The Polish left-wing party Razem alongside feminist groups have drafted a bill to end the abortion ban in Poland and provide legal and unconditional access to abortion until the 12th week. Having secured over 200,000 signatures, the Polish parliament are obliged to discuss the bill, which will be voted on 23 June. Razem released the […]
Evasions on the Left over Ukraine
Wars are not light topics that can be dispensed of with simple formulas. I, for one, cannot imagine how the success of Russia would further the cause of democracy and socialism around the world. If you do, then say so, openly, so it can be debated in public. But don’t falsify tradition and history and […]
Art and Politics: One Big Union
An interview between Johnny Flynn and Ciarán O Rourke, author of a new collection of essays on art and politics JOHNNY FLYNN: Will we start with that quote from your essay on Martín Chambi? You say that what most attracted you to artists in particular, and their techniques, is that they “draw on their chosen […]
Irish writers show solidarity with jailed Indian poet Varavara Rao
The Indian poet Varavara Rao was arrested and jailed in the aftermath of a violent protest at Bhima Koregan on 1 January 2018. Alongside ten other defendants, Varavara Rao denies all the charges raised against him. The elderly poet contracted COVID-19 while in prison and has been over two years in jail under appalling conditions […]
Socialism and Sinn Féin
“Sinn Fein has won the election,” declared party leader Mary Lou McDonald (with some justice) in early February, as results confirmed that for the first time in the history of the Irish State, neither Fianna Fail nor Fine Gael had achieved a clear majority or path to forming the next government, while “Ireland’s left-wing nationalist […]