Very interesting debate happening back home around the issues of free speech, abortion politics and debating with a fair playing field with regards funding. You can find most of the best debates on Broadsheet, Boards and Politics.ie. 

Without getting into the actual abortion debate I find the situation where anarchists have taken direct action against a fairly odious billboard campaign created by the well funded Pro Life Lobby group Youth Defence incredibly interesting.

The crux of the argument seems to be that defacing billboards is acceptable and not an incursion on free speech because the posters were created by a very well funded and organised lobby group who have the advantage before the debate begins.

I can’t really make up my mind about this one to be honest…I think the original billboards were disgusting in their use of language and a complaint should be upheld by the advertising standards body but I’m uncomfortable about the denial of free speech. If the situation was reversed and it was a members of Youth Defence defacing the posters of anarchists then they would be the first to cry fascists. They have to receive some flak for their actions despite the greater goal of not having the billboards being displayed any more achieved.