The anti war movement should campaign on Nice instead of traipsing off down the country

by Andrew Wed Oct 09, 2002 10:42

Shannon is important not just to opposing the war but also to getting the message across that whatever about the Seville declaration on neutrality the reality is that the Irish government has already got us involved in a military campaign.

Leaflets are one way of getting this message across to people (and I spent last night leafletting Drumcondra and this morning leafletting Tara st Dart with LAN leaflets) but action is another way. And Shannon spells out the reality of militarisation in this country in a way the politicans cannot deny. I'll be in Shannon, so should you!

ps
In the case of LAN its money rather then activists we are short of anyway. It looks like our 50,000 leaflets will all be gone by early next week.

by Joe Wed Oct 09, 2002 10:51

Every one's a critic. bet you're doing sod all yourself.

Funnily enough, they will be voting on the NICE treaty in Shannon too, or did you not realise that people 'down the country' also vote?

We have to oppose NICE, with all its wrongs, but SHANNON is happening NOW, troops are coming through to kill people NOW.
That shows how worthless the Taoiseach's promises on neutrality are.

Sorry if it conflicts with your master plan, but hey, there's a war on. Didn't you know?

by Aisling Wed Oct 09, 2002 19:47

True, the advertising for the anti-war demo could be more effective, but leaving that aside, having a demo at Shannon is vitally important- this is where our "neutrality" is being directly violated- this is where peace activists need to be, hopefully disrupting all activities at the airport as much as possible. Seeing as the airport police can't seem to handle a few plane-spotters, a few hundred people marching should piss them off big-time and focus attention on the issue. Surely would be anti-Nice leafleters can be spared for one day so that the maximum number of people can voice their opposition to the use of Shannon as a US airbase.
And incidentally, over 60% of the population of this country DON'T live in Dublin.

by in denial Thu Oct 10, 2002 20:02

A lot of people in denial above I see, and some shaky excuses too. Such as people live in shannon too, well more live in Limerick fairly near shannon so why not combine a march with Nice work there?

The Last week is vital, why not have he patience to go to shannon in 9 days time when Nice is over, Bertie and the boys in Brusells must love the swp and other mindless impatient idiots.

by not swp Thu Oct 10, 2002 20:08

These tourists going off to shannon and ESF instead of doing the real work on Nice would not be able to find a working class estate, never mind haqving the desire to stay long enough in one to leaflet it. I also fully agree with the other self evident points 'They could make a real difference in the last week of the campaign and get themselves huge media coverage on Nice debates on Radio and TV and newspapers, but they are the most useless anti war movement in the world probally, their last march must have been the smallest held in any country'

Absolutely true, but its like the emperors new clothes (shush now)

by clown killer Thu Oct 10, 2002 20:18

damn right Aisling, the advertising is non existant 'the advertising for the anti-war demo could be more effective'

As for your other half thought out point 'And incidentally, over 60% of the population of this country DON'T live in Dublin'
You are half right, which is amazing all the same, but the obvious point is why are these buses not being used to campaign in the areas where many of this 60% of the population are not recieving any information from the No campaigns, even from Justin the turkey barrett. Can you people ever use some of your grey matter before you spontaneously leap in with a 'comment'

by joeboy Thu Oct 10, 2002 20:22

Nice to see the level of debate in cork is so high, I bet corkboy's anti nice work is equally good! And by the way I will be using this saturday to campaign in 2 or perhaps 3 Dublin and Wicklow working class estates that have been totally neglected by No campaigners so far.