THIS Christmas take a moment to think about Leonard Peltier. Leonard was convicted in 1977 of the murder in 1975 of two FBI agents during a confrontation at the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. Two others who were charged with the murders were found not guilty by reason of self-defence. Peltier has always denied involvement in the two deaths. He has been in prison for almost 45 years.

A New Year resolution for a Citizens’ Assembly:

If you take as read the normal health warning that accompanies opinion polls, there is little doubt that the two latest reaffirm the public interest in the potential for Irish unity and the need for a dialogue to commence to talk about the many issues of concern that arise for such a step to be contemplated.
 
It says much about the disaster that is partition that in the year of its centenary there are more people talking about its failures and the need for an all-island replacement than ever before.
 
However, instead of leaving it to newspapers and pollsters – whose questions can often negatively affect the responses – to ask people about new constitutional arrangements, the place of a health service, the question of flags and emblems and anthems and the cost/tax implications of unity, let’s have a considered conversation in which those questions can be asked and expert testimony taken on what answers and solutions are available.