JOE AUSTIN of the Belfast 1916-2016/Ag Fíorú na Poblachta committee has told An Phoblacht that this year the city’s Easter commemoration events marking the centenary of the Rising will be spectacular and colourful and will be a fitting tribute to our patriot dead and their families. Free article

CÉIM thábhachtach is ea cuairt uachtarán Mheiriocá, Barack Obama, go dtí Cúba atá le reachtáil níos déanaí sa mí seo. Free article

‘A meaningful examination of how we can all remember our loved ones in an inclusive way (which recognises but respects the different role they may have played) is an essential part of this process’ – 2002, Sinn Féin Mayor of Belfast, Alex Maskey Free article

IT IS FOUR YEARS since Sinn Féin’s Declan Kearney called on republicans to be courageous “and embrace the discomfort of moving outside our political and historic comfort zones”. Free article

Gaelscoil students making milestone visit to European Parliament, Lynn Boylan MEP calls for paid leave for people experiencing domestic violence, Concerns over moves to create ‘European Super State’, Martina Anderson MEP to publish opinion on implementation of rights of persons with disabilities and 100 MEPs sign petition to remove Kurdish PKK from ‘terrorist’ list Free article

IN the United States and Canada, events will be held across the North American continent to mark the vital part played in the 1916 Easter Rising by Ireland’s exiled sons and daughters. Free article

At 72 YEARS OF AGE, Leonard Peltier is suffering from an aneurysm yet is still being held in a maximum security prison under a regime of controlled movement and total lockdown. This is his statement sent out from Coleman US Penitentiary in Florida on the 40th anniversary of his arrest in in British Colombia, Canada: “Greetings, everyone. “Today at 11am, in Hinton, BC, Canada, I was arrested 40 years ago. As Jim Morrison of the Doors said: ‘I have been down for so damn long, will some of you good people come and get me?’ “Thanks to everyone for all you have done to try get me home. I love the hell out of you.” Free article