Phil is a journalist; Caroline a qualified psychotherapist. Kevin has just graduated with an MA in political theory and for Julie, music is the cornerstone of her life.

They are successful, confident, down to earth people.

But they’ve seen people, even their friends and families, look at them with fear and suspicion because of "those things"; because they had mental health problems.

Related Links:
Amnesty Ireland's Mental Health Page | Mental Health Ireland | SpunOut.ie's Healthy Mind Page | Head Strong | Grow | Aware | The Samaritans |

Several hundred people took part in "A Spectacle Of Defiance And Hope" in Dublin on the night of Friday 10th December to protest the way the government have cut funding to vital community services. Janice Feighery a co-ordinator at an after school computer program for young people said “Community programmes are being devastated by the cuts. Our work with young people is strangled by lack of funds." The spectacle draws to a close the week of protests against the austerity budget.

Related Links:

"They are literally ripping the heart out of our communities, out of our families and our society. People are sick and tired of hearing all of the bad press coverage. We have something that will appeal to you to get involved and may even be inspired to bring others along."
- From Community Workers' Cooperative

"The Spectacle’s participative, imaginative and heartfelt approach will demonstrate that there is another way to a more equal and a more just Ireland. The Spectacle says STOP this madness of punishing ordinary people for the mistakes of others."
- From Claiming Out Future

"There will be no speeches only street theatre, music , chants, defiance and hope!"
- From rade.ie

Julian Assange may be imprisoned but Wikileaks is still operational, still releasing the information that Obama and Clinton do not want us to see. False rape charges have been filed against Assange in Sweden so that he might be extradited to there and then on to the US where he would likely face life imprisonment. More likely death as its very easy to arrange murder inside a federal prison.

Those who have collaborated with the attempts to close down Wikileaks have learned there is a price to pay.

Below is a statement from Wikileaks. This is followed by excerpts from other articles regarding Wikileaks.

Indymedia Links:
Indymedia.org: Governments and Corporations Attempt to Repress Wikileaks: Holding Up Mirrors | Hands Off Wikileaks. | Rally for Wikileaks - Dublin 18/12/2010 | Australians in London Demand Release of Assange & Confront OZGovt. Complicity | US Court attempts to muzzle Wikileaks | How to act to defend Wikileaks. | Operation Payback: "The first great cyber war?" | Irish/ Australian international peace activist, Ciaron O'Reilly, referred to in Secret US cables ... | Dermot Ahern "convinced" that "rendition" flights went through Shannon: wikileaks |
External Links:
WikiLeaks document exposes US complicity in Sri Lankan war crimes | International campaign targets WikiLeaks web site | WikiLeaks exposes US cover-up of Georgian attack on South Ossetia | WikiLeaks continues exposure of predatory US foreign policy | US escalates threats and attacks on WikiLeaks | Comic Jon Stewart attacks WikiLeaks’ Julian Assange | WikiLeaks founder jailed in London on bogus charges | WikiLeaks cables cast fresh light on coup against former Australian PM Rudd | Australia: WikiLeaks cables reveal secret ties between Rudd coup plotters and US embassy | WikiLeaks documents show Shell Oil domination of Nigeria | WikiLeaks cable highlights fears in Beijing over social fragility | Obama administration steps up vendetta against WikiLeaks’ Julian Assange | Journalist John Pilger speaks out on charges against Julian Assange | Leaked cables show German-American conspiracy to stifle prosecution of CIA kidnappers | The French "left" attacks WikiLeaks | WikiLeaks document points to US contractor role in "dancing boys" incident | Cables Reveal Background of Pro-Dictator U.S. Policy | Economics of Slaughter. It really is us against them | Lebanon Holds its Breath Over Leaked Revelations | WikiLeaks Cables Show Deeper U.S. Military Role in Muslim World | What’s Behind the War on WikiLeaks | US cables: Oil giants squeeze Chávez as Venezuela struggles | WikiLeaks cables: Pfizer used dirty tricks to avoid clinical trial payout | WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange may face trial in US | US Cables: Texas Company Helped Pimp Little Boys To Stoned Afghan Cops | American Ambassador thanked Dermot Ahern for rejecting demand for inspections of Aircraft at Shannon Airport | Irish Politicians asked to show the "support" for Julian Assange and Wikileaks | Selection of Articles from the Huffington Post | CBS news finally gets in on the act too(!)
Wikileaks mirrors and up to date info:
wikileaks site mirrors | regular wikileaks news updates | cablegate on twitter
Ethical Hacktivism info:
Anon news | Anon Twitter feed ! LOIC (protest tool) | Tor network (provides some anonymity)
WikiRebels
WikiRebels - a rough cut of an upcoming documentary on Wikileaks

Some more information for the Internet Activist: Top Secret America

In the next few weeks, more than likely An Bord Pleanála will be announcing their decision on whether to grant permission to Shell to build the onshore section of the Corrib Gas pipeline. Below is a review of the reopened oral hearing that ran from the 24th of August until the 1st of October in 2010 in Belmullet. Again (this is the fourth convening of an oral hearing), opponents of the Corrib Gas Project made lengthy and comprehensive submissions on why they are opposed to the project. A fair few of these submissions can be read in full here: http://www.shelltosea.com/content/submissions-bord-pleanala

Indymedia Links:
Public Meeting, 'Rossport, the Gaspipe & the People' | Shell's Team of Experts and Executives Blocked by Protest | Shell to Sea Issues Compulsory Acquisition Order on Shell Office in Belmullet | Stealth Planning further exposed at Shell Oral Hearing | Community action stops Shell's drilling | A week of Hell for Shell | No To Foreshore Licence In Mayo | Shell due to start work next week | Merthyr to Mayo cyclists at Castlerea | Corrib Pipeline - A rough guide to the Oral Hearing | An Bord Pleanála Grants Planning Permission for Onshore Pipeline in Mayo | Shell Begins Onshore Pipeline Works Without Planning Permission. | Shell public notice re Corrib | Shell's Illegal Works: While the Work Continues, So will the Resistance! | RTE ban Rossport fundraiser ad
Other Links:
Trailer for film"The Pipe"
Wikipedia Links:
Corrib gas controversy | Shell oil company

Around the world countries have been betrayed by their politicians who have worked hand in glove with their capitalist partners to systematically destory each economy and then to hand them over to a private financial elite composed of bankers, investors and speculators and other parasites.

From Iceland to Lativa to Greece to Ireland the Financial Coup has taken place. It has already long ago taken place in such countries as the USA where big capital and big finance captured their governments long ago where corporations like Goldman Sachs have their own people in government dictating the bailouts. But many other countries are on the list. The austerity which the capitalists smile down on, have already hit most of Europe especially in countries like Spain, Portugal, Hungary and the UK.

The current crisis is the cumlination of a fairly long process starting in the late 1970s when the leading capitalist powers decided to go on the offensive and launched the Neo Liberal era which saw an claw back against all the rights gained by workers in the previous 70 years. At that time they also lent huge quantities of money to corrupt governments in the developing world and this ushered in the era of mega slums and third world debt bringing in the era of financial imperalism allowing the resources of these countries to be hauled away for almost free. continues below