350 March in Cork against War in the Middle East.

cork | anti-war / imperialism | news report

Saturday August 12, 2006 23:09

by Hilary Quinn

350 people took to the streets in Cork on Saturday in a solidarity march with
the national demonstration in Dundalk called by the Irish Palestine Solidarity
Campaign and the Irish Anti War Movement..
The local march was organised by the IPSC, Cork Alliance Against War - The Cork
affiliate of the Irish Anti War Movement, and Anti War Ireland.
Local TD's Kathleen Lynch (Labour) Dan Boyle (Green Party)and Councillor Mick
Barry (Socialist Party) spoke to the crowd, with Jim Bowen from the IPSC, Pat
O'Sullivan (Cork Alliance Against War), and John Jeffreys (Anti War Ireland)

Anti War March Cork

The rally was closed by Driz from the Cork Muslim community who was full of
praise for the march organisers.
The march had an great atmosphere, and was an excellent starting point for a
busy period of activity, as the horrific wars on Lebanon, Iraq and Gaza show
no sign of ending.
The mood was best summed by Pat O'Sullivan of Cork Alliance Against War pointed
out, "there may be one military superpower in the world, but we have our People
Power, and its about time that we used it!"

Anti War March Cork

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Comments (23 of 23)

Jump To Comment:

Withdraw

by observer

Mon Aug 14, 2006 14:48

Actually, I withdraw my last comment. Low and uncalled for. Must be the mood I'm in.

Stop the War Party

Mon Aug 14, 2006 14:47

Yes, why doesn't the IAWM rename itself Stop War Party? Apt, I think.

mmm...

by dot

Mon Aug 14, 2006 12:52

Calling themselves the 'Irish Anti War Movement' might be even more confusing and misleading. Any chance the IAWM might switch to a more appropriate name? It's an old chestnut, I know, but their name makes them sound all-inclusive like the central organising body of the broad anti-war movement. very misleading. It's never too late to change names! Go wan, you can do it!! What about 'Stop the War'?

the truth

by tis

Mon Aug 14, 2006 12:47

CAAW is basically the local SWP

Where is it not? LOL, trying to hijack for their own gain for ages, most people are in denial about it, poor sods

CAAW

by Ex-CAWC

Mon Aug 14, 2006 12:40

Why don't the Cork section of the IAWM call themselves the IAWM instead of confusing people with this 'Cork Alliance Against War' name? It confuses people like me who might think it's the old Cork Anti-War Campaign which was a genuinely broad group. CAAW is basically the local SWP. More power to them and the work they do but they are confusing people. It took me a while to figure out that they weren't CAWC, most of whose former members now comprise the Cork section of Anti-War Ireland.

Good march. The atmosphere was one of disgust at the Israeli onslaught. Good numbers from the local Arab community. I wish there were more on it but people just didn't turn up. Congrats to AWI, IPSC and IAWM for organising it. We need more street demos on Palestine and Lebanon. What the Israelis are doing is sickening!

by Hilary

Sun Aug 13, 2006 22:53

Thanks Fintan!

Dave

by Cork AWI

Sun Aug 13, 2006 22:31

Dave, just send your email address to info@antiwarireland.org and you'll be kept updated.

Very good photographs

by Fintan Lane - Anti-War Ireland (Dublin branch)

Sun Aug 13, 2006 21:55

info at antiwarireland dot org

Excellent photographs, Hilary. Just had a look at the slide show on your website. Very well taken.

Thanks

Sun Aug 13, 2006 19:18

Thanks for the encouragement Indy Reader!

nice one

by indy reader

Sun Aug 13, 2006 19:00

Thanks for the pix Hilary, we dont get enough news or images from Cork on this site.

Why Demos and Action Must Continue

by Dave - None

Sun Aug 13, 2006 17:21

Dissapointed that so few got to the March, but great those who made affort, sorry I did not see March Posted - was publicity late?
Whatever I would make next one and would bring friends. The photos are great and I hope it made an impact. I think since Iraq, we are
in for the long haul. It seems our politicians in Ireland and the U.K do not want to listen. Why? Because they have vested interests in
the war in the way of the arms trade. How can Tony Blair be an honest broker in the middle East when the UK and US are the major supplyer of arms to Israel. It is clear there is no profit in peace and our so called leaders have blood on their hands of both Israeli and
Lebanese Citizens. Yes! Both sides are suppled by the arms and vast profits of the arms trade. What is clear is that we the people have the power to change the situation in the middle East but must maintain pressure as the Middle East heats up. Meanwhile please keep me posted on any events or marches. Dave

man with placard

by corkonian

Sun Aug 13, 2006 15:16

The man with the homemade placard is a long-time anti-war activist and is involved with loads of other stuff too. Sound man. He's involved with the Cork branch of Anti-War Ireland.

Well done to everybody who attended!!!

Response

Sun Aug 13, 2006 14:44

In response to 'Excuse Me' by 'Marcher'.
Im only a photographer! I am not with any political group at all. I was asked by Pat O' Sullivan if I could take photographs, and I obliged. I then was supplied with text to go with the photographs on the indymedia article.

In a seperate statement, I would like to say that this march involved people of the world, and their opinions on the war. The man with the 'boycott israeli goods' banner, is to my knowledge not affiliated with any political group. The reason I took a photograph of his banner is because it was so obviously home-made, and he went to a lot of effort to express his own point of view, without having any parties logo on there. Im quite surprised that people missed that!

Dundalk numbers

by MichaelY - iawm

Sun Aug 13, 2006 14:34

Just over 200 - see short decsription in: http://www.indymedia.ie/article/77874&comment_limit=0&c...63221

Dundalk?

by numbers dude

Sun Aug 13, 2006 14:30

It was closer to 300 in Cork not 350. I see elsewhere that 400 turned out in Belfast. These were good turnout in both instances for demos called at the last minute. Well done to the IPSC, Anti-War Ireland and the IAWM!

Any numbers for the Dundalk demo?

Excuse me?

by marcher

Sun Aug 13, 2006 14:11

"The march was best summed up by Pat'OSullivan" of the SWP. Say what? I thought he was one of the poorer speakers. Mick Barry was excellent as was Kathleen Lynch. Is Hilary Quinn, perchance, an SWP member praising another SWP member?

Well done to Antiwar Ireland for initiating this march and to the IPSC and IAWM for coorganising!

Best.

extreme left movements attack free trade?

by Coilín ÓhAiseadha

Sun Aug 13, 2006 02:17

Máigh Nuad, Co. Cill Dara

I don't know why the "Anti War Man" should wish to remain anonymous, if he or she really stands by this comment:
"Only in a protest involving the SP and SWP and other extreme left movements could somebody use the slaughter as a chance to attack free trade/free market etc"

I don't like to waste too much time with such nobodies - people who don't even endorse their own comments - but I have a telling anecdote about free trade and economic sanctions:

In October 2002, I sat in a meeting in the Danish Foreign Policy Committee beside Hans von Sponeck, former head of the Oil-for-Food Programme, who was trying to persuade the chairman, Jens Hald Madsen, to revolt against the trade embargo on Iraq. Hans pointed out that this trade embargo was a genocidal attack on the free market in humanitarian goods such as water purification equipment, which the people of Iraq needed so that they wouldn't die of cholera, dysentery, typhoid fever, Shigella, Salmonella, and other diseases that flourish where people can't get clean water.

The chairman stared in horror at the impudent suggestion that he should strive to promote the virtues of free trade in his dealings with his colleagues in the United States.

Was this because Jens Hald Madsen is a socialist? No, in fact, he is a qualified market economist and a long-standing member of the Danish Liberal Party. And he was following the party line, that there should be no free trade with Iraq.

Meanwhile, two parties on the far left in the Danish parliament condemned the trade embargo:
1. The Red-Green Alliance, which was formed in 1989 by the Left Socialist Party, the Communist Party of Denmark, the Socialist Workers Party and independent socialists.
2. The Socialist People's Party

From this, it seems that Danish liberals despise free trade, while communists and socialists understand what it's good for.

Go figure!

to the best of my knowledge

by Socialist

Sun Aug 13, 2006 01:11

the SP do not support a boycott of Israeli goods.

Photos

Sun Aug 13, 2006 00:12

More photos are available here
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hilaryaq/sets/721575942129...0490/
Again, anyone who needs a high res copy, just contact me!

Goods

by Anti War Man

Sat Aug 12, 2006 23:43

"Boycott Isreali goods"

Only in a protest involving the SP and SWP and other extreme left movements could somebody use the slaughter as a chance to attack free trade/free market etc

Additional Photos

Sat Aug 12, 2006 23:30

High res available on demand

Cork Anti War March