1147. Bashar Murad – A Hug Amongst All the Darkness

Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack We said we'd return to the horrific attack on Parnell Square that injured several people and left a 5 year old child in critical condition, and the subsequent chaotic scenes that played out in Dublin city centre. So here it is. Our podcast with the best immigration reporter in the country, the Dublin Inquirer's Shamim Malekmian, Green Party Cllr and former Dublin Lord Mayor, Hazel Chu and our bastion of sanity, Mr irishelectionprojections.com Harry McEvansoneya. We delve into the topics of classism, racism, the far right opportunists, the medias soft-enabling of hate, the Garda response and resourcing issues and the good, bad and ugly politics that can't be allowed to say that they couldn't have seen this coming. We also pay tribute to the real heroes, the group of strangers who came together and undoubtedly stopped what could have been an even worse act of reprehensible violence. The latest from the UK with listener favourite, Prof Richard Murphy is out now:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-93395024

Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack If you read the piece A Lucky Gazan Routine, that we posted a few days ago by 20 year old Literature Student, Noar Diab, then you'll be familiar with her experiences of the last 49 days. If you haven't then you can read it here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/free-to-all-noar-93352128 Noar joined us hours before the temporary ceasefire began to tell us about her story, her plans to travel, her passion for performing and her love/hate relationship with writing and how the Israeli destruction of Gaza has taken all of those dreams away. She is a remarkably strong young woman and this, despite the grimness of the subject, is an uplifting conversation. We also open on some thoughts on the Dublin Riots and the heroism of many people yesterday. The CareChampions podcast is out now here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-93213186

Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack Argentina only went and bloody did it. They elected the chainsaw wielding, tantric sex coaching, ultra-neoliberal and libertarian, Javier Milei. So What Now? Rejoining us on the podcast is Colombian journalist with El Pais, Nicholas Dale Leal. He talks us through the why of Milei's victory, the what next for the region and the hope that it won't be a costly salutary tale. We also discuss the kidnapping of the father of Liverpool footballer, Luis Diaz and why the media have gotten the "good news story" wrong and why the response of Colombian President Gustav Petro to Israel's war on Gaza made Nicholas proud of his government. Subscribe to the PalCast here:https://open.spotify.com/show/2Ds0A1iqsArKTeNEOiRWEE New Care Champions Podcast is out now here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-93213186

Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack The second episode of Palcast discusses the shared struggle of the Palestinian and Irish peoples. From Captain Boycott, to Bloody Balfour, to hunger strikes, Dr Yousef Aljamal, Helena Cobban and Tony Groves delve into the shared struggle between the two nations, and indeed the anti-apartheid movements globally. We also look at the mistakes that Ireland has made and what the movement for Palestinian self-determination can learn from them. For more see:https://justworldeducational.org/ The Podcast with Palestinian Pop Star, Bashar Murad, is out now here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-92885508

Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack There is a lot going on, but we can't lose sight of the housing crisis that continues to make life miserable and unaffordable for tens of thousands of our citizens, and while the housing crisis was created by bad policies, our guest, Sinn Féin's Housing Spokesperson, Eoin Ó Broin, thinks (if given the chance) it can be fixed with good policies. We look at some of the key areas, making rent affordable and secure, cutting down on rogue holiday-rentals and implementing good just transition style planning laws. We also have a small barney over Sinn Féin's potential path to power. Palestinian Pop Star, Bashar Murad, joined us for a great chat about art, music, Palestine and the IDF's pinkwashing. Out now here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-92885508 Gaza fundraiser:https://www.gofundme.com/f/urgent-appeal-for-gaza