Catholic Worker Occupation of Irish Aviation Authority

by redjade Tue Nov 04, 2003 15:34

{ photos by redjade } (c)

by redjade Tue Nov 04, 2003 15:43

{ photos by redjade } (c)

on to the Four Courts...

by redjade Tue Nov 04, 2003 15:45

{ photos by redjade } (c)

Back at Irish Aviation Authority, the occupation lasts over hour and half, no arrests

by Ruairi Tue Nov 04, 2003 16:02

Fair play.

You are all great and powerful people.
- Good to see some smiles thrown in there.
We need to smile more.

ONWARDS AND UPWARDS!

by Gerry Frain Tue Nov 04, 2003 21:32

All this off the wall crap. Quoting that murdering bastaed the pope who has done mre to spread AIDS in Africa than anyone. Dirty paedophile protector pervert.

by yonni Tue Nov 04, 2003 22:27

interesting you're using rhetoric that is so authoritarian its the mirror image of what we're meant to be opposing; i guess then that the voices in the world trying to erode diversity and enforce a deadening conformity a la george w bush find a resonance with you. pity.

by Agnostic Worker Tue Nov 04, 2003 22:45

Good work. Keep doing what you are doing.
The photos are generally self-explanatory, but a few more written details would also be useful.

by yonni Wed Nov 05, 2003 00:31

the purpose of occupying the aviation authority was both to protest the continuing complicity of our government in the unlawful occupation of Iraq and the flouting of the human rights of the Iraqui people and to offer prayers for all those who have died since the invasion began. Once inside two of us, one muslim, one catholic, led the group in prayers for the dead alternating between the traditional office of the dead and muslim prayers for the dead chanted in arabic. the vibe inside was very beautiful despite continued attempts to throw us off balance (including at one point playing Gilbert and Sullivan operetta music on the radio!).interestingly the guards seemed to be somewhat sympathetic and made no moves to arrest us.

by Yoni Wed Nov 05, 2003 03:32

Explain yourself. Please point to me that statute that prohibits the enforcement of 18 binding UN resolutions.

by 46 Wed Nov 05, 2003 04:01

If you're going to talk about "the enforcement of 18 binding UN resolutions" then you need to examine the UN process of enforcement.

-----------
Article 46 of the UN Charter

Plans for the application of armed force shall be made by the Security Council with the assistance of the Military Staff Committee.
-----------

The Security Council did not authorise the War so it is against the UN Charter and against International law.

by Yoni Wed Nov 05, 2003 04:14

Article 46 addresses the planning of military action by UN FORCES.

The decapitation of the Iraqi government was not a UN military action and was certainly not illegal as there are no binding laws between sovereign states, only agreements.

You would sound a little less foolish, naive and brainwashed if you dropped the term illegal. Who knows you might win some people over. Give it a try.

by Pitstop Ploughshares Wed Nov 05, 2003 06:22

is our soul that brought us here. It is our soul that got us in
trouble. It is our conception of man. But our moral passion is
banished from this court. The Trial of the Catonsville Nine, Daniel
Berrigan.

As a Shannon defendant, it can be important continually to remind
oneself that soul is at the heart of the nonviolent civil disobedience
in which you have engaged: this is to prevent the court process from
gradually stealing yours. It is easy to become demoralized by the
conveyer belt nature of the legal process, not to mention the placid,
utilitarian acceptance we are now witnessing within our mainstream
media of the fact of the bombardment and ongoing occupation of Iraq (as
displayed, for example, on RTEs Questions and Answers on Monday night
by each and every panellist) . The consistent silencing of authentic
and intelligent dissenting voices within our media, such as that of
Harry Browne, in favour of banal analyses designed not to offend middle
Ireland, can be another source of disillusionment. The hypocrisy of the
Irish Times, which has silenced Browne because he is too political,
while championing the bizarre and unfunny right-wing rants of Kevin
Myers as somehow acceptable, is but one example of a wider malaise
within the outlets that are supposed to inform and stimulate us.

Like many post-colonial countries, we have now become the two-tier
society our ancestors once resisted, and we have lost sight of our own
fine tradition of civil disobedience. What would the likes of Michael
Davitt (to take one example) think of our planning tribunals and the
persistence of corrupt landlordism in our cities? Indeed, even amongst
those who in theory opposed the invasion of Iraq, there can be a dull
disbelief that anyone would willingly engage in a course of action to
resist the war, knowing that it will probably land them with a jail
term. The question So, how far had you run before the Guards caught
you? is a common one, and when you explain that you actually sat and
waited to be arrested, the reaction can be one of incredulity. At this
point, you generally decide you had better not explain how you invited
the guards to join you in a beautiful act of disarmament, except to the
converted.

It was in this climate that the Pitstop Ploughshares, or Catholic
Worker five, were headed back to the Dublin Circuit Court on Monday
November 3rd, nine months after their disarmament action, for another
pre-trial hearing. Somehow, however, as the day unfolded, it became
evident that the social and political malaise that we see through our
official channels is not necessarily reflective of the popular mood. As
a relatively large and diverse crowd of about 40 gathered at the Spire
on OConnell Street, to vigil and then march to the Four Courts, there
were murmurings that something unexpected was afoot. As Maruta, a
Japanese Buddhist nun, beat her drums for peace, we diverted from our
planned itinerary and proceeded to the Aviation Building on the quays,
where several supporters of the Pitstop Ploughshares were conducting a
sit-down occupation in the foyer of the building. Theologian John
Robinson, who did a similar occupation of the same building previously,
had decided that his conscience was calling him to do so once more. He
was ultimately joined by six like-minded people, including Iraqi peace
activist Nuria Mustafa (who will appear in Shannon District Court on
November 20th along with several others on charges of obstructing
traffic near the airport on June 21st). Nuria, who is currently fasting
for Ramadan, prayed with John and others for the casualties of the
invasion and occupation of Iraq, in what was a truly ecumenical act of
civil disobedience. The seven constructed a shrine to the Iraqi dead,
recited the Office of the Dead and chanted Muslim prayers, as they
nonviolently confronted the Aviation Authority on its complicity in the
ongoing war and occupation of Iraq. The others involved in the
occupation were: Martin McGowan of the Potato Ploughshares and Sligo
Catholic Worker; solidarity activist Deborah Bermingham; Dublin
anti-sanctions and anti-war campaigner John Fitzgibbon; Bill Tynan,
Australian Christian Brother who has been based in East Timor; and
Ronan, a Spiritan seminarian from Kimmage Manor. The occupation
continued for several hours, and although the guards were finally
called in, they appeared extremely reluctant to arrest those assembled,
who eventually left of their own accord.

Those bound for the Four Courts bade farewell to the protestors at the
Aviation Building, and marched up the quays. Outside the Four Courts,
Damien Moran of the Pitstop Ploughshares spoke of the Ramadan Protest
still ongoing on the quays, and the fact that the system of
exploitation that perpetrated the unjust war and occupation of Iraq is
alive and well in our own city, as evidenced by the large homeless
population of Dublin (amongst whom he works). Moran knows instinctively
that it is important that the peace movement engages both cerebrally
and in its praxis, with the question of how militarism connects with
economic and social injustice at home as well as abroad: concretizing
the abstract is an important part of the struggle against economic
imperialism, of which militarism is a part.

Meanwhile, in Dublin Circuit Court 8, junior counsel Giollosa
lideadha ably conducted the short hearing on behalf of the Pitstop
Ploughshares five in front of Judge Hogan. Hogan assigned the case to
Judge Matthews, in front of whom the five will be up for mention again
on November 19th, this time hopefully to set a trial date for early
next year.

Vigils in solidarity with the Pitstop Ploughshares five took place
internationally: at Top Oil stations in Dublin and Galway; in Derry at
Raytheon; at Shannon Airport; at the Irish Consuls in Sydney and in
Melbourne Australia; in London at the Irish Embassy; in Washington DC
at the Irish Embassy; at the Irish Consul in Auckland, New Zealand; at
Christchurch, Harewood, USA; in Seattle, where the Office of the Dead
was read in a Church; in South Wales; and at the Irish Embassies in
Paris and Brussels. All in all, the day illustrated that although the
legal system can be dehumanizing, with its lack of engagement with the
moral thinking around nonviolent acts of disarmament, and its feverish
rush to criminalize resisters instead of those perpetrating the genuine
destruction and murder, it has not succeeded in preventing people from
displaying their concern through acts of resistance. The Ramadan
occupation of the Aviation Building, along with the other solidarity
actions, again confirm for those on trial that the soul of civil
disobedience against imperialism and militarism is alive and growing in
Ireland, with or without the support of mainstream, establishment
institutions such as our politicians and media.


Deirdre Clancy, 2003. (Pitstop Ploughshares)

by a brother Wed Nov 05, 2003 06:36 Detroit, USA

...that UN forces should have been used to enforce 18 UN binding resolutions?

That's obviously not what happened, right genius?

But your idiotic double talk does reveal something.

Legality within the iinternational arena is largely a myth,
only to be trotted out as a fig leaf whenever The Great Power needs it for PR purposes.

To quote Tariq Ali, "For the South of the world, UN=US'.

by Slarti Wed Nov 05, 2003 07:05

Before you start shooting your mouth off about the UN charter, try reading it.

Start with Article 2.3 & 2.4:

"All Members shall settle their international disputes by peaceful means in such a manner that international peace and security, and justice, are not endangered. "

"All Members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations. "


You coukld then try Article 33:
"The parties to any dispute, the continuance of which is likely to endanger the maintenance of international peace and security, shall, first of all, seek a solution by negotiation, enquiry, mediation, conciliation, arbitration, judicial settlement, resort to regional agencies or arrangements, or other peaceful means of their own choice."

and Article 37.1:
"Should the parties to a dispute of the nature referred to in Article 33 fail to settle it by the means indicated in that Article, they shall refer it to the Security Council."

You could even read the start of the preamble:
"WE THE PEOPLES OF THE UNITED NATIONS DETERMINED
to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind"

And then you might see why "The decapitation of the Iraqi government was not a UN military action" was JUST ONE of the reasons why it WAS illegal.

by a question Wed Nov 05, 2003 18:48

'' including Iraqi peace activist Nuria Mustafa (who will appear in Shannon District Court on
November 20th along with several others on charges of obstructing traffic near the airport on June 21st).''

thanks for the report Deirdre, very thoughtful.

is there a solidarity brigade going up to Nuria's court appearance from Dublin?

by Fintan Lane - IAWM Wed Nov 05, 2003 19:48 087 1258325

I think that eight people in total are facing charges on November 20th arising out of the roundabout sitdown on June 21st when gardai frustrated the right to protest by refusing to allow the march near the airport.

As well as Nuria and her husband, Laurence Vize of the IAWM steering committee will be before the court, two activists from Cork, and three others (whose names I don't have). This case will be discussed at the IAWM steering committee and people should be travelling from Dublin. People will definitely be travelling from Cork!

I'll post about this again following the steering committee meeting at the weekend.

by Fintan Lane Wed Nov 05, 2003 19:55

...is John, who has been staunchly involved in the protests against the abuse of Shannon airport.

by Yoni Wed Nov 05, 2003 23:02

The UN is simply a club of nations with it's own rules formed by agreement, not bound by any "international law". The UN has overseen the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Iraqis from 1993 to 2003, they're in NO position to get moralistic about this.

Believe me, I'm telling you plainly that talking about "illegal war" only makes you sound stupid to the majority of us who are willing to give the Iraqi people a decent future. In all fairness, the US is forking out $87bn dollars. Where's the profit motive in that?

by b0dB Thu Nov 06, 2003 14:30

Thought it might be of interest to note that the Irish Aviation Authority website, www.iaa.ie, was hacked some time back (early April '03) but never made the media at the time.

Proof of the hack, can however still be seen at the excellent Zone-h.org website by following the link below:
http://www.zone-h.org/en/defacements/view/id=217086/

Click on "Display Mirror" to see the original defacement

b0dB

by redjade Thu Nov 06, 2003 17:14

just a note that I wanted to add to the photo series but forgot...

I had a series of photos of the vigil in fromt of the Four Courts but some how they got messed up when I pulled them out of the camera, oh well.

the 40 something crowd at the Four Courts was interesting by the diversity of members of different groups that came out.

[just because individual members of these groups showed their solidarity and support doesn't mean, of course, their groups endorse the CW5 nor the nasty horrible things they did]

in no particular order...

Paz Christi
Afri
UCD Global Action
Mission Alive!
Iirish Anti-War Movement
New York Catholic Worker
Australia Ploughshares Support
Irish Missionary Union
Colombans
Spiritans
Irish Palestine Solidarity
IMPACT
Green Party
Socialist Workers Party
someone who represented 'himself'
and a nice guy from Chile.

I may have missed a few others

by redjade Thu Nov 06, 2003 20:27

From http://www.MuslimWakeUp.com

''This morning, I realize that my faith is weaker than that of the seven brave souls who occupied the Irish Aviation Authority offices on Monday in a Catholic Worker Ramadan Action.

They were protesting their country’s complicity in the invasion and occupation of Iraq. They were also there to support another group of selfless people of faith, the Pit Stop Ploughshares Five, who in the early morning hours of February 4 managed to crawl into the airfield being used by the US military to transport troops and weaponry for the Iraq invasion. They constructed a shrine dedicated to the children of Iraq with copies of the Bible and the Qur’an. They then proceeded to hammer away at a US bomber in a hangar, causing millions of dollars in damage before being arrested. The five were imprisoned, but have since been freed awaiting trial early next year. Since their action, many of the military flights have had to be re-routed through Frankfurt.

May peace and blessings this Ramadan be with these sisters and brothers.''

more at
http://www.muslimwakeup.com/ramadan/archives/000334.php

by Drbinoche Thu Nov 06, 2003 23:33

Maybe the Muslim Wake Up thingy should REALLY wake up and realise that the plane that was 'disarmed' whatever you wanna call it was NOT a bomber it was logistics aircraft. In other words you have just posted an ill-informed and foolish report. The reporter makes it sound like Shannon had B-52s and B-1s and all of those parked out there for the duration of the war. And now we also know that the extremists would love to take on a parked US Bomber, so now this very report has provided a target for attack by falsely giving the impression that there are US Bombers at the airport. Good one!!!

by Ciaron - Dublin Catholic Worker Fri Nov 07, 2003 09:30

Dribbles Chill, You're getting all worked up and excited. Remember trolling is just a job you do for the state, don't get so emotionally involved!

Yep like the Kingdom of God, the war machine is one body with many parts. As you say disarmed, disabled, whatever....

The frightening scenario you present of nonviolent pacifists disarming a B-52 Bomber on a runway has been done a few times before. Check
www.ploughsharesactions.org
- go to"chronology", look under
"Griffiss Plowshares"
-"Anzus Plowshares"
-"Gods of Metal Plowshares"....all B-52's disarmed on runways. No drama Drib.

B-52's might look a little more exotic, but the plane that was servicing the 6th. fleet that was disabled twice at Shannon, servicing the slow killing sanctions did the imperial job of turning the screw and killing kidz

by yonni Sun Nov 09, 2003 00:42

Re onward goyim soldiers - very clever but wrong. I think we can all agree that Sharon's administration is utterly wrong and that the IDF is guilty of flagrant human rights abuses; however the Star of David is a symbol that is common to all Jews . As you know (or certainly should) there are many Jews who disagree with what is happening and are taking action to resist it not least within Israel, Palestine and the occupied territories. As one of the people who occupied the aviation authority (and I assume as you posted your text here it is intended in some way as a comment on our action), I can say that if sterotyping an entire group of people as a scapegoat (again) to make the rest of us feel cosy is the upshot of all our efforts at resistance then we really are wasting our time. Thankfully, I believe for the majority of us this is not the case.

by Liam Wed Nov 19, 2003 10:07

Praise goes to the work of all the people involved
Look after each other . Keep the smiles shining.
There are allys in every corner in every guise. Respect.
It does not surprise me that the gardaí didn't interfere with the univrsal work.
beir bua agus beannacht...