sluggerotoole--2020-10-14--#SluggerTV – Our New Economic Normal #TheReset

Events are moving pretty fast this week as we try to work out how to deal with surging case numbers @ @ @ @ @ Another grim set of statistics are the rising numbers of unemployed people , particularly under @ @ @ @ @ as we deal with the recession brought on by the pandemic .
Times are uncertain @ @ @ @ @ of Slugger TV to tie in with The Reset series , we turn our focus @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 pandemic and what potential challenges and opportunities lie ahead .
Taking us through these @ @ @ @ @ Director of CBI Northern Ireland ) and Richard Ramsey ( Chief Economist at Ulster Bank @ @ @ @ @ recorded in Belfast ’ s Accidental Theatre and was edited by Alan Meban .
If @ @ @ @ @ involved in # TheReset with Ulster Bank either as an individual or as part of @ @ @ @ @ get in touch by emailing us at [ email protected ] with an idea for @ @ @ @ @ articles or events throughout September and October .

Events are moving pretty fast this week as we try to work out how to deal with surging case numbers and rising hospital admissions. Another grim set of statistics are the rising numbers of unemployed people, particularly under the age of 35, as we deal with the recession brought on by the pandemic.
Times are uncertain and in this fourth episode of Slugger TV to tie in with The Reset series, we turn our focus to the economics of the COVID-19 pandemic and what potential challenges and opportunities lie ahead.
Taking us through these debates are Angela McGowan (Director of CBI Northern Ireland) and Richard Ramsey (Chief Economist at Ulster Bank).
This episode was recorded in Belfast’s Accidental Theatre and was edited by Alan Meban.
If you would like to get involved in #TheReset with Ulster Bank either as an individual or as part of an organisation, please do get in touch by emailing us at [email protected] with an idea for inclusion in a range of articles or events throughout September and October.


sluggerotoole--2020-10-14--Siobhan O’Neill on the need to develop “pack leaders” at every level of society in our responses to

Siobhan O’Neill on the need to develop “pack leaders” at every level of society in our responses to Covid 19…

Now today ’ s Cargo of Bricks with Siobhan O ’ Neill , Northern Ireland ’ s mental health champion was recorded before this morning ’ s announcement of a four-week circuit breaker lockdown , which in reality is some way short of the near-total lockdown we had in Spring .
But in today ’ s podcast , we cover what we have learned so far and what are the issues that come with facing the uncertainty of a second wave and trying to balance a number of factors external to the core concern of slowing down the spread of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Our response in the spring was pretty normal to a previously unknown threat : the panic buying of food and toilet roll was the instinctive response you might expect to fulfil the base of Maslow ’ s hierarchy of needs .
But we also discovered that our communities have the agency to protect themselves .
• As things change we need clear messaging , not just from the centre but we also need to translate those guidelines into more culturally specific circumstances like sport , weddings and funerals .
To do that well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mental health and behavioural scientists .
• Maintaining well being is crucial .
So we need to think about our diet , our levels of activity ( which can help with reducing the stress of living in uncertain circumstances and get us back into a position where we can calmly go about doing the more regulated problem solving that everyday life brings .
Throughout Siobhan stresses the necessity of developing “ pack leaders ” at every level of society , who can model the sort of behaviour we need to see in others @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Sport , education and even leisure activities can play a huge role in maintaining individual well being .
Above all , we need to respect and appeal to the intelligence and integrity of two much talked about populations , our young people and the elderly many of whom are very resilient and who are looking for their own agency in and through this crisis .
If you would like to get involved in # TheReset with Ulster Bank either as an individual or as part of an organisation , please do get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ email protected ] with an idea for inclusion in a range of articles or events over September and October .
In the meantime , you can catch up on Cargo of Bricks and In Conversation and subscribe on Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts , Spotify , or wherever you get your quality podcasts .

Now today’s Cargo of Bricks with Siobhan O’Neill, Northern Ireland’s mental health champion was recorded before this morning’s announcement of a four-week circuit breaker lockdown, which in reality is some way short of the near-total lockdown we had in Spring.
But in today’s podcast, we cover what we have learned so far and what are the issues that come with facing the uncertainty of a second wave and trying to balance a number of factors external to the core concern of slowing down the spread of the virus…
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In it we cover…
Our response in the spring was pretty normal to a previously unknown threat: the panic buying of food and toilet roll was the instinctive response you might expect to fulfil the base of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. But we also discovered that our communities have the agency to protect themselves.
to protect themselves. As things change we need clear messaging, not just from the centre but we also need to translate those guidelines into more culturally specific circumstances like sport, weddings and funerals. To do that well we must start bringing together epidemiologists, mental health and behavioural scientists.
Maintaining well being is crucial. So we need to think about our diet, our levels of activity (which can help with reducing the stress of living in uncertain circumstances and get us back into a position where we can calmly go about doing the more regulated problem solving that everyday life brings.
Throughout Siobhan stresses the necessity of developing “pack leaders” at every level of society, who can model the sort of behaviour we need to see in others, not just from the top down. Sport, education and even leisure activities can play a huge role in maintaining individual well being.
Above all, we need to respect and appeal to the intelligence and integrity of two much talked about populations, our young people and the elderly many of whom are very resilient and who are looking for their own agency in and through this crisis.
If you would like to get involved in #TheReset with Ulster Bank either as an individual or as part of an organisation, please do get in touch by emailing us at [email protected] with an idea for inclusion in a range of articles or events over September and October.
In the meantime, you can catch up on Cargo of Bricks and In Conversation and subscribe on Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your quality podcasts.


sluggerotoole--2020-10-14--Singing Struggle and Agreement – watch back to hear the GFA in song and a panel as part of Slugger’s

Singing Struggle and Agreement – watch back to hear the GFA in song and a panel as part of Slugger’s contribution to #BIAF20

Culture , in its many varied forms , can provide a window through which to view society , and also a mirror to reflect back what we might not have noticed about ourselves .
We often connect emotionally with pieces of music .
Songs become sporting team anthems .
Music can be a passionate cry of celebration or bellow of despair .
One Sunday morning last November , I received an email from a mutual friend saying that a former NIO official had set part of the Belfast Agreement to music .
But it hadn ’ t been sung on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or voted upon .
Did I know anyone who might tackle it ?
It was clearly kind of quirky , unexpected and potentially thought-provoking event that Peter O ’ Neill at the Imagine !
Belfast Festival of Ideas and Politics in March was indeed bound to support .
I would build a panel around remembering the talks leading up to the Agreement , and Spark Opera volunteered to take on the music .
Then imminent lockdown made rehearsals impossible and the event was shelved .
But much like on off on off Northern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ revived and regrouped with the help of Belfast International Arts Festival in partnership with Spark Opera and Slugger O ’ Toole .
We ’ d big plans for 90-strong socially distanced audiences to enjoy the even more distanced singers in the cavernous St Anne ’ s Cathedral .
That too was stymied .
The word ‘ struggle ’ in the event title began to take on additional layers of meaning .
Yet , festivals – and the arts community in general – are incredibly resilient .
So tonight at 7.30pm , you ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 25 singers ( recorded on Saturday spread out across Fisherwick Presbyterian ’ s pews ) perform a variety of songs of struggle , and one of agreement ( its Northern Irish and Irish première ) , and listen to the panel ( recorded yesterday ) .
Clare Salters set the opening preamble of the Belfast Agreement to music , subtitling her piece “ p E A C E in 4/4 time ” , a musical cryptogram referring to piano ( soft ) and the first four rising notes of the piece .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Support is more human and less legal than the chapters that follow .
It ’ s a verbatim piece , so all of the words in the right order , including tricky lists of cross border institutions that have got to be held in tension with each other , musically and in real life .
The musical programme includes five other pieces that shout out against tyranny , oppression , attack , and explore identity and solidarity .
Spark Opera ’ s Hearth Chorus were joined by NI Opera ’ s Associate Artists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ baton of Keith McAlister .
Present to film the pieces – the sound engineer and me the only audience – it was moving to witness live music on that scale after so many months when buskers seemed to be all that remained .
Woven through the music is a panel discussion .
Mark Devenport recalls the months he spent reporting from the car park outside Castle Buildings and the moment when Stephen Grimason arrived with a first full copy of the Agreement .
Monica McWilliams tells the story from inside the negotiations , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used to watch politicians negotiating on the airwaves outside the window .
And there ’ s a story of David Ervine becoming Tarzan to quickly exit from a CNN interview conducted up a tree .
We hear from composer Clare Salters , and Spark Opera ’ s Kate Guelke gives the music context and also reflects on how a political agreement shaped her life .
The event is free ( donations welcomed ) .
You can register online at the Belfast International Arts Festival to get the link to the 7.30pm showing .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ll find some cutting edge online theatre – Macbeth and The University of Wonder & Imagination – alongside a very rich programme of free interviews and talks ( including Stuart Maconie , Jenni Murray and Lennie Goodings ) .
You ’ ll also find music , films , and you can book a slot to visit the RUA Annual Exhibition in the Ulster Museum .
Full programme available on the Belfast International Arts Festival website .

Culture, in its many varied forms, can provide a window through which to view society, and also a mirror to reflect back what we might not have noticed about ourselves. We often connect emotionally with pieces of music. Songs become sporting team anthems. Music can be a passionate cry of celebration or bellow of despair.
One Sunday morning last November, I received an email from a mutual friend saying that a former NIO official had set part of the Belfast Agreement to music. But it hadn’t been sung on the island on which it was negotiated or voted upon. Did I know anyone who might tackle it?
It was clearly kind of quirky, unexpected and potentially thought-provoking event that Peter O’Neill at the Imagine! Belfast Festival of Ideas and Politics in March was indeed bound to support. I would build a panel around remembering the talks leading up to the Agreement, and Spark Opera volunteered to take on the music.
Then imminent lockdown made rehearsals impossible and the event was shelved.
But much like on off on off Northern Ireland peace talks, the event has revived and regrouped with the help of Belfast International Arts Festival in partnership with Spark Opera and Slugger O’Toole. We’d big plans for 90-strong socially distanced audiences to enjoy the even more distanced singers in the cavernous St Anne’s Cathedral. That too was stymied. The word ‘struggle’ in the event title began to take on additional layers of meaning.
Yet, festivals – and the arts community in general – are incredibly resilient. So tonight at 7.30pm, you’ll be able to watch and hear the 25 singers (recorded on Saturday spread out across Fisherwick Presbyterian’s pews) perform a variety of songs of struggle, and one of agreement (its Northern Irish and Irish première), and listen to the panel (recorded yesterday).
Clare Salters set the opening preamble of the Belfast Agreement to music, subtitling her piece “p E A C E in 4/4 time”, a musical cryptogram referring to piano (soft) and the first four rising notes of the piece. The Agreement’s opening Declaration of Support is more human and less legal than the chapters that follow. It’s a verbatim piece, so all of the words in the right order, including tricky lists of cross border institutions that have got to be held in tension with each other, musically and in real life.
The musical programme includes five other pieces that shout out against tyranny, oppression, attack, and explore identity and solidarity. Spark Opera’s Hearth Chorus were joined by NI Opera’s Associate Artists and a couple of guests under the baton of Keith McAlister. Present to film the pieces – the sound engineer and me the only audience – it was moving to witness live music on that scale after so many months when buskers seemed to be all that remained.
Woven through the music is a panel discussion. Mark Devenport recalls the months he spent reporting from the car park outside Castle Buildings and the moment when Stephen Grimason arrived with a first full copy of the Agreement. Monica McWilliams tells the story from inside the negotiations, the narrow corridors, and the TV used to watch politicians negotiating on the airwaves outside the window. And there’s a story of David Ervine becoming Tarzan to quickly exit from a CNN interview conducted up a tree. We hear from composer Clare Salters, and Spark Opera’s Kate Guelke gives the music context and also reflects on how a political agreement shaped her life.
The event is free (donations welcomed). You can register online at the Belfast International Arts Festival to get the link to the 7.30pm showing.
Elsewhere in the festival programme, you’ll find some cutting edge online theatre – Macbeth and The University of Wonder & Imagination – alongside a very rich programme of free interviews and talks (including Stuart Maconie, Jenni Murray and Lennie Goodings). You’ll also find music, films, and you can book a slot to visit the RUA Annual Exhibition in the Ulster Museum. Full programme available on the Belfast International Arts Festival website.


sluggerotoole--2020-10-15--Phoney Polish peeler gets himself into a pickle with the proper police…

A story in today ’ s Irish News provides a bit of a distraction from the unending doom : A 26-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of impersonating a police officer in Co Armagh .
Police said an off-duty officer reported being pulled over on the M1 at Craigavon towards Portadown at around 1am by a vehicle he believed to be a police car .
The driver of the unmarked grey Skoda Superb registration FT62 CEX which had been fitted with blue flashing lights , presented an ID card and stated that the off duty officer had been driving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ card was not a legitimate PSNI warrant card , the officer challenged the man , who immediately drove off at speed .
The suspect was subsequently located in the Bluestone Hall area of Craigavon and arrested .
A homemade ‘ PSNI Identity card ’ was found inside the vehicle .
Chief Inspector Barney O ’ Connor said : “ We are concerned by this incident and we would like to hear from anyone who believes they may have encountered this man while he has been purporting to be a police officer .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not the first occasion he has done this and he was simply unlucky to have pulled over a police officer.
” The man is described as white , approximately 5′ 9″ tall , medium build with brown hair and blue eyes and spoke with a Polish accent .
Police have asked anyone with information to contact them by calling 101 .

A story in today’s Irish News provides a bit of a distraction from the unending doom:
A 26-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of impersonating a police officer in Co Armagh.
Police said an off-duty officer reported being pulled over on the M1 at Craigavon towards Portadown at around 1am by a vehicle he believed to be a police car.
The driver of the unmarked grey Skoda Superb registration FT62 CEX which had been fitted with blue flashing lights, presented an ID card and stated that the off duty officer had been driving too fast.
Recognising that the ID card was not a legitimate PSNI warrant card, the officer challenged the man, who immediately drove off at speed.
The suspect was subsequently located in the Bluestone Hall area of Craigavon and arrested. A homemade ‘PSNI Identity card’ was found inside the vehicle.
Chief Inspector Barney O’Connor said: “We are concerned by this incident and we would like to hear from anyone who believes they may have encountered this man while he has been purporting to be a police officer. We believe it is possible that this is not the first occasion he has done this and he was simply unlucky to have pulled over a police officer.”
The man is described as white, approximately 5′ 9″ tall, medium build with brown hair and blue eyes and spoke with a Polish accent.
Police have asked anyone with information to contact them by calling 101.


sluggerotoole--2020-10-15--Taking back control of our personal data in a post-Brexit world…

Much has been written and debated about the impact of Brexit on the movement of people and goods .
But relatively has been written about the flow of data post-Brexit .
“ Take back control ” was a slogan used by the Leave campaign .
But this apparently didn ’ t include taking back control of one ’ s own data .
Remember the Cambridge Analytica-Facebook scandal – and in a separate case – Leave.EU receiving a £45,000 fine in 2019 from the Information Commissioner for unsolicited marketing ?
And the irony is that our laws governing the use and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ driven .
Probably the most well-known law in this field is the General Data Protection Regulation ( GDPR ) which came into force in 2018 , an update on the 1995 Data Protection Directive governing the use of personal data – and taking into account the massive technological and social changes of the past 20 years .
And those infuriating pop-up messages about cookies that appear every time we access a new website – they ’ re a consequence of the Privacy and Electronic Communications ( EC Directive ) Regulations 2003 .
Data @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during this period now that a tiny SIM card the size of a fingernail that ’ s inside your phone can now hold as much information as an entire library .
Hence the need for updated legislation .
Since the GDPR took effect we ’ ve seen whopping fines being dished out to big companies across Europe for data protection violations The French regulator fined Google €50m for a lack of valid user consent around the personalization of ads The Germany regulator fined clothing retailer H & M €35.3m for unlawful surveillance of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fined national children and family agency Tusla €75,000 for unlawful disclosure of and inappropriate access to sensitive data .
But interestingly , UK regulator the ICO still hasn ’ t fined British Airways or Marriott for cyber-security breaches resulting hundreds of thousands of customers ’ data being exposed , despite having declared the intention to do so .
The UK will still be subject to the basic principles of the GDPR after the Brexit transition phase as the Data Protection Act 2018 incorporated GDPR into domestic law – although some amendments will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law .
But by and large , it ’ s unlikely that much will change .
The “ big four ” tech giants – Amazon , Apple , Google and Facebook – are all American companies– but thanks to generous tax breaks three of them have their European headquarters in Ireland – Google and Facebook in Dublin , and Apple in Cork .
So the GDPR was in some ways Europe ’ s response to the US domination of the data market .
And ironically a significant portion of the data owned by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ departments is held in data centres based in Ireland – and will continue to do so post Brexit .
Unless an adequacy agreement is reached with the EU , the UK will be a third country for the purposes of data transfer .
So in the event of a no-deal exit , an extra layer of bureaucracy and drafting of cumbersome contractual clauses will ensue every time a British company wants to do business with the continent ( or the Irish Republic ) that involves the handling of personal information .
It is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be reached at some point down the line .
Consequently , the UK could join that illustrious group of elite nations – “ third countries ” – whose data security regimes have been deemed adequate for data transfer into the European Economic Area by the EU – alongside the likes of mighty Andorra , the Faeroe Islands and Guernsey .
The covid pandemic has , of course , presented new challenges in the field of data privacy – but that ’ s a whole other story , so watch this space .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and disable your cookies .
Photo by Tumisu is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA

Much has been written and debated about the impact of Brexit on the movement of people and goods. But relatively has been written about the flow of data post-Brexit.
“Take back control” was a slogan used by the Leave campaign. But this apparently didn’t include taking back control of one’s own data. Remember the Cambridge Analytica-Facebook scandal – and in a separate case – Leave.EU receiving a £45,000 fine in 2019 from the Information Commissioner for unsolicited marketing?
And the irony is that our laws governing the use and movement of personal information are largely EU driven. Probably the most well-known law in this field is the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) which came into force in 2018, an update on the 1995 Data Protection Directive governing the use of personal data – and taking into account the massive technological and social changes of the past 20 years. And those infuriating pop-up messages about cookies that appear every time we access a new website – they’re a consequence of the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003.
Data storage has become increasingly cheaper and easier during this period now that a tiny SIM card the size of a fingernail that’s inside your phone can now hold as much information as an entire library. Hence the need for updated legislation.
Since the GDPR took effect we’ve seen whopping fines being dished out to big companies across Europe for data protection violations
The French regulator fined Google €50m for a lack of valid user consent around the personalization of ads
The Germany regulator fined clothing retailer H&M €35.3m for unlawful surveillance of employees.
The Irish Data Protection Commissioner fined national children and family agency Tusla €75,000 for unlawful disclosure of and inappropriate access to sensitive data.
But interestingly, UK regulator the ICO still hasn’t fined British Airways or Marriott for cyber-security breaches resulting hundreds of thousands of customers’ data being exposed, despite having declared the intention to do so.
The UK will still be subject to the basic principles of the GDPR after the Brexit transition phase as the Data Protection Act 2018 incorporated GDPR into domestic law – although some amendments will be made to ensure its compatibility with UK law. But by and large, it’s unlikely that much will change.
The “big four” tech giants – Amazon, Apple, Google and Facebook – are all American companies– but thanks to generous tax breaks three of them have their European headquarters in Ireland – Google and Facebook in Dublin, and Apple in Cork. So the GDPR was in some ways Europe’s response to the US domination of the data market. And ironically a significant portion of the data owned by British companies, local authorities and government departments is held in data centres based in Ireland – and will continue to do so post Brexit.
Unless an adequacy agreement is reached with the EU, the UK will be a third country for the purposes of data transfer. So in the event of a no-deal exit, an extra layer of bureaucracy and drafting of cumbersome contractual clauses will ensue every time a British company wants to do business with the continent (or the Irish Republic) that involves the handling of personal information.
It is likely however that an adequacy deal will be reached at some point down the line. Consequently, the UK could join that illustrious group of elite nations – “third countries” – whose data security regimes have been deemed adequate for data transfer into the European Economic Area by the EU – alongside the likes of mighty Andorra, the Faeroe Islands and Guernsey.
The covid pandemic has, of course, presented new challenges in the field of data privacy – but that’s a whole other story, so watch this space.
But make sure you delete your browsing history and disable your cookies.
Photo by Tumisu is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA


sluggerotoole--2020-10-16--Boris says to prepare for a no deal Brexit….

Boris Johnson says it ’ s time to “ get ready ” for the prospect of no free trade deal with the EU on 1 January .
The prime minister claimed Brussels had “ abandoned ” the ambition but insisted “ we always knew there would be change ” next year once the tradition period ends “ whatever type of relationship we had ” .
Speaking from Downing Street after an EU summit both sides said was the deadline for hammering out a trade deal , Mr Johnson said it looked like the country was heading for what he called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suggested he is not completely walking away from negotiations , adding : “ What we ’ re saying to them is come here , come to us , if there ’ s some fundamental change of approach.
” But Mr Johnson said in a dramatic intervention that “ there doesn ’ t seem to be any progress coming from Brussels ” .
He told businesses and hauliers to “ get ready ” for there to be no free trade deal .
And he urged people to “ embrace the alternative ” with “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will “ prosper mightily ” .

From Sky News:
Boris Johnson says it’s time to “get ready” for the prospect of no free trade deal with the EU on 1 January.
The prime minister claimed Brussels had “abandoned” the ambition but insisted “we always knew there would be change” next year once the tradition period ends “whatever type of relationship we had”.
Speaking from Downing Street after an EU summit both sides said was the deadline for hammering out a trade deal, Mr Johnson said it looked like the country was heading for what he called “the Australian solution”.
He suggested he is not completely walking away from negotiations, adding: “What we’re saying to them is come here, come to us, if there’s some fundamental change of approach.”
But Mr Johnson said in a dramatic intervention that “there doesn’t seem to be any progress coming from Brussels”.
He told businesses and hauliers to “get ready” for there to be no free trade deal.
And he urged people to “embrace the alternative” with “high hearts”, vowing the UK will “prosper mightily”.


sluggerotoole--2020-10-16--As we face into another winter with Covid, it is best to expect (and be prepared for) the worst…

I ’ ve been doing a lot of radio commentary on Stephen Nolan ’ s show since the onset of the Covid crisis .
I often take quite a conservative line when it comes to criticising the government .
Although there often are serious issues inside the Executive , the fact is we are ALL facing a crisis of epic proportions .
As Evans and Stevens say in their excellent briefing from earlier in the year , “ a good rubric for decision making is to expect the worst.
” This chimes with my own rather clunky homemade video in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ point on Slugger TV the other day that this is a marathon , it is not a sprint .
So I think the penny is finally dropping , that Covid 19 hasn ’ t gone away .
But there is a sense I think that we have lost perspective on the nature of the challenges it poses… • It is a health emergency , which includes the cancellation of elective surgeries , and the fact that covid has put people off going to see their GP .
• It is and will continue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s no finer gloss that can be put on it .
• And it contains the seeds of polarisation and further down the line far greater insecurity .
There is a fanciful idea that all governments have a range of choices that they can choose or not choose , most countries are forced to work with what they already have .
A weakened NHS working on ( as Tony Gallagher pointed out in his Reset interview ) a just in time model is still weak after the wave hits .
There is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for government to rethink and recalibrate its whole strategy .
What ’ s needed , say Evans and Stevens , is for everyone to paddle as we shoot these particular rapids .
This is something that was more alive in people in the spring says Siobhan O ’ Neill than now .
Perhaps the long quiet summer and time on the beach or walking in the mountains has distanced us from the pictures in the well-equipped hospital systems in northern Italy have weakened our sense of urgency .
In some ways that ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never hope to finish a marathon at full pace .
But it may also be that we have lost sight of the disease itself .
The non-symptomatic version is just one outcome .
Laura Spinney in the New Statesman charts another outcome , loosely termed Long Covid… Then there ’ s the need to protect the old and vulnerable and the social corollaries that roll on from that .
Few weddings , funerals with severely limited numbers , and the intermittent closing of our social lives to try and keep this hideous thing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ almost casual vilification of our youth for , well , being young .
As Richard Ramsey noted in his first Reset interview on Cargo Of Bricks it is they who will find themselves on the front line of the economic crisis .
The risks of polarisation are real and as dynamic as the spread of the disease itself .
We need to develop a better understanding of “ what we know and don ’ t know , what we can control and can ’ t control ” .
For instance , despite a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know that wearing masks in confined indoor spaces makes a marginal but significant contribution to slowing down the spread .
We also know that those on the lowest incomes are either the most vulnerable to the economic disaster or those who are currently performing the most socially useful jobs ( ie , in that last half mile from where we actually live our lives , ie , in the Parish ) for the least amount of remuneration in the income scale .
In 2008 , a writer in the Economist joked that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was just to be superwealthy ; ie , to be in that elite level of society that neither has to work for a living , or indeed whose wealth no longer depends on the rest of us conducting any meaningful economic activity .
It ’ s not zero-sum .
Millions of lives across the planet depend on whether we act together in the face of crisis or polarise when under threat .
Our optimal responses have to collectivised ( every life matters , be it in health or economics ) , and distributed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every field ) .
There ’ s no real choice as I see it .
We either stand together or we fall apart .
There is no bargaining with this thing , and quack ideas that it no worse than the flu simple betray an ignorance of just how deadly the actual flu ( as opposed to the more common heavy cold ) actually is .
As Siobhan hammers home in her “ must listen ” podcast interview , at base we are animals , and pack animals at that .
And all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quality of its pack leaders , not just the quality of the ‘ orders ’ from “ the centre ” .
The government at Stormont has been ambitious but probably can be fairly accused of being uninventive .
To develop pack leadership it could do worse than experimenting with ways to bring citizens into the loop with the data it has and being clear what it doesn ’ t have .
Formation of a small , representative group of citizens could act as a sounding board for learning of what works and what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ openness that might keep people up to speed on how , why , and when our lives need to be curtailed for the greater good ?
If you would like to get involved in # TheReset with Ulster Bank either as an individual or as part of an organisation , please do get in touch by emailing us at [ email protected ] with an idea for inclusion in a range of articles or events over September and October .
In the meantime , you can catch up on Cargo of Bricks and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ | Google Podcasts , Spotify , or wherever you get your quality podcasts .
Photo by KlausHausmann is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA

I’ve been doing a lot of radio commentary on Stephen Nolan’s show since the onset of the Covid crisis. I often take quite a conservative line when it comes to criticising the government. Although there often are serious issues inside the Executive, the fact is we are ALL facing a crisis of epic proportions.
As Evans and Stevens say in their excellent briefing from earlier in the year, “a good rubric for decision making is to expect the worst.” This chimes with my own rather clunky homemade video in March, and Angela McGowan’s point on Slugger TV the other day that this is a marathon, it is not a sprint.
So I think the penny is finally dropping, that Covid 19 hasn’t gone away. But there is a sense I think that we have lost perspective on the nature of the challenges it poses…
It is a health emergency , which includes the cancellation of elective surgeries, and the fact that covid has put people off going to see their GP.
, which includes the cancellation of elective surgeries, and the fact that covid has put people off going to see their GP. It is and will continue to be an economic disaster . There’s no finer gloss that can be put on it.
. There’s no finer gloss that can be put on it. And it contains the seeds of polarisation and further down the line far greater insecurity.
There is a fanciful idea that all governments have a range of choices that they can choose or not choose, most countries are forced to work with what they already have. A weakened NHS working on (as Tony Gallagher pointed out in his Reset interview) a just in time model is still weak after the wave hits.
There is no possibility of a substantial enough pause for government to rethink and recalibrate its whole strategy. What’s needed, say Evans and Stevens, is for everyone to paddle as we shoot these particular rapids. This is something that was more alive in people in the spring says Siobhan O’Neill than now.
Perhaps the long quiet summer and time on the beach or walking in the mountains has distanced us from the pictures in the well-equipped hospital systems in northern Italy have weakened our sense of urgency. In some ways that’s a blessing, since you can never hope to finish a marathon at full pace.
But it may also be that we have lost sight of the disease itself. The non-symptomatic version is just one outcome. Laura Spinney in the New Statesman charts another outcome, loosely termed Long Covid…
Long Covid outlasts the presence of Sars-CoV-2 in the body, at least at detectable levels. Probably its most common manifestation is fatigue and breathlessness. “I used to cycle 13 miles a day on my commute and now I use a wheelchair if I need to leave the house,” says [Claire] Hastie. The fatigue may last for weeks or months, but in most cases it improves eventually.
Then there’s the need to protect the old and vulnerable and the social corollaries that roll on from that. Few weddings, funerals with severely limited numbers, and the intermittent closing of our social lives to try and keep this hideous thing in check.
And there is the almost casual vilification of our youth for, well, being young. As Richard Ramsey noted in his first Reset interview on Cargo Of Bricks it is they who will find themselves on the front line of the economic crisis. The risks of polarisation are real and as dynamic as the spread of the disease itself.
We need to develop a better understanding of “what we know and don’t know, what we can control and can’t control”. For instance, despite a lot of paranoia about it, we know that wearing masks in confined indoor spaces makes a marginal but significant contribution to slowing down the spread.
We also know that those on the lowest incomes are either the most vulnerable to the economic disaster or those who are currently performing the most socially useful jobs (ie, in that last half mile from where we actually live our lives, ie, in the Parish) for the least amount of remuneration in the income scale.
In 2008, a writer in the Economist joked that the best way to survive an economic downturn was just to be superwealthy; ie, to be in that elite level of society that neither has to work for a living, or indeed whose wealth no longer depends on the rest of us conducting any meaningful economic activity.
It’s not zero-sum. Millions of lives across the planet depend on whether we act together in the face of crisis or polarise when under threat. Our optimal responses have to collectivised (every life matters, be it in health or economics), and distributed (we need leaders everywhere, in every field).
There’s no real choice as I see it. We either stand together or we fall apart. There is no bargaining with this thing, and quack ideas that it no worse than the flu simple betray an ignorance of just how deadly the actual flu (as opposed to the more common heavy cold) actually is.
As Siobhan hammers home in her “must listen” podcast interview, at base we are animals, and pack animals at that. And all pack animals thrive or decline on the quality of its pack leaders, not just the quality of the ‘orders’ from “the centre”.
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The government at Stormont has been ambitious but probably can be fairly accused of being uninventive. To develop pack leadership it could do worse than experimenting with ways to bring citizens into the loop with the data it has and being clear what it doesn’t have.
Formation of a small, representative group of citizens could act as a sounding board for learning of what works and what doesn’t to journey towards an openness that might keep people up to speed on how, why, and when our lives need to be curtailed for the greater good?
If you would like to get involved in #TheReset with Ulster Bank either as an individual or as part of an organisation, please do get in touch by emailing us at [email protected] with an idea for inclusion in a range of articles or events over September and October.
In the meantime, you can catch up on Cargo of Bricks and In Conversation and subscribe on Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your quality podcasts.
Photo by KlausHausmann is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA


sluggerotoole--2020-10-16--Why we should not give ourselves easy excuses to examine the first 100 years of Northern Ireland…

The Irish News on the 13th October published the names of the members of the NI Centenary Forum and reported that Sinn Fein and SDLP politicians , unlike their counterparts from the DUP , UUP and Alliance parties , declined an invitation to join .
In addition , the report speculates that academics invited to serve on the Centenary Historical Advisory Committee , headed by Lord Paul Bew , declined the invitation due to ‘ concerns that plans would not reflect the full story of partition.
’ Apart from showing a lack of confidence in the impartiality of Lord Bew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be so inclined as to pre-judge ideas yet to be interrogated and leap to conclusions without discourse .
Evidence-based scholarship comes to mind .
In the case of Sinn Fein , the response is predictable in that the party is wedded to the narrative of Northern Ireland as a product of partition-failure and Deputy an Uachtaráin , Michelle O ’ Neill MLA made clear her view that ‘ there is nothing to celebrate ’ when Prime Minister Boris Johnston MP visited Hillsborough in August .
Lauded by some as having led the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is now more likely to posture as a party that could carve a rut in an ocean as absenteeism and rigidity come to the fore .
The SDLP , whilst recognising the marking of the centenary as a ‘ profoundly challenging and sensitive task ‘ will ‘ engage in debates to build a more shared and united future ’ .
This is not dissimilar to the view of Irish News journalist and media commentator Allison Morris who in addition to referring to the violence prior to the settlement resulting in ‘ partition leading @ @ @ @ @ @ @ notes that ‘ bravery of purpose is needed to analyse old conflicts with fresh eyes ’ where communities can ‘ come together free from the restrictions and constraints of government.
’ These are ideas the NI Centenary Forum should not dismiss readily .
Nor should political unionists on the Forum .
Indulgence in nostalgic unionism and a fixation on symbols only serves to diminish the Union .
The centenary is not just about how unionism sees itself .
Thus far , as evidenced on social media , activities and comments , in so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minds of most of the population , centre either on polemics around partition or parades , mugs , coins and information about mostly protestant or unionist high-achievers .
If this is where we end up , we will find ourselves drawn into a stale argument around competing and entrenched interpretations which will discourage participation and turn the occasion into a binary event that is simplistic and reinforces negative stereotyping .
This can not be about either one-sided sterile triumphalism or a partisan blame- fest of those who have not exercised majority rule for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ act as a choke-chain on honest reflection .
The Forum needs to provide leadership that will de-clutter this thinking .
The at times turbulent history of Northern Ireland ’ s 100 years points to many missed political opportunities , mainly but not solely the responsibility of Unionist leadership , but should not cloud the fact that people in NI from all backgrounds have prospered materially and educationally , defied conflict to live together respectfully in peace , shared good and bad experiences and been able to celebrate their identity and culture .
Strategically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , reconciliation and reflection , centenary events will bring challenge but also opportunity to re-imagine a better future ; to break the moulds that feed on sectarian insecurities and lack of awareness dulled by conflict and political dysfunction .
At the risk of becoming a hostage to fortune for there are sure to be omissions , who would not want to celebrate the dramatists , novelists , poets , artists , contemporary and traditional music champions , performers , composers , dancers as well as fashion , media and cinema innovators from within @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not cause to celebrate the Welfare State and an NHS , exhibiting pressures but also advances in medicine and healthcare , the contribution of women , our oral history , museums and Folk Parks ?
Across sport , football , cricket , hockey , bowls , GAA , athletics , rugby , boxing and golf has produced many memorable moments that served to unite across perceived divisions .
It would surprise some , without reason , to know that when Down , Tyrone or Derry won the Sam Maguire , many pro-union locals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seeing the trophy come north to their home county .
When players like Pat Jennings , Gary Fleming , Paul Ramsey , John O ’ Neill , Liam O ’ Kane , John Crossan , Felix Healy , Mal Donaghy , Gerry Armstrong , Martin O ’ Neill , and many more wore the same jersey as others seen as coming from a different community , few cared what schools they attended , where they were baptised or how they voted .
The same applies to the players who take the field today @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experience of sectarian abuse was morally unjustifiable and reprehensible , there are many more positive as opposed to negative experiences as efforts to rid the sport of sectarianism prove successful .
To these areas of life , we can add science and technology , education in some of the finest schools across all sectors , food , drink , celebrity chefs and the national and global impact of those who left Northern Ireland to live in many different parts of the world .
Deliberation on partition and the issues which led to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an opportunity to understand the history of both , how they developed , the experiences of communities within the jurisdictions , border areas , the policies and actions pursued and their impact on each other .
If such an approach acts to avoid heroic narratives and starry-eyed tales of uninterrupted success , is there not learning to point to a positive future ?
This applies equally to the history which led to the Civil Rights Movement and the politics , restless in bitterness on all sides , which opted for conflict rather than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would prefer to live with problems rather than answers will fail to see what can be gained ; to build politics of the common good and avoid the failings of the past .
Planning for the NI Centenary will not be complete however if reflection on the loss of lives , injuries and suffering that resulted from our shared experiences across the years does not act as an imperative to determine , as a community , how we can complete the unfinished business of building a sustainable and stable home ; to build @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transformation which is taking place .

The Irish News on the 13th October published the names of the members of the NI Centenary Forum and reported that Sinn Fein and SDLP politicians, unlike their counterparts from the DUP, UUP and Alliance parties, declined an invitation to join.
In addition, the report speculates that academics invited to serve on the Centenary Historical Advisory Committee, headed by Lord Paul Bew, declined the invitation due to ‘concerns that plans would not reflect the full story of partition.’
Apart from showing a lack of confidence in the impartiality of Lord Bew, it seems unusual that academic minds would be so inclined as to pre-judge ideas yet to be interrogated and leap to conclusions without discourse. Evidence-based scholarship comes to mind.
In the case of Sinn Fein, the response is predictable in that the party is wedded to the narrative of Northern Ireland as a product of partition-failure and Deputy an Uachtaráin, Michelle O’Neill MLA made clear her view that ‘there is nothing to celebrate’ when Prime Minister Boris Johnston MP visited Hillsborough in August.
Lauded by some as having led the way to a peace process, it is now more likely to posture as a party that could carve a rut in an ocean as absenteeism and rigidity come to the fore.
The SDLP, whilst recognising the marking of the centenary as a ‘profoundly challenging and sensitive task ‘will ‘engage in debates to build a more shared and united future’ .
This is not dissimilar to the view of Irish News journalist and media commentator Allison Morris who in addition to referring to the violence prior to the settlement resulting in ‘partition leading to conflict over identity and sovereignty ‘notes that ‘bravery of purpose is needed to analyse old conflicts with fresh eyes’ where communities can ‘come together free from the restrictions and constraints of government.’
These are ideas the NI Centenary Forum should not dismiss readily. Nor should political unionists on the Forum. Indulgence in nostalgic unionism and a fixation on symbols only serves to diminish the Union. The centenary is not just about how unionism sees itself.
Thus far, as evidenced on social media, activities and comments, in so far as Covid is not pre-occupying the minds of most of the population, centre either on polemics around partition or parades, mugs, coins and information about mostly protestant or unionist high-achievers.
If this is where we end up, we will find ourselves drawn into a stale argument around competing and entrenched interpretations which will discourage participation and turn the occasion into a binary event that is simplistic and reinforces negative stereotyping.
This cannot be about either one-sided sterile triumphalism or a partisan blame- fest of those who have not exercised majority rule for nearly 50 years. Either approach will act as a choke-chain on honest reflection. The Forum needs to provide leadership that will de-clutter this thinking.
The at times turbulent history of Northern Ireland’s 100 years points to many missed political opportunities, mainly but not solely the responsibility of Unionist leadership, but should not cloud the fact that people in NI from all backgrounds have prospered materially and educationally, defied conflict to live together respectfully in peace, shared good and bad experiences and been able to celebrate their identity and culture.
Strategically framed around inclusive co-ordinating points of celebration, reconciliation and reflection, centenary events will bring challenge but also opportunity to re-imagine a better future; to break the moulds that feed on sectarian insecurities and lack of awareness dulled by conflict and political dysfunction.
At the risk of becoming a hostage to fortune for there are sure to be omissions, who would not want to celebrate the dramatists, novelists, poets, artists, contemporary and traditional music champions, performers, composers, dancers as well as fashion, media and cinema innovators from within our culturally hybrid communities?
Is there not cause to celebrate the Welfare State and an NHS, exhibiting pressures but also advances in medicine and healthcare, the contribution of women, our oral history, museums and Folk Parks?
Across sport, football, cricket, hockey, bowls, GAA, athletics, rugby, boxing and golf has produced many memorable moments that served to unite across perceived divisions. It would surprise some, without reason, to know that when Down, Tyrone or Derry won the Sam Maguire, many pro-union locals shared the pride of their friends in seeing the trophy come north to their home county.
When players like Pat Jennings, Gary Fleming, Paul Ramsey, John O’Neill, Liam O’Kane, John Crossan, Felix Healy, Mal Donaghy, Gerry Armstrong, Martin O’Neill, and many more wore the same jersey as others seen as coming from a different community, few cared what schools they attended, where they were baptised or how they voted.
The same applies to the players who take the field today. For every Neil Lennon, whose experience of sectarian abuse was morally unjustifiable and reprehensible, there are many more positive as opposed to negative experiences as efforts to rid the sport of sectarianism prove successful.
To these areas of life, we can add science and technology, education in some of the finest schools across all sectors, food, drink, celebrity chefs and the national and global impact of those who left Northern Ireland to live in many different parts of the world.
Deliberation on partition and the issues which led to the creation of two jurisdictions in Ireland provides an opportunity to understand the history of both, how they developed, the experiences of communities within the jurisdictions, border areas, the policies and actions pursued and their impact on each other.
If such an approach acts to avoid heroic narratives and starry-eyed tales of uninterrupted success, is there not learning to point to a positive future? This applies equally to the history which led to the Civil Rights Movement and the politics, restless in bitterness on all sides, which opted for conflict rather than conciliation and reform.
Only those who would prefer to live with problems rather than answers will fail to see what can be gained; to build politics of the common good and avoid the failings of the past.
Planning for the NI Centenary will not be complete however if reflection on the loss of lives, injuries and suffering that resulted from our shared experiences across the years does not act as an imperative to determine, as a community, how we can complete the unfinished business of building a sustainable and stable home; to build on the social, cultural and attitudinal transformation which is taking place.


sluggerotoole--2020-10-16--Why we should not give ourselves easy excuses not to examine the first 100 years of Northern Ireland

Why we should not give ourselves easy excuses not to examine the first 100 years of Northern Ireland…


Autumn Awe…

We have three Red Maple trees in our garden .
They flame skyward like balls of luminescent fire .
They ’ re claret stars grounded in the earth .
The leaves are not a uniform red , similar to how blood from a deep cut differs from a surface wound .
They are deep berry red , orange-red , burnt sienna and crimson .
When I remember to notice them , I can ’ t help but stop and stare .
An autumn bee will live three times as long as a summer bee .
There ’ s not the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; there are fewer brood to feed , no drones to contend with , no stores to be collected and so no foraging to do .
Autumn bees don ’ t have to work themselves to death like their summer sisters .
I wonder if an autumn bee feels lucky .
They have the luxury of time that a summer bee doesn ’ t get .
Do they use it wisely , hovering in flight to admire the golden autumn leaves ?
The days are shortening , the bees only come out mid-afternoon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s warm enough .
I ’ m being weaned off them for the winter .
It ’ s unclear how this season will unfold for the world .
Messages are contradictory , experts disagree .
Some people are scared , some are bored with it .
Each country pulls in a different direction .
The media are giddy with the confusion of it all .
We should all study a colony of bees as a demonstration of collective success .
Something amazing happens when thought is termed as ‘ we ’ not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ve all gone too far down the path of ‘ me ’ to return to a time when we were ‘ we.
’ The last couple of weeks there ’ s been warm sunshine in the afternoons allowing the bees to go out and gather pollen .
They are preparing for winter , bracing themselves for the inclement weather ahead when they will have to rely on their stores until spring .
I relish watching them , knowing that in another few weeks I won ’ t see them at all .
During @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surveyed them swirling outside the hive countless times , back legs packed with pollen .
The novelty hasn ’ t waned , still it fascinates me .
I can ’ t help but be awed by the sight of a tiny honeybee with yellow crumbs of pollen on her back legs , the vital work of pollination going on .
It settles me when I see my bees happy and doing their job .
Scientific research can now explain the effect of nature on our brains , how it makes our dopamine and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the way they unfurl the twist of me .
When I watch my bees good chemicals flood my system .
Chemicals that cancel out the buzz of everyday stress .
Bees are ancient insects living real-time in the 21st century .
They are a rainbow , a waterfall , a starry night .
They are the wonder of the moon , light-years of time , a black hole , a new-born .
They are awe .
When I was on maternity leave with my eldest son , I walked him in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day .
I depended on these walks to give those early days of motherhood some structure .
I needed them , but I didn ’ t understand why I craved the outdoors so much , until now .
The parasympathetic is the ‘ rest and digest ’ of the nervous system .
This is what a natural environment provides , instead of the ‘ fight or flight ’ encouraged by mobile phones and large , noisy overcrowded cities .
In some progressive countries ‘ nature medicine ’ is being prescribed by doctors instead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The research is now gathering momentum , putting nature at the centre of what we do , reminding us that without nature , we suffer .
I used to be blind to bees and other insects , they weren ’ t significant enough for me to notice .
I saw the world in hurried , harassed segments of time , too busy to notice the detail .
Beekeeping has changed that .
My bees have directed my mind outwards , just like Freud recommended we do a hundred years ago .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bed I stopped to look up at the stars .
We have a glass roofed extension over our landing , I ’ m usually last to go to bed , and the house succumbs to darkness as I pass through it switching lights off .
On clear nights the cool white light from the moon illuminates the back of the house and the stars are a galaxy of twinkling lights overhead .
I stood with my head tilted upwards scanning the sky .
The nearest star is still four light years away , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are hundreds of light years from us .
Hundreds .
Of .
Light .
Years .
Our galaxy ; the spinning earth with its arms of stars that spin outwards is just one of hundreds in space .
There I stood on my landing looking up at the smattering of pin pricks in my tiny segment of night sky ; flaming planets hundreds of light years away .
It reduced me to less than an ant , probably hardly a speck of dust in evolutionary terms .
Awe washed over me , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me so grateful to be alive .
I wanted to wake up the rest of the family and say , ‘ Look isn ’ t it amazing !
Doesn ’ t it just blow your mind !
” Every night we get the best magic show imaginable and yet how many nights do any of us ever look up ?
Each day nature performs miracles right under our noses , but somehow , we ’ ve stopped taking notice .
Even worse , we ’ ve stopped understanding its importance .
Photo by @ @ @ @ @ @

We have three Red Maple trees in our garden. They flame skyward like balls of luminescent fire. They’re claret stars grounded in the earth. The leaves are not a uniform red, similar to how blood from a deep cut differs from a surface wound. They are deep berry red, orange-red, burnt sienna and crimson. When I remember to notice them, I can’t help but stop and stare.
An autumn bee will live three times as long as a summer bee. There’s not the intensity of work as in the summer; there are fewer brood to feed, no drones to contend with, no stores to be collected and so no foraging to do. Autumn bees don’t have to work themselves to death like their summer sisters. I wonder if an autumn bee feels lucky. They have the luxury of time that a summer bee doesn’t get. Do they use it wisely, hovering in flight to admire the golden autumn leaves? The days are shortening, the bees only come out mid-afternoon and that’s only if it’s warm enough. I’m being weaned off them for the winter. It’s unclear how this season will unfold for the world. Messages are contradictory, experts disagree. Some people are scared, some are bored with it. Each country pulls in a different direction. The media are giddy with the confusion of it all. We should all study a colony of bees as a demonstration of collective success. Something amazing happens when thought is termed as ‘we’ not ‘I.’ But perhaps we’ve all gone too far down the path of ‘me’ to return to a time when we were ‘we.’
The last couple of weeks there’s been warm sunshine in the afternoons allowing the bees to go out and gather pollen. They are preparing for winter, bracing themselves for the inclement weather ahead when they will have to rely on their stores until spring. I relish watching them, knowing that in another few weeks I won’t see them at all. During the past eight months I’ve surveyed them swirling outside the hive countless times, back legs packed with pollen. The novelty hasn’t waned, still it fascinates me. I can’t help but be awed by the sight of a tiny honeybee with yellow crumbs of pollen on her back legs, the vital work of pollination going on. It settles me when I see my bees happy and doing their job. Scientific research can now explain the effect of nature on our brains, how it makes our dopamine and serotonin levels rise. I recognise it in the way they unfurl the twist of me. When I watch my bees good chemicals flood my system. Chemicals that cancel out the buzz of everyday stress. Bees are ancient insects living real-time in the 21st century. They are a rainbow, a waterfall, a starry night. They are the wonder of the moon, light-years of time, a black hole, a new-born. They are awe.
When I was on maternity leave with my eldest son, I walked him in the forest park behind our house twice a day. I depended on these walks to give those early days of motherhood some structure. I needed them, but I didn’t understand why I craved the outdoors so much, until now. The parasympathetic is the ‘rest and digest’ of the nervous system. This is what a natural environment provides, instead of the ‘fight or flight’ encouraged by mobile phones and large, noisy overcrowded cities. In some progressive countries ‘nature medicine’ is being prescribed by doctors instead of more traditional forms of artificial cures. The research is now gathering momentum, putting nature at the centre of what we do, reminding us that without nature, we suffer. I used to be blind to bees and other insects, they weren’t significant enough for me to notice. I saw the world in hurried, harassed segments of time, too busy to notice the detail. Beekeeping has changed that. My bees have directed my mind outwards, just like Freud recommended we do a hundred years ago. The other night when I was going to bed I stopped to look up at the stars. We have a glass roofed extension over our landing, I’m usually last to go to bed, and the house succumbs to darkness as I pass through it switching lights off. On clear nights the cool white light from the moon illuminates the back of the house and the stars are a galaxy of twinkling lights overhead. I stood with my head tilted upwards scanning the sky. The nearest star is still four light years away, or 23 million miles. The rest are hundreds of light years from us. Hundreds. Of. Light. Years. Our galaxy; the spinning earth with its arms of stars that spin outwards is just one of hundreds in space. There I stood on my landing looking up at the smattering of pin pricks in my tiny segment of night sky; flaming planets hundreds of light years away. It reduced me to less than an ant, probably hardly a speck of dust in evolutionary terms. Awe washed over me, it made my head fizz, it made me so grateful to be alive. I wanted to wake up the rest of the family and say, ‘Look isn’t it amazing! Doesn’t it just blow your mind!” Every night we get the best magic show imaginable and yet how many nights do any of us ever look up? Each day nature performs miracles right under our noses, but somehow, we’ve stopped taking notice. Even worse, we’ve stopped understanding its importance.
Photo by jplenio is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA


sluggerotoole--2020-10-18--The scam that resulted in a £57.32 phonecall…

Once again , my mundane routine of daily atrocities ( housework ) was interrupted by the landline telephone .
A pleasant female voice began to speak .
“ BT here , Mrs Graham .
I am phoning you to say we have noticed you made two telephone calls last Wednesday to HMRC.
” ( Her Majesty ’ s Revenue and Customs ) “ Yes , I was trying to complete my self-assessment tax form and couldn ’ t get the answer from their web site.
” “ Did you realise you were calling an ‘ 09 ’ number ?
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ call numbers and you are charged for them .
The first call you made came to £57.32 and the second £44.40.
” “ What ?
!
!
How can that be ?
” I then recalled , how , in that state of anxiety , inexorably induced by filling in tax forms , I had Googled HMRC to obtain their telephone number .
The first number I saw on the Google list was 0903727XXXX .
I did not think to check the number or question the validity of it – it said it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lady calmly explained that ‘ these people ’ pay Google thousands of pounds to list their chosen number first if anyone is looking for a particular contact for a service .
They then proceed to actually put you through to the service but , they CHARGE .
I do remember them telling me they were going to charge £3.60 per minute which I found strange as most government numbers are free but I was in such a state of combobulation about filling in my tax form for the first time online , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to accept .
I wanted desperately to get that form done and dusted .
“ But , but , but !
” I expostulated , “ This is wrong !
This is unfair.
” “ You can call the UK Regulator and demand a refund and I will give you the number.
” “ Am I likely to get a refund ?
” “ They should give you one.
” She didn ’ t sound too sure and didn ’ t say , “ It will take you hours and days of wrangling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heard it all the same .
I took down the number of the ‘ Regulator ’ whoever he , she or it may be .
I duly phoned and a gentleman with a smooth , modulated voice heard my plea and without venturing advice or sympathy told me to Google [ email protected ] which I duly did .
It turned out to be the very company that issues these numbers .
Premium Rate Specialists with a web site extolling the virtues of new tariffs at £6 a call and how to take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I was now frightened and feeling very stupid .
I began to wonder was the initial call from BT also fraudulent .
I phoned BT Help on a number I know is what it says it is and was quite quickly put through to a most helpful man who explained the whole thing to me .
Well , not quite the whole thing , but enough .
He assured me that the initial call was genuine and in fact BT had reduced the fees so now all I owed was £80.00 rather than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than nothing .
This is done by BT to show goodwill as they are helpless to control this practice .
As it was explained , the law would say I made the call of my own free will – so , tough , lady , tough .
Having reached my allotted span of three score years and ten plus a few – it is !
The kind man from BT Help also told me other numbers NOT to use .
These are all given on web site : https : //psauthority.org.uk which does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and all to go there and read it .
Nobody has ever told me any of this and upon enquiring with a few friends it is news to them too .
What is there to trust ?
Unscrupulous people take advantage of the wonderful advances in technology which should be giving our lives more ease and comfort .
Instead they are filling us with anxiety and fearfulness .
We ( us oldies ) are constantly aware of our lack of technological skills and would love to learn more but I , for one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , semaphore and homing pigeons beckon .
Editors note : You can set up call barring on your phone to prevent this happening .
I also recommend you do this for any vulnerable family members or friends .
BT instructions , Virgin Media instructions .
The Telecom companies should ban these numbers by default .
Unfortunately , I have yet to find a good solution to those annoying scam calls , I ended up just stopping our landline with Virgin as we never used it and the only calls we ever got were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Video calling device , see my guide here .
Brian Photo by sabinevanerp is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA

Once again, my mundane routine of daily atrocities (housework) was interrupted by the landline telephone. A pleasant female voice began to speak.
“BT here, Mrs Graham. I am phoning you to say we have noticed you made two telephone calls last Wednesday to HMRC.” (Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs)
“Yes, I was trying to complete my self-assessment tax form and couldn’t get the answer from their web site.”
“Did you realise you were calling an ‘09’ number?”
“What is wrong with that?”
“Numbers beginning with 09 are premium call numbers and you are charged for them. The first call you made came to £57.32 and the second £44.40.”
“What?!! How can that be?”
I then recalled, how, in that state of anxiety, inexorably induced by filling in tax forms, I had Googled HMRC to obtain their telephone number. The first number I saw on the Google list was 0903727XXXX. I did not think to check the number or question the validity of it – it said it was HMRC for goodness sake!
The lady calmly explained that ‘these people’ pay Google thousands of pounds to list their chosen number first if anyone is looking for a particular contact for a service. They then proceed to actually put you through to the service but, they CHARGE. I do remember them telling me they were going to charge £3.60 per minute which I found strange as most government numbers are free but I was in such a state of combobulation about filling in my tax form for the first time online, I thought it must be something I had to accept. I wanted desperately to get that form done and dusted.
“But, but, but!” I expostulated, “This is wrong! This is unfair.”
“You can call the UK Regulator and demand a refund and I will give you the number.”
“Am I likely to get a refund?”
“They should give you one.” She didn’t sound too sure and didn’t say, “It will take you hours and days of wrangling with sharp talking people.” But I heard it all the same. I took down the number of the ‘Regulator’ whoever he, she or it may be.
I duly phoned and a gentleman with a smooth, modulated voice heard my plea and without venturing advice or sympathy told me to Google [email protected] which I duly did. It turned out to be the very company that issues these numbers. Premium Rate Specialists with a web site extolling the virtues of new tariffs at £6 a call and how to take advantage of them among other things.
I was now frightened and feeling very stupid. I began to wonder was the initial call from BT also fraudulent. I phoned BT Help on a number I know is what it says it is and was quite quickly put through to a most helpful man who explained the whole thing to me. Well, not quite the whole thing, but enough.
He assured me that the initial call was genuine and in fact BT had reduced the fees so now all I owed was £80.00 rather than £101.72. Not a lot but better than nothing. This is done by BT to show goodwill as they are helpless to control this practice. As it was explained, the law would say I made the call of my own free will – so, tough, lady, tough. Having reached my allotted span of three score years and ten plus a few – it is!
The kind man from BT Help also told me other numbers NOT to use. These are all given on web site: https://psauthority.org.uk which does explain it all and I exhort one and all to go there and read it.
Nobody has ever told me any of this and upon enquiring with a few friends it is news to them too. What is there to trust? Unscrupulous people take advantage of the wonderful advances in technology which should be giving our lives more ease and comfort. Instead they are filling us with anxiety and fearfulness. We (us oldies) are constantly aware of our lack of technological skills and would love to learn more but I, for one, have had enough. Smoke signals, semaphore and homing pigeons beckon.
Editors note: You can set up call barring on your phone to prevent this happening. I also recommend you do this for any vulnerable family members or friends. BT instructions, Virgin Media instructions. The Telecom companies should ban these numbers by default. Unfortunately, I have yet to find a good solution to those annoying scam calls, I ended up just stopping our landline with Virgin as we never used it and the only calls we ever got were scams. Consider getting your relatives a Video calling device, see my guide here. Brian
Photo by sabinevanerp is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA


sluggerotoole--2020-10-18--Unionisms Difficulty Reaching Out…

Unionisms Difficulty Reaching Out…

When discussing Unionism , a characteristic often cited is the difficult relationship it has with anyone from outside of its ideology .
However , it would be equally true to state that Unionism has a difficult relationship with itself , both its internal and external relationships are a problem .
In this article , I wanted to focus on Unionist outreach in terms of those seeking to better understand Unionism and also how Unionism projects itself onto others .
Unionism is unhelpfully stereotyped by some as a narrow-minded ideology that seeks to discriminate and oppress anyone from outside of its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is some truth in this statement concerning certain aspects of historic Unionism ; however , to align everyone within Unionism in 2020 with this stereotype is not only unfair but inaccurate .
Unionism , in reality , is a broad church that includes the fundamental right-wing to extremely left-wing socialists and everyone in-between .
Within these various facets , there are complex and at times , deeply toxic relationships .
Unionism is not well known for being a united or cohesive movement , and this is due to being such a broad church @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hear most from those on the right-wing of the movement , but those around the centre and floating across to the left-wing of Unionism are left without a serious voice or home within political Unionism .
It is also true that Unionism has been extremely poor in building relationships with those from outside of its ideology and when it comes to media interaction too often , Unionism comes across as bullish , arrogant , clumsy , and ill-informed .
None of this is a true or accurate reflection of the overall Unionist community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bad impression of Unionism and certainly no sympathy .
As I type this , I hear the words of Edwin Poots on the latest round of restrictions across Northern Ireland in which he almost attempts to lay claim that the virus has not impacted Unionist communities in the same way it has impacted Nationalist communities .
In addition to this , two prominent Unionist commentators have been heavily derided for calling a Sinn Fein Minister an “ odious Provo hag ” and an Alliance MP a “ moron ” .
This is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and with this type of public-facing Unionism , it ’ s little wonder why we have such an image problem .
In 2006 Sinn Fein announced that Martina Anderson was to assume the newly formed role of “ Unionist Outreach Officer ” .
This was an audacious and controversial move as Ms Anderson was a convicted IRA bomber and many within Unionism were both alarmed and sceptical with this appointment .
A quick look at Sinn Fein ’ s website on this announcement ( which is still available ) did not give @ @ @ @ @ @ @ complimenting the 2006 announcement : The framing of Unionism as the oppressor is extremely illuminating in an extract aimed at reaching out to Unionists .
Over the years , via actions and words , Martina Anderson has done everything possible to alienate Unionism .
From outspoken support for the IRA , refusal to condemn IRA atrocities , and in recent times the “ Outreach Officer ” made rather offensive comments about the recipients of a “ trouble ’ s pension ” .
It is not clear if Sinn Fein ever took this role @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and obvious attempt to troll Unionism in a macabre manner knowing Unionism would always have had difficulty with Sinn Fein outreach , and this could be something that Sinn Fein could capitalise on .
The irony is that Sinn Fein has managed to unite Unionism ( no small feat ) in their abhorrence of this role .
Sinn Fein has better and more progressive members who would have caused much less trouble within this role ; it ’ s eye-opening that they were never chosen .
It has been suggested that Declan Kearney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but the fact that few Unionists are aware of this ( and nobody can confirm it ) tells its own story .
If Sinn Fein reflects on this role and if they are not using it as an attempt to troll Unionism , it might be wise to decommission the position .
It ’ s telling that many Nationalists and Others are sympathetic to Unionism on this subject and as one Republican wryly pointed out to me , “ now you know how we feel when your representatives address us ” .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ I am bringing Professor Colin Harvey of Queens University ( QUB ) into this topic , but the Professor almost represents a microcosm of the problems and challenges Unionism faces .
Professor Harvey has been very outspoken on his support for unification .
It is due to this outspoken support for unification that some within Unionism have felt his position within QUB as a Professor is untenable .
This is not a position I share ; Professor Harvey has every right to hold such a position on Irish unity whilst simultaneously being a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a functioning Northern Ireland than allowing people of all political opinions and none to be free to exercise them in a perfectly legal manner ?
There have been many Unionists who have done the same in the past , and I hope this will continue .
I am often minded of my English GCSE teacher , an outspoken and knowledgeable Republican .
Whilst learning about English and American literature we were simultaneously being exposed to Michael Collins , Republican ( and even some Orange ) literature , the Easter Rising , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the day .
This was one of my first encounters with an outspoken and articulate Republican , and I realised then at 15 that Unionism would need to significantly up its game .
My old English teachers ’ methods may have been unorthodox but looking back , it was a wonderful experience and education .
I feel any campaign against Professor Harvey is completely wrong ; it is entirely acceptable for Professor Harvey to hold all of the positions that he has and be free to exercise them as he chooses , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a retrograde move .
It should be the antithesis of what Unionism is about .
Compounding the bafflement of Unionism are the constant streams of soundbites on the “ think32 ” movement which integrates their way into many online debates in a manner that demeans and diminishes their value , something again Professor Harvey has been challenged on .
The messages have become repetitive and they appear to be empty soundbites rather than serious attempts to engage in the topic of unity .
I remember a Sinn Fein Councillor who had resolved an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ signed off his social media post with “ # think32 ” .
Are we now to believe that traffic lights in a United Ireland will be immune from technical problems and if so will this apply to other devices ?
Of course , everyone who participates in this activity should be free to do so but they are not selling any new vision of an all-Ireland to Unionism , and in fact like Martina Anderson , they are putting many Unionists off .
There is certainly no appetite for Unionism to engage in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same if those behind the message continue to demean their project by using the tagline “ think32 ” in every situation as if it has a silver bullet effect .
An “ Ireland ’ s Future ” forum recently attempted to address Unionist concerns by insisting that “ In a new Ireland there will still be marching bands and people will still fly the union flag from their house .
The DUP will be in the Dáil and I hope as many unionists engage in the conversation as possible ” .
This statement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Unionism and whilst I genuinely don ’ t believe any ill was intended , it ’ s clear that such forums have little to no understanding of Unionism outside of a caricature .
This is as much of a problem for Unionism as it is for these forums .
But these forums , in general , seem toothless without serious backing from those who can make a change .
There is no serious discussion on replacing the current flawed but still valuable NHS , and that makes these forums for Unionists nothing more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the wind .
Within Unionism , we have to accept that many will not use words like “ Northern Ireland ” and “ Londonderry ” .
As Professor Harvey pointed out , not everyone will consider this place a country .
The key is that we need to make Northern Ireland work for everyone so that all of us can consider this a home , regardless of what way the constitution swings , we still have to live with each other so forcing our language on those who don ’ t appreciate it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is also true of course , is there anything to be gained in a dialogue that refers to Northern Ireland in 2020 as a “ sectarian statelet ” ?
Is it problematic that many living in Northern Ireland consider it a country ?
Apart from legal recognition , it meets almost every other criteria that constitute a country .
Outside of politics , many Nationalists are comfortable saying “ Northern Ireland ” , although I must confess to not having heard any say “ Londonderry ” and if truth be told many Unionists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some ways , our politicians are too far behind the general public .
We shouldn ’ t use our divided language as a way to poke each other in the eye .
It is safe to say that as an ideology , we have failed to reach out to anyone .
Unionism has a complex and often difficult relationship with Dublin and London , the Americans are very unlikely to even be aware of Unionisms existence and as for the Israeli flags flown in Loyalist areas , this is not being reciprocated in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ireland are multifaceted , Unionism has problems with Republicans , Nationalists , the Alliance Party , the LGBTQ community , and many others .
To compound , those problems , Unionism has a huge issue with anyone from within its own camp with alternative views to the perceived Unionist mainstream .
Some of the infighting within parties and between parties such as the UUP v DUP or the DUP v TUV is often much more ferocious than anything that happens between Unionism and Republicanism .
This is a key reason why a single @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an additional reason why Unionist pacts continually fail ; Unionists can not get on with each other .
Unionism needs to reorganise , as an ideology , we are starved of alternative and fresh ideas and with this the fresh faces that such ideas will attract .
Unionism needs to reach out and project itself better , however , before it can begin to do this it must learn to respect those within its ranks and start respecting those outside of Unionism because if it can ’ t the chances of gaining outside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t need a “ Unionist Outreach Officer ” within Unionism ; we need to begin showing a lot more respect .
Photo by zhivko is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA

When discussing Unionism, a characteristic often cited is the difficult relationship it has with anyone from outside of its ideology. However, it would be equally true to state that Unionism has a difficult relationship with itself, both its internal and external relationships are a problem. In this article, I wanted to focus on Unionist outreach in terms of those seeking to better understand Unionism and also how Unionism projects itself onto others.
Nobody Understands Us
Unionism is unhelpfully stereotyped by some as a narrow-minded ideology that seeks to discriminate and oppress anyone from outside of its encampment. Needless to say, there is some truth in this statement concerning certain aspects of historic Unionism; however, to align everyone within Unionism in 2020 with this stereotype is not only unfair but inaccurate. Unionism, in reality, is a broad church that includes the fundamental right-wing to extremely left-wing socialists and everyone in-between. Within these various facets, there are complex and at times, deeply toxic relationships. Unionism is not well known for being a united or cohesive movement, and this is due to being such a broad church with all shades of opinions. We hear most from those on the right-wing of the movement, but those around the centre and floating across to the left-wing of Unionism are left without a serious voice or home within political Unionism. It is also true that Unionism has been extremely poor in building relationships with those from outside of its ideology and when it comes to media interaction too often, Unionism comes across as bullish, arrogant, clumsy, and ill-informed. None of this is a true or accurate reflection of the overall Unionist community; however, it leaves outsiders with a bad impression of Unionism and certainly no sympathy. As I type this, I hear the words of Edwin Poots on the latest round of restrictions across Northern Ireland in which he almost attempts to lay claim that the virus has not impacted Unionist communities in the same way it has impacted Nationalist communities. In addition to this, two prominent Unionist commentators have been heavily derided for calling a Sinn Fein Minister an “odious Provo hag” and an Alliance MP a “moron”. This is all in the space of 24 hours, and with this type of public-facing Unionism, it’s little wonder why we have such an image problem.
Republican Outreach
In 2006 Sinn Fein announced that Martina Anderson was to assume the newly formed role of “Unionist Outreach Officer”. This was an audacious and controversial move as Ms Anderson was a convicted IRA bomber and many within Unionism were both alarmed and sceptical with this appointment. A quick look at Sinn Fein’s website on this announcement (which is still available) did not give Unionism much encouragement with the following extract complimenting the 2006 announcement:
Our strategy has always been about engaging all the people of Ireland in building a community for change. And that means: all of the people. From 1916 onwards, through the armed campaign and now into the Peace Process, Irish Republicans have been conscious that it is British Imperialism which maintains continued division of our people and our nation. At the same time, we never doubted that the Brits maintained their rule through creating and supporting a unionist garrison; which, in return for some crumbs from the Brit table, maintained their power and privilege in their statelet.
The framing of Unionism as the oppressor is extremely illuminating in an extract aimed at reaching out to Unionists. Over the years, via actions and words, Martina Anderson has done everything possible to alienate Unionism. From outspoken support for the IRA, refusal to condemn IRA atrocities, and in recent times the “Outreach Officer” made rather offensive comments about the recipients of a “trouble’s pension”. It is not clear if Sinn Fein ever took this role seriously or if it was a clear and obvious attempt to troll Unionism in a macabre manner knowing Unionism would always have had difficulty with Sinn Fein outreach, and this could be something that Sinn Fein could capitalise on. The irony is that Sinn Fein has managed to unite Unionism (no small feat) in their abhorrence of this role. Sinn Fein has better and more progressive members who would have caused much less trouble within this role; it’s eye-opening that they were never chosen. It has been suggested that Declan Kearney is the current “Outreach Officer”, but the fact that few Unionists are aware of this (and nobody can confirm it) tells its own story. If Sinn Fein reflects on this role and if they are not using it as an attempt to troll Unionism, it might be wise to decommission the position. It’s telling that many Nationalists and Others are sympathetic to Unionism on this subject and as one Republican wryly pointed out to me, “now you know how we feel when your representatives address us”.
All Ireland Forums
It may seem a little unusual that I am bringing Professor Colin Harvey of Queens University (QUB) into this topic, but the Professor almost represents a microcosm of the problems and challenges Unionism faces. Professor Harvey has been very outspoken on his support for unification. It is due to this outspoken support for unification that some within Unionism have felt his position within QUB as a Professor is untenable. This is not a position I share; Professor Harvey has every right to hold such a position on Irish unity whilst simultaneously being a Professor at QUB. What better advertisement for a functioning Northern Ireland than allowing people of all political opinions and none to be free to exercise them in a perfectly legal manner? There have been many Unionists who have done the same in the past, and I hope this will continue. I am often minded of my English GCSE teacher, an outspoken and knowledgeable Republican. Whilst learning about English and American literature we were simultaneously being exposed to Michael Collins, Republican (and even some Orange) literature, the Easter Rising, and having general discussions on the political topics of the day. This was one of my first encounters with an outspoken and articulate Republican, and I realised then at 15 that Unionism would need to significantly up its game. My old English teachers’ methods may have been unorthodox but looking back, it was a wonderful experience and education. I feel any campaign against Professor Harvey is completely wrong; it is entirely acceptable for Professor Harvey to hold all of the positions that he has and be free to exercise them as he chooses, attempting to censor a University Professor is a retrograde move. It should be the antithesis of what Unionism is about.
Compounding the bafflement of Unionism are the constant streams of soundbites on the “think32” movement which integrates their way into many online debates in a manner that demeans and diminishes their value, something again Professor Harvey has been challenged on. The messages have become repetitive and they appear to be empty soundbites rather than serious attempts to engage in the topic of unity. I remember a Sinn Fein Councillor who had resolved an issue with a malfunctioning traffic light, signed off his social media post with “#think32”. Are we now to believe that traffic lights in a United Ireland will be immune from technical problems and if so will this apply to other devices? Of course, everyone who participates in this activity should be free to do so but they are not selling any new vision of an all-Ireland to Unionism, and in fact like Martina Anderson, they are putting many Unionists off. There is certainly no appetite for Unionism to engage in such forums and this will remain the same if those behind the message continue to demean their project by using the tagline “think32” in every situation as if it has a silver bullet effect.
An “Ireland’s Future” forum recently attempted to address Unionist concerns by insisting that “In a new Ireland there will still be marching bands and people will still fly the union flag from their house. The DUP will be in the Dáil and I hope as many unionists engage in the conversation as possible”. This statement resulted in a backlash from many within Unionism and whilst I genuinely don’t believe any ill was intended, it’s clear that such forums have little to no understanding of Unionism outside of a caricature. This is as much of a problem for Unionism as it is for these forums. But these forums, in general, seem toothless without serious backing from those who can make a change. There is no serious discussion on replacing the current flawed but still valuable NHS, and that makes these forums for Unionists nothing more than an exercise akin to whistling in the wind.
Divided by a Common Language
Within Unionism, we have to accept that many will not use words like “Northern Ireland” and “Londonderry”. As Professor Harvey pointed out, not everyone will consider this place a country. The key is that we need to make Northern Ireland work for everyone so that all of us can consider this a home, regardless of what way the constitution swings, we still have to live with each other so forcing our language on those who don’t appreciate it is a zero-sum game. The reverse is also true of course, is there anything to be gained in a dialogue that refers to Northern Ireland in 2020 as a “sectarian statelet”? Is it problematic that many living in Northern Ireland consider it a country? Apart from legal recognition, it meets almost every other criteria that constitute a country. Outside of politics, many Nationalists are comfortable saying “Northern Ireland”, although I must confess to not having heard any say “Londonderry” and if truth be told many Unionists also say “Derry”. In some ways, our politicians are too far behind the general public. We shouldn’t use our divided language as a way to poke each other in the eye.
Unionist Outreach
It is safe to say that as an ideology, we have failed to reach out to anyone. Unionism has a complex and often difficult relationship with Dublin and London, the Americans are very unlikely to even be aware of Unionisms existence and as for the Israeli flags flown in Loyalist areas, this is not being reciprocated in Israel. The difficult relationships within Northern Ireland are multifaceted, Unionism has problems with Republicans, Nationalists, the Alliance Party, the LGBTQ community, and many others. To compound, those problems, Unionism has a huge issue with anyone from within its own camp with alternative views to the perceived Unionist mainstream. Some of the infighting within parties and between parties such as the UUP v DUP or the DUP v TUV is often much more ferocious than anything that happens between Unionism and Republicanism. This is a key reason why a single Unionist party is a bad idea and an additional reason why Unionist pacts continually fail; Unionists cannot get on with each other.
Overall
Unionism needs to reorganise, as an ideology, we are starved of alternative and fresh ideas and with this the fresh faces that such ideas will attract. Unionism needs to reach out and project itself better, however, before it can begin to do this it must learn to respect those within its ranks and start respecting those outside of Unionism because if it can’t the chances of gaining outside support will be negligible. We don’t need a “Unionist Outreach Officer” within Unionism; we need to begin showing a lot more respect.
Photo by zhivko is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA


Fergus on Monday

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