Pit Stop Ploughshares Update!

dublin | anti-war / imperialism | news report

Tuesday July 20, 2004 17:26

by Pit Stop Ploughshares - Awaiting Trial in Dublin

83 Corrib Rd. Kimmage D6W (intersects with Lwr. Kimmage Rd.)

087 918 4552 or 01- 492 6100

They're on Trial For Us, We're on the Loose for Them!

STATE OF PLAY - Well it 's 18 months since we managed to disable a U.S. Navy war plane at Shannon Airport. The plane was the only piece of military equipment turned around by the international peace movement and sent back to Texas. Meanwhile we were sent to Limerick prison. Initially denied any bail at all, we eventually had very restrictive bail conditions imposed - a ban from County Clare, a ban from a mile radius of the U.S. Embassy & signing on at a specific Garda Station daily.

Before any of us were released from custody, 3 U.S. companies transporting U.S.troops through Ireland to the killing fields of Iraq withdrew from Ireland. The U.S. Embassy credited our, & Mary Kelly's disarmament, actions as the reason for this withdrawl. The Irish state deployed the Irish Army to Shannon Airport to defend the U.S. war machine against the nonviolent peace movement. The militarisation of Shannon Airport once covert was now overt.

Aer Rianta responded with high court injunctions that always dropped to the floor when they attempted to serve them on us in jail or in court. The "mainscream" media demonised us - publishing government ministers lies that a Garda had been assaulted and hospitalised in the hangar. The Garda Press Officer rejected these lies by 12 noon the day of the disarmament.

Elements of the authoritarian left and moderate peace movement perceived us a threat and censored us at every opportunity - not mentioning our imprisonement on Feb 15, carrying out "interventions" at our public meetings, failing to retract their repetition of Minister's lies about us that were rejected by the Garda and most recently trying to stop the MacBush march on Dromoland Castle.

We took bail at various stages - Ciaron after 4 weeks, Karen after 3 months and Damien, Nuin and Deirdre in between. On getting out of jail, two of our group were initially homeless and without an income. So the past 18 months continues to be a journey of nonviolence, faith and disarmament. Along the way we have met a lot of wonderful folks from all traditions who have lent a helping hand in solidarity. Our focus has always been to continue to nonviolently resist this war and in particular Irish complicity in the invasion, occupation and plunder of Iraq.

This 18 month phase comes to an end this Monday, July 26th, as a trial date will be set.

UPDATE CONTENTS
1) Join us this Monday, July 26th.
9am at The Spire, O'Connel St. for Peace walk to the Four Courts!
2) Further Background on the Pit Stop Ploughshares
3) Saturday July 24th.
*3 pm CW Liturgy
*4pm Introductin to the Ploughshares Movement - Actions, Trials and Acvquittals and sentences!
4) Other Ploughshares & Disarmament Activists in Need of Solidarity
5) "Faith & Resistance Gathering" in Washington DC August 5th. -9th.
6) Return to Shannon Sept 24th. - 27th.

1) JOIN US THIS MONDAY, JULY 26TH., 9AM THE SPIRE, O'CONNEL ST. FOR PEACE WALK TO THE FOUR COURTS!

We are asking you to join us this Monday to make a significant statement against continued irish complicity on the war on Iraq.

The defense have vacated their initial applications in reference to discovery. The Prosecution have responded by dropping their judicial review. It is expected a trial date for October or November will be set at the hearing on Monday July 26th.
.*9 am sharp gathering at The Spire, (nr. GPO O'Connel St.).
*9.20 am Single file peace walk to the Four Courts.
*9.45 am Solidarity Vigil Outside the Four Courts.
*Please wear black in memory of the war dead.

*Defendants will provide the visuals (banners, placards etc please respect!)

2) FURTHER BACKGROUND ON THE PIT STOP PLOUGHSARES

Deirdre Clancy, Nuin Dunlop, Karen Fallon, Damien Moran & Ciaron O'Reilly
are awaiting trial charged with two counts of criminal damage ($US 2.5
million & 200 euros). Charges arise out of their 3/2/03 nonviolent
disarmament of a U.S. Navy War Plane at Shannon Airport en route to the
invasion of Iraq. Shannon Airport continues to host 10,000 U.S. troops a
month, enroute to the invasion and occupation of Iraq. On March of this
year, the figure rose to almost 17,000 troops.

In December 2003, (trial) Judge Mathews ordered the Prosecution to provide
further discovery to the Ploughshares defendants. The discovery ordered
relates to the nature of U.S. military flights stopping off at Shannon in
the four months preceeding to the action. The Prosecution are keen to strip
the disarmament of any military context and reduce it to vandalism.

One working day before the discovery was due (26/1/04) the Prosecution team
was replaced and moves began to get Judge Mathews to reverse his December
decision. The Ploughshares have returned to the Four Courts five times in
February as these Prosecution machinations played themselves out. On Feb.
29th. Judge Mathews ruled "it is as it was" on the discovery question.The
Prosecution subsequently indicated they were initiating a judicial review on
Judge Mathews discovery rulings. Judicial reviews can take up to 18 months to 3 years.

The defense have vacated their initial applications in reference to discovery. The Prosecution have responded by dropping their judicial review. It is expected a trial date for October or November will be set at the hearing on Monday July 26th.

We ask you to accompany the Pit Stop Ploughshares to the Four Courts on Monday, July 26th.

3) SATURDAY JULY 24TH. at Dublin Catholic Worker 83 Corrib Rd. Kimmage

DIRECTIONS- Get the 19A Bus to Lower Kimmage Rd. get off after the two petrol stations before the KCR pub, turn right into Corrib or
Get the 15 A Bus to Kimmage Cross Roads, walk down Lower Kimmage Rd. back toward town & turn right into Corrib Rd.

*3PM CW LITURGY
Mass will be celebrated at the Catholic Worker House by Fr. Martin. Martin has been the Ploughshares spiritual director for the past year and is leaving the country.

*4PM INTRODUCTION TO THE PLOUGHSHARES MOVEMENT - ACTIONS, TRIALS, ACQUITTALS AND PRISON TIME!
See background on the movement on www.plowsharesactions.org
Presentation will include video footage of other actions, trial scenes etc.

4) OTHER PLOUGHSHARES & DISARMAMENT ACTIVISTS IN NEED OF SOLIDARITY.

-"Sacred Earth & Space Plowshares"
(Sr Ardeth Platte, Sr. Jackie Hudson, Sr. Carol Gilbert serving 30-41 months for nonviolent action at ICBM Missile silo Colorado, USA
http://www.jonahhouse.org/sacred_earth.htm

- Mary Kelly awaiting trial for disabling U.S. war plane at Shannon Airport
http://www.freewebs.com/mary_kelly
***Benefit gig for Mary Kelly Tuesday Night July 27th. Mother Redcaps, Dublin "Give Peace a Dance"
see www.indymedia.ie Events Listing for more details.

-Ulla Roder on the run after disarming a British Tornado attack aircraft in Scotland
http://www.free-ulla.org/

-Margaret Jones & Paul Milling awaiting trial for disabling support vehicles for B52 Bombers based at Fairford England in preparation to bomb Iraq.
http://www.fairfordpeacewatch.com/

-"B52 Two" - Toby & Phil awaiting trial for conspiracy & going to disarm a B52 Bomber at Fairford, England.
http://www.b52two.org.uk

5) "FAITH AND RESISTANCE GATHERING" IN WASHINGTON DC AUGUST 5TH. - 9TH.
More info...
http://www.jonahhouse.org/Hiroshima0804.htm

6) RETURN TO SHANNON
There will be a "Hope & Resistance Gathering" and a public nonviolent witness at Shannon Airport at on the last weekend of September. Friday Sept 24th. - Sun Sept. 26th. *This marks the anniversaries around the S11 2001 attack on NYC and the U.S. bombing & invasion of Afghanistan.

THEME - "Ireland's Role in the War Without End: From S11Bombings in NYC to 24/7 Bombings in Iraq & Aghanistan"

VENUE - A camp site in rural Clare
*Gathering will start on Friday evening Sept 24th. Setting up & Socialising

Saturday Sept. 25th.
-MORNING SESSION - Key Note Speaker (to be confirmed) on Ireland's Role in the Wars on Afghanistan & Iraq

-AFTERNOON SESSIONS
Small workshops suggested thus far...
-Campaign Against raytheon in Derry
-Solidarity with Peace Activists on Trial & in Jail
-Nonviolence Training
-Reports from people who have returned from Iraq & Palestine
-Props & Theatre for Sunday's demonstration at Shannon
-Guided walks in the Local Wilderness!

Saturday Evening
Social - music etc

Sunday Sept. 26th. 1 pm - Nonviolent Peace Action at Shannon Airport.
Proposals thus far "Rememebering the Dead" inspired by the blank blanket action on the rioad to Dromoland Castle.
**It is hoped that folks who can't come for the weekend, will come down to join us for the day.
***It is hope that this will be the beginning of a 3-4 month cycle of public witness and nonviolent action at Shannon Warport.

****To register for the gathering write c/- Shannon Peace Action, 83 Corrib Rd. Kimmage, Dublin 6 IRELAND.
-We will send you directions and details of what to bring.

7) PIT STOP PLOUGHSHARES TRIAL SUPPORT
In the months ahead we will be setting up collectives to handle the basic infrastructure for our trial. So we can concentrate primarily on being on trial.

Areas to be covered will include

-ACCOMADATION - we are expecting support to travel from Europe, U.S., Australia, Scotland, England, rural Ireland.
-Ideally we need a church hall near the city centre for sleeping bag & mat accomadation with nominated folks taking responsibility for hosting & interfacing with those who own the building. This space will serve as a convergence centre where defendants will debrief support after de/briefings with legal team at the end of each day. Also a venue for anti-war education & organising.
-A list of Dublin folks willing to billet older folks and witnesses in their homes

FOOD- A food crew that can link up with Food Not Bombs etc. to source cheap food, prepare and make available to support over the one-two weeks of trial.

ALTERNATIVE MEDIA-collective to get the word out on what's happening in court and how it is connected to the ongoing war etc.. Making use of witnesses who have come to testify.

MAINSTREAM MEDIA collective interfacing with the straight press etc.

SCENE OUTSIDE THE FOUR COURTS- Each day of trial will be preceeded by a peace procession to the Four Courts. Buddhist monks and nuns will conduct a daily vigil outside the court for the duration of the trial. Collective will keep this scene going and in the spirit of the defendant's actions.

SCENE INSIDE THE COURT- need folks to take responsibility to create a rota for access to the small public gallery to make sure as many folks as possible get to access the trial, that folks who have traveled long distances get access, that family members of defendants get access etc.

GIGS & EVENTS - The ploughshares action and trial has a strong theme of celebration - that human beings can nonviolently disarm these weapons of war. It is hoped that different groups - punks, folkies, theatre folks will put on events during the week celebrating the action etc.

8) DONATIONS
Donations can be lodged at any Bank of Ireland Branch:
"Ploughshares Defence Fund"
Account No. - 18972983, Sort Code 900551

Cheques can be sent to the
Ploughshares Defence Fund
134 Phibsborough Rd.
Phibsborough
Dublin 7
IRELAND

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Comments (19 of 19)

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Can non-cathoalics come along???.......

by protest...ant

Wed Jul 21, 2004 11:04

Or even non-believing hedons for that matter or are places reserved for only those of good auld catholic faith???,.....amen

No worries...come on down!

by Ciaron - Dublin Catholic Worker & Pitstop Ploughshares

Wed Jul 21, 2004 14:07

Man in the Street "But I'm not Catholic!"
Catholic Workers "No problem, we're not workers!"

The prophecy we have enacted is a 3,000 year old Jewish one to "beat swords into ploughshares". We did this in solidarity with predominantly Muslims under fire from predominantly Christian soldiers. It's a universal prophecy and if you can meet us on a basis of nonviolence, come on down and join the walk to court.

Folks who have accompanied us to court have included pagans, muslims, agnostics, athiests, Buddhists, anarcho-punks, Wombles, Catholic priests & nuns & laity, socialists, Greens, Republicans, academics, pensioners, Kiwis, Brits, Aussies, Hungarians, Poles, americans, Chileans, homeless folks,.buskers etc.

Alas, I am accepted.....

by protest......ant - ..........DW

Wed Jul 21, 2004 16:06

I dont doubt that DCW do excellent work , I know its off the point and but it puzzles me as to why intelligent , hard working activists like Ciarán etc. need to be subserviant to the Dope in Rome and carry religious banners in activism?( im sure its a frequent Q put to yee)

I would think that it has somewhat of an alienating effect to many people who may like get involved in such actions...

Of course thats only my opinion, and i dont mean to seem offensive, but i would have thought that anarchists and radicals suchlike would be opposed to religous hiearchy, typecasting and suchlike, am i wrong??

I feel orgs. like DWC, C youth service carring religoius faith and symbolism demeans the good work yee/ they do and exposes Catholic church rcruitment on the hush (paranoia maybe??)...

While religion is a seed of hope for many, it has reaped a disproportional amount of death and destruction throughtout the world for millenia....

Whats your perspective on such??,,...

PS.. NO offence intended ..... just being honest>>>>>>>>>>

The Pope

by Stephen Daedalus

Wed Jul 21, 2004 17:30

I asked a question about the position of religion with the CWers and it was removed by Indymedia Editors. I'll ask it again. I would like to know what role they see for the position of the Pope. As Catholics do you support the position of the Pope as the source of authority in the Catholic Church. If so, do you then accept his views (which are the views of the Catholic Church) on divorce, homosexuality, sex before marraige, women priests, and abortion. I have seen these questions asked a number of times on Indymedia but never clearly answered. I also asked about CWers attitude to a visit by the Pope to Ireland next year.

So in short:
1. Do you agree with the position and authority of the Pope?
2. Are your views on the following different to the Catholic teaching:
a. Divorce
b. homosexuality
c. sex before marraige
d. women priests
e. abortion
3. Would you welcome the Pope to Ireland?

If the Catholic Worker organisation doesn't have positions, then what is your personal opinion?

But what's your position on....?

by Yaaaawwwn....

Wed Jul 21, 2004 18:33

ain't it clear enough from doing a search, or checking their website?

Or are you just trolling?

I'm not a Catholic Worker, but I find it funny that when the Catholic Workers ask for support in relation to an anti-war action, there's always a few people who start asking questions about the pope and abortion etc.

Besides people in political parties, do you ask other activists what their positions are on abortion or bin tax before you decide if you will support them in campaigning against unrelated issues like nuclear power or the arms trade?

Isn't it hypocritcal for anonymous posters to be asking all these questions on topics not related to the action at Shannon...

easier to throw stones than to grow a spine...

is it easier?

by merrovinginvanjan

Wed Jul 21, 2004 18:48

throwing stones than growing a spine?
I agree with you on the CW thing btw.
But on the stone throwing.
You don't really get anywhere if you've no spine. Invertebrates tend to be small, though thinking again, some of the largest sea creatures of both myth and legend, the giant squid who live in the darkest and murkiest depths, unknown fathoms down, are invertebrates and mightily strong too.

But do they throw stones? OR can we ascribe to them a facility for throwing stones?

Now this sort of comment is a wee bit troll-like. It's not sticking to the point, (expressing solidarity with the 11o'clock folk mass, or elucidation information on there many actions, or offering direct criticism of their techniques) but it's not a nasty troll type of comment, because it is not directly insulting to their very sincere beliefs or divisive.

Which is why if you *feel the urge* just to type something in the comment box, and by that re-affirm your literary or typewriting skills, or somehow justify your internet connection costs, or remind everyone that you _do_ take an active and meaningful part in protest or political activity, but you *do not* have anything useful to write, then you *too* might avoid the editors delete function, by similarly musing and reflecting on some little spark in someone else's comment-.

:-)

Ban Stephen

by Annoyed

Wed Jul 21, 2004 18:53

Editors please delete the shitstirring post by Stephen D. He is totally disruptive. This attempt to disrupt the Pit Stop thread makes me wonder if Stephen is a State Agent. Who else would gain from his divisive nactions?

For further clarification....

Wed Jul 21, 2004 22:44

For further clarification on the roots and pluralism of the plowshares movement go to web www.plowsharesactions.org

For further clarifiaction on the radical christian/anarchist/pacifist Catholic Worker movement go to
www.catholicworker.org

or rent "Entertaining Angels" staring Martin Sheen and Irish actress Moira Kelly from your local video store.

or listen to the Ani DeFranco/Utah Phillips track "Anarchy" on the album "The Past Didn't Go Anywhere"

or read "Demanding the Impossible: A History of Anarchism"

or come to the 4 pm meeting at 83 Corrib Rd. on Saturday

or catch me most Sundays in Speakers Corner.

The context of this intial posting is that 5 of us are facing maximum sentences of ten years imprisonment for nonviolently resisting the war on Iraq. Our public activism over the last two years in Ireland is renowned for it's pluralism and making space for people to express themselves from whatever faith/nonfaith tradition they spring.

We ARE NOT into recruitment, ask the many non-christian crew that has made up the bulk of our support since our arrests 18 month ago.

We ARE into mutuality & solidarity with anyone from any tradition anywhere nonviolently resisting this war. We would like to think the support and solidarity we are calling for over the next 3 months has been-and will continue to be offered by CW- to anyone else before the courts for nonviolent resistance.

The 20 question trolling is either state inspired or a cynics picnic.

Cynicism remains the 5th. column of the establishment! See you in court!

Go Cw Go!!!!!!!

by moonwolf

Thu Jul 22, 2004 00:22

Good on you Ciaran, it's just a pity that some of the left/alleged left hadn't the balls to actually do something as you lot have done.I'm sick of listening to the whinging of these swppes and their incessant attempts to devalue the work of the Shannon Ploughshares, I suppose they rather sit around sipping their glasses of guinness and planning the trotskyite world revolution!!!!!!! Just for the record i don't recognise the authority of the Pope, but thats really neither here nor there since he isint sending 10,000 troops through Shannon each month.

Can of Worms not intended to belittle or undermine DCW!!!

by Protest.....ant

Thu Jul 22, 2004 12:49

Sorry!!.... for side-tracking the origional thread everyone (unintentional trolling!)!!!

Stephen D.,- speakers square is the place to catch Ciarán....you could hammer out your q's there and then, in person and out of the surreality of cyberspace....

Perhaps ill do the same?......

EITHERWAY-----SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE POUGHSHARES ACTIVISTS ON SAT!!!!!-----------------------------------------

In solidarity etc..

Photos of Ploughshares in Custody in AIB Bank in the Middle of Galway

by Spotted in AIB Bank Galway City Centre

Fri Jul 23, 2004 14:11

There's a photo of Damien & Ciaran in cuffs in custody flashing peace messages on their hands as part of the Media Photopgraphy awards display at the AIB Bank in the middle of Galway.

I was jus Frontin......

by Ms Lux

Fri Jul 23, 2004 15:22

Its amusing to see the Catholic Workers being hauled over the very same questioning coals (in terms of their hidden agenda) that the poor old trots are grilled on endlessly.

There is of course a strong and specific Jesuit agenda beneath the surface.

All a bit creepy really.

There is Little Resistance to the War in Ireland, Because there is Little Solidarity with Resisters!

by Ciaron - Dublin Catholic Worker & Pit Stop Ploughshares

Fri Jul 23, 2004 21:22

OK...the posting was a call for solidarity for anti-war activists facing the courts and jail. The comments (& lack thereof) tell us a lot of the state of the peace movement in Ireland and the state of Irish society in general. Throwing the spiritual baby out with the religious bath water and embracing consumerism for identity.

I guess if we haven't seen or heard of you in the past 18 months. You'll be keeping your head down and ass covered as your state drags us through their courts. That's your priveleged option as the 900th. US soldier dies this past week and the U.S. Marines slay anther 25 Iraqis the following day

There is a difference....we are not statists, we do not desire the violence of state power (your prisons, armies, snoops) to realise our vision.

"Don't just do something, stand their" Fr. Dan Berigan SJ (radicals exist in every tradition! and few better than Dan and the 6 slain in San Salvador Nov 16th 1989)

But.......
"You got something better
You got a heart of stone"
Dylan "Shot of Love"
Trust the tale and not the teller..

'Quiet' in the cheap seats!

by Elaine

Fri Jul 23, 2004 21:51

Wow, all you did was ask for solidarity and you end up having to defend your faith against those who don't seem to believe in anything! Thanks for non-violently opposing the war for us and thanks also for mentioning God in Temple Bar, that guy doesn't usually get a look in.
I will be there on Monday and suggest that anyone else who supports the brave act these guys are on trial for, should nail their colours to the mast now. We need more like these, let's support them while we have them.

don't be quoting dylan religious albums at us - shite albums

by dilling

Sat Jul 24, 2004 02:02

cos something is happening here and you don't know what it is do you mr jones

Dilly baby...what's with the false dichotomy....

by Ciaron - Dublin Catholic Worker

Sat Jul 24, 2004 09:56

Dilly baby.....their all religious stooooopid. "Time are a Changin'" basic rip off of The Beatitudes. (Yes "God on Our Side" tune basic rip off "The Patriot's Game"..."Plagerism is the basis of all culture!" Pete Seeger).

Man I bet you got a false dichtomy of the human and the divine, the physical and thespiritual to go with this one of Dylan's "religious" and "nonreligious" periods.

Man the Brits and the Jaansists and Manooth have screwed with your head and you don't even realise it. They've defined your perspective and your dissent for you. You confuse cynicism with wisdom, being contrary with being rebellious and trying to undermine the CW5 facing the courts as somehow different from your state's agenda!

Agenda! Agenda!...throw down your hair! Every last patchouli stained lock of it...

by Ms Lux - IAWM

Sat Jul 24, 2004 15:56

A letter from Ms lux to the piousians

In defiant mood i loudly proclaim:
"Thou the rules of the road have been lodged its only peoples games that you have to dodge, I've got nothin'.... ma to live up to"

With exasperated sigh i gently hum;
"I can see that your head has been twisted and fed with worthless foam from the mouth"

In the cold light of day the truth I sing clearly;
"We always did feel the same we just started from a different point of view, tangled up in blue"

Up the catholic workers

by stephen

Sun Jul 25, 2004 02:57

OK. Everyone stop whinging and giving out and get back on the front line

by paullc

Mon Jul 26, 2004 19:50

did they get a date?

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Pit Stop Ploughshares Update!

Comments (19 of 19)