Report of Dublin Anti-War Open Meeting held on 13 May

national | anti-war / imperialism | news report Sunday May 14, 2006 14:33 by Fintan Lane - Anti-War Ireland

Some personal reflections

The following is a personal report of the third open anti-war meeting, which was held in the Teachers' Club, Parnell Square, Dublin, on Saturday, 13 May, between 2.30 and 5.30pm. This isn't a comprehensive report - and I'm sure I'll miss a few things - so I hope other participants will add to it in their comments.

ATTENDANCE

The attendance was good, with between 30 and 35 anti-war activists present including members of the IAWM, Anti-War Ireland, Cosantoiri Siochana, Peace People, Belfast Peace and Justice Group, the Unmanageables, the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign, the Irish Socialist Network (Dublin and Belfast members) and the SWP. If I've left out anybody, please feel free to add your name in the comment section! There were also many 'non-aligned' anti-war activists present. A notable absence, I thought, were those from the anarchist wing of the anti-war movement - I don't think there were any members of Grassroots Dissent, Anarchist Youth or the WSM in attendance, and I do hope that changes at the next meeting. It's difficult to create a working relationship if groups absent themselves from the process. Likewise, PANA were not in attendance, though they had indicated in advance that they had a national meeting in Cork at precisely the same time.

DISCUSSION AND PROPOSALS

The initial three open meetings have effectively constituted a probing exercise, to see what's possible and how cooperation might develop. Key to this, obviously, is how the coordination and communication between groups and activists is structured. Consequently, a subgroup established at th 2nd meeting reported back with a set of proposals that, following discussion, were adopted as the basis for these gatherings.

A consensus emerged that the best way forward is to build on the existing structure. In other words, the current open plenary meetings should continue, but with a tighter agenda and an emphasis on practical co-operation. The intention is to facilitate greater communication and co-operation between the various anti-war groups. It is not intended to create a centralised umbrella body that would formally, or otherwise, direct its constituent parts. All discussion should be respectful of the diversity of the movement as a number of participating groups have diverse strategies and histories. At the same time, concerted efforts should be made to invite all anti-war groups nationally to participate and engage in working together and developing gradually a unified strategy. A unified strategy with diversity in tactics could be considered as a guiding principle in this respect.

More specifically, the following proposals were adopted as the basis for these gatherings:

1. Plenary coordination meetings should be held on a regular basis. While we consider the regularity paramount, the frequency of the plenaries can be decided upon on a case-by-case basis. The date of the subsequent meeting can be decided at the conclusion of each plenary meeting. We believe that it is also extremely important that these regular plenaries be moved around the country so as to build a national alliance and network. It was suggested at Saturday's meeting that the second-next meeting should be held in Belfast or Shannon.

2. The plenary meetings will be open to all, be they anti-war activists or not, and all anti-war groups should ensure that representatives attend.

3. The primary purpose of the plenary meetings is to facilitate communication, coordination and cooperation between all anti-war groups in Ireland. The concept of a ‘clearing house’ was introduced and we consider it to be a helpful tool in conceptualising what we are building.

4. The plenary meetings should include reports from each group, particularly with regard to recent actions (evaluation) and forthcoming activities (proposals). Plenary meetings, in this way, serve as a forum to discuss present and future strategies and tactics of the broad anti-war movement.

5. The plenary meetings can decide to work to mobilise support for forthcoming anti-war activities. For example, if the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign, which has now joined the alliance, indicates at a plenary meeting that it intends to mount a particular protest, those present may decide to collectively support and, more importantly, build for that action.

6. A plenary meeting may also decide to initiate an activity itself – this needs further discussion and clarification because we do not envisage these gatherings, at this stage, as anything more than a mechanism for coordination and cooperation.

7. It can be decided to focus certain plenary meetings on particular issues or themes, for example US warmongering on Iran, or the making the anti-war stance an election issue. A decision for such a focus must occur in advance and be taken at a plenary meeting. Such a decision can also be taken on the day by consensus.

8. Sub-groups to discuss or probe particular topics can be established by plenary meetings. These groups are to report back to the subsequent plenary meeting, or at a date set when the sub-group is established.

9. An agenda should be circulated by email at least three days in advance of the meeting and a report of the main proceedings of a plenary meeting should be posted on the web within a week of the event. A common email bulletin could also be created that is regularly sent to subscribers containing news and information from all the anti-war groups

It was also proposed at Saturday's meeting to set up a media/communications sub group. This will consider the establishment of a general anti-war website that will facilitate discussion (via a discussion board) and advertise forthcoming events (via a listings thread and a calendar). Using the Black Shamrock website seems like a good idea, assuming the Black Shamrocks approve the extensions (an events calendar) this might involve. As far as we understand, the underlying software is identical to that used for Indymedia.ie, so it is very flexible and familiar to most of us. In the meantime, it was agreed that we all use the blackshamrock.org website for posting anti-war notices, reports and for holding online discussions. www.blackshamrock.org is a dedicated anti-war website with open publishing. It's a wonderful site and needs to used more. In addition, all notices and reports should continue to be posted on indymedia - a website with a huge readership that is read by many interested activists who may not be directly involved in the anti-war movement but who are supportive.

Another important issue raised at the meeting is the place of women in the anti-war movement. This was brought up primarily by members of the Unmanageables and the general thrust was that inclusiveness is more than simply opening the doors - attitudes and behaviour at meetings also need to be addressed. One outcome of this discussion is that a woman - Deirdre Clancy - will facilitate the next plenary gathering.

CONCLUSION

These anti-war gatherings cannot allow themselves to slide into being talking shops. Coordination needs to lead to practical cooperation. It was with this in mind that the subgroup proposed the above structure and guidelines for the plenary sessions/gatherings. Activity must arise from these meetings or people, understandably, will walk away. That said, a bit of patience wouldn't go astray; some people have already strolled into the sunset, as if the nuts and bolts of this mechanism could be sorted out in one or two meetings. That was never likely to be the case. However, after our third meeting, we have made substantial progress and the next plenary session/gathering should provide a model of how the mechanism will work in the future.

We intend keeping things as simple and open as possible. Hence, the next meeting, to be held on 10 June, will be divided into three sections:

1. REPORTS from anti-war groups and individual activists. Aside from reports of recent activity, this will allow groups to mention forthcoming activities and to put their case for others to get involved with these events.

2. PROPOSALS/DISCUSSION arising from the forthcoming activities mentioned in the first section of the meeting. Groups or individuals may push for coordinated action and practical cooperation on specific activities, i.e. if the IPSC is holding a picket of the Israeli embassy, we may collectively decide to build for that activity. The philosophy behind this, obviously, is that genuine trust and cooperation will develop through joint work, i.e. if you help a friend, he or she will help you tomorrow, and so on. This section of the meeting will involve discussion as well as proposal - it will not be simply a case of a range of proposals being put forward, hands being raised and moving on to the next motion. Discussion is crucial for meaningful cooperation.

COFFEE BREAK

3. OPEN DISCUSSION, where we discuss topics relevant to the broad anti-war movement. We may decide to focus this, perhaps, on strategy, the threatened war on Iran, the Palestine question, our attitude to wars in Africa, imperialism and war, the Bush regime and its project, etc. etc. In other words, the topic can vary from the specific to the general. In my opinion, it is best to select the focus in advance. For the meeting on 10 June, we have decided to use this section to discuss the information and other resources of the broad anti-war movement and how, in practical terms, these can be shared. If there a way, we can, metaphorically speaking, put our collective resources into one box, which every group could then draw from?

The anti-war movement in this country has diminished, numerically speaking, and it is absolutely crucial that those active find constructive ways of working together - these meetings provide the best way forward at the moment.

So, just to remind people, the next plenary anti-war gathering is on Saturday, 10 June, between 2.30pm and 5.30pm. Deirdre Clancy will facilitate. The meeting is open to all, so please do make an effort to attend!!

Care/act