Taken from the Sunday Tribune 30th Jan 2011

Diarmuid Doyle – Bertie is out of public sight but it’s never been more important to keep an eye on him….

Timely, because Ahern cannot yet be consigned to history. In fact, now that he will be out of public sight, it has never been more important to keep an eye on him. He remains a menace and a threat to Ireland’s prosperity through his significant, but little commented on, position as chairman of the International Forestry Fund.

So far, only the Sunday Tribune among the country’s newspapers has paid close attention to Ahern’s role in this private company. Independent TD Maureen O’Sullivan has asked a Dáil question and Sinn Féin’s Martin Ferris has thrown a few shapes about the former taoiseach’s latest gig. But, as with John O’Donoghue’s expenses a few years ago, it is taking the political classes a while to wake up to this issue.

Although the International Forestry Fund sounds like a vaguely cuddly group, which loves trees the way some of us love kittens, it is in fact a very profit-conscious joint venture between two private asset management companies, Helvetia Wealth and IFS Asset Managers Limited. It makes its money by acquiring existing forests on behalf of investors. As it says on its website, Helvetia has 1.1bn Swiss Francs (€867m) in assets “following a number of very successful acquisitions in the UK, Germany and Ireland”. IFS currently manages in excess of €100m of forestry assets on behalf of 18,000 private and corporate clients in this country.

In Ireland, most of our trees and forests belong to the state agency Coillte, which owns more than one million acres of land – about 7% of Irish land cover. In July last year, Colm McCarthy issued his An Bord Snip Nua report in which he suggested, among other ideas, that the government look at flogging Coillte as part of a mass sell-off of state assets.

This obviously piqued the interest of the cash-rich International Forestry Fund and five months later it announced that Bertie Ahern had been appointed as its chairman. “MrAhern implemented bold economic initiatives that included corporate tax incentives and education reform”, the Fund said at the time. “His efforts laid out a welcome mat for international corporations, making Ireland an attractive location for foreign companies”.

Indeed. Seven months after that, in July 2010, McCarthy was given a new job – to look in more depth at the idea of selling off the state assets he had mentioned in his 2009 report. One of the companies specifically targeted was Coillte.

By now, the International Forestry Fund, with Bertie Ahern firmly ensconced at the top, was salivating at the prospect of getting its hands on Coillte and the 7% of Ireland that comes with it. “We would certainly have an interest in that regard,” Paul Brosnan, the fund’s director, told this newspaper last year. “We have always had an interest in Coillte. It certainly would not be beyond the bounds of possibility that we would acquire it.”

Of the very many questions that arise from all of this, here are just some: why on earth would we sell 7% of Irish land to private investors? Why is a former taoiseach heading up a company registered in the Virgin Islands which wants to profit from more than one million acres of the country he used to run? How much is he getting for whatever advice or help he will be giving to help secure this grand sell-off? Does the Green Party have anything to say? Will Bertie Ahern make a statement on the issue?

Many of these questions would be irrelevant if Ahern was to resign from the International Forestry Fund or if the fund was to confirm that it had no interest whatsoever in Coillte, now, or in the future. Such outcomes seem unlikely, however. The former taoiseach and the company he chairs are apparently both driven by an insatiable greed for money. They are perfect bedfellows.

An Píopa/The Pipe

The Pipe, The Film website

Update: the video has been removed from YouTube for copyright reasons

#ge11 is the Twitter tag for the Republic of Ireland’s general election 2011

Boards.ie 2011 General Election Poll Brilliant take on the ballot paper, allowing you to make a virtual vote, and better, to acquaint yourself with your candidates in your constituency. Its current overall vote appears to be closely tracking conventional polls in newspapers etc, which is interesting in itself. Whether it is accurate for each constituency remains to be seen.

Some candidates you might not have been aware of (with links to boards.ie/vote)

Declaration of interest: I’m a friend and Aosdána colleague of Mannix Flynn. I follow Kate Bopp on twitter.

. Vote Mannix Flynn. running in Dublin South East
It has become a universal truth of General Election 2011 that “the people want change”, but, as citizens, we need to reflect on the nature of that change. Do we merely want to “modify” the way we are governed with a tired reshuffle of the personnel and values that have served us so badly? Or do we want “transformation”? Transformation requires courage and hope. Don’t do the same thing, expecting a different result

Mick Wallace, running in Wexford

We need political reform to bring a new politics, an end to political donations which separate the electorate from the legislature by allowing those with the most money to have greatest influence, a smaller Dáil with accountability and transparency in all its workings, a genuine effort to provide a decent State Health System for all, a greater emphasises on education including access to pre-school education, an end to expenses and pension abuse, and real local Government that works.

Kate Bopp running in Tipperary North

I believe we must pass power & responsibility to local Government at local level. Introducing directly elected mayors and giving local councils more executive powers. This will allow national legislators to focus on National Issues. The identification and abolition of cronyism is a top priority. I will also strive for shorter terms in office allowing for a regular influx of fresh knowledge and ideas. I will promote a greater accountability of those in office.

Gerry Kinsella and Pat Kavanagh of Fís Nua, running in Wicklow

Fís Nua is an all-Ireland federation with a political structure that seeks to bring together, under one umbrella, all those disaffected with the corruption in politics and government and who feel that they have been left without a voice within the political arena in Ireland.

Egypt

Perhaps, and perhaps not, relevant to #ge11, but a thought-provoking essay nonetheless. The Egyptian Revolution: First Impressions from the field. , a deeply moving essay by Mohammed Bamyeh.

At this moment, out of the deadweight of inwardness and self-contempt, there emerged spontaneous order out of chaos.

Demand for maximum income to cut gap between rich and poor emerges at Ireland’s first ‘citizens forum’.
A maximum income, a reformed tax system, and a minimum income threshold emerged as policy priorities at Ireland’s first ‘citizens forum’ in Dublin’s RDS today (Saturday). Over 1,100 participants also called for a stimulus package to maximise job creation in the social and green economy, and expressed overwhelming support for a radical new emphasis on economic security and social and environmental sustainability.

The event, which saw the launch of a new progressive civil society movement called Claiming Our Future, ranked equality, environmental sustainability and accountability among its core values.

“The huge endorsement of minimum and maximum incomes is very exciting because it’s totally doable regardless of whether we are in recession or not. This is an entirely deliverable demand to reduce the gap between rich and poor through a redistribution of income and wealth. Nobody can claim that it must wait for better economic times,” according to Mary Murphy, one of the MCs at Claiming Our Future.

Siobhan O’Donoghue of the Community Platform said today’s event was a huge success, which demonstrated a massive appetite for an alternative approach to economic, environmental and social policy in Ireland. “We brought together people from every county in Ireland and from a vast range of backgrounds and experience. The movement we launched today is going to grow in size and volume until the political system wakes up to demands for sustainable economic and social policies based on values of equality, accountability, solidarity and participation,” she said.

The organisers emphasised the high value placed by participants on environmental sustainability. “This shows that people understand the importance of the environment even though we’re in an economic crisis. I am really pleased to see that people are taking a long-term view because true sustainability is dependent of new and different social, economic and environmental policies,” according to Charles Stanley-Smith of An Taisce who was among the organisers.

ICTU deputy general secretary Sally-Ann Kinahan welcomed the endorsement of policies to stimulate the economy and create jobs. “We have to tackle the deficit but policy must also take account of need for jobs and sustainable economic activity. Three austerity budgets have already taken €13 billion out of the economy and the Government is talking about more than doubling that. But the economy isn’t reacting and many now believe the adjustment is too fast and too deep. It’s time to prioritise tackling unemployment, particularly youth unemployment which now stands at 30%,” she said.

Today’s event was massively oversubscribed with over 2,000 seeking to register for the 1,100 available places. Hundreds more have participated in local events and debates at www.claimingourfuture.ie and its associated social networking sites.

Uniquely in Ireland, the event used new software technology, which allowed participants to have an equal input into discussing and agreeing the values and priorities for this new civil society coalition. Innovative software enabled the 1,100 participants to follow the debate across the whole event and to identify, in real time, the emerging themes and final agreement. Hundreds more participated on line through social media and www.claimingourfuture.ie, where the event was streamed live.

Claiming Our Future was initially developed by Is Feidir Linn, the Community Platform, ICTU, the Environmental Pillar of social partnership, the TASC think tank and Social Justice Ireland. Registered participants in the event were from groups involved in community action (18%) voluntary services (11%) education, arts and culture (10%) conservation and environmentalism (12%) trade unions and workers’ rights (19%) urban and rural enterprise and economy (7%) politics (10%) global justice and development (7%) and faith beliefs and ethics (6%). (Note: These figures have been rounded).

Claiming Our Future is neither a political party nor an electoral initiative. It has no permanent staff and is sustained by volunteer effort and the contribution of time and volunteers from its supporting organisations. The 30th October event is financially supported by the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust, Atlantic Philanthropies, the One Foundation and the Community Foundation for Ireland. Mandate trade union has given temporary office space and other trade unions are providing small financial contributions. The overall initiative is not dependent on any of the organisations that have allocated funds, time or expertise.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lc6ZY91kUTk

See Vote Mannix Flynn 2009

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unjqSHHlrBE

We need artists in politics! Or at least artists like Mannix, who are crystal clear about the issues.
See his website
VoteMannixFlynn.ie

A pity I can’t vote for him – I’m in Dublin Central. Even if I didn’t know him and he wasn’t a colleague, I’d vote for him having seen Ghost People, below. He’s a powerful artist, no mistake. And I think he will be a powerful politician, too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsOn2zCF9fg

Then a highly experienced, highly competent and calm pilot saves the lives of his passengers by a
perfect emergency landing in the Hudson River in New York, a feat many would have thought impossible. As the world now knows, everyone survived, the captain making doubly sure that everyone was out before leaving the plane himself. Reminds you of an old sea captain, doesn’t it? When men with responsibilities knew what they were and acted accordingly.

Can it get any better for the US? Hold onto your braces, whether on teeth or skirt or trousers.

Of course there are always competent and responsible people on the ground (and in the air and on the sea) who discharge their duties admirably. One thinks of firemen, doctors, nurses and yes, pilots, etc. But we rarely hear of them, until perhaps a disaster like 9/11 or pilot Chesley B. “Sully” Sullenberge’s spectacular ditching in the Hudson.

But I’m thinking of those in the public sphere, those who are supposed to lead. American citizens can now hold their heads high, the real mission truly accomplished.

I’ll leave it at that.

Plaudits, Ms Byrne. Another award winging your way, I’d wager.

Anyone following the US election campaign will know that Ms Palin, Republican VP candidate, included Ireland on her three country total in her resumé of visits outside the US. But Maman Poulet had a hunch that ‘Ireland’ was in fact the Shannon stopover lounge, and now the Palin campaign have confirmed that.

And the Huffington Post and numerous other blogs have picked up Maman Poulet’s scoop.

Hopefully it was a rare fine day and Ms Palin could actually see Ireland from the air and wonder about the beautiful island beneath her. But given the atrocious weather we’ve been having these last few years (August 08 being the wettest in 170 years) it’s hardly likely. The sooner the oil era passes, the better for us. One of the reasons our weather has become so foul is this incredible fact:

As the water warms, its energy increases and the hydrological cycle intensifies. According to Prof Sweeney, ocean water temperatures in the region south of Newfoundland where our recent weather systems are forming have increased by an astonishing 5-6 degrees.
- The Irish Times

The recent torrential rains in Newcastle West (hometown of late and lamented poet Michael Hartnett and quite close to where Ms Palin enjoyed her Shannon Stopover), was a was a once-in-650-years event.

Close friends, including close American friends, know that I’m something of a political junkie when it comes to US elections. It’s not because of the showbiz or soap opera aspect of it, I can assure all and sundry. What Ms Palin’s daughter does is her own business.

I’m actually very impressed with the level of political debate on the Democratic side, given that one has to be elected before one can do anything. Reading the speeches has been a pleasure, revealing a literacy and vision in politicians that we could do with here. And I’m willing to concede that Mr McCain may feel he has to do and say things he doesn’t believe in to get elected, that he might not dream of doing once elected (at least I hope not). That’s politics, especially in a culturally complex nation like the US.

But the main reason I’m interested is a deep anxiety about the US in an absolutely crucial time in world history. This is it, folks. The most powerful country in the world will, in the next few years, make or break us all, depending on whether it stays in a 20th century mindset, or makes a thrilling break for the 21st century and all its opportunities.

I think Mr Obama is right: Mr McCain doesn’t get it. Our main hope for both peace and a reasonably fine August in Ireland in what’s left of my lifetime is for the US to move lock stock and oil-barrel to alternative energy. (Of course we have to do it in Ireland and Europe too). Whether they actually achieve it or not, the Dems have a plan for this. Ms Palin talks like she’s living at the beginning of the 20th century.

I’m sorry to go on about it. It goes against my instincts to comment on the internal politics of another country in public. I’d probably find it odd if an American blogger commented on an Irish election. But what happens in the US climate literally can have a devastating effect on the climate in which I, my family and friends live out our lives. It literally affects our health and wellbeing for better or worse.

The climate doesn’t care about national boundaries, much less passports or race or national myths.

So given all of that, I am extremely scared that Ms Palin, who at best has only seen my country through a rain cloud, might sooner or later become the most powerful politician in the world.

…that Poetry Ireland, (since it will take such a central organisation), organise a Poets Corner in Dublin (maybe the first of many throughout the country) where everyone/anyone can stop for 15 minutes to listen and buy poetry. I would suggest that a meeting of interested parties be set up to discuss the initiative and organise as big a kick-start as can be mustered.

It’s an idea that deserves an airing, at least.

Even if you’re not interested in such matters, do have a look at Michael’s blog Poetry and Miscellaneous Yap, and check out the Bosch animation video.

I’m a big Bosch fan, and his Garden of Earthly Delights featured in my most recent novel, The Fisher Child. Anyway, Michael recommends this and other Bosch videos on the web, as well as the music featured in this one, by Jean-Philippe Goude

He asked the crowd for “an effort to understand, compassion and love.” Then he said:

My favorite poet was Aeschylus. And he once wrote, “Even in our sleep, pain which cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart until, in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom through the awful grace of God.”

The weeping, silent listeners had probably never heard of Aeschylus, but they understood what he meant. Kennedy finished:

Let us dedicate ourselves to what the Greeks wrote so many years ago: to tame the savageness of man and make gentle the life of this world.

Robert Kennedy was assassinated 40 years ago this month. RIP.

See What if RFK had become President? Newsweek

we must build alliances not on ethnicity or gender, but on truth.

Alice Walker on Obama, The Root.com

[via Daily Kos]

As of June 2007, foreigners owned $6,007bn of long-term US debt. (Equal to 66pc of the entire US federal debt). The biggest holdings by country are, in billions: Japan (901), China (870), UK (475), Luxembourg (424), Cayman Islands (422), Belgium (369), Ireland (176), Germany (155), Switzerland (140), Bermuda (133), Netherlands (123), Korea (118), Russia (109), Taiwan (107), Canada (106), Brazil (103). Who is jumping ship?

Who is jumping ship, indeed! Guys?

We are the seventh biggest owners of the debt, in fact, owning $176 billion dollars of it. That’s enough to keep the occupation of Iraq going for – how long?

Now how did that come about? It’s not the naughty Irish banks using our savings, I hope. Because with the dollar going down the toilet, it would mean the value of our savings doing the same, right? (I’m no economist, so I’m open to correction).

Anyway, read The Telegraph and be very scared.

“From the age of uniformity, from the age of solitude, from the age of Big Brother, from the age of doublethink – greetings!”

– George Orwell, 1984

We are about to enter into a state where every digital step you take is recorded. At the end of March, the Government will introduce the most draconian law in the history of personal privacy in Ireland: 24-hour internet monitoring. A log will be made of everyone’s internet activity and every email sent and received.

Greetings from the State of Surveillance.

see full article by Marie Boran Silicon Republic 28.02.2008

Canada – where a pack of smokes is ten bucks and a heart transplant is free.