Maman Poulet

The Dáil is on holiers and I  am not. Excuse the lightness on the blogging as the day job keeps me occupied and tired.

• However you could peruse the programme for Stranger than Fiction – this is a documentary film festival taking place in the Irish Film Institute this weekend.  Of note besides Pyjama Girls, is a film on Berlosconi’s hold on the television in Italy – Videocracy, and Oliver Stone’s take on South American Politics – South of the Border.

• The UK election campaign is a week old (already!) and if you are interested in women’s issues in this campaign you might have a look at the ‘What about Women?’ project that is being facilitated by the Fawcett Society.

• I’m doing some reading at the moment for a workshop on disability hate crime and disability rights and came across this article by Tom Shakespeare in the Guardian on hate crime. There have been a number of incidents in the UK in the past few months but it’s not an issue I remember spoken about much in Ireland?

• Mark Coughlan on some forgotten elements of the Terence Wheelock case – and bizarre but not unbelievable issues re the Gardai.

• Stand Up! if you have not come across it already is a awareness campaign creating positive understanding of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender young people and their issues which is underway in youth services across the country (I even noted at weekend there is a photo exhibition in Letterkenny!) It’s organised by the consistently brilliant and ground breaking BeLonG To. (Psst. You could donate them some cash if you have some to spare – and no this mention has nowt to do with that letter in GCN this month – I don’t think the author really read the column I wrote.)

• You can find out more about the campaign here. There is a series of videos released during the week . Here’s one to be getting on with.

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Poor Poor Peter Robinson

You’ve met Slanket Enda?

The Iona Institute’s David Quinn is now blogging for the Irish Catholic.  He is opposing the campaign to rename Archbishop Ryan Park in Merrion Square as Oscar Wilde Park.  He even wants the statue of Oscar removed!   If you like me favour the renaming you’ll find more information here.

Last chance to see Ireland’s Biggest Hits - it goes off the RTE Player on Friday.  (Yes I know …the Daily Mail)

Senator Fidelma Healy Eames thinks about finding guys for her single female friends.

Nominations for the Irish Blog Awards 2010 are open

Obama’s first tweet

Surely the most ridiculous product launch of late – ”My Pink Button’ – a dye for down there.

Paschal Sheehy’s Hat - the must have accessory for RTE reporters this winter is a hat.

Voluntary Service Overseas need primary teachers. They’ve decided this ad might get them a few new recruits.  You think?

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A few fluffers while fluffymaster is away…

The 50 most important lesbians and gay men in British Politics Go on I dare you – name 5 such endangered species in Ireland?

Obama told the UN yesterday that he will support a statement on lesbian and gay rights.

The United States supports the UN Statement on “Human Rights, Sexual Orientation, and Gender Identity,� and is pleased to join the other 66 UN member states who have declared their support of this Statement that condemns human rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity wherever they occur.

Damien gives his take on the whole watching television and reacting on internet thing that RTE can’t ignore any more. Was talking to a few people at weekend about this and I’m definitely decided it’s not all about a group hug thing.

Labour local election candidate in Stillorgan, Richard Humphrey’s takes to film reviewing on his blog. I fell asleep during that movie!

Fast Company profile another one of Obama’s internet men. I wonder which right of centre European political party’s money he’ll be taking shortly! It’s now a must have in political communications – an Obama internet man.

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Back from Brussels where I took part in a press trip organised by the European Commission representation in Ireland.*

You’ll be reading a lot in the coming days about a Financial Stimulus package proposed by the European Commission after a request for same from the Council of Ministers last month. Details of the package on how the EU intends to save itself and individual member states from ruin were leaked yesterday and work is still going on – it seems it will be announced on Wednesday. However we were given information by the Secretary General of the European Commission, Irish woman Catherine Day, and President Barroso seems to be talking about it also.

The package will be all about the three T’s – ‘Timely, Targeted and Temporary’. It will include proposals for tax cuts, fast tracking of Structural Funds to stimulate growth, and a percentage of GDP (maybe 1% or maybe not) from member states. There will also be consideration of the budget deficit problems that Member states find themselves (a bit of slippage, sliding, etc. but not much more tolerance for that on the Irish side of the house and that’s where the T in Temporary might come in.) Whether cuts, savings or spending already proposed by governments (I’m thinking the ’subprime’ lending scheme in the budget last month) will be seen to contribute to the member state’s contributions remains to be seen.

Other messages of the day were ‘look at Iceland and the mess they are in’ and ‘Denmark who don’t have the Euro and have high interest rates’. I was aware that there is a lack of discourse in Ireland on the importance of the Euro to Ireland’s future financial stability – though I’m not sure who now will be doing the talking on that and would actually be listened to!

It was very interesting to hear spokesperson after spokesperson talk about the issues presented by Lisbon and Ireland’s non (or not yet) ratification. Lots of talk about the commissioner issue – how Ireland could have a commissioner if we voted yes – Lisbon might allow us to keep the Commissioner whereas when the Nice Treaty kicks in next year it actually decreases/limits the numbers of commissioners.

It might have been more useful to debate if having an Irish Commissioner is really of any use at all – the work of the Permanent Representative’s Office in Brussels seems to be more important in analysing how Irish interests are represented. 

Whilst our visit was taking place Sweden ratified the treaty – so that’s 24 down, Poland about to sign and 2 states left to ratify . I say not yet because it was clear that the Commission expect another vote, a different campaign and a different result.

There are far more pressing issues on the European Commission agenda in the coming months and while they are waiting for Brian Cowen to appear next month before them with the masterplan, time frame etc. there is a lot more going on. Climate Change and the afore mentioned Financial Stimulus/Economic Recovery plans and continuing EU unity on issues such as Georgia are those which take up most time and energy and they are not all waiting with anxiety on the Irish government and electorate to make up their minds again.

However I don’t think that Commission officials really grasp how unpopular/inept the Irish government is at the moment and how Lisbon is probably a non touchable issue in the months ahead. Competency of the Irish government and other actors on the issues and communicating them is something that I know a lot of bloggers have been talking about recently. (See Simon’s great post on the meeting with Margot Wallstrom last week. And thanks to Alexia for pointing out that Commissioner Wallstrom has blogged her thoughts on the visit also.)

We had briefings from spokespersons from the Economic and Finance Directorate, Agriculture, Institutional Communications. Lunch with Charlie McCreevy was jovial and ‘intimate’ and slightly surreal but off the record – actually there was no commentary on Ireland’s current situation financial or EU institutional issues at all. It was food blogger photo heaven but I’m not a food blogger…

The ghost of commissioners past also made an appearance at the beginning of our trip – Padraig Flynn was staying in the same hotel. No chance to ask him about the remaining houses or his thoughts on stimulus, governmental melt down or finance bill issues (such as will he have to pay a 3% levy!).

So that’s the initial impressions, more posts later from the trip including meanderings on explaining the European Union in the light of the the Oireachtas Sub-Committee on ‘How to solve the Lisbon problem’. I see Coir were throwing their rattles out of the pram yesterday – pity I missed it live. I hear the grumpy old men (Cullen, Hook and Dunphy) were also giving their views to the committee also. That committee has provided the most Oireachtas fun in ages – we should find another crisis for a subcommittee to solve! What you mean the banks are in meltdown, job losses through the roof….

* Full disclosure – the trip was paid for by the European Commission. Many thanks to them for arranging it and continuing to think of new media/citizen journalists in broadening the coverage and keeping us informed. Look out for that disclosure in the old media’s coverage…and send me the flying pig while you are at it!

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…at 7p.m. I’ll be joining Cultureshock’s presenter Fionn Davenport and some other guests to discuss Political Satire. Whilst satire goes back centuries and was present in essays, cartoons, theatre and even poetry, today we seem to mainly associate it with television and web related content.

I’ve been watching a lot of it in the last few months but my addiction goes back to Spitting Image and Not the Nine O’Clock News.

Over the years I caught up on older stuff including TW3 and Halls Pictorial Weekly. Like many in the nation I was glued listening to Scrap Saturday at 10.30 on a Saturday Morning which was never ever matched by anything else in Ireland. Unfortunately I can’t find any of it on Youtube! I was fortunate not to find any clips of RTE’s poor attempts in Bull Island or State of the Nation.

Halls Pictorial Weekly

Spitting Image

Some of the best stuff the US campagin has been from Saturday Night Live – ok has been from Tina Fey!

We’ve had lots more from groups like Public Service Administration.

You can call in or text the show with your best bits and comments on your thoughts on satire in Ireland and elsewhere. I’ll be remembering Political Thicko and a few other web based Irish Satirists and wondering where the rest of ye are!!

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Mulley suggests we find our own fluffy links while he apartment hunts in Dublin (not true but it should be!!) – and as I’m a bit brain fogged link is all I can do (that previous post on the Airport was programmed ahead for my hospital sojourn.)

• First to a fluffy link refluffied which is the best thing to come out of Irish blogging in months! Lidl Treats is a new blog talking about the things you can buy in Lidl and what you can do with them! It’s very well designed, clearly written and has great pictures/graphics. I am not shy about my affection for Lidl and Aldi and my creativity with the items I purchase there and it’s great to see blogging used in this way to help convert the rest! Kate is putting it up to us today with a €50 a week for 2 shopping challenge!

• Estelle Getty died yesterday - Sophia in the Golden Girls. My sitcom of choice – Fr. Ted and Friends did my head in but Sophia, Dorothy, Blanche and Rose got me through many a difficult evening. Jill at Feministe ponders the Golden Girls and the portrayal of women.

• Senator Clinton (ah yes she’s still around you know – and not doing my head in like Obama is!)guest blogs about the Bush Administration and it’s interference with women’s health (again!) by trying to extend the definition of abortion to include emergency contraception and other contraceptive procedures.

• Temperatures in Drogheda are rising regarding the management of a children’s summer camp – Eastmeath.org tells us more.

• World By Storm over at the Cedars ponders the recent changes in payment procedures announced by the Department of Social and Family Affairs.

• In other recession blogging you might keep an eye to Michael Taft’s Notes from the Front which recently turned into the Recession Diaries – excellent reflections of a political economic nature.

Finally I’m planning something soiree like for the night of the US election (Virgo – obsessive organisational and pre-planning trait) if you want to know more leave a comment. In my perfect world it will be wired up with lovely sofas, lots of space great food, multiple tellies etc. etc.

If you’d like to sponsor it/help organise even better! Contact details are up the top – right hand side.

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…and take yer capall with you!

I’m really enjoying Des Bishop learning the cupla focal in In the Name of the Fáda and now I see this making the rounds on You Tube. (h/t Keith)

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From my reader and other web plunderings…

• 3,000 women a year forced into marriage in UK, study finds

• 140 women have died in violent circumstances in Ireland since 1995 – 88 in their own homes. The Door was launched yesterday in ‘Ringsend to commemorate them.

• TCD’s new Science Gallery hosts an very interesting installation from next weekend – Pharmacopoeia - ‘installed’ (if that is the term) by two women. I will be interested to see if it reflects on the links between women and abuse of prescription medication and over prescribing in particular.

• There’s a war/US led invasion still going on in Iraq don’t you know. Women and girls are prevented from attending school and are not optimistic about their futures.

• Women in Karachi demonstrating on International Women’s Day.

• Sass.ie was launched yesterday at Creative Camp – it’s aimed at promoting events and strategies to support women with an interest in things online and technological. Go sign up.

We’re going to offer you daily news, posts and discussion; a list of events that might actually interest you; and monthly articles to help you do better on the web, whether it’s blogging, ebusiness, social networking or online marketing.

• Yesterday was an official holiday in Armenia, Russia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Vietnam. Sort of like Mother’s Day. I wonder what the official delegates of those countries and their NGO’s were telling the UN about their circumstances at the recently ended UN Commission on the Status of women.

• Princess Brides, …ah yes another reminder about a problem or twenty with the great strive by the lesbian and gay movement for equality with this ‘fine’ institution.

• Portrait of early feminist and founder of the ‘Bluestocking Circle’ Elizabeth Carter discovered in the UK.

• Sinead wonders about the Women Empowering Women event in Dublin yesterday – did anyone go?

• Some other new feeds in my reader…

Feminist Response in Disability Activism
(FRIDA)
Crip Power
Kate Clinton (lesbian comic extraordinaire)

*I do women’s day most days of the year…and I spent a lot of yesterday in train stations or on a train having access problems but at least I could decide to do it. I didn’t get angry (well not too angry ) because it’s part of the programme as Oprah might say and I have a choice to do it. Reading FRIDA on a regular basis reminds me of my choices and the lack of them for me and many many others.

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I have a list of links that have been brewing, mentions and such – and I have found 5 minutes to mention them!

– Firstly Irish Left Review – go look – it’s new and very shiny –

We believe that the Left must contest conservatism on a broad front – whether it be on issues of governance, the economy, social reform, culture or history,…
…For we are adamant: the marginalisation of the Left is at an end; the half-status and quarter-status of our political parties will no longer persist, the sublimation of our ideas and our history is a thing of the past.

Bring it on lads – it’s looking mighty good design wise too!

– Did you see all those journalists blogging? Shane Hegarty won best blog by a journalist- well done! Harry McGee is back blogging today. The hotbed of blogging in Ireland is really in Tara Street not Cork. (sees PROC types declaring fatwa on MP.)

Will Harry get an Irish Times blog? Who else would you like to see blogging from the Irish Times (and no John Waters is not an original answer!)

– The man who sold Michael Lynn a baby grand piano reads this blog. I’m trying for photos… There might be a hippo!

- I’m going to Creative Camp on Saturday to watch something being grabbed by the balls and help look at the reasons why there are lots of women doing lots of exciting things but we don’t get to hear about them. And think about what we can do to help.

I’m going to play in a castle with 10 foot thick walls and a dungeon with lots of creative types! Now now get out of my boudoir and into Web 2.0 women! (ye know who ye are!)

– And finally for now – as the curtain may be drawning on the Democratic nomination tomorrow (ah go on Hilary keep Richard and others in suspense – hang on there woman!) Slate look at the West Wing and Obama and the similarities. Barack Obama/Jimmy Smits/Matt Santos/ Barack Obama – You will believe…

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I’m off for a bit of a break. Just a short one mind you!! But I’m sure certain people will be relieved! Fear not though I bring you music!!

Just a few bits to bring you before I see what (or who!) Sarkozy’s been doing to la Belle France!

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