Opinion: There really is no excuse for a new Government not to pass the Occupied Territories Bill [fallen Ireland]

TheJournal.ie ^ | 06/08/2020 | Duncan Casey

[Olog-hai]

Until recently, Ireland did not blaze much of a trail when it came to human rights at home. The 20^th century saw plenty of shameful treatment of vulnerable people, normalized by a deep and often blind devotion to a religious institution that preached a message of compassion. […]

The 21^st century has seen some improvements but there is still a long way to go. Recent events in the United States and ensuing Black Lives Matter protests have shifted the focus once again to our State’s reliance on Direct Provision. We are no gold star winners either when it comes to the rights of Travelers or people with disabilities.

Referendums on marriage equality and the 8^th amendment to the Constitution in recent years have shown Ireland to be a very different place to the one that turned a blind eye to injustice for so long. Becoming the first country to legalize same-sex marriage by popular vote, we stepped forward on the international stage to declare that we are a society that believes people should be treated with fairness and dignity, regardless of who they are.

By taking that step forward, however, Ireland now has a responsibility to continue to lead the way internationally. The Occupied Territories Bill is an opportunity to do just that.

Originally tabled by Senator Frances Black in 2018, the Bill would prohibit the import of goods and services produced in illegal Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, more commonly known as the West Bank. …

[dfwgator]

Say what you will, but at least Vietnam wised up and abandoned Communism.

Now their citizens are amongst the most Pro-Capitalism on the planet.

[Albion Wilde]

Bump

[Olog-hai]

Nope; Vietnam is doing the same thing that Red China under Teng Hsiao-p’ing did.