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Anti War Banshees Arrested at Shannon Airport national |
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feature
 Sunday October 31, 2004 13:35 by Dublin Catholic Worker 087 9184552
 Spent Up To Four Hours Undetected Beside Runway Reciting Names of US and Iraqi Dead
Anti War Banshees Arrested at Shannon Airport
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From The Newswire: In the early hours of Halloween, October 31st, two peace activists dressed as banshees were arrested in the confines of Shannon Airport. Zelda Jeffers and Elaine O’Sullivan, of the pacifist Catholic Worker Movement, were discovered by airport security after constructing a shrine to the war dead near the runway. The two women, wearing Iraqi mourning dress, were discovered reading out the names of U.S. military and Iraqi dead.
Twenty-three march silently to Shannon Airport, October 31st, while listening to American Catholic Worker activist Carmen Trotta read names of US/Coalition and Iraqi dead...
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Anti-War Banshees: Zelda Jeffers & Elaine O'Sullivan of the Catholic Worker Movement
Shrine and Burqa with Bible and Qu'ran, Photos off Iraq War Casualties
St. Francis of Assisi Peace Prayer
Names of the Iraqi & U.S./Coalition War Dead to be read inside Shannon Airport perimeter
Iraqi Banshees Keening (mourning) - Remembering the Dead, Nonviolently Defending the Living
Oh I love it!
The keystone cops were caught with their pants down again. What happened to the 26-county militia, were their nightscopes fogged over?
Nice one.
Elaine and Zelda have spent 1 hour and 20 minutes beyond the Shannon Airport perimeter. They continue to read the names of the U.S. military and Iraqi dead with a candle-lit vigil and keening in the background while dressed Irish banshees/Iraqi mothjers mourning their dead loved ones. They have not yet been arrested. They entered Shannon Airport perimeter at approximately 2am.
Zelda and Elaine are still within the perimeter fence at Shannon Airport. They have now been reading the names of the Iraqi war dead for 1 hour and 45 minutes. Spirits are high. Their prayers include......
Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace.
Where there is hate, may I bring love;
Where offence, may I bring pardon;
May I bring union in place of discord;
Truth, replacing error;
Faith, where once there was doubt;
Hope for despair;
Light, where was darkness:
Joy to replace sadness.
Make me not to so crave to be loved as to love.
Help me to learn that in giving I may receive:
In forgetting self, I may find life eternal.
- St. Francis of Assisi
The images of the war dead and the keening (mourning cry) continues in the background - (on a cheap CD Player).
Zelda and Elaine have asked for an immediate withdrawal by the U.S. military and their death-affirming weaponry from
Shannon Airport, an end to the U.S./U.K. war, invasion and occupation in Iraq, and mass nonviolent resistance to Irish complicity in crimes against peace and humanity.
More information about the Catholic Worker Movement
http://www.catholicworker.org
"Still here, all D lights on D runway just came on. Plane maybe due, we moved over just in case."
"Still here, light mist falling as rain, dark, damp and silent.
Maybe I should open an Ansbacher Account, but that wouldn't get me arrested either."
*Note they have been in there more than 3 hours, this a new Catholic Worker record!
Banshees atill reading the names of the dead - U.S. military and Iraqi civilian dead. National media is waking up to event...calls from RTE & Clare newspaper.
http://boston.indymedia.org/usermedia/image/9/large/DSCN9027elainezelda.jpg
http://boston.indymedia.org/usermedia/image/13/large/DSCN9067elainezelda.jpg
HIGH RESOLUTION PHOTOS FREE FOR ALL MEDIA USE.
Bertie & Shannon will profit off the major offensive plan to level Fallujah after the US elections.
The US cannonfodder will pass through Shannon over the coming weeks.
The Ahern Government will profit off sending these young US men & women to kill and be killed. The ongoing militarisation of Shannon Airport makes it a likely target who militarily resist the U.S. invasion of Iraq.
8 Marines Killed in Suicide Bombing...see link below....
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20041031/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq&cid=540&ncid=716
Anti-War Banshees were arrested at 6.50 am and have been charged with "suspicion of crimial damage". They are presently being held at Shannon Garda station.
*Call Shannon Garda Station 061 361 212 and inquire after the welfareof two peace activists in custody Ellaine O'Sullivan and Zelda Jeffers.
*Come to anti-war gathering in Lidl Car Park Shannon Town assembling 1pm Sunday Oct 31st for solemn walk to Shannon Airport.
*Donate to defendants expenses make cheques out to "Ellaine O'Sullivan"
c/- DCW
518 South Circular Rd.
Rialto
Dublin 8
Well done ! Getting out there and doing it
The meeja, of course, are simply reporting it as a case of trespass - fantastic work! Wandering around for 1 - 1 1/2 hours -was some one sleeping on the job AGAIN !
Once again proving that Bertie and the "fumble in the greasy till and add the half pence to the pence" brigade can't EVEN do the bidding of their neo con masters in the states and maintain security in Shannon for their child murdering buddies
- Oh the ambassador will be well ticked off!
Fair play
Conor
Go Girls Go. Well done to Iraqi Banshees Keening (mourning) - Remembering the Dead, Nonviolently. Sending encouragement and support to all involved in the latest protest to highlight Irish Governments Participation in mass Death And Destruction. The traitors (voted by Irish citizens) working hand and hand with the American Government. Shannon could have been taken over by the aliens while our protectors were sleeping. .Maybe, they should be praying this morning for guidance, how about the lords prayer. 'forgive us our trespasses' while 'delivering us from evil'. Amen.
Congratulations, and many thanks to whoever stayed up that time to post updates (keep it coming!).
It is so edifying and encouraging to read about the courageous actions taken by Zelda and Elaine, and the continuous social action and justice work being done by the Catholic Worker Movement in Ireland. Knowing of your creative witness for peace is very reassuring and a great sign of hope.
Four hours and fifty minutes to react! Well the "security services" have certainly slowed down (A LOT) in the past thirty years. Looks like heads will have to roll.
down with the local franchise of the tank loving republican administration
Direct Action aims to achieve our goals through our own activity rather than through the actions of others It is about people taking power for themselves In this it is distinguished from most other forms of political action such as voting, lobbying, attempting to exert political pressure though industrial action or through the media. All of these activities are based on the falsehood that we are incapable of improving our own lives and must rely on others to achieve our goals for us. They concede our power to existing institutions that work to prevent us from acting ourselves to change the status quo. Direct Action repudiates such acceptance of the existing order and suggests that we have both the right and the power to change the world. It demonstrates this by doing it Examples of Direct Action include blockades, pickets, sabotage, squatting, tree spiking, lockouts, occupations, rolling strikes, slow downs, the revolutionary general strike and ofcourse the verious Catholic Worker actions. In the community it involves amongst other things, establishing our own organisations such as food co-ops and community access radio and TV to provide for our social needs, blocking the freeway developments which divide and poison our communities and taking and squatting the houses that we need to live in. In the forests. Direct Action interposes our bodies, our will and our ingenuity between wilderness and those who would destroy it and acts against the profits of the organisations which direct the exploitation of nature and against those organisations themselves In industry and in the workplace direct action aims either to extend workers control or to directly attack the profits of the employers. Sabotage and work slow-downs are time-honoured and popular techrniques to deny employers the profits from the exploitation of their wage-slaves.
As the examples of Direct Action in the community above suggest, there is more to Direct Action than responding to injustices or threats by the state. Direct Action is not only a method of protest but also a way of "building the future now". Any situation where people organise to extand control over their own circumstances without recourse to capital or state constitutes direct action "Doing it ourselves" is the essence of Direct Action and it does not matter whether what we are doing is resisting injustice or attempting to create a better world now by organising to meet our own social needs. Direct Action of this sort,, because it is self-directed rather than a response to the activities of Capital or State, offers far more opportunities for continuing action and also for success. We can define our own goals and achieve them through our own efforts. One of the most important aspects of Direct Action is the organisation involved in order for it to be successful. By organising to achieve our goals ourselves we learn valuable skills and discover that organisation without hierarcny is possible. Where it succeeds, Direct Action shows that people can control their own lives - in effect, that an Anarchist society is possible. We can see here that Direct Action and Anarchist organisation are in fact two sides of the same coin. When we demonstrate the success of one we demonstrate the reality of the other.
Elaine O'Sullivan and Zelda Jeffers will appear in Ennis District Court tonight Sunday 7 pm. They are charged with breaches of Airport regulations. Update will follow.
Exactly what did that achieve..apart from breaking aviation safety rules? Didn't do much to stop the war.
I just got a text message saying that they have been released from jail. They are well and are now on their way back home to Dublin. They are due to appear in court in Ennis on November 18th.
they brought attention to what everyone is desperately trying to ignore...
Covered by which media?...not radio (I'm sitting with it burbling away)..not a mention. Nor TV either.
Grow up.. 99% of the population don't give a brass razzoo about protesters getting pneumonia sitting on wet grass beside a runway in the middle of the night.
Now if you blocked the runway and made the pilot of the next 'plane due wet himself / herself as they abandoned the landing you might achieve something. However the charges in Ennis shortly afterwards might be a tad more serious than criminal damage...
Another catholic worker, Les Gibbons from the Southampton area, has been arrested today.
"Random Stop" atop Downing St gates says 'NO Fallujah Attack'
Tonight Les Gibbons from southern England remains in police custody at
Charing Cross police station for voicing his dissent to the upcoming
ongoing UK/US attacks on Fallujah, Iraq.
Les sat on top of the gates for approximately 45 minutes before being
arrested early this evening.
Tonight UK troops are amassing around Fallujah; an attack is imminent.
The arrest of Les Gibbons followed a day of protest by 5 people calling
themselves 'Random Stop'. The 5 made their way through central London
with
megaphone and banners saying, "STOP Fallujah attacks" and "REcall UK
Troops.
Halt Mass Murder." The group gathered momentum as they went; people
joining
in to express their own dissent and voice their anger. Oxford St was
occupied , brought to a stop by "random Stop" as they called upon Tony
Blair
to recall the Black Watch, to halt the planned attack on Fallujah and
Bring
the troops home. Hundreds of people witnessed the stir caused by
"Random
Stop". Approximately 100 people signed the petition within minutes. The
group then went to Downing St to hand in the petitions to Tony Blair.
Les
climbed on top of the gates and with the others continued the mega
vocal.
The charge, in the end was not criminal damage. It was being in a part of the airport without permission to be there.
The court hearing began at 7:04pm and lasted 7 minutes, during which time Garda Ann Flynn gave evidence of arresting, charging and cautioning both defendants. she said that they had made no comment other than "thank you" in reply to this.
Inspector Gallagher asked Garda Flynn to inform the court what the charge was.
Garda Flynn told the court that the pair were charged for breaching the airport byelaws 4.8 s4 contrary to section 42 (7) of the Air Navigation & Transport (Aendmendment) Act, 1998 (which states that it is an offence to breach the byelaws)
The defendants were represented by Ted McCarthy, a Limerick based solicitor. He sought bail for the defendants, and told the court that the prosecution had no objection to bail, but was seeking conditions.
Inspector Gallagher said that the State would agree to bail subject to a 5 mile exclusion zone from the airport.
Judge Mangan asked how a 5 mile zone might be marked out.
Inspector Gallagher reminded him, that such zones had already been imposed on others. Judge Mangan asked if it would not be better to have the exclusion zone match the area of the Shannon District Court.
Ted McCarthy told the court that he was unsure as to the exact borders of the district court area.
The court Clerk informed him that it extended east as far as Limerick. Inspector Gallagher reminded the court that some parts of the airport are actually outside the area covered by Shannon District Court.
So, not surprisingly, the zone was set at 5 miles from the terminal building.
The pair were granted bail on a bond (not lodged) of 100 euro each, on condition that they do "not go within 5 miles of the terminal building".
The next hearing was set for 11am on November 18th at Shannon District Court.
In effect however, that means Ennis.
(Shannon District Court used to sit in Tullyvarragga community hall, but it was considered to drafty in the cold weather, so now the Shannon court sits in Ennis)
Both defendants had their property returned and were brought for some strong hot tea before heading home.
Hubble's comments of cowardice masquerading as attempted cynicism raise an interesting issue of media self-censorhip inIreland
By Sunday 6 am RTE radio called the press release contact number in relation to this anti-war\action . The reporter was interested and motivated and was given the mobile on the airfield which she then called. The story was nixed at editorial level as was an interview with US peace activist Carmen Trotta slotted for the Pat Kenny show earlier in the week.
There has been a deal done at the highest levels in Ireland not to give the Shannon issue oxygen. So "good Irishmans" like Hubble can sleep through thir holocaust, claiming that they knew nothing
of the ovens being transported to the people of Iraq through Shannon.
Hubble is also not alone in suffering from a self defeating trait of a colonised people...the confusion between being rebelious and contrary (mirroring his/her confusion bettween cowardice/ cynicism and wisdom). When a couple of good folks go over the Shannon/Auschwitz fence. Hubble suggests they sit on the runway.
Well Hubble baby lead the charge. Show us how it's done or if you support the war join up and accompany the cnnon fodder throough Shannon to Iraq. Just give us a break from yuor passivity, cynicism and cowardice.
The rest of us really need to be proactively supporting these courageous women pro-acrively, financially and politically. The best support for them and other resisters is further opposition to Irish complicity in this war. Especially now on the eve the post US election escalation over Iraq.
Other financial support (info above)
or solidarity at theircoourt appearance (info above)
would be welcome.
I'm serious in my comments. Passive action is a contradiction. Two girls however dedicated are not going to impress the powers that exist.
Direct action might. Airfields are large unguardable spaces where only specific points can be guarded due to shortage of men.
Two knowlegable activists wandering round Shannon airport for 3 hours have the ability to shut it down on safety grounds for weeks...is this what you want to do?
It depends what publicity you want and if the movements are prepared to take stiff jail sentences for their activists as the 'authorities' would go out of their minds...
Hubble seems to be missing the point entirely. These two dedicated women who breached security at Shannon and were able to remain in full view yet undetected close to the runway for five hours makes the following points:
1.Terrorists could easily enter Shannon and cause serious damage.
2. The Irish government does not have the capacity to protect the civilians and airport staff who would undoubtably be caught up in such terrorist action.
It is unnecessary for these women to shut down the airport to make these points. It is also unnecessary for them to spend long periods as prisoners of conscience. Hubble insinuates that activists who participate in such actions are somehow afraid to cause the mayhem he wishes to see because they are unable to take the undoubted serious consequences, in other words he insinuates they are cowards. Far from being cowards, they are the true heroes of this conflict. They are prepared to risk their liberty to highlight the true nature of the situation at Shannon, while cynics like Hubble stargaze and pretend it is not happening.
Finally, it is interesting to note that earlier on the day that these women acted a senior member of An Garda Siocana was quoted on local radio in Clare as saying that security had been increased and that An Garda were prepared for any eventuality, The relity contradicts this, far from being prepared for any eventuality(perhaps an attack by the likes of Al Queida) the security could not prevent two pretty small women from being n a position where had they wanted to they could have caused massive destruction.
We and the people of Shannon have only God to thank that they were pacifist Christians.
The overall argument seems to be how to stop the flow of war material through Shannon. My question is how 2 persons sitting beside the runway stop this traffic.
My second point is that if the anti war protesters really want to make Shannon unusable for the US war machine then they can. The cost to US / Irish Governement being an enourmous bill for security which might make using the field uneconomic.
However the penalty will be draconian...is there the will to spend n years in jail? Cowardice isn't an issue, pure self interest should be. Talk won't achieve much..already the state is prepared to bend the legal system to gain convictions.
As a side issue I was active in the protest movement 20 years ago under Mad Maggie the Maniac in the UK. We did direct action and had some success against Cruise Missiles, tied up an awful lot of troops and cops and made using the bases a serious security problem for NATO. Problem being we got jailed for it, 3 months without charge on remand and 6 month sentence. 9 months in clink is not fun..
Old Arab proverb...if you stick your arm up a Camel's bum then make sure it goes up past the elbow. Actions not pacifist twaddle.
Shannon Anti-War Banshees released on bail
For Initial Action Report and photos check
http://www.indymedia.ie/newswire.php?story_id=67254
-------------
Press Release
-------------
Last night at Ennis District Court there was a special sitting for Elaine O'Sullivan and Zelda Jeffers, Shannon Airport Banshees against the use of Shannon by the U.S. military. The two women were arrested by Shannon Garda at 6.50am on Sunday morning, October 31st, after spending almost 5 hours praying for and remebering the Iraq war dead
The court hearing began at 7:04pm and lasted 7 minutes, during which time Garda Ann Flynn gave evidence of arresting, charging and cautioning both defendants. she said that they had made no comment other than "thank you" in reply to this.
Inspector Gallagher asked Garda Flynn to inform the court what the charge was.
Garda Flynn told the court that the pair were charged for breaching the airport byelaws 4.8 s4 contrary to section 42 (7) of the Air Navigation & Transport (Aendmendment) Act, 1998 (which states that it is an offence to breach the byelaws)
The defendants were represented by Ted McCarthy, a Limerick based solicitor. He sought bail for the defendants, and told the court that the prosecution had no objection to bail, but was seeking conditions.
Inspector Gallagher said that the State would agree to bail subject to a 5 mile exclusion zone from the airport.
Judge Mangan asked how a 5 mile zone might be marked out.
Inspector Gallagher reminded him, that such zones had already been imposed on others. Judge Mangan asked if it would not be better to have the exclusion zone match the area of the Shannon District Court.
Ted McCarthy told the court that he was unsure as to the exact borders of the district court area.
The court Clerk informed him that it extended east as far as Limerick. Inspector Gallagher reminded the court that some parts of the airport are actually outside the area covered by Shannon District Court.
So the exclusion zone was set at 5 miles from the terminal building.
The pair were granted bail on a bond (not lodged) of 100 euro each, on condition that they do "not go within 5 miles of the terminal building".
The next hearing was set for 11am on November 18th at Shannon District Court.
In effect however, that means Ennis.
(Shannon District Court used to sit in Tullyvarragga community hall, but it was considered to drafty in the cold weather, so now the Shannon court sits in Ennis)
On leaving the court Zelda Jeffers stated: " Elaine and I were inside the airport perimeter for nearly 5 hours. Looking down the runway we could see part of the path taken by people and objects on their way to die, kill, maim, and destroy. We wish to thank the many people who sent messages of support. Together we can help make a better world where this does not not continue and where purportedly neutral countries do not participate in this journey towards death.
Elaine O'Sullivan stated: 'Despite a Garda spokesman alledging security had recently been 'beefed up' and were prepared for any eventuality, last night we exposed that U.S. military weapons are as secure in Shannon as the 350 tonnes of explosives which went missing in Iraq. Their presence puts the people of Shannon and Ireland at great risk.'
For more info.
Elaine at 087 6969799
and initial press release/photos
http://www.indymedia.ie/newswire.php?story_id=67254
----------
-30-
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Hubble,
What actions are you doing to stop the war machine? At least the two Catholic Worker women did something. Their courageous action is one of a tiny handful of Irish direct actions over the past year. Why don't you announce your identity then sit on a Shannon runway or block military planes or whatever kick ass ideas you have to stop this war? Otherwise, you're nothing but hot air. Actions, no matter how small, speak louder then words.
The Irish Times on monday has the following, buried away in an article entitled "Fire brigades and gardai have busy Halloween" The article describes the usual public services work at "halloween" apart from the last two lines:
[............In Shannon, anti-war activists used a Halloween theme in a protest at the airport. Two women wearing Iraqi mourning dress were described as "anti-war banshees".
Ms Zelda Jeffers and Ms Elaine O'Sullivan were arrested by gardaí. The women appeared at Ennis District Court after being detained within the security perimeter at the airport................]
now, apart from being slightly deranged, the idea that dressing as Iraqi mourners is a "halloween" theme is very clever, as is running a picture on the front page describing the macnas performance as "Banshees" - first word in caption. both belittle the action.
so, apart from anything else, I believe this action highlights the irish times moral ownership. as in, if they hadn't have done the action, i wouldn't have seen the irish times response, so know i know a little bit more about the irish times. This, hubble, is a good thing. Maybe we all would like to see things go faster, maybe you'ld love to rush shannon with a huge crowd and take it over, shut it down, maybe' you'ld like to take on the US army with i don't know what, but the reality is, this is going to be a long hard struggle, there's going to be no easy solutions and happy endings here, not for a while anyway. Fair play to the women who did this action, and to everyone who does something, and to hubble who is at least thinking about it.
I'm not advocating 'mass storming' or general insurrection to close Shannon Airport. That would be incitement to something and I've already done time in an 8' x16' concrete box. I'm sure cells in Ireland are just a smelly as the ones elsewhere.
The girls had the right idea..but the execution was wrong. The authorities now know that there is a gaping hole in their security and might do something about it. IR dectectors, cameras etc.
Maybe study the direct action done years ago at Greenham Common & Fairford for ideas.
No more postings from me.
I challenge Zelda Jeffers and Elaine O’Sullivan to go to Iraq and make their protest there. How easy it is to protest here in good old Ireland, but anyone who really believes what they protest needs to take the protest to the actual battlefield. Are either of you up for it, or are you like a lot of others, like to protest in the safety of their own country. Go to Iraq, break into the airport in baghdad, see if you live long enough to send you texts and little photos. Either of you up to it?
go back and search for articles on direct action on shannon here you'll see how rushed they to put in ir scanners etc !
Jon baby, you've got the contrary virus bad.
Yes our people were in Iraq nonviolently putting their bodies between the US war machine and innocent Iraqis in their imperial sights....as they are in Colombia and were in Nicaragua and were camped on the Kuwait/Iraq borer before the first GUlf War Massacre kicked off in '91.
It'slike the old fable of constantly seeing bodies floating by your village. It's important to pull them out of the stream...but you have to go upriver to the Pentagon, to the White House, to Shannon Airport and the Irish Aviation Authority and nonviolently confront the people and intitutions profitting from throwing them in.
Jon have you ever heard of the saying "think globally, act locally!" or in your case "think globally act your age!" and at least give upon the contrary shite when good people move into nonviolent resistance with limited resources.
Ahern, Shannon, the Irish Aviation Authority are the ferrymen taking young american lives, selling them a pint & duty free, slapping themon the back and sending them on to Iraq to kill and be killed.To quote C de B "don't pay 'em" with your passivity, silence and cynicism. Resist and offer solidarity to those who continue to.....
Well done girls, fair play to you for having the bottle to carry out a direct action, fair play to rejade also for reporting on it. While you were giving up your time and risking your liberty your detractors on this site were probably getting their keyboards sticky surfing the type of site adolescent w*****s are attracted to.
Surely the point is, jon, that elaine was in her own country. If Baghdad airport was being ran by the people of Baghdad then I would suggest there would be no need for Elaine and Zelda to protest. What they were protesting against was the exact scenario you suggest, the imposition of ones beliefs on countries other than ones own. Especially by use of military force.
Were they to go to Baghdad they might very well be shot, not by Iraqi's but by the U.S forces of occupation who control that airport against the wishes of the people of Iraq.
Unfortunately, the people of Iraq do not enjoy the same freedom to protest in their own country as we do. In point of fact over 100,000 of them are dead as a result of this illegal act of terrorism by the U.S.
It would be interesting to know if you support the ongoing military occupation. The issue is no longer the war or the reasons for it. The U.S went to war against the wishes of the U.N and that cannot be changed. However if the purpose was to overthrow the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein, then that has been achieved. Mission accomplished, now leave and let the Iraqi people elect a leadership of it's own choice. You see Jon, if the American people have the right to elect a warmonger and dictator of the the likes of Bush then the Iraqi people have the right to choose who they like.
There is no longer any justification, given the purpoted reasons for going to war, for continued occupation. The government of this country is no longer supporting the war on terror by allowing U.S troops pass through Shannon, it is now supporting the illegal military occupation of a soverign nation. It is the equivalent of supporting Hitler's invasion of Poland. As a small soverign nation we must oppose such actions.
They came for the Afghanis and we stayed silent.
They came for the Iraqis and we stayed silent.
History tells us it is not going to end there, their allies once came for us, let us not forget. One million of our people died of Famine as a result.
hey look up everyone i never noticed that jd added the newstalk interview of nov 3rd?
Might have guessed the famine and the brits would be brought in somewhere....go on..get it out of your system. There must be some 'martyred, poor, holy ould oiland' board somewhere you can join.
Sorry boom, but i'm too busy DOING something to confront the war to look for the type of board you describe. By the way it was convienient the way you ignored the actual content of my post.
and yes, the U.S are in alliance with the U.K, and yes the U.K have in the past committed similar war crimes in Ireland for similar opportunistic and self serving motives. Sorry if it dosen't suit you, but thats just history, I didn't write it!!!
May i suggest you find a beach with plenty of sand in order that you may bury your head?
I would have posted to this thread sooner but I am trying to shuck off a bout of the flu brought about by spending five hours sitting in the long, wet grass of Shannon Airport.
I can tell you many reasons why we went over the fence to vigil - some religious, some secular. But I'm trying to find a common ground betwixt me and thee where we can meet and communicate. Where neither of us are blinded by ideology or bigotry.
100,000 killed in Iraq so far, 50% of them women and children. How does that grab ya? One hundred thousand inconsequential people? The same number as marched through Dublin on February 15th, 50% of them may have been women and children too. How can such a slaughter ever be justified? Perhaps it's easier to do if we think in numbers only. Lets put some names to the numbers.
Sahar Sarhan and her unborn son died on 7th April 03 on her way to hospital, in labour, the ambulance she was travelling in was hit by a rocket strike.
Wael Sabah, her son Abdul Khader aged 5, and her daughter Noor Sabah aged 12 who died on 8th April 03 when their house was hit during an aerial bombardment.
Rowand Mohammed Suleiman died at 8 months old on 10th April 03 when her lower body was blown off after she crawled over a cluster bomblet.
Not fair, you say, you're picking all the emotive ones. Well, sweetie, they're all emotive to someone. Ever lose a loved one, ever bury a friend?
The hardest part of the vigil was not gaining access to the Airport (that was a piece of piss as they say in the city) but the reading of the names of the dead. To sit at the end of that runway, a light mist forming around each red, blue, green and yellow light. Staring down that row of lights and naming each person whose life had ended, because a plane left here with a belly full of fuel and a heart full of darkness. To know that we were there, where it began. To know that the foot a soldier used to kick in someone's door, once stood on our soil. Our history, whether we like it or not, is one of oppression, colonisation and subjugation. Once our doors were kicked in. For us to side with the oppressors of another nation is to suggest that we have not learned anything from our own history. I don't hate the Americans just as I don't hate the English. I do have very little respect for that part of the human psyche that can consider this war justifiable, that can turn away when so many are suffering.
The question now becomes not how do we justify this slaughter but rather how do we justify our complicity in this slaughter?
Do we, like Martin Cullen, describe it in purely economic terms, ie: "It's good for business" said the small man a few weeks ago.
Or do we give lip service only to the anti-war brigade. Like Bertie Ahern who declared himself last year to be "Dead against the war" and only this week, while standing beside Margaret Hassan's sisters announced that Ireland was "a firm friend of the Arab Nation."
That's the kind of double speak that gets hypocrisy a bad name!
Bearing in mind, as we must do, that this is an illegal war. Waged by powers greater in military might than we are. What are we to do in the face of such madness? How can we lose the sense of powerlessness and futility that prevents action?
We must do what we can, we must make our dissent known in whatever form it shows itself.
Protest, vigil, write a snotty letter to your TD, wherever your heart or your creativity takes you. Mine took me to Shannon and I didn't write this to justify my actions to anyone. As Samuel Coleridge wrote "Our own heart, and not other men's opinion, form our true honour."
Now if that quote's a little uppity for you, then try the old blues man Sonny Boy Williamson, who sang loud and proud, "Let your conscience be your guide".
So how many reasons do we need, I can think of 100,000 of them.
…the very essence of the [Nuremberg] Charter is that individuals have international duties which transcend the national obligations of obedience imposed by the individual state. He who violates the laws of war cannot obtain immunity while acting in pursuance to the authority of the state if the state in authorizing action moves outside its competence under international law…. The true test…is not the existence of the order, but whether moral choice was in fact possible.
(Trial of the Major War Criminals…Nuremberg, 1945/6. Vol. I, pp. 223/4.)
I would like to see the participants on this website addressing one another more respectfully. Thanks.
Thirty five people showed up for the STARC Armory Election Day, "Vote
With Your Feet" Anti-War Rally and Nonviolent Direct Action. After a
few short talks and cheers by the Radical Cheer Leaders, eleven
demonstrators, nine adult and two high school students walled hand in
hand across the road to the main gate of the Armory.
The Armory gate was closed and large cement road blockers were placed
behind the gate. Protesters used a step ladder to climb over the fence,
stepped on the cement road blockers onto Armory property. They were
greeted by National Guard security people and Polk Co Sheriffs
officers. All were hand cuffed and taken to police vans in the parking
lot.
After all eleven were lined up next to the police vans, each
demonstrator was asked individually by Iowa National Guard JAG Officer
Michael Kuehn if they wished to leave the Armory property and not be
arrested. Chris Gaunt, wishing to test Officer Kuehn's offer, requested
to leave the property. Good to his word, Chris was allowed to return to
the Rally and support people without being arrested.
The ten others were taken into custody. The two juveniles were taken
to Myers Hall, the Polk Co. juvenile detention center and latter
released to their parents. The eight adult were taken to Polk Co. Jail.
DM Catholic Worker Tom Schmitz bailed out of the Co. Jail at 1 a.m.
The remaining seven protester appeared in morning court. Drake Law
Professor Sally Frank represented the seven demonstrators. All plead
not guilty to misdemeanor criminal trespass charges and were released
on Personal Recognizance (PR) bonds.
DMCW Ed Bloomer was given an extra charge of interference for not
giving his name at the time of arrest. Ed latter cooperated and gave
his name at the jail. Ed plead innocent to this added charge.
The Judge verbally gave all a Nov. 16th court date. Our paper work
stated a Dec. 16th court date. And even though the Judge verbally gave
all seven demonstrators PR bonds, Brian Terrell and Spencer Pierce
needed to post $325 to bail out. Their paper work sent to the jailers
after the court hearing did not record the judges PR directive. Thank
you's to Elton Davis, who put up bond money to get Brian and Spencer
out of jail. Hopefully Elton's money will be returned to him at our
first court hearing - when ever that is.
There was no vigil this Wed at the Armory. We will resume our weekly
Wed. vigil next week.
We will continue to send up dates this on going saga with court dates
and new info as it is made know.
Names, ages and hometowns of 10 people who got arrested Nov. 2 at the
STARC Armory
Jay Kozel, 17 yrs., Des Moines IA
Duncan Pierce, 16 yrs., Des Moines IA
--------------------------------------------
Spencer Pierce, 19 yrs., Des Moines IA
Renee Espeland, 43 yrs., Des Moines IA
John Heid, 49 yrs., Luck WI
Brian Terrell, 48 yrs., Maloy IA
Fran Fuller, 56 yrs., Des Moines IA
Tom Schmitz, 49 yrs., Des Moines IA
Ed Bloomer, 57 yrs., Des Moines IA
Frank Cordaro, 53 yrs. Des Moines IA
Dear friends,
on Wed. Nov 17th I go to court for my citizens arrest of MP Peter Dutton for his war crimes in relation to the war against Iraq. I have been charged with being a public nuicence, but hope to hightlight the real crimes during my time in court, namely Peter Dutton's role in supporting the muurderos invasion and occupation of Iraq, as well as his support fro the torture and illegal detention of Australian citizens in Guatanamo Bay.
AS you may be aware the official report of the
John Hopkins University (USA) study into casualties in Iraq was released last week. The report claimed 100,000 civialians, mostly women and children, had been killed in Iraq since the start of the invasion last March.
Picket Peter Dutton's office:
Before court we will picket Peter Dutton's office to highlight his crimes from 9.30 til 10.30. Everyone is welcome to join us. His office is at 199 Gympie Rd Strathpine.
Court
Everyone is welcome to join us in court. The case starts at 11AM. The court house is at the back of Woolworths near the Dayboro Rd, Gympie Rd roundabout Petrie.
Following is my letter of "apology" which was printed in the "Dayboro Grapevine'.
At the "Meet the Candidates night", two weeks before the election, I placed Peter Dutton under citizens arrest for his role in the war crimes against the people of Iraq - illegal invasion,massacre, torture, rape, the ongoing brutalisation of a whole nation. Peter Dutton has voluntarily and unreservedly acted as chief advocate and defender of the horror that is called "the war in Iraq".
Despite much applause from many when I arrested Mr' Dutton, I realised later that I had also upset a number of upstanding citizens. Should I apologise? The question brings to mind the words of Jesuit priest and war resister Dan Berrigan after he offended many by publicly burning draft cards with homemade napalm to resist the Vietnam war.
The following is part of Dan's "apology":
In consequence of our inability
to live and die content in the plagued city
to say "peace,peace" when there is no peace
to keep the poor poor
the thirsty and hungry thirsty and hungry
Our apologies good friends
for the fracture of good order the burning of paper
instead of children the angering of the orderlies
in the front parlour of the charnel house
We could not so help us God do otherwise
for we are sick at heart. our hearts
give us no rest for thinking of the land of burning children.
Likewise I "apologise" for the "fracture of good order", for calling a spade a spade, murder murder, for being more concerned with the slaughter of Iraqi children than a few extra medicare dollars for my own. I "apologise" for speaking the truth to Peter Dutton instead of offering fawning respect in the hope of "royal" favours.
Jim Dowling