Fra McCann's amazing life of struggle; Growing support for a border referendum; Me, Larry King and the SF broadcast ban

 Fra McCann's amazing life of struggleI have known Fra McCann for almost 50 years. Even as he battles prostate cancer Fra continues to live his life as a republican activist – an MLA representing the people of the Falls, an area and a people he loves. Like many others it was the pogrom of August 1969 that changed Fra’s life.  The barricades went up in Belfast and local people stepped forward to defend their community. Among them was a very young Fra. Several years later, aged 18, he was interned on the prison ship Maidstone for a month before being sent to Long Kesh in February 1972. He was released in May of that year. Six months later he was interned again and returned to Long Kesh in November 1972 where he was held until his release on December 23, 1975. Growing support for a border referendumA LUCIDTALK poll published by the London Times suggests that the trend toward a fragmentation of the British Union is growing stronger. All United Irelanders should note that growing support for a referendum does not necessarily mean support for unity. So we have work to do. Securing a referendum on unity is one thing. Winning that referendum and moving inclusively and in agreement into a new Ireland is another piece of work entirely. Let’s do itMe, Larry King and the SF broadcast banTHE legendary American broadcaster Larry King died at the weekend. For over 60 years he worked in radio and TV. I first met him during my 48-hour visit to New York at the end of January 1994.  I was invited to participate in a peace conference organised by the National Committee on Foreign Policy. The British government began an intense private and public campaign to keep me out. The British Embassy worked round the clock arguing that a visa for me would be a diplomatic catastrophe.