Stay Signed In
Do you want to access your site more quickly on this computer? Check this box, and your username and password will be remembered for two weeks. Click logout to turn this off.
Stay Safe
Do not check this box if you are using a public computer. You don't want anyone seeing your personal info or messing with your site.
This page will be updated regularly with news items worthy of debate and discussion.
THIS WEEKS NEWS.....
OUR HISTORY....
Week beginning 16th October 2005
SMOKING BAN WELCOME
DEATH TRADE CONTINUES
The North Belfast Independent did actually exist at one time in the mid- 1990's. With limited resources only five issues were ever produced, It was the brainchild of Brendan McMahon, Paul Little and Damien Gaffney (RIP).
The first issue was produced on a leased Powermac in the Ashton Centre with blood,sweat and tears and finance was begged, borrowed and misappropriated and augmented by the DHSS with a loan from Corporation Street.
I had undertaken an entrepreneurs training course with LEDU at the end of the course I was supposed to get £1000, a sort of start up grant this was to pay for the second issue of the paper. With usual the incompetence of government initiatives they threatened to withhold the grant until we told them that we were going to press anyway and guess what the front page story was going to be! LEDU ATTEMPTS TO CENSOR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER!
We got the cheque a couple of days later!
The only copies still in existance to the best of my knowledge are in the archives of the Linenhall Library and can be seen on request including the infamous 'Canary Wharf Special'
Did the NBI have a long term impact? the answer has to be no, But we were the first!
In the short term we made an impact! After we had published a photograph of a local councillor beside a huge pothole on the Oldpark Road, the caption read something like;
POTHOLE PROBLEM IN OLDPARK, SF COUNCILLOR SAYS HE IS LOOKING INTO IT!
Myself and Brendan were invited down to Cityhall to meet the Sinn Fein councillors who were concerned about some of the Independents content and wanted to discuss their concerns with us. As we approached city hall we wondered what the problem could be, we were both republicans and whilst the paper was independent it definately took a broader republican view point. Going up the steps into the 'Dome of Delight' we were ushered into a large room, seated around a huge, highly polished mahogony table sat the Sinn Fein councillors, as we sat down they looked across the table all serious and business like and said "Will you please stop slagging us off, people won't take us seriously........!"
The rest as they say is history..........We went bust and they went to Stormont.
Thanks to the internet the North Belfast Independent has arisen from the ashes and is available in you own home, read on....
SCENE FROM THE PAST?
BAN THE MANUFACTURE OF LETHAL CIGARETTES!
GLOBAL DRUG TRADE IS HEALTH TERRORISM & REMAINS FREE TO KILL
By Paul Little
As an addicted cigarette smoker since I was 14 years of age I believe that all working class communities should welcome the incoming legislation that will ban smoking in enclosed public places.
The legislation is in fact too little too late and a law that penalises the victims whilst allowing the global drug trade to ply its killer trade without restriction. The answer to this problem is to set aside sufficient funds raised from the cigarette manufacturers to treat victims addiction whilst ordering a total cessation of the manufacturing of cigarettes.
The facts are that the recent legislation, alongside similar legislation throughout the western world is not driven by a new found concern by the tobacco industry for public health, rather the opening up of much larger markets of potential victims in the developing world.
We do not allow the legal cultivation and production of cannabis, cocaine or heroin why should we allow the tobacco industry to kill hundreds of thousands of poverty stricken people not only in the west, but also the developing world?
Crocodile tears from capitalist governments who depend on the revenue collected from nicotine addicts just do not wash as a credible strategy against the global health terrorism as planned, practiced and executed by the tobacco industry.
Smoking is a killer, in the six counties more people are killed by tobacco products every year than those who lost their lives in the conflict over thirty years.
DAILY IRELAND 18/10/05
Broad welcome among drinkers
Mick Hall AND Eamonn Houston
Drinkers in pubs throughout the North yesterday broadly welcomed the plans to introduce a smoking ban.
Determining the views of many midday drinkers proved a little harder than expected.
Many were dressed in work uniforms and refused to give their names.
Tom McIllvenny (47), a 20-cigarette-a-day man, said the ban was a good thing.
“You can always step outside if you feel the need,” he said.
Mick Gallagher (57), a one-a-day cigar man from west Belfast’s Stewartstown Road, said: “It’s a good idea and would improve the atmostphere of bars, but smokers need to be accommodated in some way — maybe a ventilated room partitioned from the rest of the bar. It only seems fair.”
Micky Hilland (38) agreed with the ban.
“The sooner it comes the better.
“I gave up last week after receiving a diagnosis for a stroke I suffered two years ago.
“The fags were the main cause, I was told. So I’d rather not drink in an atmosphere that’s going to affect my health like that,” he said.
Des Donnelly (29), a self-confessed stress smoker, firmly welcomed the ban. “I’ve been trying to stop but the most difficult thing about it is having a drink at the weekend.
“After a few drinks and with so many puffing away, the temptation is always too great.
“Also, my partner is pregnant and we’ve been reluctant to meet friends in bars at the weekend due to the risk,” he said.
In Derry, there was a more lukewarm welcome for the ban.
Robert Gurney, a regular of Tinney’s bar in the city, said the ban would drive older customers away.
“I understand health concerns but pubs and smoking have always gone hand in hand. People smoke cigars and drink a pint as part of their recreation. I think that it’s wrong to all of a sudden say to people that they have to go outdoors to smoke.”
In Mary Bee’s pub, regular Harry Taggart said: “I don’t know how this will be enforced, especially in local pubs. What do we do? Stand in the street?”
Paul Duffy, another regular, said proper facilities should be provided for smokers.
“It is not fair for half of the punters to be thrown to the street. What about old and disabled people? If they’re bringing it in, then these people should be taken into account,” he said.
Belfast Telegraph Home > News
Heavy fines warning on smoke ban
By Nigel Gould
18 October 2005
Shaun Woodward promised today not to shy away from imposing "heavy" fines on pubs or hotels persistently flouting the law over smoking.
In an exclusive interview with the Belfast Telegraph, the Health Minister said he would give publicans, hoteliers and customers an initial chance to adapt to the ban.
And he said: "Be no under no illusions it will be about enforcement. It will be about very heavy fines.
"I suspect the most effective way of dealing with this is the establishment rather than the individual.
"In the Republic they have a fine of €3,000. We will have to consult on this but I will not be afraid of imposing a fine of that level if that is the most effective way to proceed."
However, the Minister said he would be hoping the ban, which comes into force in April 2007, would not have to be enforced or policed.
"What matters here is recognising that the way this will really work is by public opinion being on the side of controls on where people smoke," he said.
"This means that it isn't something that is going to rely on whether it is police officers or local authority environmental health officers going in to police it.
"It is fundamentally going to rely on the fact that the reason you will not light up now is because you would know that everybody else around would find it offensive.
"Initially for the first few months there will still be a quite light touch as to how it was enforced.
"If you go to a bar we would not like the bar to gain a reputation of being a place where you can go to smoke, break the law and nothing will happen.
"We want to create an atmosphere that said 'look an environmental health officer will come in and say to the owner of that establishment that he did not like what was going on, it is against the law, stop it'.
"If you don't stop it we will have to deal with you."
Mr Woodward said imposing such a ban was the single most satisfying thing he will ever do.
Meanwhile, doctors' leaders warned Mr Woodward to hold his nerve as it emerged licensed trade representatives will continue pushing for compromise over the ban.
Belfast Telegraph Home > News
Woodward: my decision will save lives
By Nigel Gould
18 October 2005
Health Minister, Shaun Woodward said his decision to implement a total smoking ban in Northern Ireland would "save lives".
He said thousands of unnecessary deaths would be spared every year.
Speaking after he announced a ban on smoking in all workplaces and enclosed public places, Mr Woodward said: "I say to smokers, smoke if you wish to - but not at work - and not in enclosed public spaces."
The legislation will come into effect in April, 2007.
Mr Woodward will now also consider controls over the next few months on whether to extend the ban to prisons and psychiatric institutions.
He said no-one had a right to "subject colleagues and workmates to the dangers and hazards of second-hand smoke and passive smoking".
Mr Woodward said he had smoked more than a packet of cigarettes a day for the last 10 years - but had now given up.
"I can speak with some experience, even authority, on the virtues or otherwise of smoking," he added.
"I think smoking is bad for you. So to all smokers my personal message is simple. Give up.
"Smoking is responsible for around 3000 deaths a year here," he said.
"Indeed, in 2003 in Northern Ireland, 5000 people died from lung cancer, coronary heart disease and stroke.
"The hospital costs associated with treating these diseases are estimated at almost £150m for 2003/4. Around £75m is directly attributable to smoking."
As revealed yesterday in the Belfast Telegraph, the decision for a total ban was clinched during the Minister's recent fact-finding mission to a smoke-free New York.
"I came back from America convinced that this is an argument about workers first and foremost," said Mr Woodward.
Belfast Telegraph Home > News
Stubbed out
...But Ulster smoking ban won't become law before April 2007
By Nigel Gould
17 October 2005
Plans to implement a smoking ban in Northern Ireland were last night hailed as the most important advance in public health policy for a generation.
The Health Minister Shaun Woodward will today deliver the news that smokers have been dreading by unveiling his plans to stub out the habit in Northern Ireland's bars, clubs and workplaces.
However, as politicians welcomed the move amid claims it will save lives, it emerged that smokers will have some time to come to terms with the decision.
The total ban, which mirrors the smoking ban in the Republic, will not come into effect before April 2007.
DUP spokeperson for health, Iris Robinson, said last night: "The Minister's announcement on a smoking ban in public places could well be the most significant decision any Health Minister in the province has ever made.
And Sinn Fein's John O'Dowd said: "The introduction of legislation allowing everyone the right to work in a smoke-free workplace would be the single greatest advance in public health for a generation."
Health lobby to welcome smoking ban
Health Minister Shaun Woodward will announce a total ban on smoking in all enclosed public places, including pubs, clubs and workplaces across Northern Ireland.
But the blanket ban will not be in place until at least April 2007 - because of the time needed for legislation.
The Belfast Telegraph first revealed plans by health chiefs here last week when we predicted the Minister (pictured) would announce a total ban.
Mr Woodward will make the announcement in Belfast - nearly four months after saying Northern Ireland would have, at the very least, a partial ban.
Department of Health officials were remaining tightlipped about the details of the decision, but it is understood Mr Woodward will start the legislation ball rolling as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, the Northern Ireland Chest, Heart and Stroke Association last night rejected claims that jobs could be lost.
Chief Executive, Andrew Dougal, said: "Before the smoke-free law was introduced in the Republic, many people saw it as an unthinkable imposition. Now, even among smokers, it is regarded as a common sense public health initiative.
"We need to get away from scaremongering about the economic effects, which are being greatly exaggerated, just as they were before the law was introduced south of the border.
"It is interesting to note that a study at St James's Hospital in Dublin showed a dramatic decrease in the amount of deadly carbon monoxide in the lungs of bar staff one year after the smoke-free law."
Anti-smoking campaigners recently warned the Health Minister that only a complete ban would be acceptable.
Dr Peter Maguire, a consultant anaesthetist at Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry and a leading member of the British Medical Association, said last week: "Anything else is a fudge.
"The Minister must be brave - he must take that courageous step to announcing a full ban.
"Anything short of this will not provide protection for all workers in the workplace."
Mr Woodward has visited smoke-free areas such as the Republic and New York to help him reach his final decision.
Hanson announces Delivery Team to co-ordinate action in disadvantaged loyalist communities
NIO MEDIA CENTRE
Tuesday 18 October 2005
Hanson announces Delivery Team to co-ordinate action in disadvantaged loyalist communities
Political Development Minister David Hanson MP today announced the establishment of a high level Delivery Team to address the needs of disadvantaged loyalist communities. Mr Hanson made this announcement during a visit to the Greater Shankill Community Council and the Shankill Community Convention.
The Minister said: “It is important that Government’s efforts in addressing the needs of disadvantaged loyalist communities, whilst considerable, benefit from better co-ordination with services more closely connected to those communities. The Secretary of State has tasked me with driving forward this matter and to help achieve this I have established a Delivery Team, chaired by the Head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service, Nigel Hamilton, which will report directly to me.”
David Hanson indicated that an early priority of the Delivery Team would be to take forward the findings of a Taskforce set up last year to address concerns that Government policy was not impacting on Protestant working class areas. He said: “A Taskforce was established in 2004 in response to points made consistently by the representatives of Protestant working class communities, that Government policies and plans are not having sufficient impact in their areas. The new Delivery Team will take the current findings of the Taskforce, which is due to report soon, and ensure that real outcomes are delivered on the ground. Targets will be set for this work and regular assessments against these targets will be maintained.
“I believe the solution lies in securing better engagement and participation of local communities to ensure effective delivery of public services. I will be encouraging the Delivery Team to drive forward their work through the existing policies and programmes across Government, to ensure a co-ordinated response to real needs on the ground.”
Today’s visit to the Shankill continues the series of engagements being undertaken by David Hanson to hear the views of those working in local communities that are suffering from disadvantage. He said: “As part of ensuring that we deliver tangible benefits on the ground, I will be visiting different groups to listen to the views of people at the grass roots and to explain how I propose to move this work forward. I want to experience the reality of life in areas such as the Shankill where there are deep-seated problems. I am keen to meet as many people as I can, and to use that knowledge to steer the work of the Delivery Team.”
Mr Hanson went on to say that the Department of Social Development, through the Belfast Regeneration Office, was investing significantly in these areas, but accepted that there was no room for complacency.
He said: “Belfast Regeneration Office is providing £180,000 to the Greater Shankill Community Council to upgrade and extend its premises, and this is only one example of the kind of funding that DSD is supplying in Protestant Working Class areas. Substantial amounts of money are being invested in the Shankill and other areas, not just through mainstream spending on health, education and social services, but also through a range of initiatives aimed at community development.”
NORTH
BELFAST
INDEPENDENT
FIGHT POVERTY!
DON'T INDULGE
SECTARIAN PARANOIA
The failure of successive British governments to confront the inherent sectarian nature of much of the Unionist and loyalist body politic is directly responsible for much of the sectarianisation of the failed Northern Ireland statelet. Having successfully ensnared Irish nationalist republicanism for the past dozen years into the sectarian cesspit that represents politics in the six-counties it, cannot conveniently dodge responsibility for the barrage of sectarian attacks on Catholics across the north.
The failure of succesive British Governments to tackle the scourge of sectarianism is a fundamental flaw not only in the political process but also the peace process. the Belfast Agreement does not empower anyone rather it attempts to set in tablets of stone sectarian division and conflict.
The North Belfast Independent calls on all working class communities to reject division and adopt co-operation on the basis of need and need alone.
Any attempt to allocate funding on the basis of religion or politics is a transparent attempt by the ruling classes to foster division and perceived difference.
Lets be clear fighting poverty and deprivation is one thing, one section of the working class asking to be treated differently because of their religion is not on!
Working class unionists/ loyalists cannot have it both ways. In the past they have said that they were unaware of the discrimination practised by the Unionist ascendency and the the protestant working class had it every bit as hard as their catholic neighbours. The truth, fair enough!
What is inexcusable this time is that it is not the unionist ascendency but the unionist working class that is asking for the continuation of discrimination on the basis of religion.!
UNA GILLESPIE
British ‘stampede to throw money at loyalist communities’
So the stampede by British ministers to throw money at loyalist areas continues unabated. David Hanson’s announcement last week raises a number of key issues, particularly for those of us trying to work on equality and human rights issues in the community sector.
His announcement flies in the face of ALL the documented evidence about poverty and deprivation in this state and also goes against the equality and human rights section of the Good Friday Agreement (I wonder has the gentleman even read the document) as well as effectively going against Section 75 of the NI Act i.e. the equality agenda.
For some time now there has been a campaign in loyalist areas that focused on a number of issues, all of them sectarian. These can be summarised:
Republicans/nationalists/Catholics are getting all of the benefits of the peace process.
The above are getting all of the funding.
In relation to these accusations in the course of my work I have heard the following thrown about: Catholics lie in their application forms about the work they are doing; Sinn Féin are building an army of community workers; Catholics are better at doing funding applications (a whole new slant on biological determinism!)
Protestants are being left behind.
Protestant areas have a weak community infrastructure and therefore need help doing applications, get more money and resources.
There is more Protestant disadvantage and deprivation than Catholics.
Catholics are getting all of the jobs.
In response to this, civil servants and government departments set up a Task force for Protestant working class areas, established the Local Community Fund by which millions of pounds so far have been pumped into loyalist areas, established measures within Peace funds to throw money into weak community infrastructure (ie Protestant areas) and are now setting targets and timetables to address the latest whinges emanating from these same areas.
Meanwhile back in the real world the rest of are trying to deal with the policies that according to David Hanson seem to have failed loyalist areas exclusively! Targeting Social Need as a policy was put in place 13 years ago to ensure government resources targeted those most in need. A resounding failure all round. It is to be replaced by the proposed anti-poverty strategy, which has no resources, targets or timetables yet the same minister can put targets and timetables as well as substantial resources into loyalist areas!
The Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy is supposed to target resources and public services into the most deprived areas so why then does David Hanson believe that this policy is insufficient to deal with issues in Protestant areas yet good enough for the rest of us?
All of the statistical evidence shows that the vast majority of areas that suffer the greatest poverty and deprivation are Catholic. Catholics fare much worse across a range of social and economic indicators than Protestants and yet British Ministers see fit to hide this evidence or ignore it when it suits a sectarian agenda.
Evidence has also recently shown that most of the peace funding has been allocated to Protestant areas despite the fact that over the years research showed that Catholic areas did not get the level of funding commensurate with the level of need.
Evidence also shows that Protestant areas do not have the weakest community infrastructure yet the community sector in nationalist areas is going to the wall while funders charge to throw money into loyalist areas on the basis of this spurious argument. Witness the number of projects that will go to the wall by the end of this year in nationalist areas with jobs lost and vital services denied to communities in need.
When the Good Friday Agreement was ratified in 1998, equality and human rights were supposedly placed at the heart of it. British Ministers and loyalist politicians have made a complete mockery of it since.
Neither have learnt the lessons of history. Where inequalities and human rights abuses exist therein lies the potential for conflict. Until equality and human rights for all are at the heart of all our decision-making and practices then there is no real peace process. Discriminatory statements and practices by British Ministers will not move this process on. Rewarding bigotry, prejudice and sectarianism means loyalists have no need to change their attitudes or their practices and Catholics will remain, to all intents and purposes, second class citizens in their own country.
Is mise
Una Gillespie
Coordinator
West Belfast Economic Forum
IRSP PRESS STATEMENT - 15TH NOVEMBER 2005
The IRSP in Belfast condemn death threats that have been issued through the PSNI/RUC to a number of our party activists in East Belfast.
Party Spokesperson Paul Little said; "The issue of state sponsored murder and British security force collusion has long been recognised as a core part of British security policy in Ireland. It has been used with some effect against republicans of all strands, the IRSP view with concern that Britain still is employing these tactics in the new millennium, transferring a few British troops out of Castlereagh hardly constitutes justice where you have members of the British Army conspiring with others to murder Irish Republicans post Good Friday Agreement.
The IRSP are cautioning anyone who received death threats that they have little choice only to take them seriously given the past history of collusion between sections of Ulster loyalism and British forces.
