Uniting peace activists

by Claire Porter Tue Mar 25, 2003 14:09 claireporter at eircom dot net

For groups to keep a list of contact details for other Anti-War Groups is a far cry from centralisation or even full organisation under one name, and is vital so we don't make foolish errors.

Reasons to keep in contact:
1) To communicate very basic informateion. eg: to making sure that there are no more 'errors' (eg different start times & places were published on posters by different organisations for previous Shannon Demos, and the situation arose where 2 demonstrations unintentially clashed on the same weekend)
2) To prevent duplicating workloads for very similar campaigns.
3) To share resources: press lists, TD lists, contacts with other groups.
4) Get gather people to participate in individual campaigns, thereby increasing the likelihood of a successful campaign.
5) The more differences of opinion we have between groups, the more important it is to make a DELIBERATE effort to contact each other, as it will require a bit more effort.

by Intransigent Tue Mar 04, 2003 18:48

Ann McGee wishes to forgive Richard Boyd Barrett and co. That is very funny. I'm laughing hysterically. Just for your information RBB and IAWM didn't condemn GNAW. What they did say was that DA is a tactic not a principle as various anarchist groups seem to feel. And that DA on March 1st was not the desired tactic with that many pigs and solders about. Oh and the IAWM didn't destory the GNAW or the march. The GNAW did that to themselves by publishing the fact that they wanted to pull the fence down again. When I was at shannon when the fence was pulled won I remember why it was able to pull it down. Maybe we didn't tell the cops what we wanted to do. It was spontaneous and that is why it worked on that occassion. Hey VIL! Do you remember Kronstadt?

by Ann McGee Tue Mar 04, 2003 18:46

No need for some list of emails and groups somewhere is there? What does it add?

by Aisling Tue Mar 04, 2003 16:29

It seems some people have misunderstood my request- the last thing I want to do is set up yet another anti-war group or a centralised committee or anything similiar- I just think it would be useful for all (ALL) anti-war groups to be able to contact each other if and should they want or need to. The state probably has a list of all such organisations- why don't we? I'm not asking for anybody's personal info or numbers or anything- just the contact info for peace groups that each group puts on their flyers/posters/websites etc. Then every group can access it if they want to advertise a demonstration or an action or suggest ways to pressurise our politicians. It seems a bit daft for example that the Dingle Peace Alliance has a peace vigil every Saturday night that peace activists in Tralee didn't know about until recently. 4 different groups in Cork have already contacted me and it will obviously be useful for them to have access to each other.
If you don't trust me, I guess that's fair enough, but I am only looking for contact info that is available anyway in your local area, presuming that nobody secretly inducts people into these kinds of groups under cover of darkness!

by -9- Tue Mar 04, 2003 15:34

Honestly I didn't like the demo last sat, I think we need to focus on our goal, but no leadership, please.

by Terry Tue Mar 04, 2003 12:28

Aisling, we are better off with a variety of separate movements, because if they are
all centralized, it will be impossible to get a consensus because none exists and we
should be respecting people's differing views not imposing a centralised viewpoint.

Besides, centralised committees, groups or whatever you want to call them or it, can be
co-opted by the state or others, it can be dominated, it will generally lose contact
with the grassroots of the movement, because it is so busy with activities at the top.
Another factor is the State can start holding them accountable, sue them, or even jail
them. It is then like chopping of the head and the rest of the beast has no direction.
Besides having lots of different groups allows for more ideas and diversity.

But one final warning is the way, in the 60s and 70s in the USA, many of the civil rights
and Black movements were centralized and their leaderships were easily destroyed by
COINTELPRO operations by the FBI. The same will happen here. If you are not familiar with
COINTELPRO, I advise you to check it out (try a search with google) and have a good read.

by pat c Tue Mar 04, 2003 11:19

Its basic security. If people dont know wo you are, then they should establish yer bona fides before responding.

by Intransigent Tue Mar 04, 2003 01:03

As you saw on Saturday we are not. What I heard is that everyone hates everyone right now. Well maybe not so extreme. But IAWM are having divisions inside. Some IAWM hate GNAW. Some GNAW hate IAWM. Some GNAW hate WSM. Sparts hate evrybody cause they are mad. SWP and SP control anti war movement. Labour wants to control PANA. SF are confused and lost because of Amecian support. Anarchists talk of direct action but only ever seem to use it on autonomus elitist approach. SWP talk about mass civil disobedience. WSM would like that but don't practice it. Greens want to save some trees. A noble cause. I want a list of people so that I can contact them and recruit them to my group. How very novel indeed. Taking a leaf from the direct marketing people I see. After my little rant about some problems I do though believe that unity is key to the movement despite the differing poltics of those invbolved (me making reference to the damn liberals who left all of us be it SP, SWP, anrachists or non aligned to hold the demo on our own. fuck you SF with your left wing rhetoric. Act on it don't just talk it.) Hey VIL! Do you remember Kronstadt?

by zzzzzzzzzzz Tue Mar 04, 2003 00:23

"Virtual warriors tearing down internet fences"

by Ann McGee Mon Mar 03, 2003 23:22

There's been enough petty squabble and sectarian bickering with the IAWM attacking GNAW and raising the spectre of violence. Surely now is the time for all socialist comrades to unite and fight the real enemy George W. Bush?

We should forgive Richard Boyd Barrett and Dominic Haugh in the interests of Socialist unity and work towards a larger direct action at Shannon in which they will not repeat their mistake of attempting to fragment the movement for party political gain.

It's time for activists to get serious about stopping the war and to stop parrotting tabloid and party rhetoric.

Let us unite behind direct action, marches, general strikes and newspaper sales.

by Well done Mon Mar 03, 2003 20:57

With people giving out about so much about different peoples ideas and actions i think that anyone who is trying to bring it all together is doing a good think. Keep it up. thanks.

by The Midlander Mon Mar 03, 2003 19:27

Groups are springing up everywhere and things are still pretty much together. Is posting above a ruse by SPH to gain some control over this diverse movement? If so, bog off!

by James McKenna Mon Mar 03, 2003 18:39

making a survey of anti-war actvists?

It's ok we'll be fine as we are thanks.

Can I have you name and phone number and the numbers of two of your friends who are also active in the Anti-war movement?