Irish Anti-War Movement AGM Wynns Hotel 26th April 2009

by MichaelY - IAWM Thu Apr 23, 2009 19:51

IRISH ANTI-WAR MOVEMENT

Press Release – April 23rd

-IRISH ANTI-WAR MOVEMENT (IAWM) AGM THIS WEEKEND TO DISCUSS POST- BUSH WORLD ORDER, PALESTINE AND SECOND LISBON REFERENDUM.

-PROMINENT US MILITARY RESISTER, MATTHIS CHIROUX, TO ADDRESS CONFERENCE

The Irish Anti-War Movement will hold its Annual General Meeting this Sunday April 26th in Wynn’s Hotel, Lower Abbey St, Central Dublin between 10.30am and 4.30pm.

The meeting will look at a range of global and foreign policy issues, particularly the so called “war on terror” in the context of the new US administration of Barack Obama, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict following recent events in Gaza, the expansion of NATO and the prospect of a second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty.

Keynote speakers at the event will include:

Matthis Chiroux (US soldier recently on trial for refusing to serve in Iraq).

Matthis Chiroux served for 4 years as US Army Sergeant photo-journalist in Japan, Europe, the Philippines and Afghanistan. While honourably discharged he received a letter from the US last February to deploy again in Iraq in Operation 'Iraqi Freedom'. He refused to go, qualifying the war as illegal and the occupation as a participation in war crimes. He was put on trial earlier this week for his refusal to serve in Iraq but was acquitted with his honorable discharge intact. His case has received significant national media attention in the US. He is a member of Iraq Veterans Against War (IVAW). (See www.irishantiwar.org for Fox News interview with Matthis Chiroux following his recent trial)

Anne Alexander (Writer and Expert on Middle East Affairs)

Anne Alexander is author of recently published pamphlet, Nakbah, which deals with the expulsion of almost one million Palestinians from their homes in 1948, at the time of the establishment of the Israeli state. She is a lecturer in the London School of African and Oriental Studies (SOAS) and regular contributor to the International Socialist Review.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Chairperson of the Irish Anti-War Movement and prominent campaigner against the Lisbon Treaty.)

This year’s AGM of the Irish Anti-War Movement takes place at a crucial turning point in global affairs. The end of the neo-conservative Bush regime in the US - after an eight-year period of war and conflict in Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine, Somalia and growing tensions in Europe as a result of NATO expansion – provides a new context for the anti-war movement in this country and internationally.

The current global economic crisis also adds new weight to the argument that the massive resources currently deployed for military purposes in the US, Europe and elsewhere, should now be redeployed for socially useful purposes, such as ending poverty and inequality.

However, the recent horrors in Gaza, the continuing occupation of Iraq, bubbling tensions with Iran and the escalating conflicts in Afghanistan and Pakistan, all suggest that we have a long way go from the current rhetoric of change to real and actual change.

The determination of the European and Irish elites to try and ram through a second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, which commits the EU to further militarisation and closer links with NATO offers a major challenge to be confronted by the anti-war movement in this country.

This years AGM will therefore be a vital opportunity to discuss the tasks of the anti-war movement, as we grapple with both the opportunities and challenges of the new global reality.

AGM Agenda:

10.30- 1.00

IAWM Motions/resolutions/elections

2.00-5.00pm

After Bush and Gaza – The tasks of the Anti-War Movement

Speakers: Matthis Chiroux, Anne Alexander, Richard Boyd Barrett

For more information/confirmation/ interviews contact:

Richard Boyd Barrett 087-6329511

Mike Youlton 086-8159487

by Godot Thu Apr 23, 2009 20:33

Are people elected individually to the steering committee or is a slate of candidates presented to members, which they then accept or reject?

by MichaelY - iawm Thu Apr 23, 2009 20:37

Good question - to my knowledge all of the current members of the Steering Committee, possibly bar 2, are standing again. At the same time, individuals can be proposed/seconded and elected by the membership.

by MichaelY - iawm Fri Apr 24, 2009 09:58

Matthis Chiroux about his hearing on April 21st and his apology re: sexism in the military and war crimes
http://linksunten.indymedia.org/en/node/5088

by Justin Morahan Sun Apr 26, 2009 01:45

The history and confessions of Matthew are awesome and humbling

Long may he continue his good work in exposing the inhumanity and evil of all militaristic machines.

His courage and integrity are truly inspiring.

Good luck with the AGM.