Stay informed!

Northern Ireland Alert (NIA), a San-Francisco based human rights organization, has been generous enough to provide the AOH with information that all Irish Americans should take an interest in – the voting records, as well as other political activities, on Irish affairs of their Congresspeople and Senators. NIA’s activities include, among other things, the publishing of an annual Northern Ireland Congressional Scorecard monitoring Congressional activity on Northern Ireland-related peace, economic, and human rights issues. Its publications are regularly profiled in the Irish News, Ireland on Sunday, the Sunday Business Post, the Irish Voice, the Irish Echo, g21.Net, and other publications. The most up to date Scorecard information is for legislative activity in 2002. Therefore, there are "scores" included in the files here for individuals who no longer hold office.

The first Congressional Scorecard ranks Senators Dodd and Lieberman and all of the Connecticut U.S. Representatives in one of five categories relating to Northern Ireland issues:

1. Dedicated participants - Senator Dodd was the only Connecticut participant classified as a dedicated participant in Northern Ireland issues.
2. Very active participants - There were no Connecticut participants classified as very active participants in Northern Ireland issues.
3. Active participants - Most Connecticut legislators fell into the active particpant category, including Senator Lieberman and the then seven Connecticut U.S. Representatives.
4. Interested participants - There were no Connecticut participants classified as interested participants in Northern Ireland issues.
5. Uninterested participants - Fortunately there were no Connectict Senators or Representatives classified as uninterested.

The second Scorecard measures the number of laws, resolutions and Irish related activities each Senator and Congressperson was involved in. The rankings are done on the following nineteen resolutions and political activities:

1. H. Res. 132: Recognizing Historical Significance Of Hunger Strikes
2. H. Res. 185: Supporting Implementation Of Good Friday Agreement
3. H.R. 1: No Child Left Behind Act
4. H.R. 611 & Sen. 413: Education For Democracy Act
5. H.R. 1646: Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 2002 And 2003
6. H.R. 1885 And S. 778: Section 245i Extension Act Of 2001
7. H.R. 2506: Foreign Operations, Export Financing, And Related Programs Appropriations Act Of 2002
8. H.R. 2623 & S. 1859: Posthumous Citizenship Restoration Act Of 2001
9. Speaking Before The House Of Representatives
10. Speaking Before The Senate
11. Congressional Hearing Regarding Northern Ireland Human Rights
12. Membership In Irish Organizations
13. Congressional Visits To Northern Ireland (Or The United Kingdom Or The Republic Of Ireland Regarding Northern Ireland-Related Issues)
14. Congressional Letter To President Bush Urging Engagement With Peace Process
15. Congressional Letter To Northern Ireland Secretary Of State Regarding Sectarian Violence
16. Congressional Letter To Parades Commission Regarding Parades Decision
17. Congressional Letter To OMB Director Regarding International Fund for Ireland - IFI
18. Letter In Support Of Holy Cross School Children
19. Congressional Letter Regarding Lifting Ban On FBI Training Of Northern Ireland Police, Requesting Nominations To New Policing Board

The posting of these Scorecards on the Connecticut State Board’s website is a first for the AOH. We can expect to see similar type of reporting done by state boards throughout the country. Again, the main point is to stay informed and contact your Senators and Congresspeople regularly on Irish matters that should be demanding attention fromo each and every one of them. They need to know that Irish America is watching!

As members of the oldest fraternal organizations of Irish Americans, it is every AOH member’s duty to stay informed on political developments in Ireland. As a means of providing the most current information to our members, the following links will direct you to the most up to date issues on the political agenda and recommendations on what each of us can to help.

The IAUC is a nationwide, nonpartisan, nonsectarian, chapter-based human rights organization working for justice and peace in Ireland. They advocate the end of colonial occupation and the peaceful reunification of Ireland. Their work to achieve these goals by working with the American democratic process. Education of the American public in general and its decision makers about human and civil rights abuses in the north of Ireland is one of its primary goals. See the above link for how you can play your part, as an AOH brother, to eliminate civil and human rights abuses in the north of Ireland.

Many communities in the six counties of occupied Ireland are plagued by ongoing unionist violence. INA their plight and provides assistance to these distressed neighborhoods. The site includes detailed information on the Irish Peace Process and the underlyiing Action Items needed to be acted on by INA.

The Irish American Information Service is a non-profit organization with headquarters in Washington DC. Journalists with the IAIS provide up-to-the-minute objective coverage of political news as it happens in Ireland, particularly in relation to the search for peace in the North. This, along with news already posted on the World Wide Web, provides a newswire service which is first with breaking news to the American public via the Internet.

For up to the minute information on details pertaining to the Peace Process in the north of Ireland along with a variety of politiical developments Ireland, Republican News is a source to stay informed. This site includes public archives back to 1997 and an option to subscribe for current information.