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 Tuesday September 10, 2002 19:06 by Aoife Ni Fhearghail - Irish Anti-War Movement info at irishantiwar dot org D8 087 7955013
 S/11 one year one; report of Irish Anti-War Movement AGM; public rally with Denis Halliday, upcoming events Anti-War News Tuesday 10th September 2002 S/11 – one year on
Tonight relatives of those killed in the World Trade Centre will join with Vandana Shiva, Daniel Berrigan S.J., film-maker Michael Moore, Afghan Amercians and hundreds of peace activists in an all-night anti-war vigil in Washington Square Park, New York. Families for Peaceful Tomorrow’s - organisers of the event – are calling for an end to military intervention and an end to the use of their grief to justify the bombing of innocent civilians in Afghanistan and Iraq. Sadly, international media looks set to ignore this moving demonstration as the memory of 9/11 is cynically used again to whip up war fever. As cities across the world observe a minute’s silence tomorrow for the victims of S/11, final preparations are being made for phase II of the ‘war on terror’ – a new attack on the people of Iraq. The S/11 anniversary falls all too conveniently for Bush & Blair as on the following day the UN General Assembly will meet. As pressure builds internationally for a return of UN weapons inspectors rather than unilateral US action against Iraq, it is highly likely that the warmongers will use Thursday’s meeting to obtain a UN stamp of approval for war on Iraq. Addressing the TUC in Blackpool today, Blair said that it must be made clear that “should the will of the UN be ignored, action will follow”. Of course, UN Resolutions have been repeatedly ignored by Israel but Ariel Sharon will not feel threatened by this speech. White House officials have hinted at the possibility of coercive inspections, in which foreign troops would be prepared to shoot their way into suspected weapons sited if denied access by Iraq. Whether or not he gets the support that he needs from world leaders, Bush is expected to get Congress approval for the use of military force within weeks. And, if the UN is not forthcoming, President Bush can always depend on Tony Blair’s unconditional support. Meanwhile world leaders continue to ignore the more than 9,000 innocent Afghan civilians murdered by US & international forces over the past year. In last Friday’s Irish Times, Miriam Donohue revealed how only $570m of the $1.8b in aid promised by the international community has actually been delivered to Afghanistan while the country falls increasingly under the hands of local warlords. And, while the US makes big of the $280m given to Afghanistan, this is only a fraction of its war budget - $10b spent so far this year keeping US troops in Afghanistan and a staggering $1.8b each month allocated to the ‘war on terror’. Just like Afghanistan, war on Iraq will not bring democracy. All that it will achieve will be the killing and injuring of thousands of innocent civilians. It is vital that we oppose our government’s support for this war before it begins by turning September 28th into a major national mobilisation against any attack on Iraq. PUBLIC RALLY WITH DENIS HALLIDAY Friday 13th September 7.30pm In October 1998, Denis Halliday, the then United Nations Assistant Secretary General and at that time UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Baghdad resigned in protest at the genocidal consequences of the UN economic sanctions on the people of Iraq. Since then he has written and lectured extensively on the subject. Last year, Denis spoke at the launch rally of the Irish Anti-War Movement opposing the war on Afghanistan. Hundreds turned up to the public rally to hear Denis and other speak about the war on terrorism and the situation in Afghanistan. We are delighted that Denis will be speaking at Friday’s event and we hope to use the event to build support for a major anti-war demonstration on Saturday 28th September. Other speakers include Councillor Deirdre de Burca (Green Party) and Kieran Allen (Socialist Workers Party). Make sure you arrive early to guarantee a seat.
The first AGM of the Irish Anti-War Movement took place in the Teachers’ Club in Dublin last Saturday. Nearly 80 people came from Dublin, Cork, Galway, Belfast, Derry, Limerick and beyond to the extremely successful meeting. The conference took in 4 separate sessions: Representatives came from many different peace groups from all across the country. Discussion focused on recent US foreign policy & so-called humanitarian intervention, the myth of Irish neutrality, the causes of global conflict and the role that the Irish Anti-War Movement had played in building opposition to the ‘war on terrorism’. We agreed that we needed to place major emphasis on building the anti-war movement and to have better co-ordination amongst peace groups around the country. The following resolutions were passed by the meeting: RESOLUTIONS That the Irish Anti-War Movement organise a major “Don’t attack Iraq” national demonstration on Saturday 28th September That following the public rally in Dublin with Denis Halliday local anti-war activists organise “Don’t attack Iraq” rallies with speakers from different anti-war groups to take place before the September 28th demonstration That a national demonstration take place in Shannon on Saturday 19th October with all details including bus bookings available by September 28th (** passed with the proviso that this date may change depending on the date of the Nice Referendum) That the Irish Anti-War Movement takes a position against the Nice Treaty That the new steering committee undertake to build support for the IAWM and the upcoming demonstrations amongst peace groups, trade unions, students, community groups etc. That the new steering committee design a pledge/petition which members of the public sign to say they will participate in a work stoppage in the aftermath of any attack on Iraq (in line with the George Galloway pledge in Britain) That the committee seek to have the pledge signed by significant national groups and celebrities and that it is launched at a major press conference That local groups organise a point where anti-war activists can gather to protest in the aftermath of any attack in Iraq (in Dublin this will be the day following any attack at 6pm at the US Embassy in Ballsbridge) That a new steering committee is elected with the following delegates: Glenda Cimino; Monica Flynn; Joe Moore; Colin Coulter; Clare Lee; Tom Lonergan; Richard Boyd Barrett; Michael Birmingham; Mary Van Lieshout; Kristina McElroy; Kieran Allen; Kelly-Ann Mullan; Florence (Campaign Against Iraq Sanctions); Colm Bryce; Catherine Boothman; Conor Joyce; Aoife Ní Fhearghail That the new steering committee approach peace & solidarity groups asking them to send representatives to the steering committee meetings.
Derry Anti-War Coalition meeting Wednesday 11th September in Badgers’ Bar, Orchard St. ‘No war on Iraq – public rally with Denis Halliday – 7.30pm Friday 13th September – North Star Hotel, Amiens St., Dublin – 087 6329511 for details ‘Don’t attack Iraq’ - National Demonstration – assemble 3pm Garden of Remembrance, Dublin Saturday 28th September – March takes place on the 2nd anniversary of the outbreak of the Palestinian Intifada – if anyone is available to make placards & banners saying ‘Don’t attack Iraq’ & ‘Freedom for Palestine’ contact Aoife on 087 7955013 – bus leaves Belfast City Hall at 11am on the 28th contact 07900 353 816 Anti-War Movement Belfast meets every Tuesday at 7.30pm in Catalyst Arts, Donegall St. – contact 07900 353816 Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign – organise regular Boycott Israeli Goods stalls at supermarkets across Dublin and are also organising a major Palestinian Cultural Awareness Week 20-29 September – contact 01 6770253 for details ‘Warplanes out of Shannon’ – National Demonstration – Saturday 19th October – buses running from Dublin – contact 087 6329511 for details - ** date may change subject to Nice Referendum
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Comments (18 of 18)
Jump To Comment: 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1Anyway you won't find any SP heads there in the list of anti war activists
I have to agree with the comments above about naming names.
It should be enough to say "so there are two or four or whatever members of group x on the steering committee". The urge to identify the organisational affiliations of individuals who are not openly representatives of an organisation should be opposed. Apart from anything else such behaviour just makes it easier for the state to collect information and for employers to victimise.
In all honesty, I fail to see the usefulness of setting up a competition for the best campaign against the war in Ireland: as regards the effectiveness of the different forms of activism, I would say that stopping an American military airplane from refuelling at Shannon airport, leafleting at a military airshow where there are thousands of people who wouldn't dream to participate to an anti-war demonstration in Dublin, or highlighting what's going on at Shannon airport through various forms of direct action is unquestionably a valuable contribution to the Irish movement against the war. And I don't accept the opposition between these forms of activism and a mass movement. By taking action you open the way for organising whith others who are willing to participate--though people engage in activism in different ways, and you must respect that. Some people will engage in direct action, some will come to a demo and some will just send anti-war postcards to Bertie Ahern if you distribute them in town. These are all valuable contributions.
In short, I'm not, by any means, against seriously organising the opposition to Bush and Blair's War, though I don't think that anyone can deny that more often than not the kind of "united fronts" that are periodically set up here in Ireland end up creating divisions and endless diatribes among activists, rather than "unity". This was my point. But we seem to disagree on this. That's absolutely fine with me, however let's not imply that some are more serious in their commitment than others.
Salud to all.
pp
pp my comments were not directed at you.
i also have criticisms of the swp (as i stated in my posting).
its those who are so quick to name names that i'm objecting to.
pat
I repeat: I made no mention of SWP members being or not being in the steering committee of the IAWM. My point was about the mode of organising, on which there are obviously different positions not only between us here but in the broader activist community in Ireland (and elsewhere). I hope that there can be a productive debate on this issue.
Why don't you get your special branch handlers to give you the details.
Or is that you want to get the details for them to earn this weeks payment.
The Irish Anti War Movement is the main anti-war campaign in Ireland.
It has organised demonstrations of 3,500 and has helped put opposition to Bush's War Without End on the map.This is not to belittle the efforts of others who are fighting against war in other ways.
The SWP has been heavily involved in establishing and building the movement. It was set up on a united front basis -- co-operation between groups and individuals -- as far as I can see this is the only way to organise.
As you would expect our members are heavily involved.
The Irish Anti War Movement organised its conference several months ago as far as I am aware. I believe there was advance notice in Indymedia from Aoife several weeks before.
The Conference was an opportunity for activists to discuss the way forward and elect a steering committee reflecting the diverse elements represented. There was participation from PANA, the Campaign Againtst Sanctions in Iraq;the Cork Peace Alliance; anti Raytheon activists in Derry; Pax Christie and other groups. A number of individuals participated and there was a good few SWP members -- you would expect nothing less!
The clash with the weekend's events in Shannon was unfortunate. I don't know which was organised first but in a fast moving world clashes are inevitable.
I spoke on a broad platform in Galway a few weeks ago with one of the organisers of the Shannon event. I suggested that everyone should try to make one of the events. (The Saturday event was, if I am not mistaken, women only).
Now that that's cleared up can we get down to seriously organising opposition to Bush's War?
Kevin Wingfield
Socialist Workers Party
To clarify: the points I made above have nothing to do with this or that particular organisation (SWP or other), personal affiliations, etc.. I was just discussing the mode of organising within the anti war movement. Others are perfeclty free to disagree and question what I've written.
Pier Paulo
As far as i know (what Tom told me) was that if any other groups want to get involved in the IAWM then they can get someone on the steering committee if they want and to my knowledge the IAWM isn't saying that it represents everyone as you imply.
i think the problem of events happening simutaneously is because there is no coordination which is why i think it is good that some kind of national network is forming.
whats going on here is a witch hunt & i'm not particularly surprised. there are people on indymedia who claim to be radicals & civil libertarians.
however, if you dare to disagree with them then fire & brimstone will descend upon you. they will publish your personal details, not just in an act of anger but will go on to justify their right to do so afterwards.
i have disagreements with the swp & the way they "run" campaigns. that is why i'm involved in Libertareans Against Nice rather than the swp one. but i really don't see what can be acheived by whats happening on this thread.
do you have any regard for the imc privacy policy?
what is radical about naming who is who?
is this a "passionate telling of the truth" or an attempt to drive people off indymedia?
robust debate & polemics should take place on indymedia & its not a place for the fainthearted but what is going on here imho is against the core imc values.
I usually restrain from joining the debate on this newswire--mainly as a result of lack of time. But I want to say something on the present issue, and that's because it affects me personally as an activist. Many people in this country have done good and valuable work against the war. I have personally participated, along with others, in organising several protests and direct actions: at the airshow in Salthill, at Shannon airport, etc. Now I read on this newswire that a steering committe of the Irish Anti War Movement--i.e., if my English dictionary is anything to go by, a steering committee claiming to represent us all--has been set up, about which I, along with many other anti-war activists, have had no say.
Incidentally, this steering committe was elected during a meeting that took place on the same day in which women from Galway and other parts of Ireland were staging a 24 hour protest at Shannon airport, which was followed by an anti-war march involving women, children and men. Therefore many people who were actively organising against the war could not participate in the meeting that elected the steering committe that is now supposed to represent them. IAWM organisers were aware of this protest well in advance (the protest was publicised on indymedia and many other activist networks), and yet they did choose the date of the meeting to correspond with this protest. Though this is not my main point. My main point is simply that past experience shows (or should have shown) that the mode of organising exemplified by the account above will unavoidably lead to a series of divisive arguments among anti-war activists (in fact, this thread suggests that we are already there). Accusations of hijacking, sectarianism, oportunism, etc., will follow (the pattern will be familiar enough to anyone, so let me skip the boring and unpleasant details.)
But I am not simply writing to complain, I just wish to suggest that there are alternatives to this and hopefully one day we will all learn how to do things differently. Please don't tell me "come to the next AGM and voice your concerns", that's simply not the point. The point, I do repeat, is that there are other, less divisive ways of organising (that's my take on things anyway)--for instance, it's not compulsory to impose steering committes upon a movement that is diverse, plural and composed of many sectors. To sum up: you are of course perfectly free to organise the way you want, but you should be far more clear than you have been thus far about the fact that the IAWM is NOT the Irish anti war movement, but a part of it--a significant one at that, I have no problem whatsoever in granting you this--(though unfortunately the name you have chosen can't be said to help in this respect).
McCarthyism is dead, remember?? It is no longer respectable to engage in witch hunts and blacklists, or did nobody tell you?
I am glad someone is standing up against the war. More power to their elbow whoever they are.
By the way, you sneerers, what exactly are you doing against the war??
Colm Bryce; -> SWP
Long live Christopher Hitchens! Bush is the new Napoleon. Liberal democracy is under attack from mad, fascist, theocratic mullahs. And the majority-the vast majority-of the Irish people are on the side of the free democracies. So rant on poor Trotskyist fools, rant on...its all in vain.
Are you saying we should support the war because the SWP are against it?
Glenda Cimino;
Monica Flynn;
Joe Moore;
Colin Coulter;
Clare Lee;
Tom Lonergan;
Richard Boyd Barrett; -> SWP
Michael Birmingham;
Mary Van Lieshout;
Kristina McElroy;
Kieran Allen; -> SWP
Kelly-Ann Mullan;
Florence (Campaign Against Iraq Sanctions);
Colm Bryce;
Catherine Boothman;
Conor Joyce;
Aoife Ní Fhearghail ; -> SWP
Wanna name yourz????
Glenda Cimino;
Monica Flynn;
Joe Moore;
Colin Coulter;
Clare Lee;
Tom Lonergan;
Richard Boyd Barrett;
Michael Birmingham;
Mary Van Lieshout;
Kristina McElroy;
Kieran Allen;
Kelly-Ann Mullan;
Florence (Campaign Against Iraq Sanctions);
Colm Bryce;
Catherine Boothman;
Conor Joyce;
Aoife Ní Fhearghail
let's see what the indymedia community can do!