Echo) | A Presidency With Enormous Potential (The Irish Republic-blog)

The Story of Ireland

The Story of Ireland is a  five part groundbreaking new BBC series presented by Fergal Keane about the history of Ireland cultural, social, and economic, and its role on the international stage.

Ireland is living through a significant period in its cycle of history since the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, the island has been at peace. This is unprecedented in the history of modern Ireland and so seems like a perfect time to reflect on the Irish as a people now, as a modern European nation, and how we got to this place.

BBC review: Myth and history: the Story of Ireland

Maths rocks!!!

The Story of Maths

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The Story of Maths is a British television series outlining aspects of the history of mathematics. The series was a co-production between the Open University and the BBC and aired in October 2008 on BBC Four. The material was written and presented by Oxford professor Marcus du Sautoy.

The series comprised four programmes respectively titled: The Language of the Universe; The Genius of the East; The Frontiers of Space; and To Infinity and Beyond. Du Sautoy documents the development of mathematics covering subjects such as the invention of zero and the unproven Riemann hypothesis, a 150 year old problem for whose solution the Clay Mathematics Institute has offered a $1,000,000 prize. He escorts viewers through the subject’s history and geography. He examines the development of key mathematical ideas and shows how mathematical ideas underpin the science, technology, and culture that shape our world.

He starts his journey in ancient Egypt and finishes it by looking at current mathematics. But in between he travels through Babylon, Greece, India, China, and the medieval Middle East. He also looks at mathematics in Europe and then in America and takes the viewers inside the lives of many of the greatest mathematicians.

So let the music keep your spirits high – Music from #OccupyIreland

#OccupyIreland, 6 camps and building… Dublin, Cork, Galway, Belfast, Waterford…Letterkenny..

Occupy Ireland network is giving hope where previously there was none.

“So let the music keep your spirits high” is a line from a great song by Jackson Browne, that was made famous for many Irish by Christy Moore;  “Before The Deluge“.

Anyway down in Dame Street, down by the banks of the Lee, out on windswept Eyre Square, up by writers square, out with the blahs down in the Deise or making trouble up in Tír Conall…

Aswell as plotting and scheming, building tent cities, making, sharing out and eating food, doing the wash up, managing live streams, giving the odd interview to RTE or TV3, agreeing with those shaking jazz hands, chatting passionately with a stranger over a cup of tea, sitting in wonder, drying off wet socks, composing a poem… (the list goes on, all part of making Revolution) There has been a whole host of cracking music, from both people down living in the camps and also people who have come down to visit… So heres a bit of a list, granted it wont be a full one, of whats be going on…

Follow the camps on TWITTER: #OccupyIreland – #OccupyDublin – #OccupyCork – #OccupyGalway – #OccupyBelfast – #OccupyWaterford – #OccupyLetterkenny

A great crowd at #OccupyDameStreet for Billy Bragg’s free solidarity gig, off the back of a truck

‎Christy Moore: musician, singer, poet, warrior, legend

Christy Moore is one of Irelands superstars!!!

Watch a music playlist – 100 tunes, click here… It starts with LISDONVARNA…

“Here we are in the county Clare, tis a long long way from here to there… If its music you want, you should come to Clare…”

Recent articles in the Irish Times: ‘How many gigs are left? Is it 10, 100 or 1,000?’

Below are a couple of choice vids and interviews. Enjoy

looking for activist Barcelona

I responded to a post on the COUCHSURFING network, this post is for the benefit of those who are interested in this helpful information and who are not part of the CS network, ie, they cant view the discussion therein…)

Location: Places >> Europe >> Spain – España >> CATALUNYA – CATALONIA >> Barcelona

“If I can’t dance – I don’t want to be part of your revolution”

(Article 2 in the #AMERICANREVOLUTION series, image found here)

A few Tunes to mark this special occasion, the next #AMERICANREVOLUTION…

The American Revolution is underway, #occupywallstreet takes it to the belly of the beast

(Still being edited – ongoing feature on Indymedia Ireland)

This is the US Fall responding to the Arab Spring : 700+ arrested this morning on Brooklyn Bridge

NEW YORK TIMES: Updated, 3:35 a.m. Sunday | In a tense showdown above the East River, the police arrested more than 700 demonstrators from the Occupy Wall Street protests who took to the roadway as they tried to cross the Brooklyn Bridge on Saturday afternoon. (After a 2 week corporate media blackout, #occupywallstreet direct action is now front page news)

This is the US Fall responding to the Arab Spring : 700+ arrested this morning on Brooklyn Bridge

Cornell West speaking at the peoples assembly at #occupywallstreet day 11:

“There is a sweet spirit in this place. I hope you can feel the love and inspiration, of those sly stone called “everyday people” who take a stand with great courage and compassion because we oppose the greed of Wall street oligarchs and corporate plutocrats who squeeze the democratic juices out of this country and other places around the world. I am so blessed to be here, you got me spiritually breakdancing on the way here, cuz when you bring folk together, all colours, all cultures, all genders, all sexual orientation, the elite will tremble in their boots. And we will send a message that this is the US FALL responding to the Arab Spring, it is going to hit Chicago, Los Angelas, Phoenix Arizona, and A town itself, moving on to detroit, its gonna hit apalacha, hit the reservations with our red brothers and sisters, martin luther king will smile in the grave, saying were moving step by step to what he called a revolution, dont be afraid to say REVOLUTION. We wanna transfer of power from the oligarchs, to ordinary citizens, with the poor children of all colours, and the orphans and the widows, and the elderly, and the working folk, if we connect the prison industrial complex with the military industrial complex and the wall street oligarchy complex and the corporate media multiplex. I want to thank you, its a blessing to be a small part of this magnificant gathering, this is the general assembly consecrated by your witness and your body and your mind.

Martin McGuinness hoping to be Irish president for 2016

Toward a New Republic – I dTreo Poblacht Nua

Martin McGuinness to run for Irish presidency. Sinn Féin to announce deputy first minister of Northern Ireland and former IRA chief of staff Martin McGuinness’ bid to become head of state in Irish Republic (The Guardian 16 September 2011)

LATEST NEWS:

22 September: Martin McGuinness wins Cork 96FM radio poll with 61% of vote

21 September: Eamon Dunphy says he’ll be voting Martin McGuinness (audio at link)

20 September: Martin McGuinness wins the Joe Duffy liveline 10 minute text poll (28% of the vote. Over 22,000 took part)

Links:

Mainstream coverage: Irish Times | The Guardian (England) Other Coverage: VilaWeb (Catalan) Videos: A Man of the People – Martin kicks off his 32 county election tour in the bogside of Derry | Martin McGuinness at SF Ard Fheis 2011 | Gerry Adams; Martin McGuinness proposed as Presidential candidate | Martin: Late Late show January 2011 (1 + 2) | Gerry Adams & Martin McGuinness |  Martin McGuinness warns Republicans who collaborate with the British | Key Texts: Towards a New Republic: Martin McGuinness Ard Fheis 2011 | Poblacht na hEireann: Irish proclamation of 1916 | McGuinness: My war is over (BBC 2002) | Historical background: Seachtar na Cásca (Easter Week – TG4 7 part series, in Gaeilge, English subs) | Derry: The Battle of the Bogside Documentary | Provos, Loyalists and Brits (BBC 90′s documentary series) | Bloody Sunday (bbc doc) | Bloody Sunday (2002 Paul Greengrass doc) | Films about Ireland: Michael Collins | The Wind That Shakes the Barley (spanish subs) Mary McAleese (Irelands president today, the first Northener): Uachtaráin – Mary McAleese (TG4 vid) | Late Late Show ’07 (1 + 2) | wiki entry