"We need to analyse, organise and act if we are to succeed in building a party capable of carrying this struggle forward. We need to develop new thinking, create new methods and crucially we need to advance, particularly in the present political climate, our All-Ireland Agenda." These were the words of former POW Harry Maguire concluding his address to party activists at the AGM of Comhairle na Sé Chondae in Conway Mill, Belfast on Saturday 7 February. Free article

Last week, An Phoblacht featured an article about the Imizamo Yethu Township in Hout Bay near Cape Town in South Africa. The article described how Irish property developer Niall Mellon, along with 150 Irish builders, had brought hope to the cramped and impoverished township by building 26 brick houses to replace jerry-built shanty dwellings, and starting a project that would see many more built. But tragedy struck last Sunday when Imizamo Yethu was gripped by a terrible blaze, which consumed half the township. Free article

12 February 2004 Free article

Sinn Féin Environment spokesperson Arthur Morgan reacted angrily last week to the announcement that the State's biggest industries will not actually have to cut levels of carbon dioxide emissions under Kyoto targets. Instead, they will be able to emissions trade with economies whose pollution levels are lower than agreed Kyoto limits. Free article

As the Bloody Sunday Inquiry entered its last week of oral hearings, three former Special Branch members who were present on the day gave evidence to the tribunal. The inquiry heard how the statements of the men, Samuel Donnelly, Samuel Davidson and William Kilfedder, were almost identical and that, most significantly, all three only recalled hearing one shot, fired "from the direction of Rossville Street" on the day. Free article

Speaking during statements on the Mahon Tribunal on Tuesday, Sinn Féin Dáil leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin described the controversy surrounding the €50,000 cheque received by former Government Minister Padraig Flynn from property developer Tom Gilmartin as another reminder of the "sleaze and corruption" into which politics in this State have been dragged. Free article

Ombudsman excuses PSNI Sinn Féin Upper Bann Assembly member John O'Dowd has criticised Police Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan for excusing the PSNI for turning up almost four hours after being contacted on 9 January about a suspect bomb outside a bar at Brownlow Terrace in Lurgan. The Ombudsman's office was asked by O'Dowd to investigate why it took the PSNI so long to arrive, even though the scene was only 300 yards from the PSNI barracks. O'Dowd eventually removed the device himself. Free article

Exactly what are the SDLP doing in Belfast City Council? In a night of political one-upmanship on Monday last, the party chose to put forward a motion which would see the Council unite to condemn racism, but did so in terminology that no other party could endorse. As a result, at a time when racially motivated attacks are on the increase throughout the North, the SDLP has managed to ensure that Belfast City Council appears divided on the issue. Free article

The UVF has "stood down" the notorious South Belfast commander who is alleged to have sanctioned the recent spate of racially-motivated attacks in the Village area of Belfast. The move comes after UVF denials of any involvement in the ongoing racist campaign and amid growing speculation that race may not have been the sole motivating factor in the attacks. Free article

Incinerators - burning beasts that blight the landscape and pollute the air for over 40 kilometres in every direction. Can you imagine what it would be like to have one of them in your back garden? Well, that is what residents in the Ringsend area of Dublin are facing if Dublin City Council gets its way. Incinerators have become the waste management topic to debate in recent times. International studies have shown that the ash they produce can end up polluting surrounding water supplies and can have a knock-on effect on animal produce, such as milk. Free article