Won't Get Fuelled Again

national | miscellaneous | news report

Tuesday February 18, 2003 20:27

by Rebel - Anarchist Federation

contact at afireland dot cjb dot net

http://www.afireland.cjb.net

Anti-war and Shannon

Last Saturday, February 15th, saw the largest demonstration in Dublin since the 1970’s. Approximately 150,000 (though figures vary, with the mainstream media cutting this number by half) people from dozens of different organisations and most from none gathered at the Garden of Remembrance to demonstrate their outrage at the upcoming war with Iraq. The use of the Garden of Remembrance as a meeting point was not unusual, though the sheer mass of numbers gathered all around Parnell Square and spilling out onto O’Connell Street was evidence of the massive popular disapproval in Ireland at the incipient escalation of hostilities against Iraq and in particular, of the use of Shannon airport as a refuelling depot for the U.S. military in transit.

At a meeting of the Grassroots Gathering anti-war network hours beforehand, it was agreed that direct action at Shannon, which has proven so successful in isolation over recent months, must now mobilise vastly greater numbers if it is to have an real impact on stopping the military build up at the airport. Thousands of protestors, participating in a mass direct action at Shannon, is the only way that we can achieve our ultimate goals. Unless the Gardai (Irish police)) are prepared for a bloodbath of epic proportions, our collective strength should protect us from physical assault, and hopefully from mass arrest.
(As for the latter, it is essential that a support network be created for those activists who will end up under lock and key at the end of the day. Groups like the Dublin-based Anarchist Support anarsuppdublin@hotmail.com should be contacted if the finances to bail arrested comrades is to be raised. Nationwide, delegates from different anti-war groups must coordinate some sort of financial provision for arrestees.)

At the meeting it was largely felt that there should be widespread publicity for the actions to be undertaken on March 1st. Proposals for action are being taken back to the different groups around the country which form the grassroots network.

Seventy per cent of people in this country are against the use of Shannon as a warport. A small fraction of these numbers at Shannon in two weeks time will go a long way to outstrip the myth that our place is at the polling booth every four years. Our voice can be heard whenever we want it to be heard.

What is important is that the libertarian movement in Ireland is able to impact on those who do not see direct action as an option. Our numbers need to be large enough to weigh against the expectant storm troopers of the state that will be on parade on March 1st.
We need a propaganda machine to be put in action over the next few weeks which will draw the kind of support that was obvious for all to see on Saturday in Dublin and Belfast.
We need to persuade, for example, workers at Shannon of their manipulation as pawns in an endgame which is allowing Ireland to be used as an airstrip for foreign troops.
We need the growth of local anti-war groups engaging in direct action against companies like Top Oil http://www.top.ie who provide the aviation fuel at Shannon. Why? Because actions can be mounted for those unable to make Shannon for geographic reasons, and because the concept of direct action can be localised. A Top Oil boycott meanwhile would really help to forge the link between the militarisation of Shannon and one of the main reasons for this war in the first place: oil.
Most importantly, we must build on the tidal wave of protest that flowed through our towns and cities last weekend. Otherwise, we will still be walking in (albeit bigger, noisier and more colourful) circles.

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Comments (7 of 7)

Anarchist lead the way again

by well done

Tue Feb 18, 2003 22:22

This is intelligent: "We need to persuade, for example, workers at Shannon...." This is what the swp sp et al are not bothering to do and it may very well succeed in convincing some workers to down tools. This would be an excellent example and would embarrass the siptu bosses as well as harney and the IBEC types. The oil ban is also worth a go.

Caution

by Gaillimhed

Wed Feb 19, 2003 10:41

The huge numbers of people who came out on saturday are not hardcore supporters of direct action. Any action which could be classed as 'violent' by the state propaganda machine, will lose the support of these people. They do not want to be associated with these sort of activities. Learn from the repurcussions of previous direct actions. It is no use arguing that a hatchet attack on a plane is non-violent, the fact is that it is seen to be violent by the people whose support you need.
Please no physical attacks on US war machinery, it is counter-productive. Why not storm the airfield and sit around the planes, occupy the planes, chain yourselves to the wheels, get the doors open and photograph the 'cargo', I dont know, but just dont lose the support of all the good people who came out on saturday. remember that their main source of info and opinion is the prpaganda-ridden national news service, frame your actions within that context, what you do must be completely innocent, and impossible to twist against the peace movement.
The majority wants peace and through peaceful means. listen to them.

this is ALL the mass marches have achieved with Bush

by conor (wsm personal capacity)

Wed Feb 19, 2003 11:36

Enraged, power-mad, smirking chimpanzee tells millions worldwide to get stuffed.

The Associated Press
Tuesday, February 18, 2003; 10:55 AM

President Bush declared on Tuesday that he wouldn't be deterred by global protests against war with Iraq, saying "I respectfully disagree" with those who doubt that Saddam Hussein is a threat to peace.

I think its time to stand up and be counted.

If not now with a hundred thousand on the streets then when !!!?!?!

What the marches and the polls bear out is that THE ARGUEMENT HAS BEEN won. Futher more the direct actions - so far - have provoked massive debate and good debate. It appears to me that though many disagreed it HASN'T lost any support for the anti war cause. There has to be a time when analysising stops and we have the courage of our convictions and go out to have a real material effect on the build up to war. we've "our say" in the liberal sense and Bush has given his answer (see above)

All that having been said I agree with much of the above. Any action should be mass based, direct and public. It should canvas widely for support in advance It should be non violent. Obviously this comes down to blockades or the fence - which ever tactic it will need hundreds or hopefully thousands to make it work

we can do it - so lets get moving

Conor (WSM personal capacity)

ShannonMarch 1st Buses from Cork

by zorro

Wed Feb 19, 2003 18:59

10.30am outside the Opera House Cork

150,000 me bollox!

by King Mob

Wed Feb 19, 2003 20:57

(pointless insults deleted)

It's worth pointing out

Thu Feb 20, 2003 23:57

That the comment removed was not by me.

Invariably when I criticism SWP lies someone comes around and slanders me and makes me look like a little shit.

Try and try again boys and girls the fact that you stoop to impersonate me, it just lets me know that I'm getting to you, and just how far you'll go to get at someone who's pissing you off on website, which makes me wonder, what would you do if you had power and someone said something you wouldn't like.

No 150,000 in Dublin - Stop persisting with this trot lie

Fri Feb 21, 2003 22:01

The Gardai (and their figures are always the most accurate, I don't care what you Garda haters say) estimate that at the very most there were 80,000 marching in Dublin last week if they were lucky.

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Won't Get Fuelled Again

Comments (7 of 7)