Impunity is emboldening Israeli apartheid regime. The ICC must investigate the killing of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh by Israeli forces

My article in today's Indo👇

https://www.independent.ie/opinion/comment/silence-enables-the-targeting-of-journalists-in-conflict-zones-41704495.html

RIP Shireen

"The barbarous funeral footage of frenzied Israeli police beating pallbearers with batons, lays bare the monster spawned by decades of international indifference. Emboldened by inaction, the police conducted their rampage of violence knowing the world was watching".

"Israeli settlements are illegal under international law, yet no sanctions have been imposed".

"Shireen Abu Akleh was a trailblazing, respected journalist who used her voice to amplify those of her beloved fellow Palestinians. The international community, including Ireland, must speak up now and call for sanctions against Israel. Silence and inaction kill, just as surely as a bullet in the head".

Why do 10% of traveller babies die before their 2nd birthday? Why are suicide rates 7 times higher than non-travellers? Who is accountable? Join Travellers & allies outside the Dáil tomorrow at 12noon

Mags Casey, chairperson of the National Traveller Mental Health Network lost 29 family members to suicide over 10yrs. RIP. She is calling for accountability & implementation of traveller policy. Join her, fellow travellers and traveller allies outside the Dáil tomorrow at 12 noon.

Click links to hear Mags explain how decades of institutional discrimination has led to a mental health crisis within the traveller community.

Video: Part1👇

https://twitter.com/TravellersMH/status/1531283386312146944?cxt=HHwWgIC-uY6Im8AqAAAA

 Video: Part 2👇

 https://twitter.com/TravellersMH/status/1531283700343873536

Minceir beoir Rose Marie Maughan outlines more examples of institutional discrimination here👇

https://twitter.com/Minceirbeoir/status/1530953974077087744?cxt=HHwWgICzheahhb8qAAAA

Here's an article I wrote a while back on why I'm a proud Traveller ally ✊💓

https://www.independent.ie/opinion/comment/anti-traveller-vitriol-is-socially-acceptable-here-but-lets-call-it-what-it-is-racism-39502475.html

The BBC reported in April: Irish Travellers suffer some of the worst discrimination and poverty of any ethnic group in Europe, according to European Union research.

Members of the community have said it is causing a mental health crisis in their home country.

In Ireland, 11% die by suicide and life expectancy is up to 15 years shorter than the wider population.

Rose Marie Maughan works with the Irish Travellers Movement, a national network of over 40 organisations.

"Our suicide rate is seven times higher than non-travellers," she said.

"Only 3% of us live past the age of 65 and 80% of us are unemployed.

"If that was any other community in Ireland, there would be international attention."

Bathing in the beauty of mother nature

 

International evidence indicating possible link with SARS-Cov-2 infection to child hepatitis & variants of concern coming our way with dismantled testing & sequencing. What could possibly go wrong?

 My piece in today's Indo👇

https://www.independent.ie/opinion/comment/given-child-hepatitis-deaths-and-ominous-omicron-warnings-are-we-not-flying-blind-41664435.html

Extract::

I’m not religious but I lit a candle for the child that died from acute hepatitis in Ireland last week. It was partly a bid to cling onto my empathy and resist the systematic minimisation of harm endured by children throughout the pandemic. 

"Vaccines have been categorically ruled out as most children were not eligible for vaccination. Lockdowns have also been dismissed; a theory German virologist Professor Isabella Eckerle lambasted as not being supported by “a single piece of scientific evidence”. Covid vaccines have also been categorically ruled out as most of the children with unexplained hepatitis were too young to receive a COVID-19 vaccine".

"On 12 May, ECDC reclassified Omicron sub-lineages BA.4 and BA.5 (first detected in South Africa in early 2022) to variants of concern. Their growth advantage is attributed to their ability to evade immune protection induced by prior infection and/or vaccination, which wanes. Both BA.4 and BA.5 are capable of escaping immune protection induced by previous infection with BA.1 in unvaccinated people. ECDC warns that the presence of these variants could cause “a significant overall increase in COVID-19 cases in Europe in the coming weeks and months. Countries are encouraged to remain vigilant for BA.4 and BA.5 emergence. “Early variant detection critically relies on representative testing and genomic surveillance, with timely sequence reporting”.

Kristian Andersen, immunologist at Scripps Research, recently warned that new variants will “continue to be more capable of immune escape,” possibly leading to lower protection against not just infection, but also against severe disease. He said, “Simply letting the virus continue to infect us, likely several times a year—just isn’t an option in my playbook.”

With our Chief Medical Officer’s integrity compromised, who is responsible for updating public health measures in response to the incoming threat of new, vaccine escaping variants of concern? Who will alert the public to the recent large US study concluding that Omicron is just as severe as previous variants? Only 23% of 5-11 years olds are vaccinated. Where’s the parental engagement? At what point will scientifically proven non pharmaceutical public health protections, such as distancing and masking in schools and indoor public indoor spaces be reinstated to suppress transmission? When will ventilation legislation be implemented? The evidence suggests that a perfect storm is heading our way. With testing and surveillance systems dismantled, we’re flying blind without parachutes".

Brexit was the greatest fraud ever perpetrated in British politics

This went viral when I wrote it. Depressingly prophetic😢

https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/brexit-referendum-alternative-facts-brexit-bill-white-paper-european-union-a7558886.html

And this on Northern Ireland👇

https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/brexit-good-friday-agreement-northern-ireland-troubles-violence-ira-border-a8297406.html

And this....

https://www.newstatesman.com/world/2017/12/island-ireland-wants-move-past-if-brexiteers-will-let-it

"The Good Friday Agreement changed everything on the island of Ireland. The removal of blockades heralded peace and economic progress on both sides of the border. Reinstating barriers between communities now would be a divisive, retrograde step and will open wounds that have taken a generation to heal".

"The Tories have entirely misjudged the extent to which that shared European identity underpins the peace process. By riding rough shod over the rigorous impartiality required by the Good Friday Agreement, the UK government is gambling with peace in the province. Although the Good Friday Agreement allows for a unity referendum, until Brexit, there was no appetite for one.

The spectre of violence floats, like a restless ghost, over the island of Ireland. It will take more than vague promises of “regulatory alignment” to put it to rest". 

Visit the Blah page on my website for more Brexit articles. There were many!

Having shot Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh in the head, Israeli forces kicked and beat her pallbearers with batons. Silence is complicity.

Click on the link for footage of the beating of pallbearers resulting in them dropping Shireen's coffin👇💔

Sound on

 https://twitter.com/RiyaAlsanah/status/1525122100259872768?cxt=HHwWgICzkYieqaoqAAAA

Shame on the US, UK & all the other countries that failed to condemn the killing of a Palestinian journalist shot, according to eye witnesses) by Israeli for doing her job - and being Palestinian.

Suaimhneas síoraí Shireen

Going cuckoo!

Listen carefully & you'll hear the cuckoo call across the Burren💓

Other things that made me smile recently👇

Foraged flowers from the garden

And, the flowers in the back garden

It's not over

Arguably the most dangerous phase of the pandemic: Mass infection delusional denial 🙈🙉🙊 

Meanwhile, in the real world👇

Omicron as severe as previous COVID variants, large study finds | Reuters

Scrapping mask mandate & misinformation is dangerous. If you're anxious right now, that's a normal reaction to an abnormal situation

My article in yesterday's Indo👇

https://www.independent.ie/opinion/comment/blanket-removal-of-mask-rule-wasnt-just-foolhardy-it-was-dangerous-41535535.html

Extracts👇

Are you experiencing increased anxiety since Micheál Martin jettisoned public health protections? Do you feel frightened on public transport when an unmasked passenger coughs into your (unopened😬) cheezy wotsits? Do you get side-eyed for wearing a mask and wonder, “Am I losing my mind”?

Anxiety and fear are normal reactions to dangerous situations. Clinically, anxiety is disordered if there’s no evidence to support perceived threat. Let’s examine the evidence.

Paediatrician Dr Liqa Ur Rehman, is also concerned about misinformation and tweeted some of  his “mild” Covid cases last week: 8 week old with severe croup. 6 month old with respiratory and cardiac arrest requiring CPR, 2 year old with fever and prolonged convulsions, 10 year old unable to walk. He asks why masks haven’t been reinstated in Ireland to help reduce transmission, viral load and severe symptoms in children?

The INMO and IAEM unions have written to Dr Tony Holohan asking for the mask mandate to be reinstated warning “As of March 27, 89,432 of the pandemic’s total 1,442,877 cases occurred within the past two weeks, meaning 6.2% of Covid infections occurred in approximately 1-2% of the pandemic’s timeframe.” 

 

“Hospitals are currently not safe for patients or for staff because of the level of overcrowding and Covid infection levels” they warned. "The public need to be made aware of why we need them to once again step up to the plate in order to protect those working on our frontlines.”

 

A code red alert that hospitals are unsafe for staff and patients has been ignored. Removing the mask mandate exacerbated the crisis yet pleas for reinstating it to help slow transmission  was denied. Sinn Féin picked the wrong side.

22 healthcare workers died from Covid in Ireland. Some 6,000 are off sick with Covid and long-Covid. They risk their lives to save ours. How far we’ve fallen that our hearts have hardened to their sacrifice. When Paul Reid celebrated “Freedom day” by going for a pint, Dr Liqa Ur Rehman should have been getting his booster, instead he was covering for sick colleagues.

 

We are experiencing a collective trauma, the impact of which is hitting those at higher risk from Covid hardest. If you’re anxious right now, that’s a normal response to an abnormal situation. Ignore the side eyes and keep wearing your mask. They protect lives and livelihoods. 

Gone fishing!

 Catch of the day🎣

50 years ago yesterday 14 innocent civilians were murdered by British soldiers on Bloody Sunday

Seamus Heany's Road to Derry 

 

In loving memory of Ashling Murphy & all the other women killed at the hands of misogynistic men throughout the ages, in Ireland and everywhere 💔✊

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a n-anamacha 💓

 

Schools are not safe. Re-opening them anyway breaches children's rights & exposes them to unacceptable risk

My article in today's Indo👇https://www.independent.ie/opinion/comment/expert-advice-on-reopening-schools-defies-rights-and-puts-children-at-risk-41219699.html

"The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) states that the best interests of the child must be a primary consideration in all actions concerning children (Article 3) and that all the rights guaranteed by the UNCRC must be available to all children without discrimination (Article 2).

Enshrined within the convention is the right to access education, safety, health and life. Ms Foley’s failure to provide airborne mitigations disproportionately impacts disabled and immunocompromised children (or children within immunocompromised families), denying them the right to safely access education.

Some of them have been shielding for 22 months, waiting for schools to be made safe. 

Children also have the right to be heard. In a heartfelt letter to Ms Foley, 17-year-old Sadhbh Ryan described “dreading” going into the school she “loves” due to “unbearable temperatures” (14 degrees), preventing her from concentrating, with “fingers so numb” she can’t feel them.

She pleaded with Ms Foley to install Hepa filters in every classroom in Ireland so “we can finally enjoy school again”.

Every child has a right to be educated in a safe environment without having to choose between contaminated air and frostbite. Nphet’s expert group on ventilation recommended Hepa filters for schools in March last year. Why has this been ignored?"

Don't Look Up! Also do look up...

 

Definitely plugging the best filim I've seen in a long time in this title. Uncomfortable to watch and hilarious at the same time. For all the climate change deniers & green washers: This filim is dedicated to you.

Watched it back to back with "The Field" which Santa brought me😉

Trailer for "Don't look up"

 

But also, actually do look up. The sky belongs to nobody and everybody. Some of my fav Christmas walk pics👇 Here's to 2022🪐

It's time to put an end to vaccine apartheid

 "Be it Darfur or Dundalk, Syria or Stoneybatter, Palestine or Portlaoise, no one’s auntie anywhere is safe until everyone’s auntie everywhere is safe"

My article in today's Indo👇

https://www.independent.ie/opinion/comment/nobody-is-safe-until-everybody-is-safe-its-time-we-put-an-end-to-vaccine-apartheid-41176387.html

Nature Walk: Birds song & nice sunsets

Starlings (I think 🧐) Part 1 

Starlings (Part 2)

I wish I knew what these little beauties are 💓

This week's top nature walk pic: Locals protest against "This sort of thing"

Protest, Galway schtyle 💥💪

 

With the nation's health again in peril, now is not the time for misplaced deference to Nphet

My piece in today's Indo👇

 https://www.independent.ie/opinion/comment/with-the-nations-health-in-peril-now-is-not-the-time-for-misplaced-deference-to-nphet-41086873.html

"Public health measures underpinned by flawed modelling has brought us to the brink of yet another preventable lockdown. The louder the scientists clamour for ventilation mitigations such as HEPA air purifiers and upgrading masks to N95/FFP2, the more Tony Holohan doubles down on “wash your hands”, despite evidence showing the risk of transmission from surfaces is low.

With the nation’s health again in peril, now is not the time for misplaced deference. The country’s Chief Medical Officer should be accountable for his dogged denial of the scientific consensus within the WHO, ECDC and others, that: children can catch and spread Covid as effectively as adults, Covid is an airborne disease, asymptomatic transmission is common and Long-Covid exists which can cause multi-organ damage".

...."It’s not too late for Dr Holohan to take responsibility instead of blaming individuals for NPHET’s doomed deployment of hand sanitiser as our primary defence against a deadly airborne disease".

Covid safe Halloween party mentioned in article👇

Pre-Covid, my kids' Halloween parties were legendary. The whole neighborhood was 'round our house. This year, with Covid rampant in the community & health care professionals on their knees with exhaustion, I had 3 & made sure they a) were all safe & b) had great craic. Mission was accomplished 👻💀

Masked up for indoor horror filim in conservatory: windows open either end for cross breeze, Hepa air purifier in shot & blankets provided for extra snugness 😎

"Den of doom" (ramshackle doorless polytunnel) for unmasked hijinks & eating (all kids fully vaccinated 👍)