Ploughshares Speak In Maynooth
international |
anti-war / imperialism |
news report 
Friday February 25, 2005 17:54
by Stephen - Maynooth Global Awareness Society
Ciaron O' Reilly talks to NUI Maynooth students about Ploughshares actions and the upcoming trial.
On Wednesday 23rd February, Maynooth university students were treated to an excellent talk given by Ciaron O' Reilly, one of the five Pitstop Ploughshares who disarmed a U.S. Navy warplane in Feb. 2003. The event began with some footage of the Ploughshares action and theatre conducted at the police lines during George W. Bush's visit to Shannon last june. This includuded the serving of an arrest warrant for Bush and 'MacBush' (macbeth) street theatre. Following this was a showing of the Presidential Pardon bestowed upon the Ploughshares by Martin Sheen.
Ciaron then proceeded to talk about the Ploughshares action at Shannon and the history of the movement itself. We were treated to vivid accounts of the various actions carried out by Ciaron and the other Ploghshares over the past number of years. Following some questions from the floor there was a good discussion between the assembled group over drinks. Overall it was an excellent and informative night and it was a great priviledge to have someone like Ciaron to give such a thought provoking speech. Maynooth Global Awareness Society would like to express its appreciation to Ciaron and the Ploughshares for their time and effort and inspiration and would urge everyone to support them during their upcoming trial.
Comments (2 of 2)
Jump To Comment: 1 2CORK ANTI WAR CAMPAIGN
PUBLIC MEETING
"Pitstopploughshares - Putting The Iraq War on Trial"
Speaker- Deirdre Clancy
Pitstop Ploughshares Defendant
Tuesday 1 March 8pm
Spailin Fanach (upstairs)
All Welcome
Great that Maynooth,NUI, has a society that hosted a meeting for a Pitstop Ploughshares speaker.
Maynooth is not only a branch of the National University - it also contains a pontifical university and a major Roman catholic seminary where the study of ethics and moral theology are of great importance.
It would seem to me to be apt that other societies there would encourage dialogue with the Pitstop Ploughshares on the whole question of civil disobedience.
The civil and state authorities here in Ireland appear to believe that civil disobedience is a crime even when carried out to save life - as in the case of the Pitstop Ploughshares, Mary Kelly and others re the war in Iraq whom they have prosecuted as criminals.
The position of religious leaders and Catholic university thinkers has not been made clear as far as I know.
Do they believe that civil disobedience is criminal or wrong in circumstances such as those that faced the people who have non-violently used it to oppose our participation in the war against Iraq
Have the Catholic Hierarchy ever adressed the problem? Have other religious leaders?
As the various religions in Ireland have enormous influence on peope's thinking and actions, and as civil disobedience is a burning topic in modern Ireland since the fact of our collaboration in the war became public, shouldn't it be a priority for them to adress the question big time?
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.