''What I am fighting here is a criminal government that has been involved in an illegal war. We have facilitated more than half the US troops that went to fight in an illegal war. Also they've turned our Constitution to shreds. They've not allowed our Gardai and security forces in Shannon to go on board these planes and even find out what was [in] them. They have had no regard for the safety of the citizens living [near] Shannon and it's been reported that there is a huge arsenal of weapons flying over at least Shannon and there is no concern for the safety of the citizens in that area.

So, I will be fighting this case vigorously, but as I say, I need support, very strongly I need support, and I call on anybody who might be free next Tuesday or whatever court dates are set in the future, to come and support, to come and picket outside, to write about it, to do media interviews, and to put the word [out] that Ireland has been complicit in an illegal war, despite the will of the Irish people.''
- Mary Kelly, 17 October 2003
MP3 interview streamed / download (2.8megs - 4:09 mins)

UPDATE: ReTrial date set for early February, 2004 (new photos)

Past Features on Civil Disobedience at Shannon Airport:
· Mary Kelly Trial: Hung Jury, Re-Trial Possible in October (Jul 4 2003)
· Good Friday Resistance at Shannon Airport (Apr 18 2003)
· Pit Stop Ploughshares 5 action at Shannon Airport (Feb 3 2003)
· Peace Activist vs. US Military Jet (Jan 29 2003)

After a long period of preparation conducted in a refreshingly open and transparent manner, a diverse range of up to 40 citizens groups, organisations and NGOs are preparing to meet in Dublin for the Irish Social Forum Summit of Co-Operation and Solidarity.

The Irish Social Forum is affiliated to the World Social Forum, a Civil Society initiative which developed in opposition to the World Economic Forum. The WSF meets each year at the same time as the WEF and poses an increseangly coherent civil society alternative to the neoliberal economic agenda which holds sway in Davos.

The Co-operation and Solidatity summit was planned as an Irish civil society response to a WEF summit on the theme of Competition, which had been planned to take place in Dublin this October, but which was subsequently cancelled.

The Irish Social Forum website has full details of workshops and plenary sessions which are taking place from 17th - 19th October in and around UCD. UCD coincidentally had a recent eventful visit from a leading Irish cheearleader for the WEF economic agenda - Mary Harney.

- Full ISF Programme

- Indymedia interview with ISF activist

- Significance of Irish Social Forum for NGO's

- Previous Indymedia Feature

While Fianna Fail were facing growing pressure over the Bin-Tax in Dublin another facet of their misrule and abuse of the public trust was being exposed at their Ard Fheis in Killarney: approximately 30 protestors reminded the delegates that the craven abuse of our neutrality in the service of an illegal war is not an issue that is going to be forgotten.

The activists surrounded the Gleneagle Hotel so that it was impossible to pass through any of the three exits without being faced with a vocal and immediate challenge. Attempts were made by the Gardai to intimidate these representatives of the huge public opposition to prostituting Ireland to the US war machine. The protestors remained steadfast in maintaining their right to protest despite the arrest of one of their number.

The relatively low numbers for this demonstration have led some to question what is going on with the Irish anti-war community, with activists in general and with the population at large.

(photo: Eoin Rice is arrested for walking on the grass in Killarney)

View previous anti-war features More Photos from Killarney: 1 2 3 4
Watch a video of the demonstration (c. 50Mb Quicktime format)

A meeting between several activists from several different local campaigns and political groups has called for a protest on Thursday evening at the Grangegorman depot, starting at 5 pm, during the city-centre commercial collection runs. This has since been endorsed by the steering committee. Campaign chairman, Dermot Connolly, announced it to an enthusiastic reception at the rally outside the Dail on Tuesday evening.

The government knows that opposition to the tax is so strong that they can't take on all areas at once. So they've started non-collection only in areas where the campaign is weak, slicing up the city like salami.

The campaign has responded by mounting solidarity blockades in areas where bins are still being collected. In the last 10 days there have been up to 20 blockades in areas such as Cabra, Stoneybatter, East Wall, Finglas, the Liberties, Crumlin, Ringsend and Harold's Cross.



Oct 31st Dail Bin-Tax Protest Photos and Report
While the Bins pile up in Fingal
South Finglas Blockade: Weds Oct 1st
Blockades Continue: Fingal and Knocklyon: Tue 30th Sept
Blockades Continue: High Court Prevaricates: Mon 29th Sept
The Campaign enters week four: Detailed Roundup of News: Sat 27th Sept

Mick O'Reilly and ATGWU strongly criticise Begg and ICTU on Bin Charges Stance
Reports from Dundrum/Ballybrack Meetings: 25th Sept
Discussion of Trade Unions and Bin Tax Campaign
Stoneybatter Solidarity Blockade Report: 25th Sept
Comprehensive series of reports on High Court proceedings: Weds 24 Sept

GARDAI HAVE arrested a further 12 anti-bin tax campaigners in Fingal. Three were arrested in Clonsilla and a further nine - including a husband and wife - were arrested in the Huntstown area. Two of those arrested appeared before the high court this afternoon, the rest are due to appear tomorrow. This is the latest Council manoeuvre against the Anti-Bin Tax Campaign. This follows the 5,000 strong solidarity demonstration outside Mountjoy Prison last night (Mon 22nd Sept), where Joe Higgins and Clare Daly are detained.

Recent Articles:
Mountjoy Rally Photos and Reports
Early Reports on Arrests
Bin Tax and Reclaim the Streets Protesters link up
Greens: Supporting the 'Bin Tax'?
Previous feature including Timeline of Events