Spark

Political Issues

Introduction
Political/Social Issues by Topic 
Political/Social Issues by Country

NEWS FLASH
Irish Budget 23rd January 1996


Index to Spark Pages

Page Contents Index to Spark Pages

• Conflict
  • Bosnia With a Bosnian bias.
• Crime
  • Cutting Crime Irish Times article (04-Jan-1996), by Róisín Shorthall T.D. on the need to tackle crime with programmes addressing the problems faced by deprived children.
  • Crime and Class Irish Times article (07-Feb-1996) by Vincent Brown. Certain kinds of crime, such as financial fraud, go unpunished.
  • Measures to Fight Crime Irish Times article (31-Jan-1996) by Denis Coughlan. A critique of the proposals announced by the Minister for Justice.
  • Myths About the Roots of Crime Irish Times article (05-Feb-1996) by Fintan O'Toole.
• Culture
  • Bord na Gaeilge Irish Times article (10-Jan-1996), by Uinsionn Mac Dubhgaill. Written in Irish.
• Disarmament
  • NATO Expansion Eastwards Irish Times article (29-Jan-1996) by Seamus Martin. Tensions between the EU and Russia.
  • Irish Neutrality Under Attack Irish Times report (08-Feb-1996). MEP Patricia McKenna warns of attacks on Irish neutrality from the EU.
    
  • Coalition MEPs Split Over Neutrality Irish Times article (14-Mar-1996) by Joe Carroll.
• Divorce
  • Individualism in the Divorce Debate Irish Times article (17-Jan-1996) by Tony Fahey. Individual rights and family life..
  • Irish Family Law Irish Times article (08-Jan-1996), by Professor William Binchy, a Catholic conservative. Natural law basis of the Irish Constitution.
  • Irish Divorce Referendum Documents etc. The link to articles from the Irish Times leads only to the Irish Times homepage which is almost useless for this purpose.
  • Irish Divorce Referendum results Results by constituency . This site exists, but I have only ever succeeded in downloading part of it before transfer is interrupted.
  • Irish Divorce Referendum Comparison of 1986 and 1995 Divorce Referendums in Ireland, for the Constituency of Dublin North East. This compares the results of tallies taken at the counting of papers in 1986 and 1995, and demonstrates voting patterns by area, and also to some degree by social class.
  • Irish Divorce Referendum Irish Times article (05-Jan-1996), by Denis Coughlan. Discusses a poll taken on referendum day.
• Drugs
  
  You should be aware that this section is for serious adults, interested in the topics of drug-taking and addiction in their political and social context, who wish to inform themselves about the real world. Such people are not interested in making, selling, or taking drugs, but neither are they surprised by the real world of drug culture. If you feel you may be shocked by the expression of forthright views and the dissemination of information on such matters, then this listing may be unsuitable for you, and you should not follow the links. You have been warned.
  
  
  • Department of Health (UK) You can only order some drug related leaflets using a freephone number.
  • Drugs Education Homepage An objective assessment of the drugs question, with articles from several points of view.
  • Drug Warehouse Comprehensive guide to the internet's drug resources.
  • Drug Watch The case against legalising drugs. Many interesting articles. Difficult to gain access before timing out.
  • E is for Ecstacy Articles on Ecstacy and the rave scene. Difficult to gain access before timing out.
  • High Times On-line cannabis magazine. Difficult to gain access before timing out.
  • Hyperreal Drugs Archive Streetwise view plus FAQs.
  • National Institute for Drug Abuse (USA) Bringing the power of science to bear on drug abuse and addiction. Plenty of information.
  • Society for Human Sexuality at the University of Washington This is probably the best site for information on human sexuality that there is. There is also an extensive listing of links to drug information. (See comment below, on this site, in the Sexuality section).
  • Sputnic Drug Information Zone Sprightly and forthright information on many drugs.
  • UseNet Newsgroup: alt.drugs
  • UseNet Newsgroup: alt.rave
  • Web of Addictions Information on addiction. A strongly anti-drug site.
  • WWW Drug Information Server Very controversial site, but informative, with good links.
• Economy
  • Irish Economy Irish Times article (04-Jan-1996), by Professor Joe Lee. Recent Irish Economic performance.
  • Thatcherism and the PDs Irish Times article (18-Jan-1996) by Vincent Browne. Thatcherism, taxation, government spending, confiscation etc. A good critique of the notion that taxation is confiscation.
• Elections
  • Elections and Election Systems Results of elections and referendums in various countries, plus some documents on electoral systems.
• Environment
  • Destruction of Wild Life Habitat Irish Times article (22-Jan-1996) by Frank McDonald. Heritage Council concern.
  • Sellafield Irish Times article (23-Jan-1996) by Frank McDonald. Sellafield waste plans threaten Ireland.
• Health
  • Prenatal Tests Irish Times article (12-Jan-1996) by Catherine Holmquist. Moral and social issues in the debate on the availability of prenatal tests.
  • The STD Homepage Much useful information on Sexually Transmitted Diseases.
• Human Rights
  • Foreign Policy and Human Rights Irish Times article (11-Jan-1996) by Mary Holland. Foreign policy must take account of human rights (written after TV programme on Chinese orphanages).
  • Foreign Policy and Human Rights Irish Times article (09-Feb-1996) by David Bellamy. 'The World has Many Dying Rooms'. Places the Chinese orphans' situation in a world context, and argues the necessity for world population control.
  • Martin Luther King, Jr. Hosted by the Seattle Times (USA), this provides a biography of the man, and useful information on the US Civil Rights Movement.
  • Northern Irish Law Contravenes UN Convention on Human Rights Irish Times report (05-Feb-1996).
• Homelessness
  • Homelessness in Ireland Irish Times article (5-Jan-1996), by Liz McManus. Outlines government policy. Liz McManus is Minister of State for Housing and Urban Renewal.
• Open Society
  • Banned Books Online books which were banned at one time or another somewhere. You will find more good literature here than anything else. Also good links.
  • Year of the Censor Irish Times article (04-Jan-1996), by Fiachra O Marcaig. Internet censorship.
  • Medical Secrecy Irish Times article (05-Jan-1996), by Fintan O'Toole. Right of patients to know.
• Sexuality
  
  You should be aware that this page is for serious adults, interested in the topic of sexuality in its political and social context, who wish to inform themselves about the real world. Such people will not be motivated by prurient interest, nor surprised by the real world of sex. If you feel you may be shocked by the expression of forthright views, and and the dissemination of information, on such matters, then this listing may be unsuitable for you, and you should not follow the links. You have been warned.
  
  
  • Alternative Sexuality Resources Links to alternative sexuality resources. Very interesting, but certainly not mainstream sex.
  • Coalition for Positive Sexuality Sensible and informative. Aimed at teenagers. Difficult to gain access before timing out.
  • Condoms: Durex Homepage
  • Condoms: Condom Review An article on condom tests from the US consumer magazine 'Consumer Reports'.
  • The Huge List A large list of links to sexual services, mainly of a commercial nature.
  • Out and Proud The National Coalition for Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Youth. Links to the best gay, lesbian, and bisexual resources on the net.
  • Safer Sex Page Informative.
  • Safe Sex: Just say Yes It's not easy to gain access to this server which is aimed at teenagers, but is short on content.
  • Sex Education and Religion Irish Times article (09-Jan-1996), by Ellen Sides. A Humanist perspective on the Irish scene.
  • Sexuality Health Information and Enjoyment.
  • Society for Human Sexuality at the University of Washington This is probably the best site for information on human sexuality that there is. It is delightfully presented, with extensive links to society documents and other resources. Among its documents is an excellent, downloadable, disemminable, Safe Sex Guide. There is also an extensive library (including links to drug information). If you are someone who is troubled by forthright discussion of either sexuality or drugs, then you would be well advised not to add to your troubles by following this link.
  • Teacher Talk (USA) This is a magazine for teachers. Volume 1, Issue 3 is very relevant to the whole question of sex education in schools.
  • Teenage Pregnancy A site hosted by the March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation, apparently designed to put the frighteners on teenagers who might be experimenting with sex. It has however some interesting links to other scientific foundations.
  • Usenet FAQs Archive of alt.sex newsgroup FAQs.
  • The World Sex Guide This site very forthrightly favours the legalisation of prostitution, and provides a fairly extensive guide to prostitution services worldwide, Dublin included. It also provides links to US reports and other documentation concerning prostitution.
• Sport
  • Irish Sport Funding Irish Times article (05-Jan-1996), by Jonathan Irwin.
• Violence and Abuse
  • Kathy's Essential Information on Abuse, Assault, Rape, and Domestic Violence Advice and links.
  • Violence+Women Useful links and resources on domestic violence.

Page Contents Index to Spark Pages

• Africa
  • AfrolinkProvided by Netlink, this is a comprehensive list of links to African resources.
• Bosnia
  • Bosnian Conflict With a Bosnian bias.
• Ireland: Southern Issues
  • Catholic Church Irish Times article (06-Feb-1996) by John Watters. Right and the Catholic Church.
  • Individualism in the Divorce Debate Irish Times article (17-Jan-1996) by Tony Fahey. Individual rights and family life.
  • Irish Family Law Irish Times article (08-Jan-1996), by Professor William Binchy, a Catholic conservative. Natural law basis of the Irish Constitution.
  • Irish Divorce Referendum Documents etc. The link to articles from the Irish Times leads only to the Irish Times homepage which is almost useless for this purpose.
  • Irish Divorce Referendum Results Results by constituency . This site exists, but I have only ever succeeded in downloading part of it before transfer is interrupted.
  • Irish Divorce Referendum Comparison of 1986 and 1995 Divorce Referendums in Ireland, for the Constituency of Dublin North East. This compares the results of tallies taken at the counting of papers in 1986 and 1995, and demonstrates voting patterns by area, and also to some degree by social class.
  • Irish Divorce Referendum Irish Times article (05-Jan-1996), by Denis Coughlan. Discusses a poll taken on referendum day.
  • Separation of Powers Irish Times article (10-Jan-1996), by Vincent Browne. Usurpation of power by the executive arm of government in Ireland.
  • State Payments to Chaplains Irish Times report (18-Jan-1996). High Court finds that state payments to chaplains are constitutional.
  • State Payments to Chaplains Irish Times article (18-Jan-1996) by Gerry White.
  • Thatcherism and the PDs Irish Times article (18-Jan-1996) by Vincent Browne. Thatcherism, taxation, government spending, confiscation etc. A good critique of the notion that taxation is confiscation.
• Ireland: Northern Issues
  • Mitchell Report The text of the Report of the International Body on Arms Decommissioning (24th January 1996).
  • Mitchell Report Irish Times article (25-Jan-1996) by Mary Holland.
  • Forum for Peace and Reconciliation Information on the forum, its terms of reference, its members, its publications, its documents. The latter includes the text of its Final Report.
    
  • Specific, Unconditional Guarantees Now Needed Irish Times article (14-Mar-1996) by Gerry Adams, who writes that the failure of the Irish Government to take a leading approach allowed the British to work blatantly to a unionist agenda. A good overview of the current Sinn Féin position. See also a contrary view expressed in the Irish Times Editorial on the same day, which, though correctly critical of the ending of the IRA ceasefire, can barely conceal its distaste for Irish nationalism.
    
  • Americans, and a Bit of Haggling Can Save the Peace Irish Times article (13-Mar-1996) by Vincent Browne.
    
  • How Canary Warf Wrecked Sinn Féin Irish Times article (13-Mar-1996) by Ronan Brady.
  • Unionism Irish Times article (08-Feb-1996) by Mary Holland. Megaphone diplomacy drowns out unionists' fears.
  • Unionism Irish Times article (26-Jan-1996) by Stephen King. No orange conspiracy at Westminster. Stephen King is a researcher on the staff of Mr. John Taylor, Deputy Leader of the Ulster Unionist Party.
  • Northern Ireland Police Reform Irish Times article (04-Jan-1996) on the need to reform RUC as part of a political settlement.
  • Northern Irish Law Contravenes UN Convention on Human Rights Irish Times report (05-Feb-1996).
• Mexico
  • Mexico A project of the North American Congress on Latin America. Hosted by the International Global Communications Network.
• New Zealand
  • New Zealand Information Extensive information and links, including Environment, Politics, Science, Social Science and Women.
• Russia
  • Moscow Libertarium Libertarian issues in Russia. Difficult to gain access: tends to time out.
• Spain
  • Spanish Civil War Irish Times report (09-Feb-1996). 'Old Soldier Remembers Cork Docker'. Award of Spanish Citizenship to surviving members of the International Brigade, and in particular to Michael O'Riordan.
• UK
  • Death of Thatcherism Irish Times article (09-Jan-1996), by John Waters. Thatcherism is dying and Tony Blair is the promised redeemer.
• USA
  • Administration on Aging A US government site concerned with ageing, and the elderly.
  • US Department of Education This site is packed with information on educational matters, including statistics, and many reports and publications on-line.
  • ElectionLine A collaboration of Newsweek, The Washington Post, and ABC News, this site is very extensive resource for coverage of this year's local, state, and federal elections in the USA.
  • GPO Access US Federal Government information. By accessing the databases directly or going through one of the free public access gateways, you can do a WAIS search of such sources as the Congressional Record, the Federal Register, congressional bills, and even economic indicators.
  • Martin Luther King, Jr. Hosted by the Seattle Times (USA), this provides a biography of the man, and useful information on the US Civil Rights Movement.
  • Media Logic's Searchable Index of Financial Information Searchable database of US statistics.
  • Monthly Economic Indicators This site is provided by the US Census Bureau, and includes such statistics as building permits and housing starts, new construction, index of leading indicators, gross domestic product, and more.
  • The "Virtual" Medical Law Center A very interesting site, with links to resources in US medical law, plus a great collection of general law links, as well. For example, in the top third of this very long page you'll find a search engine for judicial opinions, legislation, and copyrights/patents. Keep scrolling down and you'll find such gems as international law, world constitutions, links to UN pages, international organizations and much more.
• World
  • Centre for World Indigenous Studies Focuses on minority nationalities and indigenous peoples within states. Access difficult.
  • Fifty Years From Trinity A special section of the Seattle Times (USA) detailing the history, impacts, and future, of atomic weapons and nuclear power.
  • The "Virtual" Medical Law Center A very interesting site, with links to resources in US medical law, plus a great collection of general law links, as well. For example, in the top third of this very long page you'll find a search engine for judicial opinions, legislation, and copyrights/patents. Keep scrolling down and you'll find such gems as international law, world constitutions, links to UN pages, international organizations and much more.
  • NativeWeb Resources and links on the indigenous peoples of the Americas. Africa and Asia are in the pipeline.

Page Contents Index to Spark Pages

Spark Home Page:

/ Introduction to Spark / What's on Spark /

Political Theory:

/ Feminism / Marxism / Left of Centre Politics / Right of Centre Politics /
/ Extreme Right Wing Politics / Political Theory /

Political Organisation:

/ Political Parties / Political Issue Organisations / Governance /

Political Issues: This page!

/ Issues by Topic / Issues by Country /

Labour:

/ Introduction / International Labour / Irish Labour /

Science:

/ Natural Science / Social Science /

Philosophy:

/ Religious Belief Systems / Science Based Belief Systems /
/ Internet Philosophical Sites /

Reference:

/ Political Search / Books and Booksellers / Internet Search Tools /
/ Publishing Media / Electronic Media Search / Reference /

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Spark is maintained by: Tony Dermody, 8 Laracor Gardens, The Donahies, Dublin 13, Ireland. Telephone: + 353 1 847 6136.
Email: tdermody@iol.ie

URL: http://www.iol.ie/~tdermody/pol003.html
Last updated: 14th February 1996.

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