Here at Indymedia, we like to encourage a DIY attitude. The slogan "Be the media" would be a reasonable distillation of our ethos. As such, we've picked out this particular report as a good example of someone getting out there and doing it themselves. The writer gives the impression of one who was driven by a sense of curiousity and took the time to write a lively and descriptive report of a meeting he attended.

No reporter is completely objective in their writing and this particular reporter clarifies his subjectiveness by clearly stating from the outset his perspective and reason for being there. Nevertheless, he proceeds to give a detailed account of the meeting and the views and opinions expressed by the speakers.

Regular readers may not like the content of the article. They may prefer that Mr. Barrett did not get any publicity for his views (on Indymedia or other media) but this article still qualifies as a fine piece of original reporting. Indymedia as a quality source of original news depends on the willingness of people to do the same.

Come to a meeting on Saturday next (March 13th) and get involved with two new projects: the establishment of the Independent Media Support Group, and a proposed Indymedia centre for Mayday '04.

Support Group: In light of our desire to broaden the focus of Indymedia, away from an exclusively web-based medium, and in particular our aim to establish a physical Indymedia centre in Dublin, an Independent Media Support Group (IMSG) has been established for those who wish to support the development of independent media in Ireland. Download the proposed constitution and learn more about what the group will do here.

Indymedia Centre: The Indymedia centre will be used as a dispatch centre for reporting the events of the Mayday weekend in Dublin. This will involve the setting up of a computer network for the rapid deployment of news and multi-media reports from the streets of Dublin to the global Indymedia network. It will also host Another View of Europe - a week of screenings, exhibitions and workshops from the European Independent Media network.

‘Alliance For Choice’ will be publicly breaking the 1995 Information Act outside the Department of Justice in Dublin on Monday 8th March. The ‘Regulation of Information (Services outside the State for Terminations of Pregnancies) Act 1995’ or more commonly known as the ‘Abortion Information Act 1995’ severely restricts Irish people’s access to information about abortion services abroad. The legislation has serious implications for the protection of women’s welfare when they are faced with a crisis pregnancy. The Act sets out the conditions under which information (the names, addresses and telephone numbers of abortion clinics) may be given, by individuals or agencies, on legal abortion services available outside Ireland. Under the terms of the Act, information can only be given in the context of face-to-face counselling. It is illegal for a doctor to make an appointment with an abortion service on behalf of a pregnant woman, even if her health is at risk.

Commenting Niav Keating said: “By restricting Irish people’s access to information about abortion services abroad, the Irish government is placing unnecessary stress and strain on Irish women. This form of censorship cannot be allowed to continue. Irish women must be able to obtain information easily in order to allow them to make informed decisions when facing an unexpected pregnancy. Despite the difficulties caused by the Act, more than 6,000 women per year have abortions in Britain. We demand that the 1995 Information Act be repealed so that women can obtain information with anonymity and ease. We also call for the regulation of all agencies offering pregnancy counselling. We will be publicly distributing leaflets that include the names and telephone numbers of clinics in the United Kingdom and Europe on International Women’s Day. We see this action as an act of civil disobedience similar to the actions of the women involved in the Contraceptive Train who in 1971 travelled to Belfast and purchased contraceptives. On their return to Dublin they challenged the customs officers at Connolly Train station by openly declaring their illegal imports.“

Alliance for Choice: Background
AFC Information for Irish women about abortion services in the UK and Europe

It's true to say that a very real and ugly form of social apartheid exists in Irish society while at the same time our Government takes its usual proverbial ostrich approach to the problem. This social apartheid is experienced by the single most discriminated against ethnic minority in Ireland, the Travelling Community.

Inadequate accommodation, poor health status and low educational attainment galvanized by government policy and practice, have in turn exasperated the discrimination and the exclusion of Travellers from mainstream society. Travellers experience prejudice of every shape and form on a daily basis and thus are denied their basic human rights when it comes to utilizing the most basic services in society. The under representation of Travellers in the Irish Education system is one of the most worrying examples of the inequality and discrimination that over the last fifty odd years have been stitched deep into the fabric of modern Irish society.