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Move it... And tone it: How Mr Motivator championed the power of dance fitness
It all started with an insult and became a triumph against racism on TV.
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Opinion: 'The Farage approach would strip the heart from democracy'
The Brexit Party is leading the polls but has refused to publish a manifesto – that approach poses a threat to democracy, writes Matthew Murphy.
Opinion: Are we ready to let go of the Catholic Church's rituals?
Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage and Burial are now rites of passage but do we understand their theological foundations, writes Shane Dunphy.
The Irish For: Let's settle the 'crack' versus 'craic' debate by looking at the evidence
The word appears to originate before 1900 in parts of Ireland where spoken Irish was high and literacy was low, writes Darach Ó Séaghdha.
From the Garden: Carrots can be problematic to grow but the following tips will work
Many growing books will tell you to sow carrots in March or April but I always wait until May or June to sow mine, writes Michael Kelly.
Opinion: Being more productive doesn’t mean working harder – it means working smarter
Productivity involves finding your own rhythm and getting things done in the way that works best for you – according to your own skills and abilities writes Gill Hasson.
Opinion: Underarm hair is natural so why do people reel in horror from my hairy armpits?
The kickback women face when we dare to show contempt for this societal norm is most intriguing, writes Síomha Ní Ruairc.
Adi Roche: Heroic men were sent in to fight a nuclear disaster with shovels and their bare hands
‘The Chernobyl series on Sky TV is an honest, truthful and a jarring appraisal of human behaviour – acting as a cautionary tale for all of us’, writes Adi Roche.
Opinion: The tragic death of a Jeremy Kyle Show guest highlights the dangers of confessional TV
Some talk shows walk a thin line between sympathy, sensationalism and exploitation, writes Dr Finola Doyle O’Neill.
Opinion: Independent Ireland was established through violent revolution - there were few peacemakers
It is important that we don’t judge the events of the Irish revolution against fictional, sanitised versions of the Irish past, writes Caoimhín De Barra.
Opinion: 'Children need to learn about LGBT issues in school - it will reassure them and combat fear'
Robin Stevens grew up in a generation were ‘gayness was erased’. Her books have shown her that young readers want to read about LGBTQ+ lives – and she wants to see more of this explored in schools.
Opinion: New laws to ban 'upskirting' and 'revenge porn' are welcome but stalking should also be defined as a crime
The Law Reform Commission says stalking should be defined as a crime and the introduction of stalking laws in the UK resulted in an increase in prosecutions, writes Catherine O’Sullivan.
Lynn Ruane: I'm tabling a bill to support the voices of community and advocacy groups
We need a vibrant and active civil society. Otherwise politicians and big business will call all the shots, writes Senator Lynn Ruane.
The Irish For: Hiberno English is a feature not a bug
Sometimes Béarla and Gaeilge are presented as being in conflict in Ireland, but they’re both part of our cultural heritage, writes Darach Ó Séaghdha.
Opinion: Support Palestinians and show your opposition to apartheid by boycotting Eurovision
You can show solidarity with the Palestinian people in their struggle for freedom against Israeli apartheid, occupation and war crimes by supporting the boycott, writes Zoe Lawlor.
Opinion: Eurovision boycott activists are opposed to Israel's right to self-determination
They pretend that the Jewish people have no right to live in the places where they were born and where their history, religion and culture are deeply rooted, writes the Israeli ambassador to Ireland, Ophir Kariv.
From the Garden: A little frost damage on the spuds - but not to worry they will recover
Learn to make ‘a one-pot veggie wonder that’s crammed with healthy vegetables, herbs and pulses and as an added bonus uses up stale bread too,’ writes Michael Kelly.
Opinion: Cancer screening can't provide 100% certainty - but the programme saves many lives
A recent judgement said doctors must have absolute confidence that results are normal – unfortunately, that just isn’t possible, writes Dr Ciarán Ó Riain.
Opinion: I always wanted pets but our hairy, howling cat is making my life hell
Are you a 30-something couple with no kids, who are thinking about getting a pet? Well think again, writes Leah Ni Chuinn.
Opinion: The US alliance with Saudi Arabia reveals their true stance on human rights
The sad truth is that the enemies of the western powers look pretty good when compared to our close friends in Saudi, writes Diarmuid Pepper.
Opinion: 10% of homeless families have been made homeless for a second time
Families exiting homelessness are increasingly accommodated in the private rental sector. But if the landlord decides to sell up – the family becomes homeless again, writes Wayne Stanley.
Opinion: 'Our apathy is the single greatest tool that vicious political groups will seek to weaponise as we head into the European election'
So far Ireland has rejected the toxic political rhetoric of far-right nationalism and Euroscepticism – but elsewhere in Europe that populist dogma is spreading, writes Benjamin Moore.
Opinion: Buyers of sex are getting more violent, increasingly influenced by what they see in porn
There is a whole generation of violent porn-watchers and they are seeking more and more extreme things from the women in prostitution, writes a Ruhama caseworker.
Column: Why are personalised attacks on children with disabilities, like Greta Thunberg, being tolerated?
We should debate Thunberg’s ideas but comments that focus on the symptoms of her condition are out of order, writes Shane Dunphy.
The Irish For: Did the Irish language influence the names of Gollum and the orcs in the Lord of the Rings?
J. R. R. Tolkien once tried to learn Irish in Galway but he dismissed the language as suffering from “fundamental unreason,” writes Darach Ó Séaghdha.
Ireland can remove the chill factor from defamation laws - and protect citizens' good names
If ‘falsity’ were to become an element of the tort (to be proved by the plaintiff) rather than a defence, then this would be a radical, but possibly beneficial change. writes Neville Cox, Professor in Law.
Opinion: Time is running out to save planet earth so we are organising a campaign of civil resistance
‘If we don’t act now we are condemning our children and grandchildren to a world of wildfires, hurricanes, storm surges and droughts – which will cause the collapse of our societies,’ writes Ciaran O’Carroll.
From the Garden: Learn to make nettle tea - it has a rich and earthy taste and is a super tonic
Obviously, if you are harvesting nettles from the wild, wear gloves or you will get stung, writes Michael Kelly.
Opinion: At a club football match on a cold and rainy, dismal evening - I fell in love with Gaelic games
I love the sense of community spirit that is manifest at every match. Throughout Ireland, the GAA is the glue that binds residents together, writes Larry Donnelly.
Opinion: Ireland's brightest kids may never fulfill their potential as most schools don't do enough to challenge them
Despite our policy of focusing on the smart economy and jobs in technology – no strategy exists to promote the learning of our brightest students, writes Colm O’Reilly.
Tom Clonan: Compared with other EU countries, Ireland has a high rate of gun violence - so why is our government so complacent?
Gardai responding to armed incidents are usually unarmed and untrained in firearms.
Opinion: 'Mortgage rules are massively unfair on people who can't rely on their parents for a sizeable deposit'
Since the banks no longer require you to prove that you saved the deposit – having one says nothing about your ability to repay the loan, writes Fiona Cassim.
Winning the Francis MacManus Short Story Competition changed my life. It's like I'm floating outside myself
I had no money or backup plan when I started writing. That’s why the call from RTE meant so much, writes Colin Walsh.
We need to change the disabled parking logo - so people stop telling me that I'm not disabled when I am
‘I find these interventions by members of the public quite insulting and extremely embarrassing,’ writes cystic fibrosis advocate, Benat Broderick, 15.
Lynn Ruane: 'Now is not the time to stop listening to David Attenborough'
We don’t have time for small measures when it comes to climate change, writes Lynn Ruane.
The Irish For: How Beyoncé is helping to get fadas in formation
Thanks to Queen Bé, April 2019 has been an interesting month for accessorised letters, writes Darach Ó Séaghdha.
Buck Whaley: The stakes were high when the Gambler met the Butcher
Buck Whaley was one of Irish history’s most colourful and eccentric characters, writes David Ryan.
From the Garden: 'I worry about the implications of what Greta Thunberg’s saying for the cosy lives we lead'
It is remarkable to watch this young woman speak her truth to power, writes Michael Kelly of Grow It Yourself Ireland.
Parental Leave: 'Fathers have moved on from sitting in the pub next door to the hospital - Ireland has not'
A lot of what governs Ireland is stuck in the 1960s and hasn’t moved on at all. Parental Leave is one such thing, writes Derek Power.
Brazilian student: Coming to Dublin was a dream come true but sharing a house with 14 others was a nightmare
‘We are delighted to come and spend our savings on courses and accommodation but we need help to get set up. None of us wants to sleep on the streets,’ writes Ana Marta Gonçalves.
Opinion: 'There are consequences to paying for all the most expensive new drugs'
We need to radically improve waiting times for treatment rather than focus on buying all the most expensive drugs, writes Dr Anthony O’Connor.
Your say
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Poll: Should Ireland vote against the Mercosur trade deal?
TAOISEACH LEO VARADKAR has suggested that Ireland could vote against the Mercusor trade deal with South American countries unless Brazil takes steps to protect the Amazon rainforest.
His comments follow international concern over the fires, with figures showing the area has seen the highest number of blazes for any year since 2013.
A vote on the deal is at least two years and and would take place under the EU’s Qualified Majority Vote system, where a vote needs at least four council members representing over 35% of the EU population to be blocked.
The controversial deal, announced in June, could save European companies billions of Euro in trade duties every year and would open up new markets for exporters.
However, critics believe that it will lead to products with lower standards being imported into the EU, and that it may have a negative impact on the environment.
Irish beef farmers in particular say the deal could threaten their livelihoods, as it would open up European markets to some South American beef producers.
So today we’re asking: Should Ireland vote against the Mercosur trade deal?
Poll Results:
Yes (7929)
No (726)
I don't know/No opinion (408)
Share your story: voices@thejournal.ie
Simon Coveney: The backstop is overwhelmingly supported. This gets little recognition in the UK Brexit debate
By Simon Coveney - @simoncoveney
A hard Brexit, if the UK chooses one, will be ugly and difficult, says the Tánaiste.
'Collecting the school voluntary contribution is an unwanted and stressful obligation on principals'
By Joseph A Moynihan
As things stand, the contribution is needed to keep school doors open, writes Joseph A Moynihan.
Katy Hayward: Why we should take note of the unexpected in Boris Johnson's letter to Donald Tusk
By Katy Hayward - @hayward_katy
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