Author Archive: The Tortoise Shack

1172. Stalemates and No Mates? – Northern Ireland 2023/24

Tickets for Podcasts for Palestine:https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/podcasts-for-palestine-tickets-782538141647?aff=oddtdtcreator Claire Mitchell is a writer, researcher, self-described 1798 style dissenter and the author of The Ghost Limb. Stephen Baker is a socialist, trade unionist, ukulele player (it takes a big man to play a small guitar) and part of Left Bloc. They joined us to review 2023 in Northern Irish politics, civic society and to […]

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14. Displacement in Gaza and Israel at the ICJ

Tickets for Podcasts for Palestine:https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/podcasts-for-palestine-tickets-782538141647?aff=oddtdtcreator The genocide in Gaza is taking longer than planned by the Israeli military. But this is ok for Netanyahu, who wants to prolong the war because the last day of war will most likely be his last day in politics. Israel is withdrawing more battalions and suffering heavier losses than anticipated. Palestinians too have suffered […]

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Climate (In)Action – More Blah, Blah, Blah?

Tickets for Podcasts for Palestine:https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/podcasts-for-palestine-tickets-782538141647?aff=oddtdtcreator We’ve seen in Ireland and indeed globally a rebranding of State failures to make real progress in Climate Action into so-called historic successes. Yes, there has been some good things added to plans, but surely we should have moved beyond worrying about what type of linguistic gymnastics is less offensive to the fossil fuel industry? […]

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A Wasted Year? – The 2023 Review

Please support us in 2024 by clicking: patreon.com/tortoiseshack Welcome to our end of 2023 special. In this episode the lads chatted to two former guests: one from series 1 and another from series 2. Eddie Kinner is a former UVF prisoner, who became an important figure in negotiating the Good Friday Agreement on behalf of the PUP. Davy Adams is […]

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1168. Tadhg Hickey on Gaza, Activist Art and being Honest about Dishonesty

Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack Actor, comedian, satirist and activist, Tadhg Hickey, has had a very big 2023. Whether it was a sold-out tour, viral sketches or appearances in some controversial places, he’s still, as he says himself, a work in progress. In this podcast Tony and Tadhg talk about everything from Gaza to George Galloway and from recovery to […]

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13. Israel’s Oops we used the ‘Inappropriate’ Weapon of Mass Destruction

Tickets for Podcasts for Palestine:https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/podcasts-for-palestine-tickets-782538141647?aff=oddtdtcreator “Oops, we killed 50 by mistake,” said Refaat Alareer, in one his lectures, speaking of how the Israeli State from time to time justifies the killing of Palestinians in mass numbers. Unfortunately this reminds us of Israel’s killing of 80 Palestinians in Al-Maghazi refugee camp to the south of Gaza, just two days ago, and […]

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The Lost Opportunity with Tony Novosel

Help us keep going in 2024 by clicking on patreon.com/tortoiseshack Tony Novosel is the author of ‘Northern Ireland’s Lost Opportunity: The Frustrated Promise of Political Loyalism’ and has been a frequent visitor to NI since 1974. Over the years he has been recognised for his cross-community peace building work. In this episode he talks to the lads about the challenges […]

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1166. Reviewing 2023 with The Ditch

Tickets for Podcasts for Palestine:https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/podcasts-for-palestine-tickets-782538141647 Merry Ditchmas and a Happy New Media Landscape The Ditch have had a year. From exposing political corruption to getting smeared by the Tanaiste and that’s before we get to the Paddy Cosgrave stuff. But there’s no doubt they’ve shook up people who were complacent and upset some parts of legacy media that needed to […]

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