National demonstration at Shannon, Saturday, 21 June
national |
miscellaneous |
news report 
Tuesday June 10, 2003 20:17
by Fintan Lane - Cork Anti-War Campaign
corkantiwar at hotmail dot com
087 1258325
March to Shannon terminal from town centre on Saturday, 21 June. Assemble at Shannon town centre at 2pm.
Aer Rianta has admitted that over 50,000 US troops passed through Shannon airport in the first four months of this year. Irish government complicity with the US killing machine continues and the illegal occupation of Iraq is being actively assisted. The anti-war movement needs to refocus on this complicity and, in practical terms, that means highlighting the abuse of Shannon airport.
The Irish Anti-War Movement (IAWM) is currently considering simultaneous demonstrations at Baldonnel, Shannon, and raytheon (Derry), to be held sometime during August. These protests should be supported by all anti-war activists. However, the Cork Anti-War Campaign (CAWC) feels that a protest at Shannon is needed (sooner rather than later) in order to indicate our disgust at its continued misuse. Hence, we have taken the initiative and have organised a national demonstration at Shannon to held on Saturday, 21 June. We have contacted anti-war groups throughout the country to encourage them to mobilise for this demonstration, and we will provide the infrastructure on the day.
The march is scheduled to assemble at Shannon town centre at 2pm before heading off to the airport. We intend to keep things simple at the airport: there will be three speakers (Nuria Mustafa and speakers from both the IAWM and the Grassroots Network) and then the mike will be 'open' for a set period of time. We intend this rally to be as inclusive as possible and everybody will have an opportunity to say their piece. Following the 'open mike' there will be live music before the event finishes, perhaps about 6pm or thereabouts.
This is an important time for the Irish anti-war movement. For many people, the war on Iraq is over and appeared relatively bloodless - we hear little of the thousands of Iraqis who were killed and the occupation is portrayed widely in the mainstream media as an act of liberation. Not surprisingly, a recent opinion poll showed a shifting of attitudes regarding Shannon. We need to be ensure that our arguments are also heard, and we need to let the government know that we haven't forgotten about their hijacking of an Irish civilian airport for US military purposes. A march of a few hundred people at Shannon would be enough to make this point. Obviously, a return to Shannon, by itself, won't win this campaign but it would be hugely symbolic.
It is important that everybody gets to Shannon on Saturday, 21 June. Hire a bus, go by car, plane, or donkey, but get there! We need to make this demonstration as big as possible. We would also like it to have a 'festive' feel, so street theatre, jugglers, musicians, and so on, would be especially welcome. Care/act.
Comments (15 of 15)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15went back to the last sos posting and somebody asked how the various groups were co-ordinating still wondering when the main happenings of sos will occur and will they be co-ordinated with the above o peole can do both... if they wish
However i do wish that demonstration every success. I hope that not only will there be no antagonism between the different groups, but that there will be co-operation, good will and a spirit of solidarity amongst everybody who, after all, share the same cause
I'll be in Shannon for the demonstration and I WILL march. Happily. Wish the SOS party the best of luck, but I want to march on the airport. Why can't SOS thing be timed to complement the march?
David, if you aren't going to march then why the fuck are you telling us? Who cares what you as an individual intend doing? Are you trying to undermine the demo coz that seems the only purpose of your pointless comment.
The Catholic Workers are holding a vigil outside Shannon airport terminal at 12pm before walking to Shannon town centre to meet up with the march at 2pm. Hope Sos is similarly co-ordinated.
please enlighten me
Here we have a call for a national demonstration at Shannon on the 21st, and no mention at all of the most glaringly, obviously and immediately important fact facing Irish anti-war activists: that six of our number are facing prison time for their principled actions in opposition to the war, with a trial starting down the road only three days later.
I understand some indymedia people's discomfort with Pitstop Ploughshares, which seems to be largely based on a common Irish allergy to the word 'Catholic'. Get over it. They may have been inspired or motivated by religious faith -- and having heard them speak I'd say that's a big 'may' in some cases -- but their actions are justified and supportable under an ethical code that has no need for God, a code I would have hoped would be shared hereabouts.
They are about to try to persuade a jury of ordinary Irish people of the validity of that code. Show some support, for jayzus -- no, for feck's sake.
please check out the article "reclaiming heaven" further down the newswire for more info on SOS. here is a relevant quote:
"They are separate events, but not conflicting in any way. In fact, Fintan (C.A.W.C.) and I co-ordinated on the date. My idea for S.O.S. was always to have an event that was a total departure from the traditional anti-war protest, but Fintan felt that S.O.S. would exclude the sort of protester who prefers to express him (or her) self with placards and megaphones. Our compromise was for him to declare a national demo on the same day as S.O.S. and to keep them as separate (but hopefully symbiotic) events."
- Nico
Just to clarify on the co-ordination, participants in SOS will also be meeting up with Catholic Workers and National demo types at 2pm in order to march towards Shannon together. Those of us who will be setting up sound equipment, art installations, vegan kitchen, etc. will likely stop at the site of the former peace camp and begin setting up, while the main march continues to the terminal building. the solstice party will then be up and running for all those who wish to join in after the march and speakers. hope that helps. more info to come.
RECLAIM THE SKIES!
I did not intend to undermine the march. I wanted to Indicate my will that the people who make different choices can still share a platform and an event.
I hope they use water cannons on you crusties.
"They are separate events, but not conflicting in any way. In fact, Fintan (C.A.W.C.) and I co-ordinated on the date. My idea for S.O.S. was always to have an event that was a total departure from the traditional anti-war protest, but Fintan felt that S.O.S. would exclude the sort of protester who prefers to express him (or her) self with placards and megaphones. Our compromise was for him to declare a national demo on the same day as S.O.S. and to keep them as separate (but hopefully symbiotic) events" (Nico)
Nicola's characterisation here is largely correct. One or two things though: the Cork Anti-War Campaign called the national demo for 21 June (rather than 14 June, which was my original preference) because members of the group pointed out that it would be good to have a few events on at Shannon on the same day, and that we should co-ordinate with S.O.S. I subsequently met with Nicola and we agreed that the events would complement each other and could be held on the same day. I later spoke with Ciaron O'Reilly (Catholic Workers) and we agreed to co-ordinate also, as the Pitstop Ploughshares/Catholic Workers were planning Shannon events as well for the 21st. In fact, myself and other 'banned' Cork activists will be setting up a peace camp with Ciaron and co. on the Limerick/Clare border on the day. In other words, there will be diverse actions around Shannon on the 21st and, hopefully, this will help to re-energize the anti-refuelling campaign.
With regard to Bimbo's comments above: get real! The Cork Anti-War Campaign is fully supportive of those before the courts and will continue to be. We've been before the courts ourselves.
Catholic Worker Plans for J21 - folks will vigil/rally from 12 noon at Shannon Airport.
Speakers will include Nuria, Andrea Needham (acquitted of a £2.5 million criminal damage charge in relation to '96 "Seeds of Hope" disarmament of a British aerospace Hawk Fighter set for export to the genocidal Indonesian regime (this plane never made it, rejected by the Inonesian military after the disarmament) & others.
Those of us banned from Clare will set up a vigil on the main Limerick to Shannon road at the Clare border also at 12 noon.
By 1.30 the peace walk will leave the Airport to connect with the Cork crew gatthering in Shannon town at 2 p.m. . Folks will speak there if there is interest and keep the peace walk moving by 2.30 p.m. at te latest.
The peace walk will hook up with the defendants and other peaceniks banned from Clare (Aer Rianta are proactively moving against those injuncted to keep them away from the airport on this day and there are other activists banned from Clare who might like to set up on the border etc.) on the border.
We will then complete the first day of the walk into Limerick (approx 6 pm) where we hope to have food and a "Celebration of Hope", music, poetry, statements from the defendants etc.
More news on celebration venue as it comes to hand.
Given the large number of people banned from Clare maybe the 'Welcome to Clare' signs on the roads should include some sort of reminder for them.
Something like
'Welcome to Clare
This is a restricted military zone to which you may not be permitted entrance, you may be stopped and searched especially near Shannon Airport.'
It's much clearer to me now, thanks to Fintan and Ciaron, that groups are working together and supporting each other. I hope the demos/actions reflect that. I still think, in the circumstances, the original posting should have mentioned the CW5, whose trial is so soon and whose prospects are more worrying than 'all people before the courts...'
Indymedia Ireland is a media collective. We are independent volunteer citizen journalists producing and distributing the authentic voices of the people. Indymedia Ireland is an open news project where anyone can post their own news, comment, videos or photos about Ireland or related matters.