Yet more Shannon demo photos

by Jacob Struben Mon Dec 09, 2002 12:35

Hi,

The travelling public would greatly appreciate advance warning of any future demos with the intent of disrupting airport operations, so we can allow extra time to get there.

Many thanks in advance,

Jacob

by Alan Mon Dec 09, 2002 12:36

I wonder what's in the tank on the righthand side of the middle photo. Could it be water for spraying the crowd if the fence was breached? Or petrol for their Panzerfausts? Or deadly chemicals for their weapons of mass destruction?

Anyone know?

by Paul O'Donnell Mon Dec 09, 2002 12:38

Jacob, the demonstration was well publicised and word had gone out about it since the previous demo in October. It was mentioned on radio on Saturday and Sunday. In any case the delays were caused in the main by the police who insisted on checking every vehicle passing the main entrance.

by Ray Mon Dec 09, 2002 12:39

I'm sure the people organising the demonstration let as many people know about it as possible. Perhaps you should get on to RTE, and ask why they didn't inform the public that there'd be an anti-war protest at Shannon airport?

by iosaf Mon Dec 09, 2002 13:54

love how you´re doing it!
but these are a bit dark and sinister.
maybe you could highlight them with Photoshop?
and make them Cheerier?
just a thought.
:-)
well done.

by Eddie Mon Dec 09, 2002 14:08

It was turning dark early (winter solstice is less than a fortnight away).

It was cold

And with all those gardai, airport police and other unspecified spies it was certainly sinister.

by kitty-kat Mon Dec 09, 2002 14:26

yes indeed, it would be wonderful if the mainstream media, including "AA Roadwatch" (Autoholics Anonymous) the folks who usually inform the public about delays & watnot, would do their bloody job. during the lead up those involved with organisation of the protest came up against a great deal of resistance, from various parties, some allegedly having the same goals, to publicising the event. The needless division is dispiriting for those who see it for what it is… egotism run rampant and the reluctance of the media to forewarn is pretty self-explanatory. I do sympathise Jacob, personally I have no desire to infuriate or alienate folks who would otherwise be sympathetic to our cause by having them miss their flights etc. I would reiterate Ray’s suggestion above, seriously. People should be questioning the hush-hush approach - live on air if possible!

on a lighter note, I was delighted to see so many local kids getting in the spirit of things. I spoke to a few on the way who were impressed and motivated by the fact that so many people came from so far, and were frustrated by the local inactivity, hopefully that will soon change. Those of us involved in the shrine-ation of the tail fin were really moved by the two lads who came into the water to join hands and sing along, despite heavy police presence - and the temperature of the water! Whoever you two are, hats off, you have six hugs to collect!

Interesting that after witnessing us commit “criminal damage”, (the term was put to Farah), their were no arrests. In fact I had time to sit on the grass put on my shoes and socks, gather up my belongings, and put my coat on and walk slowly away (no bravado – my feet were killing me with the cold!). There must have been at least twenty shickiloonys around and not one approached me for my name…??? It seems to me the loonys are so reluctant for this issue to get airing in public, they are at pains NOT to arrest people…

by Abraham Afooliama Mon Dec 09, 2002 14:30

You should have been batoned out of it and had watercannons turned on you. You crusties could do with a wash.

by E Maloney Mon Dec 09, 2002 15:20

The State controlled broadcaster said there were 'several hundred' protesters at Shannon. The soottish radio holdings owned Today FM said 'one thousand'.

Whatever the correct version this was a pitiful amont of protestors out of a population of 4,000,000 people. I was considering going but frankly, the behaviour of some of the elements involved turned me off. I believe many others dont want to become involved when there are sinister, agressive minded elements involved. We want totally peaceful protest. The sight of some protestors defacing a sculptor is further evidence of the kind of elements that are involved with these protests. There was nothing funny or peaceful about this. It was vandalism and thats what got on tv. How could that help your cause????

I was on the anti-Regan rallies at Shannon in the early 1980s and there were about 8,000 there. Thats the sort of numbers we need. Please stop the aggressive, anti establishment type behaviour. We want to protest too, but not the way some of you are doing. Totally peaceful protest, respecting our laws, whether youlike them or not, will earn you respect.

by Ciaron O'Reilly - Dublin Catholic Worker Mon Dec 09, 2002 15:53 ciaronx at hotmail dot com

The transformation of the tail fin sculpture into a shrine to Iraqi children and memorial to Phil Berrigan was not vandalism. Consider it art to inspire you to action and not as an excuse for your affluent passivity.

by Flaco Mon Dec 09, 2002 16:25

Goodonya Ciaron, and fellow paddlers. Keep the faith.

by Conor - (WSM per capacity) Mon Dec 09, 2002 16:27 [email protected]

Just to second those comments of Ciarons
- I have NO RESPECT for people who can decide that other people's behaviour is "agressive" or "vandalism" if all you back seat drivers would get off your asses and get involved and have these debates then maybe we WOULD have 8000 people down on January 18th.
Futher more according to Clare fm 2 American planes loaded with troops paniced and diverted to Preswick - I'd class that as something - how ever minor - we've got to build on it !

"A little less conversation a little more action" to quote the king (well the only monarch I recognise)

Conor

by Joe Sheehan Mon Dec 09, 2002 17:12

this was a peaceful protest as have all protests held in Shannon. When you consider that the Irish Government is allowing the USA to move their troops through the Warport and head out to Kuwait with the intention attacking Iraq, we have been too bloody peaceful.
If you want your type of peaceful protest then organise one.
Come down off the fence and actually do something other than criticise other peoples work.
Oh and Again I say congratulations to the Catholic worker people inspiring work!

by kitty-kat Mon Dec 09, 2002 17:14

E Maloney, I welcome your comments as it gives me the incentive to like to clarify a few things, because I feel it is very important as others may be as confused as you. And especially if, as you say, you were originally inclined to go and were put off by the “elements” that were involved in Sunday’s action. I cannot see anything sinister or aggressive about pasting pictures of Iraqi children and spray painting a message on a sculpture. In my mind that is a peaceful protest, no one’s being attacked here. Apathy is being attacked, compliance is being attacked.
I think the term ‘peaceful protest’ might easily be supplanted with passive non-constructive protest were to merely show up walk around with placards and chant.
The action was by no means intended to be funny in any way. Likewise, there was no malice or aggression in the hearts or heads of any of those involved in the action, which I’m sure you are aware, involved only six people of the hundreds present. As is the nature of such a gathering, there is/was/shall be no obligation for anyone else present to participate if they do not agree with the action.
Furthermore the action was significantly far away from the rest of the protestors not to endanger them – as was the plan.
The association of violence, aggression and sinister elements with property damage seems disproportionate, (particularly something as temporary as spray paint and paper) stemming methinks from our tendency as a society to over-value possessions whilst undervaluing fellow human beings. I’m disappointed that this misconception is still so prevalent, if people blindly obeyed laws they didn’t agree with very little would’ve changed over the years. If the law of the establishment violates the law of nature; that every living life is sacred I, like many others, cannot meekly obey. It is also perhaps worth bearing in mind that the reason we are mobilising to Shannon is that our laws ARE being violated BY THE VERY PEOPLE WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO UPHOLD THE LAW.

I write this in the utmost sincerity and respect for your concerns, and though you used the term “your cause” as opposed to “ours”, I think perhaps if you looked at previous actions and the thinking these come from you would not judge so harshly. The message on the fin was “The War Stops Here” quoting Phil Berrigan a man who dedicated his life to resisting war and injustice non-violently but illegally and consequently spent much time in prison. Have a gander at www.nuclearpeace.co.uk or www.public.usit.net/pshare/ in fact any search on the internet with plow shares/ ploughshares should prove enlightening.

In Peace & Solidarity

by Podge Tue Dec 10, 2002 11:12

next time can someone bring some washing up liquid? (OK, ok - ecologically sound washing up liquid...)

by hopespringseternal Tue Dec 10, 2002 14:32

I was down in Shannon and Sunday and it angered me as much as the next person to see members of our Garda Siochana being used to defend uninvited U.S. warplanes, to defend treason, when there job is to defend the law and the constitution which is what we were doing.

But hope being hope, I would actually like to think some, if not most of them, are against the war. As I said them, saying "I was only taking orders" is as weak a defense now as it was in 1945.

But is it too optimistic to think maybe that the gardai didn't arrest those who made the tribute to Fr. Berrigan out of empathy and some sort of solidarity. Hope springs eternal.

Two planes diverted. Change is gonna come.

-D

by pacifist Fri Dec 13, 2002 19:17

scatikittikat well done

there is surely no real gain from words and banners(alone)peaceful organised protest need not be passive and civil-the hive will only be woken by unrest-that doesn't mean assault or violence against the garda...but at least give them something to do on a cold day,they were bored stiff...

by Rich Fri Jan 10, 2003 12:33

when the bombing of Iraq begins the US Air Force wil use precision guided bombs and dumb bombs to hit army barracks, troop concentrations, tanks, artillery guns, SAM launchers, Scud facilities, nuclear, chemical and biological weapons storage facilities, bridges , roads and command centres.
This will weaken the Iraqi forces ability to fight the forces of democracy and freedom as they storm the fascist occupied country.
Unfortunately the target areas are often in the middle of populated areas and many innocent people will die. But how many people will die if the aggressive fascist Saddam Hussien invades the entire middle east?
How can you socialist liberals protest against the forces which will liberate the Iraqi people from their oppressor?