Scrap Northern Ireland

Nice to see you back! What have you been doing?

Studying

What did you find out?
NI is a basket case

A failed wee country, state, province, occupied 6 counties

You mean politically?

Also economically

It needs to be

How dare you?

Is it? If our wee country was a company it would have folded long ago.

Did you know that altogether Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland only contributed 14.2%. to the UK GVA in 2011. That’s practically unchanged since 2001. Still I suppose it’s better than nothing

What’s the GVA?
It ‘s how the government measures the value of economic output. It‘s one of the most important indicators of regional economic performance.

Anyway, the lowest GVA per hour worked is found in Northern Ireland. It’s 16% below the UK average.
And that’s bad?

It means productivity is worst in Northern Ireland. It has basically flatlined since 2001

Despite all those journeys our First Minister

and His Deputy

went on to drum up business?

They haven’t had much success. But they did have some nice exotic holidays. Our wee country also has the least Gross Disposable Household Income per head
What’s Gross Disposable Household Income?
It’s how much money a household has for spending or saving.

It indicates how well people are doing
So we’re not doing well?

There’s little or no enterprise here. Business survival rates have dropped sharply from 71.1% for firms started in 2005 to 50.5% for firms born in 2008.

It was the largest net decline in the UK

Those Fleg protests over Christmas and the winter didn’t help
No indeed. And Northern Ireland also had the largest percentage fall in the number of workforce jobs

The employment rate is only 66.7%,

There are few skills here.

Northern Ireland has only 25.7% 16-64 year olds educated to degree standard. That’s the lowest share in the UK.

That’s because our young ones all go off to University on the mainland, to England and Scotland and then they settle down and stay there.
No wonder, fair play to them if they get jobs elsewhere.
21.7% of people in our wee province have no qualifications. That’s well over 10% higher than the UK average. It’s the highest rate in the UK. We also have the greatest level of inactivity, coming in at 27.2%.

So we’ve the highest rates in something. That’s good isn’t it?


Who’s inactive anyway? Besides them Flegspeople?

People who are looking after a home or family. Pensioners or the long-term sick.

What about pay?
Northern Irish men got the lowest median weekly earnings in 2012 at £479, only 9% higher than females
I don’t know why the UK bothers to keep us

Britain has no “selfish, strategic, or economic interest in Northern Ireland.”

Click to access dcp171766_302464.pdf

http://www.ons.gov.uk

Click to access labour_market_report_-_july_2013__final_.pdf

Away from my keyboard

And moving thro’ a mirror clear
That hangs there all the year,
Shadows of the world appear.

“I am half-sick of shadows,” said
The watcher to the mirror.
I’m off.

I may be here

Or here

Or even here

But I’ll be back in August.

See you all then!!

Orange Order vs The State – Conflict of Interest ?

In 2009 The Orange Order had 34,538 members, down from 93,447 in 1968.
The Order says “We have Leaders in Political Life as well as in Finance, Industry and Education”

So which MLAs are in the Orange Order?
The Stormont Register of Members’ Interests provides the information
Mr Tom Elliott is upfront about his membership of various Loyal Orders

as is Mr Simon Hamilton

and several other MLAs, such as, for example, Mr Danny Kennedy (UUP, Newry and Armagh),

On the other hand, Mr Nelson Mc Causland DUP

Minister, Dept of Social Development
is reticent.
Under item No 11 Unremunerated Interests
he declares he is a Member, Linen Hall Library.

Under item No 11. Unremunerated interests
Members are required to list in this section any relevant non-financial interest.
Minister McCausland seems to have overlooked this important point.
Or perhaps he didn’t understand it?

How many others are there like him?

Now let’s consider the Democratic Unionist motion, which called the Parades Commission’s decision to place restrictions on the parade in Ardoyne “illogical”

Given such a close vote in support of the Orange Order’s call to protest 43 votes to 42.

Are we witnessing a Conflict of Interest?

 

Don’t forget Mr James Craig,

As Prime Minister of Northern Ireland from 1921-1940, he oversaw a concerted program of blatant discrimination against Catholics, almost all of whom were of Nationalist (anti-English) persuasion.

He was proud to boast that membership of the Orange Order, a secret, oath-bound sectarian movement meant more to him than membership of parliament (Campbell TJ, Fifty years of Ulster, Belfast 1941)

And so we come to Mr Robinson’s statement

“I think the Parades Commission got it completely wrong. I don’t believe that the Parades Commission have the respect or credibility in the community to continue in being.”

But the Parade Commission is legally constituted under the Public Processions (Northern Ireland) Act 1998

So is the elephant in the room an enormous conflict of interest?

The Orange Order vs The State?

If so, what is Mr Cameron going to do?


http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/2/crossheading/supplementary
http://todayinirishhistory.com/tag/james-craig/
http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/Documents/Your_MLAs/register-of-interests/register
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/wintour-and-watt/2011/apr/27/davidcameron-easter

The Orange Order is a Repeat Offender

14 Sep 2005
Orange Order ‘not to blame’ for riots

LOOK AT THE DATE – 2005

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE – 2013
________________________________________
ISN SECURITY WATCH (14/09/05) – At a press conference earlier on Wednesday, the Protestant Orange Order refuted claims by the head of Northern Ireland’s police that it was to blame for a weekend of rioting in Belfast and elsewhere.
This statement came hours after the announcement by Northern Ireland Secretary of State Peter Hain that the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) ceasefire was no longer recognized.
While there is no link between the Orange Order and the UVF, members of both organizations were involved in three days of violence in Belfast and other towns in Northern Ireland from Saturday to Tuesday.
Rioting broke out on Saturday after the local authorities rerouted an Orange Order parade away from a Catholic nationalist area of west Belfast. The order to reroute was given by the Parades Commission, and enforced by police and soldiers.
Hugh Orde, Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), placed direct blame for the violence on the Orange Order, an exclusively Protestant organization.
While the Orange Order’s grand master on Wednesday condemned the violence, he also described the police response as “aggressive and violent”. Speaking to ISN Security Watch, David McNarry, an Orange Order member and an Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) representative in Northern Ireland’s devolved legislative assembly (MLA), focused on the issues that have compounded “the fears and frustrations of the unionist people”.

http://www.isn.ethz.ch/Digital-Library/Articles/Detail/?lng=en&id=107222

Aftermath

You look worried
I am I am. The boy’s been lifted.

Why?
Him and four 15-year-olds were arrested for rioting.

Whose fault is that?
SinnFein and the IRA

And the Parades Commission

They need to stop banning marchers doing the parades Let Orangemen be Orangemen

and none of this violence will happen and my boy would have been home and out with his friends for a few drinks
Don’t be so bloody thick, mate.
Senior Orangemen openly encouraged mobs on to the streets and everyone knew what was going to happen.
In a normal society this organisation would be banned. Someone should now propose legislation banning the Orange Order for good.

So that’s the latest nuclear option! Ban all parades. Well I don’t want to see the OO proscribed

You’re only marching to re-affirm re your right to supremacy because you once had it
And you won’t accept those days are over

We won’t respect any ban

Yes and look where your son is today.

We didn’t expect the police would enforce the determination. We were shocked to find our way barred

What are these republican PSNI up to? In my day the RUC turned a blind eye and got stuck into the other sort.

The police that were here could have dealt with that disorder easily themselves if manpower had been properly managed

Stop this self pitying whingeing. Orange Order members, your son among them, viciously attacked the police with all sorts of weapons and missiles

English and Scottish police were brought in just to beat the Prods because the PSNI couldn’t be trusted to do it

Don’t be so bloody stupid. What’s the charge?

Attempted murder A policeman said he attacked him with a ceremonial sword

I saw that at the police press conference. Is there any proof it was him?
The police said they had CCTV footage

Our lawyer claimed the boy was just taking part in the Twelfth parade. He said the excitement of being the swordbearer had clouded his judgment.

Being in the Orange Order clouded his judgement. Have ye heard this wee song?
It’s called The Patriot Game
“Come all ye Ornge marchers, and list while I sing,
For the love of King Billy is a terrible thing.
It banishes blame with the speed of a flame,
And makes you all part of a bigoted game”
What did the magistrate say?

He allowed him bail even though the constable objected saying he displayed visceral violence and his behaviour was almost animalistic.

Hardly surprising. The behaviour of the orange order, bands and supporters as they pass contested areas and catholic churches. The bigotry, drunkenness, boorishness and violence was played out at the weekend for the eyes of the world to see.

People all over the world now understand why nationalists and republicans oppose these marches, if they didn’t already

Always the big bad Prods fault
The judge banned him from going within half a mile of Belfast’s Crumlin Road and ordered him to report to police daily. He imposed a 6 pm curfew and said no drinking

He might be going to jail.

He could have a criminal record that will affect of rest of his life. Disgrace

That’s what the Justice Minister David Ford said

http://www.u.tv/News/Pipe-bomb-thrown-at-police-lines/2cef75b1-f933-4c59-9dad-4674efc3c252
http://www.u.tv/News/Extra-police-after-animalistic-riots/cc7ddbd8-1a8f-4ab6-b93c-e37dd64e7f99
http://www.u.tv/News/Man-travelled-30-miles-to-attack-police/ed3003a3-a328-4ae3-abae-6a6654bf49c9
http://judecollinsjournalist.blogspot.it/2013/07/herman-goring-orange-culture-and-no.html#comment-form
http://www.u.tv/News/Extra-police-after-animalistic-riots/cc7ddbd8-1a8f-4ab6-b93c-e37dd64e7f99
http://www.canada.com/news/Water+cannons+deploying+Belfast+violence+Ireland+stretches+into/8662407/story.html
http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/regional/analysis-orange-order-damaged-by-lack-of-a-plan-1-5285247
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_BIDEN_NORTHERN_IRELAND?SECTION=HOME&SITE=AP&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
http://www.traditionalmusic.co.uk/folk-songs-with-chords/Patriot%20Game.htm

The NI Grand National

The 2013 Civil Mayhem Blame Cup

1) Top favourite the Orange Order

Backers: The Chief Constable, Sinn Fein, the Secretary of State

Mr Baggott launched a scathing attack on the Orange Order on Saturday, branding their call for protests on the streets, which descended into violence, as reckless

Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness

“ the leadership of the Orange Order failed the Orange Order and these communities and they led people to the top of the hill and as a result saw people they represent rioting,” he said.
“The decision announced hours ago that they are suspending their protests was a massive admission by themselves that they were culpable for what happened.”

Gerry Kelly

the Orange Order will not come to agreement and have refused to talk to residents.”

Niall O’Donnghaile

“What was orchestrated was the decision of the Orange Order to wind up the situation in Belfast knowing it would result in violence on the streets.”

The Secretary of State

The organizers of protests against restrictions on marches in Belfast on July 12 were warned they might provoke unrest,
“They were warned that bringing thousands of people onto the streets to protest was high-risk,”
“They always said they wanted peaceful protest, but in an atmosphere of very high tension it’s almost inevitable if you’re bringing thousands of people to protest that these kind of violent problems occur.”

2) The outsider – the PSNI

Backers: Loyalist community leader Jim Wilson, the Orange Order, the DUP
“I tried to remonstrate with the police officers – Scotsmen and Englishmen. How can I speak to these people who don’t know who we are and what this is about?”

Notable handicap. Is his Britishness being eroded?

The Order claimed that the rioting on Friday began when police used water cannon and fired baton rounds into the crowd on the Woodvale Road without warning after stones had been thrown at police lines.
The Order said: “The PSNI (Police Service of Northern Ireland) have serious questions to answer, not least, with so many police officers available, why were they unable to stop clearly orchestrated attacks.”

DUP Alderman Gavin Robinson: Amidst widespread condemnation for those who only sought to enjoy the Twelfth of July it is important to not only highlight that in five separate areas across the city, those peacefully parading were viciously attacked but also that PSNI failed to offer an adequate level of protection.

3) On the nose – The Parades Commission

Backers: the DUP, the Orange Order

They ruled that the Orange Order could not march home past Ardoyne shop fronts on Friday evening.

“Whether the Orange Order called for protests or not this was going to happen, it is the outworking of that determination.

DUP Social Development Minister, Mr Nelson McCausland, member of the Orange Order
“ if you send out the message ‘we reward violence’, as the Parades Commission do, it is inevitable it is going to happen.”

Orange Order statement: There will be the blame game and point scoring by all for the events that unfolded, however the Orange Institution will not be scapegoated for where the responsibility for this crisis truly lies – at the door of the Parades Commission.

Non-runners
1) – Leading Change

Backer: the Alliance party
Naomi Long :
“We need responsible language and leadership from elected representatives, rather than blame game politics to ensure this violence is brought to an end.

2) – Looking to the future

Backer:SDLP

Alban Maginness
“Richard Haass is due in Northern Ireland next week to lead fresh talks to resolve some of our most divisive issues”

http://www.belfastdaily.co.uk/2013/07/13/political-war-of-words-over-belfast-rioting/
http://www.u.tv/News/Politicians-clash-over-Twelfth-trouble/95f6fa10-9095-4844-a589-706bda44bda0
Mr Baggott launched a scathing attack on the Orange Order http://www.u.tv/News/32-police-hurt-in-shameful-rioting/ff9dfedf-2377-41f0-9f84-8fb9237cd13e
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-07-14/belfast-protest-leaders-criticized-by-minister-on-unrest.html?
http://www.u.tv/News/Orange-Order-will-not-be-scapegoated/903a158a-d4a8-48ff-aa38-d84f3f7c8636
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-23311432
http://www.u.tv/News/Extra-police-after-animalistic-riots/cc7ddbd8-1a8f-4ab6-b93c-e37dd64e7f99

The Patriot Game in NI

Come all ye Ornge marchers, and list while I sing,
For the love of King Billy is a terrible thing.

It banishes sense with the speed of a flame,
And makes you all part of a bigoted game

http://www.traditionalmusic.co.uk/folk-songs-with-chords/Patriot%20Game.htm

“in vain will the North of Ireland expect tranquillity or peace”- Fletcher 1815

What is that annual display of bigotry and violence over the 11th and 12th of July in Northern Ireland really all about?

It’s our tradition, going right back to when and why the Orange Order was founded! As Orangemen at the Battle of the Boyne,

our forefathers got rid of arbitrary power and we will not accept it now – never

The Orange Order DID NOT EXIST in 1690
It was founded by Protestants after a battle at the Diamond in 1795.

The Orange Order was, and is, a wonderful, Christian organization

Nothing Christian about that regalia. Am I supposed to pander to your self-delusions about being a Christian body?

You’re a loyalist Protestant supremacist association dedicated to anti-Catholicism.

You welcome anyone into your ranks as long as they’re not associated with Catholics, apart from killing them in some cases.

I don’t know where you get all these false ideas from

Encyclopedia Britannica says you’re an “Irish Protestant and political society”
Here’s one example of what they mean. When the Orange Order risked being denied access to Obins Street in Portadowm the ‘Parade Action Committee‘ and the ‘Ulster Clubs‘, threatened major disruption.

They were fronted by Portadown Orangeman Alan Wright, Peter Robinson,

and Noel Little (later arrested in Paris in for organising loyalist arms shipments from South Africa). These leaders organised a parade through Portadown by a shadowy loyalist paramilitary grouping, the ‘Ulster Resistance Movement‘.

What else have you to complain about?

In 1815 Sir James Mackintosh . . . .

He’s dead and gone long ago. Who gives a fuck?

 said the marches were an annual insult to the people of Ireland, that they were “a libel upon the memory of King William”.
“This was the only instance in the history of nations where a minority of conquerors continued to insult the people of a country through a series of ages down to the present period”
What would he say today if he knew they had continued for another 200 years?

Anyway, the twalfth’s been re-branded as Orangefest. It’s now a cultural, family-friendly event. Tourists are welcome.

No it isn’t, The Twelfth is the same as it’s always been – violent.
Just like we’ve seen over the past couple of days.
Look at this

On February 22nd 1796 Colonel Craddock, who had been dispatched to take control of the Armagh militia, testified that

“The conduct of the Orangemen, or Protestants, was atrocious to the highest degree; and that their persecutions of the Defenders or Catholics should be resisted and punished with the whole force of the Government”

The Twelfth parades of the early 19th century often led to public disorder, so much so that the Orange Order and The Twelfth were banned in the 1830s and 40s

In 1835, with the Orange Society in mind, the House of Commons petitioned the king to abolish societies that were secret and that excluded persons on the ground of religion.

Anyway, THE FIRST TWELFTH on July 12th 1796 was a joyous occasion
No it wasn’t. It was an act of intimidation. It was picked as the key date to provide an alternative attraction to Bastille day (14th July)

It was a direct response to the efforts of Lord Gosford to put a stop to Orange outrages against the Catholics and was staged to intimidate the magistrates and the Governor of the County.

Gosford himself estimated 1,500 men in Orange regalia marched in military formation into the grounds of his estate.

In 1815 Judge Fletcher made the following observations  in his address to the Grand Jury of Co. Wexford on August 18th:

“Orange Societies have produced the most mischievous effects …. They poison the very foundation of justice; and even some magistrates, under their influence, have in too many instances, violated their duty and their oaths. With these Orange Associations I connect the Commemorations and Processions…producing embittering recollections… and I do emphatically state it as my settled opinion, that until these associations are effectively put down and the arms taken from their hands, in vain will the North of Ireland expect tranquillity or peace”.

You’ve always used your ceremonial swords to kill and intimidate.

What are you talking about?
In 1815 Orangemen returning from Middletown attacked Catholic homes at Cruskeenan and murdered a Catholic man named Patrick Grimley with ceremonial swords and a pistol
Witnesses said Smith was leading the march on horseback and encouraging the Orangemen to attack Catholic bystanders; that when Grimley was attacked Smith charged in shouting,
“Cut down all Papists – men, women and children” and struck him on the head with his sword.

PSNI officers confirm they were attacked by ceremonial swords

You were formed to maintain the Protestant ascendancy in Ireland in the face of rising demands for Catholic Emancipation – and the Catholic people of Northern Ireland are still trying to emancipate themselves from you.

I don’t want to listen to this sort of stuff.

.

http://www.scribd.com/fullscreen/26105917?access_key=key-vporg7ftk7jt4tdyt17&allow_share=true
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/430926/Orange-Order

The Glorious Twalfth – Nights of Truth

You certainly excelled yourselves this year
11th July

You think people should be outraged at a plastic statue that is going to be set on fire?

SDLP MLA John Dallat has been warned by police that a death threat targeting him had been placed on top of a loyalist bonfire in Garvagh

So what? it’s our cultural heritage. We demand respect for it

Anyway, the Orange Order called for us to protest against the determination of the Parades Commission
and DUP leader, First Minister Peter Robinson agreed.

He said the Orange Order’s decision to protest over a Parades Commission ruling preventing a return Twelfth parade past the Ardoyne shopfronts is “justified”.

12th July

The Grand Master himself stirred the pot.

County Grand Master George Chittick said that the Order “denounced” the Parades Commission, which he claimed had only arbitrary power.

Was that why you played the ‘Sash’ outside St Patrick’s Church, against a ruling by the Parades Commission.

What are you whingeing about? Band plays The Sash on the 12th. What’s new pussycat? Anyway, the church doors were closed at the time.

As Orangemen at the Battle of the Boyne, our forefathers got rid of arbitrary power and we will not accept it now – never. No surrender.”

We even staged a protest outside the Belfast office of the Parades Commission

Orange Order Grand Chaplain Mervyn Gibson, told us in Rasharkin,
“Rather than waking up to fight each other, we need to concentrate yet again on defeating republicanism, this time in the cultural war.

“Let this generation not be found wanting, do not fight the war on yesterday’s battlefield – fight the war on today’s battleground as we unite to get rid of the Parades Commission.”

Mr Baggott criticised those within the Orange Order who had called for protests.
“Some of their language was emotive and having called thousands of people to protest they had no plan and no control and, rather than being responsible, I think the word for that is reckless.”

DUP MP, Orangeman Nigel Dodds was knocked unconscious

Wrong place, wrong time

Friendly fire, eh? I suppose you think there’s a conflict of interest since he also represents the CNR in North Belfast

Police have confirmed that officers were attacked by ceremonial swords

Here’s some of the trouble the police had to deal with

What are you complaining about? We stopped didn’t we? Senior Orangemen called for our protest action to be suspended.

And Mr Robinson agreed
“While there is justifiable anger and frustration at the Parades Commission, who bear much responsibility for the situation in Belfast, as do those who attacked parades as they passed certain locations, nonetheless, those who are using the cover of protest to attack the police are massively damaging the cause they support.

Anything to do with Baggot ordering 800 extra cops from Britain?

What I find hard to take is you don’t obey most PC rulings and yet you are still treated with kid gloves. You and the bands aren’t held accountable for the public disorder you incite or the damage you cause. Why’s that?
Why should we be held accountable to anyone?

We control the government at Stormont and the 12th is a national celebration.


You are nothing but an international embarrassment.
We’re the majority, the Loyal sons of Ulster.

http://www.u.tv/News/Bonfire-death-threat-targets-SDLP-MLA/a9f53492-bff4-4873-b5f7-df591a4995c0
http://www.u.tv/News/Order-to-protest-over-Ardoyne-decision/edda4e8d-af26-4a87-8f55-32f2758057d4
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-23286891
http://www.u.tv/News/Order-defends-playing-Sash-at-church/7bf24869-fb70-4edb-9cb6-7fe0bec7aae5
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-23267038 Adam Smyth (@adamcsmyth) July 12, 2013

Our girl to kick the hornet’s nest?

Will our lovely SOS

be the one?

What are you talking about?
DUP MLA Jonathan Craig said the authorities see problems around loyalist bonfires as an unsolvable “hornets’ nest” to be avoided.

Ugly looking thing, isn’t it?
That’s the truth in our wee country.
You can tell it’s the truth because it’s ugly

Are the bonfires bigger this year?

Yes, because us Flegspeople are angry our Fleg has been torn down from Belfast City Hall.

Did you hear Antrim’s Ballycraigy estate bonfire has already collapsed twice?

And over at Belfast City Hospital the traffic lights will be switched off because they are near a bonfire

No electricity up in Articlave

What did the Parades Commission decide?
No return parade by the Orange Order past Ardoyne shop fronts on the Twelfth

No music or drumbeats in the morning parade.

Only 100 supporters to accompany the Lodges and bands

What did Nigel Dodds, DUP MP for North Belfast say?
Scrap the parades commission!
The ruling is “perverse”

What happened then?
He was suspended from House of Commons

What did our girl say?
“A decision to ban a return parade by the Orange Order must be respected “.

You won’t like that, will you?

What are the police doing?
Drafting in 630 more men

http://www.u.tv/news/No-return-parade-past-Ardoyne/3DC41FEA-483D-4A8C-9127-379699237D1D

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/twelfth/parade-route-decision-must-be-respected-says-villiers-29409534.html
http://www.u.tv/News/630-G8-police-to-be-drafted-for-Twelfth/efc128f6-e490-41ce-88d7-a16ae81d29fb
http://www.u.tv/News/DUPs-Dodds-suspended-from-Commons/3310f3f0-9e29-4df2-8200-2a52776d2d24
http://www.u.tv/News/Bonfire-collapses-in-Ballycraigy-estate/0b15a43d-fe84-483c-a3fa-e27eaf27e8b1
http://www.u.tv/News/Power-lines-taken-down-due-to-bonfire/06fb4b0d-20ca-4198-b53b-dda6030cd63b