I was wondering why most republican groups ie. Republican Sinn F�in do not allow members outside the Uk? Im asking this because until recently I've been a member of Sinn F�in Canada also known as F.O.S.F.C Friends Of Sinn F�in Canada. I want to support a Republican Party but we have nothing here That I know of besides SF.

I have been involved in fund raising for SF, distrubution of information leaflets etc. I guess what Im trying to say is that the fight for Irish freedom is not just in the streets of Ireland but also in the hearts and minds of all of us. I for one can not get a Canadian passport because Im banned from The USA but thats another story. Im trying to get an Irish passport because my grandfather came to Canada so Im told that Im eligable.

If I can be of any help here outside of home then please let me help! At the FOSFC dinner I attend in November 2003 I had a chance to meet Martin McGuinness in person and have a personal chat with him, I left there feeling very betrayed after all that I have done for Sinn F�in in my area!

I would like to maybe help distribute a republican paper here as there are many who have left Ireland but have not forgot what continues to go on!

email me with Ideas of what if anything I can do please!

[email protected]

Yeah, it's difficult for people outside of Ireland to feel like they're contributing to Republicanism, even for people in Britain.

But from what you said in your post you're active on the street, in the public eye if you're distributing leaflets. And that's important, even if it just makes one person in Canada aware of what's going on. Every mind won over is a step closer to victory.

But in fairness what more do you want to do?! Selling a newpaper would be great but I can't imagine there'd be much demand for it. The best thing to do would be to get together with like minded people in your area, if there are any. Then you's could throw about some ideas, maybe even set up an unofficial Cumann of sorts. I know that in Ireland Sinn F�in will accept a Cumann if there is a minimum of five members. At least that's what it was when I was a member.

As for Republican Sinn F�in...they hardly have the resources to keep an operation going in Dublin, let alone Ireland, let alone Canada! The money involved in having an international membership is just out of the question.

But still, keep up the good work, every bit helps.

Sl�n

There are about 60 people that I have met so far far that are like minded. We get together about 15 of us any way and we passout flyers at the St.Patricks Parade in Toronto but they are more into the whole GFA and Im not so sometimes we disagree on how Ireland will be united. They are devote SF followers.

So for now I will continue to try and educate people here about what really happened and is happening home!

CIRA

Fifteen active members, that's great. Do you have regular meeting or any kind of group structure? If you wanted to take it seriously you could easily form some kind of Republican awareness/pressure group.

The Sinn F�in group in my college only has about 15 members, and they get a grant from the college. Hell, you could probably apply for a grant from the US Government, really get the ball rolling! Well, maybe not. But you could definately form some form of group with a bit of work.

That's a very good question how can we help when out of Ireland (specially when young, like me). I do what I can, which is not much, signing petitions online or asking people in the street to sign some petitions, and informing on forums or around me of what's going on in Ireland. I wrote to SF thinking maybe they can tell me what I can do more to help, I got no answer. And the people who were most likely to have an answer for me, didn't know. Does that mean there's no way for me to help ? I do a little, sure, but I'm feeling quite useless.
When I'm in Ireland, I'll join a republican group but until then ?????

Does anyone have any brilliant idea for a young Parisian supporter?

I've got more then 15 men. We have a branches in other russian towns and even abroad - in Ukraine.
Here is our column at last St. Padraig's Day Parade in Moscow.

reading your posts here. I have to for a change agree with Fianna.

There is not much more you can do but deliver papers, leaflets or form groups.

If people outside of Ireland really want to do soemthing, then they can only do it if they actually come to Ireland and see for themselves.

Big problem is that many people outside of Ireland who are of Irish ancestory, actually know very little what is going on in Ireland or have even visitied.

They usually bind themselves to the history books.

If you want to do something then come to Ireland. Charlotte plans to that one day.

LAN', let's guess I'm in Irealand.
1. Which one, Northern or Eire?
2. Whom should I apply to?
3. What kind of help I may offer? (Yes, I can shoot)
4. How much men I may take with me?

This is taken from the Sinn Fein web site...

Friends of Sinn F�in was set up in 1995 and is the party's international support network. It is the organisation through which people outside Ireland can channel support for our party and its policies.

The dedicated support of people throughout the world was vital in establishing the peace process in the early 1990s and remains important both in delivering on the Good Friday Agreement and in bringing us closer to our goal of a united Ireland. In this section you will find information about Friends of Sinn F�in US, Canada, Australia and the rest of the world. Please click the button appropriate to your country of residence if you live outside Ireland and wish to support our party

Well here in Germany people understand that the Irish want to be united. We were more than 40 years divided. Well I for myself will go to Dublin and Westport in June and when I have finished school I'd like to move to Ireland. I was a little afraid Irish people wouldn't like foreigners... but I hope it ain't that way

Well I've got headaches...
read you later
*Bring back the glory*

Yeah, Cairde Sinn F�in is Sinn F�ins international support section, but all it really boils down to is whether you got money to send them or not. I guess if you want to give Gerry and Martin another extension to their house(s), then that's fine. Course all it takes to be a Republican these days is a bit of money...

Sean, your groups depiction of the Provos is very authentic. Look, in the second picture you posted they're abducting a 14 year old boy, who they'll later shoot several times in the leg...

Sl�n

If people outside of Ireland really want to do soemthing, then they can only do it if they actually come to Ireland and see for themselves

Once again LAN, You have your head up your ass.

The AOH sends Millions of $$ to SF every year. There are also alot of secret societies that contribute more to the cause than we know. Investigate and check around for anyone with ties to any type of radio, TV, or newspaper clout. SPREAD THE WORD. Tell everyone you meet everyday. Try and get airtime on the radio. Try and sell TV people to do a documentary on how the world is being blindfolded while Irelands Sons and Daughters are being murdered by the British war pigs.

Fianna. Damn right !

I'm an 18 years old French girl with not a penny in her pocket.
I want to help. How?
I'm not famous, I have no money and no influence on the world.
Yet, I have my will, my beliefs, my voice, my hope, my soul, my heart, my time, my determination, my ability to write (french much better than english, but hey you do with what you have), to speak, etc to offer to the cause.
Wish I had more, but all I can do, I'm willing to do it. Do not let me be useless.

And if I may quote Bobby Sands himself
"Everyone, Republican or otherwise has their own particular part to play. No part is too great or too small, no one is too old or too young to do something."

So now stop messing and give me my f*cking part !

The picture was indeed rather ambiguous about that child's role...

Slan agat

Was taking the piss outta the Provies Sean, not you. Don't understand why you's have to march in balaclavas, but hey.

I like what Noel said. If you introduce a love of Irish traditions and sports to the future, younger generation, then you will have definately done your part. Anybody with an interest in Irish traditions will always be interested in the preservement of them traditions and ultimately the issue of a United Ireland.

Charlotte, you aren't given a part, you find one for yourself! One that suits you. And at the moment you're doing exactly the kind of thing that suits you; I know that you write to Republican prisoners. Until you come to Ireland, that's perfect, Republicans would ask no more of you.

Sl�n tamaill

Charlotte,

in Paris there should be an UN branch office or a british embassy...
you can organise protest marches (or whatever gets them aware of our cause) in front of them

in my opinion, that's the best thing, that we, who live outside of Ireland can do, show the world, that the struggle in northern Ireland still goes on...

Thanks Fianna, I appreciate your help


Fionas,
well simple as that ! I can hardly get people to sign a petition to prevent Orange marches in Garvaghy Road, tell me how I should do to get them marching


Slan agat

PS : by the way, completely agreeing with Noel and Fianna. It passes through culture too and I do my best to rise some people to take interest in it. So far, Ireland is only a fashion over here. I suppose it's like for Halloween. Not enough selling around the 17th March...

It's sad to say, but most people are thinking that irish republicans are terrorists...
here in germany they don't wont to hear things about the situation in Ireland, or give a damn on your opinion because the news are telling them that the british troops are the good boys...

charlotte,
if you still go to school, ask your politics or history teacher if you do it with your class as a project

Yeah Sean, I understand why you do it, I'm not putting you down. I'm just saying that it's a little extreme. Don't take this the wrong way, but I wouldn't march with a group who are dressed as paramilitaries. I'd be embarrassed to be honest.

Fionas, once the IRA started their modern Guerrilla campaign in the 70's, with the inevitable civilian casualties and the rise of "terrorist" groups throughout the world, we have always been branded as terrorists. We've talked about this before, I don't think it matters what they call us. Anybody who researches the situation here a little will realise that the real terrorists are the British, and those that don't bother to learn about the situation are of no interest to us. They can live in ignorance, we want nothing from them.

Sl�n

I agree with you on who the terrorists are but I too have thought about dressing "para military" and having a peaceful protest on the anniversary of Bloody Sunday outside the British Consulate here in Toronto. I have started to make a poster and it reads like this!" We have not forgotten the innocent, You can run but you can't hide even here in Canada " or I was going to make a dummy but have a huge bullet hole in the back and lay it on the ground face down and put a sign above it saying " Britians Idea of Surrender "


P.S The an-phoblacht-abu web site still doesn't work for me can some one send links to other sites with IRA videos media etc.

Noel, so? What do you offer?

get the interest of the people on the situation in northern Ireland, especially of those that don't bother to learn about the situation are of no interest to us...

when more and more people want to see a free northern irland, the brits are more pressurized to give it up

So what do you suggest I do besides keep a low key cause Im in Canada! I thought that the more support we got whether it be new or old deep roots what diffence does this make! We need to take this to a global level now before the US/British war machine turns it eyes on us calling us terrorist. The more people know about how we have been murdered and oppressed for over 800 years the less easier the joint allies can feed them their custom tailored lies and propaganda! History does not lie and we need to speak the truth to everyone outside of Ireland about what goes on. Maybe you should listen to the song " Only our rivers run free" We are the world best kept secret we have been made to look like the bad guys! Most people think this a religious war!

Noel, we do both parading and talkin to people. The first step is to attract them for a talk. Otherwise they will go on keep thinkin' that Eire is just a piece of land around St.James Gates brewery.

Noel, give me a good idea...

The other reason I was going to dress like that was because I don't need to be on the terror watch list, As I read in the green book you need to keep your idenity hidden right. So then Why is it that the youth groups in Ireland wear berets and dark glasses when they march and protest. I've already been banned from the USA for my support of Sinn F�in I don't need anymore attention So If Im going to stand outside the British Embassy then I don't think I want people knowing who I am cause the CSIS (Canadian Security and Intelligence Service) will be at my back door!

CIRA

Noel, WHAT KIND OF SUPPORT? To stand opposite the embassy? I'm afraid my guys shall not stand longer then 10 minutes - there's enough stones around, and I see that is not quite useful for a Movement...

If you plan on doing more than throwing stones you shouldn't be attending speeches, marches, commemorations, attending any Republican functions or meeting with Republicans in public. Internets handy that way actually, at least it provides some form of anonymity.

Sl�n

You are fuckin' right, Fianna, fuckin' right...

Sean

Promote Irish Culture, Music, Language. Anything that cannot be associated with Britain.

Give presentations, organise parties etc. Promote the good side of Ireland not the bad like the troubles. Promote something that people will enjoy, listening to or doing and associate that with Ireland. When people enjoy something they listen. When they listen they start to think.

Throwing stones will not get you any where. You will be simply seen in the same light as the British Football Hooligans or even worse the IRA Terrorists.

... and when they listen and are interested, tell them of the grief and the pain and the sorrows of Eire

Kinda OK with LAN for a change...

Just would remark that young Palestinians throwing stones didn't alter French people's opinion...

yes Charlotte, but from the european and american society they are so called "third world", in their minds Ireland is on a higher level of "civilication"

so they would scream terrorists when youg irish that would do...

I think it's more complicated than that. Specially in France. And I think that if France is mostly pro-Palestinian, it's because we have a big muslim/arabic community.

yes, but youre french have even interests in politics, here in germany as good as nobody has any interests in politics, only in those superstar TV-Shows...

Don't think that. The Palestinian conflict looks like a show from here

aye, thats bad, too

but those conflicts let us forget the troubles in Irland, TV and newspapers report only about those islamic countries

indeed

Well there is now a group in Canada if anyone here knows of people who would like to help. I started a group in Ontario and right now we are 10 strong and we have 5 others that are wanting to support but I think are just wanna be's (can't trust them yet).

If you want more info PM or email me

Even wannabes have their own part to play. Keep them busy with some job they can do, no matter how sincere they are, as long as the job is done.