Shannon report & upcoming events

national | miscellaneous | news report

Monday October 14, 2002 20:11

by Aoife Ni Fhearghail - Irish Anti-War Movement

info at irishantiwar dot org

087 7955013

Report of Saturday's fantastic demonstration & list of some upcoming anti-war events

Anti-war news
Monday 14h October

Successful demonstration at Shannon

Saturday’s demonstration at Shannon Airport was a fantastic success. Local anti-war groups in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick, Derry, Shannon, Belfast & Waterford sent buses & carloads to the event. Over 500 people protested against the use of the airport by US warplanes and demanded that the government refuse to give backing to any war on Iraq.

After marching to the terminal building, we staged a sit-down protest outside where speakers from various organisations explained the real reasons behind the drive to war on Iraq and called for an immediate Dáil debate on the use of Shannon, the war on terrorism and Ireland’s role on the UN Security Council. In an extremely moving speech, a young Iraqi woman living in Ireland told us that warplanes passing through Shannon would ultimately be used to kill innocent civilians in Iraq – people who have just as much right to life as anyone in Ireland.

As we were all refused entry to the terminal building (including a mother with a 6-year old who needed to use the toilet), Patricia McKenna MEP and TDs Joe Higgins, Dan Boyle & Paul Gogarty requested that, as elected representatives, they be allowed inspect the airport. When they too were refused access, protestors lay on the ground in a symbolic die-in to highlight the fact that warplanes passing through Shannon are murdering innocent men, women and children in Afghanistan. Before we left, we formed a mass circle holding hands around the terminal entrance and sang US-marine style: “I don’t know but I’ve been told – George Bush ain’t got no soul – I don’t know but I have seen – US army killing machine – 1,2 – 3,4 – we don’t want your bloody war!”.

As we were marching back to the buses, some of us tied blood-red ribbons & pictures of warplanes to sections of the airport fence while others succeeded in pulling part of the fence down. About 100 protestors then moved onto the fenced-off area towards the runways and sat on the grass singing “Give peace a chance”. Protestors were eventually met with garda reinforcements, mounted gardaí, security dogs and the threat of being water-cannoned and 10 people were arrested. After getting assurances from the guards that anyone arrested would be released that evening we all moved back to the buses, some stopping off at Shannon garda station to ensure that those arrested were freed.

The demonstration at all times was peaceful and although we all engaged in different forms of direct action, on the whole most people respected everybody else’s protest. On the buses back to Dublin there were some interesting discussions on what we could do better to plan the next anti-war demonstration and build a major anti-war movement in Ireland.

Upcoming events

O19: Nice Treaty – Vote NO
The Irish Anti-War Movement is calling for a No vote in Saturday’s referendum on the Nice Treaty as we believe that Nice paves the way for a more militarised Europe and a complete end to Irish Neutrality.

O15: Belfast anti-war movement organising meeting
Meeting to plan next large anti-war demonstration in Belfast
7.30pm Tuesday 15th October
BIFHE, Brunswick St., Belfast

O16: Vietnam: the war the US lost - Marxist Forum
Café Arcadia, North St. Arcade, Belfast
7.30pm Wednesday 16th October – hosted by Socialist Workers Party
Speaker: Aoife Ní Fhearghail

O31: Derry anti-war event
The local anti-war group in Derry is organising a lunchtime anti-war event on Thursday October 31st to coincide with the Stop the War day of civil disobedience being organised in Britain. Further information available at their meeting this Wednesday night at 8pm in Badger’s Bar.

O31: Anyone interested in planning local actions that day contact 087 7955013 to link up with other local anti-war activists.

N06-10: European Social Forum
The IAWM is backing the European Social Forum which takes place in Florence, Italy 6-10 November. The ESF is an open space for dialogue & debate between the civil society movements on how we can build a people & planet-orientated Europe against war, militarism and neoliberalism. If you would like to take part in the event as part of the Irish Anti-War Movement delegation then email info@irishantiwar.org for more information. (http://www.fse-esf.org )

N22-24: Marxism 2002 – Building resistance to capital & war
Major conference of socialist ideas organised by the Socialist Workers Party (affiliated to the IAWM) – speakers include John Gormley, Terry Eagleton, Eamonn McCann & Mike Davis. For details contact 01 8722682 or visit http://www.swp.ie

December: IAWM planning next major anti-war demonstration & fundraising gig in Dublin for early December – if you can help out (postering, gig-promo, music, leafleting, ideas etc.) contact 087 7955013.

Regular Boycott Israeli Goods stalls organised by the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign – to help out contact 01 677 0253 or visit http://www.supportpalestine.org