The Belfast Pogroms – ‘There’s Always Embers. Leave Them Alone and They’ll Go Out. Add Fuel and They’ll Go Up’

Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack In this Tortoise Shack special, Tony speaks with writer, columnist, community advocate and Belfast woman, Elaine Crory about the recent riots in the city, community resilience in the face of political failure, and the complex issues surrounding violence and social cohesion in Northern Ireland. She explains how community members stepped up, showing solidarity while the State played the blame-game and they discuss the role of Loyalist Paramilitaries influence in fuelling the pogroms. Emma DeSouza on the Belfast Riots and the tolerance for violence:https://www.patreon.com/tortoiseshack/posts/patron-exclusive-160803238 The Liam Cunningham podcast:https://www.patreon.com/tortoiseshack/posts/patron-exclusive-159915188 The Hind Rajab Centre:https://www.ionadhindrajab.org/

Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack Time and time again, the disabled and carer community are left behind. When the Government found over 700m for the fuel protests, while saying they couldn't pay out an emergency 145m cost of disability payment the message was loud and clear; you don't matter enough in our economic model. Joining us on the podcast to discuss the inherent unfairness of our divide and rule system, which means people compete for resources, are Head of Advocacy with the Irish Wheelchair Association, Joan Carthy and cofounder of Access for All, Bernard Mulvany. We need solidarity. We need to join the dots and to take action. Elaine Crory in Belfast podcast:https://www.patreon.com/tortoiseshack/posts/patron-exclusive-160833001 Liam Cunningham podcast is here:https://www.patreon.com/tortoiseshack/posts/patron-exclusive-159915188 Support Ionad Hind Rajab:https://www.ionadhindrajab.org/

Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack This Reboot Republic Podcast, is a deep dive into the environmental and societal impacts of data centres and AI development in Ireland. Rory and Dr Ciaran O'Carroll analyse the rapid expansion of data centre infrastructure, its economic benefits (if any?), and the urgent need for sustainable and equitable strategies. This podcast outlines the finance chaos of Data Centres and why the bill for them keeps falling on the public to pay. Mikey Cullen from the Gaza Flotilla podcast:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-160504651 Support the Hind Rajab Centre:https://www.ionadhindrajab.org/

Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack Mohammad AlTurk is a young English Translator in Gaza. He joins us from Gaza City to discuss the current situation on the ground and to tell his story of the past two and a half years. He also shares his hope for the future. Mikey Cullen from the Gaza Flotilla podcast:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-160504651 Support the Hind Rajab Centre:https://www.ionadhindrajab.org/

Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack It's been a testing time for the broad left and the vote-left-transfer-left movement, and with the speculation swirling around about internal disputes within Sinn Féin, it was the perfect time to be joined by their party spokesperson for health, David Cullinane. We discuss the state of left unity, leadership speculation, and the tell-all book about the party, and we delve into their positions on immigration and the perception that they pivoted to the right after the Dublin riots. What are Sinn Féin's values? Here are some answers. The Societal Cost of Data Centres Pod:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-160229493 The Liam Cunningham pod:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-159915188

Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack Longtime listeners would be well aware of the annual left-a-palooza that is the Robert Tressell Festival. This year, it’s going bigger by moving to the RDS. Joining me to talk all about the events and why this political and cultural space matters are two of the organisers, Trade Unionist, Claire O’Connor and Filmmaker Graham Seely. Tickets and details:https://tressellfestival.ie/ Liam Cunningham Ep 1600 Podcast:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-159915188 Sinn Féin's Left Unity Podcast:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-160123801 Support the Hind Rajab Centre:https://www.ionadhindrajab.org/

Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack The Cuba humanitarian crisis shames the world. Yet not even their allies or nearest neighbours are helping in any meaningful way. Joining me to discuss this is Nicholas Dale Leal, a Mexico-based Colombian journalist with El País. We also have some potentially good news in Colombia, some eye-raising news about the CIA operating in Mexico in the lead up to the World Cup. The Liam Cunningham Ep 1600 is out now exclusively:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-159915188 Latest from on the ground in Gaza:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-159971072 Support the Hind Rajab Centre:https://www.ionadhindrajab.org/

Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack Longtime listeners will be well aware of the environmental disaster that is Lough Neagh and the work of journalist and returning guest Tommy Greene in exposing it. Tommy talks us through the latest Lough updates and then tells us about a story that links a US mining company, King Charles, Peter Mandelson and a goldmine in the foothills of the Sperrin Mountains of Tyrone. A real eye opener. The Cost of Disability Podcast:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-159811258 Michael Taft podcast:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-158316794 More on the Sperrin’s:https://thedetail.tv/articles/royal-family-make-millions-sperrins-gold-mine-dalradian-inquiry Preorder Tommy’s book here:https://www.irishacademicpress.ie/product/troubled-waters/

Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack Palestinian teacher, academic and plain-talker, Arwa Alzraiy was a PhD Student in Durham before October 7th. She had returned to Gaza to collect data as part of her studies just before the genocide began. She joins us now from Gaza to talk truthfully about the reality of the current situation, the plight of the students she teaches and how even the subjects discussed in the makeshift classrooms are controlled by Israel. This is a must-listen episode with a young woman who knows right from wrong in a world gone very wrong. The King Charles - Sperrin Mountains pod is here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-158877807 Support the Hind Rajab Centre:https://www.ionadhindrajab.org/

Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack Activist, artist and creator, Adam SpiceBag Doyle, has made waves in Irish media and politics. But his biggest challenge is building and sustaining a centre for displaced children in Gaza, Ionad Hind Rajab. He joined me to discuss the latest Sumud Flotilla, his journey from fundraising to becoming the Director of a school in Gaza and more. The latest on Lough Neagh podcast:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-158877807 For more visit:https://www.ionadhindrajab.org