FEIC Day of Witness: Call for Solidarity and Support

by Shaner - FEIC Mon Jan 05, 2004 13:58 shaneocurry at fastmail dot fm

Derry City Council to Debate Raytheon.
A first for democracy! For the first time in the history of Ireland, or indeed the "United Kingdom", a local authority is to debate the presence of an arms manufacturer. Thanks to FEIC's campaign, Derry City Council are holding a special meeting on the pros and cons of having a software plant belonging to missile manufacturers Raytheon in Derry.
Wednesday 7th January 2004

Derry City Council Special Meeting on the Arms Trade,
3.30pm, The Guildhall, Derry
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FEIC Day of Witness: End the Arms Trade Vigil
1-5pm, Guildhall Square Derry


Derry City Council will hold a special council meeting on Wednesday of this week at 3.30pm to discuss the presence of Raytheon, the world's largest missile manufacturer, in Derry. The Council invited FEIC and Raytheon to participate in that meeting, although Raytheon have refused to take part, just as they have persistently refused to take part in any debate about their activities since they arrived in the city.

The council meeting takes place in The Guildhall and FEIC will hold a day of witness in Guildhall Square on Wednesday, highlighting the human and economic costs of the arms trade. Many activists and supporters from around Ireland and beyond will be in Derry for the day, to take part in the vigil and other activities in Guildhall Square. The vigil will commence at 1pm and continue until the council meeting at 3.30pm, when those participating will move inside the Guildhall to sit in the public gallery. It will continue after the meeting outside the Guildhall until 5pm.

Amongst those due to take part are:
Patricia McKenna MEP
Donal O'Kelly, actor and writer
Bag of Tricks Theatre Company(formerly Toxic Theatre)
Ciaron O'Reilly, Pitstop Ploughshares Five
Don Mullan, author and human rights activist
Nuria Mustafa Iraqi exile and peace activist
Joe Murray (AFRI)
Rev Brian Smeaton
Latin-American Street Children Organisation(LASCO)
Children in Crossfire
Inishowen Carnival Drummers

In addition there will be solidarity actions elsewhere in Ireland, including peace walk in Belfast by anti-arms trade activists there. FEIC encourages others to join us in Derry or by conducting solidarity actions elsewhere. Further information from Angela at this email address (am.hegarty@ntlworld.com) or Jim on (tel) 07803268790 (from the republic +44 7803268790). Please pass on this announcement through your networks and friends. Anyone attending the vigil should bring banners, candles etc.

Other ways to support us:
There is still time to write to Derry City councillors and urge them to support FEIC at this meeting. We'd be grateful if you would send a copy of your letter to FEIC c/o 6, Upper Galliagh Road, Derry, BT48 8LW. A full list of the names and contacts addresses for the councillors is available on http://www.derrycity.gov.uk/elected-members.htm The leaders of the various political groupings on the council are as follows:
SDLP:
Councillor P. Ramsey, (SDLP)
5 Bayview Terrace, Derry. BT48 7EE

Sinn Fein:
Councillor G. O'hEara,
64b Racecourse Road, Derry. BT48 8DF.

DUP:
Alderman W. Hay,
9 Ebrington Terrace, Waterside, Londonderry. BT47 1JF

UUP:
Alderman M. Hamilton,
4 Kennedy Place, The Fountain, Londonderry, BT48 6RF.

You can also email the editors of the local papers -- Pat McArt, at The Derry Journal (p.mcart@mgn.co.uk ); Garbhan Downey, at The Derry News (editor@derrynews.net) or the Editor of The Londonderry Sentinel (edls@mortonnewspapers.com) with your support for FEIC and encouraging councillors to support an anti-arms trade stance at this special council meeting. Please also send a copy to Angela at the email address below.
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Angela (am.hegarty@ntlworld.com). Spread the word!

by Billy - SP Wed Jan 07, 2004 11:53

Unfortunately the organisers of the event have totally ignored the workers who earn their living in the arms industry. This is typical of those who have no contact with the working class and are more interested in getting middle class do gooders to attend their conferences. Your failure to include even one representative of the Raytheon workers illustrates your anti worker bias. Plenty of actors at it though, why didnt you invite a few clowns as well?