Hiroshima remembered at Shannon Peace Vigil

international | anti-war / imperialism | news report

Monday August 10, 2009 21:26

by Edward Horgan - Shannonwatch and Irish Peace and Neutrality Alliance

US warplanes at Shannon 10 Aug 09

13 peace activists attended the monthly Shannon peace vigil on 9 Aug 09. As usual we were outnumbered by uniformed and plainclothed Gardai. Peace activists travelled from Dublin, Cork, Mullingar, Galway, Ennis and Limerick to attend. The reaction of passing motorists is increasingly encouraging and positive.
Since August 9 is the aniversary of the distruction of Hiroshima in 1945 by an Atomic bomb, a war crime committed by the US airforce, on the orders of the then US President, it was considered appropriate to commemorate this event. Within the airport about 200 armed US troops were passing through the airport on an Omni Air chartered troop-transporter.

Peace vigil at Shannon 9Aug09

On Monday 10 August 09, there were three warplanes at Shannon airport. The first was another Omni Air troop-transporter with about 200 US armed soldiers. This aircraft was being guarded by a special Garda patrol.
Also at the airport were two other US military aircraft on unknown missions but being guarded by an Irish army patrol of Cavalry Corps soldiers, and by Airport police.
One warplane was a USAF Beach C12 Huron, registration number 95-0097. It landed at about 14.43 pm. The other was a US Navy Gulfstream registration number 166376. This aircraft landed at about 04.13 on the morning of 10 August 09.
The missions of all these warplanes and the soldiers they are carrying has nothing to do with peace. They are in direct breach of Irish neutrality and the Irish Government's effective and secret military alliance with the United States makes a mockery of our Government's claim that they have secured legally binding guarantees that will protect Irish neutality.
Please come to Shannon and protest, if you dare, if you care.

OMNI Air and 200 US troops at Shannon 10Aug09

USAF Beach C12 reg no 950097 at Shannon 10Aug 09

US Navy Gulfstream reg no 166376 at Shannon 10Aug09

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Comments (8 of 8)

Atomic bombing

by Rónan - Unaffiliated

Wed Aug 19, 2009 11:19

On a point of history the systematic firebombing by the US air forces General LeMay was much worse in the 6 months prior to the nuclear attacks, killing significantly more people. I don't doubt that both the firebombing & nuclear attacks were war crimes, as indeed were Japan's activities in Asia during the period, Nanking massacre, Vietnamese & Thai famines, etc, etc, etc.

Nuclear bombs did however usher in the age where we can exterminate ourselves completely & utterly with no survivors though. We're still in that situation.

Very encouraging responses from motorists

by Coilín

Tue Aug 11, 2009 16:06

I noticed many drivers honked in support, and one shouted out: FAIR DUES TO YE! FAIR PLAY! And I didn't notice any two-finger salutes this time. :-)

Perhaps this is thanks to the very neat new blue-and-red-on-white placards, which are very readable.

And maybe people have gotten wise to the destructive, wasteful uselessness of the so-called war on terror?

Here's the link -

by F.J.

Tue Aug 11, 2009 15:29

students.umf.maine.edu/~donoghtp/Images.htm

Case to Answer

by Fred Johnston

Tue Aug 11, 2009 15:28

Anyone doubting that the US should have been hauled up for war crimes long before now should click on this link. But it's increasingly obvious that our own government have a case to answer since they have facilitated the US to commit even more war crimes in our own time.

Daniel Ellsberg - America Has Been Asleep at the Wheel for 64 Years

by T

Tue Aug 11, 2009 00:51

Daniel Ellsberg, author of the article “Hiroshima Day: America Has Been Asleep at the Wheel for 64 Years,” gives an interesting interview over on AntiWar radio about the destructive power of nuclear weapons and how there has been a continual campaign from the very beginning to play down the horror of these weapons and the threat that they pose to us all.

http://dissentradio.com/radio/09_08_07_ellsberg.mp3

Antiwar Radio: Daniel Ellsberg

Supply chains of death and destruction

by John Lannon

Tue Aug 11, 2009 00:33

Murray Air flights continue to land regularly at Shannon, but despite the dangers their cargo may present to the people of Shannon and to millions of innocent people around the world, it always remains undisclosed. Nowadays they operate under the name and colours of National Airlines, and according to a recent press release by the company they are proud to play "an integral role in the transportation supply chain for those who are helping to supply the military both in Iraq and Afghanistan" (http://www.murrayair.com/news_events.html?id=24&action=...ingle).

Shannon airport - our airport - also plays an integral role in the US/NATO war machines, by servicing and refuelling these planes. Some of our hotels provide hospitality to the crews. But our role in these supply chains of death, destruction and suffering is not something we should be proud of. It is something we should demand an end to.

Small correction

by Edward

Mon Aug 10, 2009 22:38

August 6 1945 was the date of the Atomic bomb on Hiroshima, August 9 1945 was the date of the Atomic bomb on Nagasaki.
Murray Air admitted in 2008 that Irish Government [Department of Transport] have granted them a licence to transport Depleeted Uranium munitions through Shannon airport. Depleted Uranium munitions have been responsibile for the causing thousands of children in Iraq and elsewhere to develop cancers, from which an unknown number of children have died.
Maybe the US government would argue that these children are potential terrorists, and therefore "legitimate" targets?
Up to 250,000 children have died as a result of the Iraq war.
The estimated total number of deaths at Hiroshima and Nagasaki were 140,000 and 80,000 respectively.

dedication

by li'l lulu

Mon Aug 10, 2009 21:30

Thank you for prodding our consciences to remind us of ongoing human rights abuses.

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Hiroshima remembered at Shannon Peace Vigil

Comments (8 of 8)