The World Social Forum (WSF) has become the focus for a diverse array of movements advancing alternative visions of globalisation. The numerous WSF's have helped to connect activists in an increasingly dense network of advocates for radical social change. They have mobilised hundreds of thousands of people and may be one of the most important political developments of our time. The Handbook of World Social Forum Activism brings together leading scholars of the social forum process from North America and Europe. The collection contributes to the ongoing process of reflection from the WSF experience, and is accessible to activists, students and scholars alike.

The World Social Forums began in 2001 as a civil society countersummit to the World Economic Forum, an annual gathering of global corporate and political elite that shapes global economic policies. Since then the World Social Forums have become the premier focal point for a diverse array of movements and associations advancing alternative visions of globalization. The World Social Forum "process" encompasses a variety of meetings and networking activities taking place around the world at local, national, regional, and global levels. United by a belief that Another world is possible, World Social Forum activists are engaging in a massive global experiment to bring about a more democratic and just world. Social Forums held at multiple levels from local to global help connect activists in an increasingly dense network of advocates for radical social change. They have mobilized hundreds of thousands of people and may be one of the most important political developments of our time. The Forums overlapping networks link conversations across vast distances as well as over time, allowing unprecedented learning and sharing across movements and across continents. "Handbook of World Social Forum Activism" brings together some of the leading scholars of the WSF process from North America and Europe to offer comparative and longitudinal analyses of the World Social Forum process. Succinct chapters offer lessons and insights on this important global movement drawing from a variety of innovative research methods. The collection documents and contributes to the ongoing process of reflection and learning from World Social Forum experiences and is accessible to activists, students, and scholars alike."

Struggles for global justice are being fought by civil society groups across the globe, addressing global inequalities, challenging neoliberal market driven globalization and demanding to remedy its negative implications. This book examines the roles religious communities and organizations in particular play in the struggles for global justice, roles too often ignored by scholars of the Global Justice Movement (GJM). It has two central themes: - the role religion and religious actors play in global justice struggles, and - the idea that justice is a contested concept among both religious and secular actors which requires some sort of 'faith' from its proponents. These chapters transcend simplistic either/or binaries highlighting the difficulties of clearly distinguishing between religious and secular, progressive and conservative, or rational and irrational motives and norms in struggles for justice. Challenging the secularization paradigm that marginalizes the role religious actors play in public life these chapters show how these actors engage with a broad range of justice issues, how deeply contested justice is, and how its meaning may vary and change among religious actors as a result of the social or political context within which an injustice is encountered. The chapters originally published as a special issue in Globalizations.

Two sweet and saucy comedies from an award-winning Irish playwright. In SAUCE, Mella is a compulsive liar, Maura is a kleptomaniac - and neither has any friends. Recently out of controlling relationships, they are thrust into uneasy freedom. Can they overcome their flaws together to avoid dying alone? Or will their compulsions engulf them in the end? A play about death and rebirth, Ciara Elizabeth Smyth's SAUCE was first staged at Bewley's Cafe Theatre, Dublin, in 2019 as part of Dublin Fringe Festival, and revived there in 2022. In All honey, Ru and Luke are throwing a house-warming party. But their guests are more interested in whispering in the box room than joining the festivities. Explosive characters and unfolding secrets mean the hosts will have to clean up more than red-wine stains and glitter. Ciara Elizabeth Smyth's debut play, All honey is about sex, secrets and suspicion. It premiered at the New Theatre in 2017 as part of Dublin Fringe Festival, winning the 2017 Fishamble New Writing Award. It was revived at Bewley's in 2018 and Project Arts Centre in 2020.

Struggles for global justice are being fought by civil society groups across the globe, addressing global inequalities, challenging neoliberal market driven globalization and demanding to remedy its negative implications. This book examines the roles religious communities and organizations in particular play in the struggles for global justice, roles too often ignored by scholars of the Global Justice Movement (GJM). It has two central themes: - the role religion and religious actors play in global justice struggles, and - the idea that justice is a contested concept among both religious and secular actors which requires some sort of 'faith' from its proponents. These chapters transcend simplistic either/or binaries highlighting the difficulties of clearly distinguishing between religious and secular, progressive and conservative, or rational and irrational motives and norms in struggles for justice. Challenging the secularization paradigm that marginalizes the role religious actors play in public life these chapters show how these actors engage with a broad range of justice issues, how deeply contested justice is, and how its meaning may vary and change among religious actors as a result of the social or political context within which an injustice is encountered. The chapters originally published as a special issue in Globalizations.

"I need you to get in the wardrobe." Faye's afraid. She's not sleeping, she doesn't trust ducks and all she's had to eat this week is a box of dry Rice Krispies. A doctor recommends a form of exposure therapy, so Faye enlists the help of her brother, Naoise. But Naoise has a devastating secret that's about to explode. A darkly funny new monologue by Ciara Elizabeth Smyth, Lie Low is a theatrical exploration into the human brain via the genitals. This edition was published to coincide with the world premiere at the Dublin Fringe Festival, in September 2022.

In an alternate Ireland, the politicians are young and the Government is seemingly left-leaning. The Health and Wellness Act, hurriedly signed into law just one year ago, has made it illegal to possess or consume unhealthy food or 'junk'. Recent polls suggest support for 'Junk Advocates', a term coined for people who openly acquire and consume illegal foods in protest, is rapidly rising. So when popular 'Junk Advocate' Lila Birch goes missing under suspicious circumstances, the public are outraged and her sister Eadie's world is upended. When Eadie sees an opportunity to get close to high ranking Government officials, she takes it. Can she find out what happened to her sister or will the same fate befall her? Aftertaste is a new play by Ciara Elizabeth Smyth that offers a theatrical exploration into a world full of violence, greed and food.