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Report of Dublin Anti-War Open Meeting held on 13 May
 national |
anti-war / imperialism |
news report
 Sunday May 14, 2006 14:33 by Fintan Lane - Anti-War Ireland
Some personal reflections
The following is a personal report of the third open anti-war meeting, which was held in the Teachers' Club, Parnell Square, Dublin, on Saturday, 13 May, between 2.30 and 5.30pm. This isn't a comprehensive report - and I'm sure I'll miss a few things - so I hope other participants will add to it in their comments. ATTENDANCE
The attendance was good, with between 30 and 35 anti-war activists present including members of the IAWM, Anti-War Ireland, Cosantoiri Siochana, Peace People, Belfast Peace and Justice Group, the Unmanageables, the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign, the Irish Socialist Network (Dublin and Belfast members) and the SWP. If I've left out anybody, please feel free to add your name in the comment section! There were also many 'non-aligned' anti-war activists present. A notable absence, I thought, were those from the anarchist wing of the anti-war movement - I don't think there were any members of Grassroots Dissent, Anarchist Youth or the WSM in attendance, and I do hope that changes at the next meeting. It's difficult to create a working relationship if groups absent themselves from the process. Likewise, PANA were not in attendance, though they had indicated in advance that they had a national meeting in Cork at precisely the same time.
DISCUSSION AND PROPOSALS
The initial three open meetings have effectively constituted a probing exercise, to see what's possible and how cooperation might develop. Key to this, obviously, is how the coordination and communication between groups and activists is structured. Consequently, a subgroup established at th 2nd meeting reported back with a set of proposals that, following discussion, were adopted as the basis for these gatherings.
A consensus emerged that the best way forward is to build on the existing structure. In other words, the current open plenary meetings should continue, but with a tighter agenda and an emphasis on practical co-operation. The intention is to facilitate greater communication and co-operation between the various anti-war groups. It is not intended to create a centralised umbrella body that would formally, or otherwise, direct its constituent parts. All discussion should be respectful of the diversity of the movement as a number of participating groups have diverse strategies and histories. At the same time, concerted efforts should be made to invite all anti-war groups nationally to participate and engage in working together and developing gradually a unified strategy. A unified strategy with diversity in tactics could be considered as a guiding principle in this respect.
More specifically, the following proposals were adopted as the basis for these gatherings:
1. Plenary coordination meetings should be held on a regular basis. While we consider the regularity paramount, the frequency of the plenaries can be decided upon on a case-by-case basis. The date of the subsequent meeting can be decided at the conclusion of each plenary meeting. We believe that it is also extremely important that these regular plenaries be moved around the country so as to build a national alliance and network. It was suggested at Saturday's meeting that the second-next meeting should be held in Belfast or Shannon.
2. The plenary meetings will be open to all, be they anti-war activists or not, and all anti-war groups should ensure that representatives attend.
3. The primary purpose of the plenary meetings is to facilitate communication, coordination and cooperation between all anti-war groups in Ireland. The concept of a ‘clearing house’ was introduced and we consider it to be a helpful tool in conceptualising what we are building.
4. The plenary meetings should include reports from each group, particularly with regard to recent actions (evaluation) and forthcoming activities (proposals). Plenary meetings, in this way, serve as a forum to discuss present and future strategies and tactics of the broad anti-war movement.
5. The plenary meetings can decide to work to mobilise support for forthcoming anti-war activities. For example, if the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign, which has now joined the alliance, indicates at a plenary meeting that it intends to mount a particular protest, those present may decide to collectively support and, more importantly, build for that action.
6. A plenary meeting may also decide to initiate an activity itself – this needs further discussion and clarification because we do not envisage these gatherings, at this stage, as anything more than a mechanism for coordination and cooperation.
7. It can be decided to focus certain plenary meetings on particular issues or themes, for example US warmongering on Iran, or the making the anti-war stance an election issue. A decision for such a focus must occur in advance and be taken at a plenary meeting. Such a decision can also be taken on the day by consensus.
8. Sub-groups to discuss or probe particular topics can be established by plenary meetings. These groups are to report back to the subsequent plenary meeting, or at a date set when the sub-group is established.
9. An agenda should be circulated by email at least three days in advance of the meeting and a report of the main proceedings of a plenary meeting should be posted on the web within a week of the event. A common email bulletin could also be created that is regularly sent to subscribers containing news and information from all the anti-war groups
It was also proposed at Saturday's meeting to set up a media/communications sub group. This will consider the establishment of a general anti-war website that will facilitate discussion (via a discussion board) and advertise forthcoming events (via a listings thread and a calendar). Using the Black Shamrock website seems like a good idea, assuming the Black Shamrocks approve the extensions (an events calendar) this might involve. As far as we understand, the underlying software is identical to that used for Indymedia.ie, so it is very flexible and familiar to most of us. In the meantime, it was agreed that we all use the blackshamrock.org website for posting anti-war notices, reports and for holding online discussions. www.blackshamrock.org is a dedicated anti-war website with open publishing. It's a wonderful site and needs to used more. In addition, all notices and reports should continue to be posted on indymedia - a website with a huge readership that is read by many interested activists who may not be directly involved in the anti-war movement but who are supportive.
Another important issue raised at the meeting is the place of women in the anti-war movement. This was brought up primarily by members of the Unmanageables and the general thrust was that inclusiveness is more than simply opening the doors - attitudes and behaviour at meetings also need to be addressed. One outcome of this discussion is that a woman - Deirdre Clancy - will facilitate the next plenary gathering.
CONCLUSION
These anti-war gatherings cannot allow themselves to slide into being talking shops. Coordination needs to lead to practical cooperation. It was with this in mind that the subgroup proposed the above structure and guidelines for the plenary sessions/gatherings. Activity must arise from these meetings or people, understandably, will walk away. That said, a bit of patience wouldn't go astray; some people have already strolled into the sunset, as if the nuts and bolts of this mechanism could be sorted out in one or two meetings. That was never likely to be the case. However, after our third meeting, we have made substantial progress and the next plenary session/gathering should provide a model of how the mechanism will work in the future.
We intend keeping things as simple and open as possible. Hence, the next meeting, to be held on 10 June, will be divided into three sections:
1. REPORTS from anti-war groups and individual activists. Aside from reports of recent activity, this will allow groups to mention forthcoming activities and to put their case for others to get involved with these events.
2. PROPOSALS/DISCUSSION arising from the forthcoming activities mentioned in the first section of the meeting. Groups or individuals may push for coordinated action and practical cooperation on specific activities, i.e. if the IPSC is holding a picket of the Israeli embassy, we may collectively decide to build for that activity. The philosophy behind this, obviously, is that genuine trust and cooperation will develop through joint work, i.e. if you help a friend, he or she will help you tomorrow, and so on. This section of the meeting will involve discussion as well as proposal - it will not be simply a case of a range of proposals being put forward, hands being raised and moving on to the next motion. Discussion is crucial for meaningful cooperation.
COFFEE BREAK
3. OPEN DISCUSSION, where we discuss topics relevant to the broad anti-war movement. We may decide to focus this, perhaps, on strategy, the threatened war on Iran, the Palestine question, our attitude to wars in Africa, imperialism and war, the Bush regime and its project, etc. etc. In other words, the topic can vary from the specific to the general. In my opinion, it is best to select the focus in advance. For the meeting on 10 June, we have decided to use this section to discuss the information and other resources of the broad anti-war movement and how, in practical terms, these can be shared. If there a way, we can, metaphorically speaking, put our collective resources into one box, which every group could then draw from?
The anti-war movement in this country has diminished, numerically speaking, and it is absolutely crucial that those active find constructive ways of working together - these meetings provide the best way forward at the moment.
So, just to remind people, the next plenary anti-war gathering is on Saturday, 10 June, between 2.30pm and 5.30pm. Deirdre Clancy will facilitate. The meeting is open to all, so please do make an effort to attend!!
Care/act
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Comments (25 of 25)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25I forgot to mention the venue for the next plenary gathering to be held on 10 June. The meeting will be held in the Teachers' Club, Parnell Square, Dublin.
Incidentally, if anti-war activists in any other (accessible) part of the country feel up to hosting future plenary sessions, they should let us know. It is important that these meetings rotate around the country soon. Cork, Shannon, Limerick or Belfast would be nice.
Couple of small things to add to Fintan's report.
It was good to hear that a number of people from DIT have been conducting some serious research on how our print media has been handling the occupation and the war in Iran over the past couple of years. There are plans for an open meeting on June 15th. Venue , time and details to come.
The iawm also announced three meeting on Guantanamo and Iraq.
Belfast May 25th, Dublin May27th (Wynns Hotel 8pm) and Cork My 28th. More details will be posted as they become available.
Good and interesting meeting - let keep it up comrades.
Iraq/Guantanamo meeting poster
Both the Pitstop Ploughshares and the Dublin Catholic Worker Group were also represented at the meeting. My apologies for that omission!
Thanks for a good report, Fintan.
Among lots of other business at the meeting, I volunteered to convene a sub-group to make plans for a strategy conference, where the network can analyse the current situation and devise a diversity of possible approaches to tackling the demilitarisation of Shannon, establishing and promoting Ireland as a neutral, peace-broking nation, etc.
My initial suggestion would be along the following lines:
A full day's conference - at least!
Participation of a diversity of peace groups and individuals.
Preferably outside of Dublin, e.g. Shannon, Limerick or Cork.
Structured agenda, facilitated by experienced activists.
Detailed analysis to increase depth of insight into the problem of our involvement in various wars.
Analysis and brainstorming to devise possible new approaches.
Repeatable.
I already have an idea of at least one person who could conduct a very constructive conference, based on a well-tested and structured approach. I might be able to supplement her approach with stuff from my own experience in Denmark, where the peace movement helped to persuade the defence minister to resign in April 2004.
Anybody interested in giving a hand to make practical arrangements (e.g. to arrange a venue) and to devise the programme, please contact me by e-mail or text NOW. Contact details above.
Best,
Coilín.
Does anybody know who this Dr Raeder Anderson guy is who seems to take up virtually all of the discussion threads (now deceased) and the news reports thread on the IAWM website? He appears to be based in Tulsa in the US and hasn't any real connection to the anti-war movement in Ireland.
I ask, not looking for personal info on him, but because he seems to post so many stories on the IAWM newswire that it makes it impossible for genuine reports of Irish anti-war activity to remain on the front page for more than a day or two. Most of Anderson's reports consist of stuff lifted from other sites and all of it could be read elsewhere by anti-war activists. What is the point of these repeated postings? He seems to be ruining the website. Part of the problem, of course, is the lack of traffic on the IAWM site and the few postings by people other than Anderson. I'm sure he's well meaning - in fact, I feel certain that he is - but surely, for the good of the website, he should be given his own news thread! Something should be done.
This is a query made in comradeship.
The tendency to post that type of story on irishantiwar.org is definitely not restricted to Anderson. Take a look at the website now, for example, the newswire is covered in "international" stories taken from all sorts of places. Boring in the main with one or two interesting ones. Storys from other sites are automatically deleted from indymedia. I suppose irishantiwar.org is a different type of website with different rules. That said, it is unreadable these days and has very little of relevance to the IRISH antiwar movement.
As an outsider, can I ask what may seem like a stupid question, but I really don't get something, so I'd appreciate a reply from someone who speaks for the Anti-War Movement (or the anti-war movement).
Is the group (or are the groups) "anti-war" in the sense that they are pacifist groups opposed to all wars?
the guy who got down late was part of grassroots dissent - hopefully more will attend next meeting with accompanying event, if there is one
Well, that would depend on the individual/group. Some are pacifists, some aren't and would support the right to armed resistance. It is a network, not a political party with a set policy on absolutely everything. There are various basic things that we all agree on, I suppose. There is general opposition to the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq. There was discussion at the meeting about broadening our focus to inlcude other wars, such as that in the Congo. One or two didn't agree with that. They didn't think it was politically advantageous as they didn't see African wars as imperialist wars (amazing perspective, given that it was imperialism that destabilised Africa in the first place - what they're basically saying is that we should just forget about African wars because they're not sexy enough as an issue to bring in recruits). I mean, it's impossible to generalise about these things when it's a coalition. There tends to be opinion ranging from the sublime to the ridiculous at all of these meetings, as is the case with many meetings in many settings. You try to find the common ground to see if the coalition is viable, and that is the stage we're at right now.
Most people so far seem to have found enough common ground to keep going. A couple of anarchists left the last meeting but that was because they didn't agree with something procedural about the way the meeting was going. The rest of the groups and individuals seem to have stuck it out, regardless of differences.
Good report. Sounds like a good meeting. Its important that the different strands find common ground sooner rather than later because Iran is next on the Bush hitlist. We should be mobilising about that now. It could happen any day.
Well done also MichaelY on those meetings! The IAWM should be supported in their efforts to highlight the use of torture and illegal detention by the Yanks. The lineup of speakers seems very good. I agree, though, with Fintan and RD's points on the IAWM website - it seems as if a few cyberactivists have been allowed to colonize it and make it unusable as a resource for antiwar activists in Ireland. I stopped looking at it last year for that reason.
Beir bua! Great to see all this good work. Well done IAWM! Well done Peace Network/Antiwar Ireland!
Why did the anarchists leave the previous meeting?
Just curious.
postings on irishatiwar.org are by about three or four very persistent people: the most active are Anderson (antiwar) and a Pat Nolan (prowar). The whole website is taken over by their sparring. blackshamrock.org is a replica of indymedia so much better as a site for antiwar activists. So far anyway. what if Anderson and Nolan find it?
Thanks for your answer. I suppose the root of my confusion is in the second part of my question: that is, why does the anti war movement never express any opinion on the situation here in Ireland? The are more British troops based here than in Iraq.
The impression given (and correct me if it's a wrong impression) is that the anti-war movement is only concerned with things that happen far away. It seems that events in Ireland are of no interest unless they have some connection with the middle east. Might it not be better (i.e. less confusing) to change the name of the umbrella group to reflect that its concern is only with certain types of conflicts?
"Anti-War gives a false impression".
My apostrophes got the better of me there. That should be
"anti-war" gives a false impression.
No, it doesn't.
'Anti-war' - unlike 'peace movement' - as Deirdre points out embraces all those opposed to the imperialist wars currently going on. I'm not a pacifist and I support an oppressed people's right to armed resistance, but not as a first option. I'm against the use of war for imperial or oppressive purposes, but I support those at the brunt of such violence who, with no other options, decide to physically defend themselves
President Bush bitch slaps Saddam.
Gaddafi pisses his pants.
Libya has now officially gotten out of the terror business.
War, huh. What is it good for?
Because of the lack of substantive input by IAWM posters, I try and keep the site updated from mostly US sources. Inexplicably, days will go by and not a soul posts anything. Is it Irish apathy? I have only been to Ireland four times, so I look forward to anti-war news from there at this site. God forbid that I overstay my welcome by what I post in News Headlines or the Discussion forum , which has not expired and whose death is greatly exaggerated! While brevty is the soul of wit, I will take your comments under advisement.
Fintan, after reading your comments about me a second time, I think you are totally correct; often I do feel like budinsky. There are about five of us who keep the Discussion thread alive, especially Richard Finlay, 21 year-old Irishman! Watch this brash young man by the way. Someday he will be better known in Ireland in the movie genre. Ever hear of GB Shaw, Oscar Wilde (Richard's honey is a babe; she's a knock out!), Brendan Behan, et al? Trust me, I spent years teaching on the university level and few like this young upstart came along. I am going to slack off, so I will be looking for YOUR post (s), Fintan Lane; I want to see that Irish wit!!!
Best wishes in solidarity,
ra
Someone kindly give me the email address or, in the alternative, mailing address for Fintan Lane. It is my understanding he has a terminal degree, a doctorate, even perhaps some talent, and has served time in jail. Is this a high calling in Ireland these days? I intend to answer his query , which made it to the Internet three (3) times under a Google Search. Apparently, this "guy" is a current sacred cow in Irish circles; I intend to let him know who I am, and what I consistently stood for while I was active at the much-maligned, and sleepy, IAWM site.
Well, well, Raedar Anderson, you're a real person. I wasn't aware that you'd posted THREE times in response to my query until just now.
You can contact me at [email protected]
I look forward to hearing from you.
Well, well, Raedar Anderson, you're a real person. I wasn't aware that you'd posted THREE times in response to my query until just now.
You can contact me at [email protected]
I look forward to hearing from you.
To Whom It May Concerm:
In great hope that the IAWM site will take my lead and continue relevant information on Cindy Sheehan, Hugo Chavez and Evo Morales; moreover gifted writers like Robert Thompsan, Esq., and Dr John Spritzler should be heard there. All five of these aforementioned individuals were introduced by yours truly; no big deal.
The outlets are there, but where is the original and substantive input? There must be something besides a cozy "club." Now, it is time to get off of its sleepy behinds and toughen up.
Robert "Thompsan" (sic); i.e., Thompson.
"v" asked why the anarchists left last month's meeting. As v didn't get around to asking them, I hit them with the question. The answer - sadly for some - had nothing to do with walkouts, splits or anything like that.
The Workers Solidarity Movement members present had been at their own conference the same day but took a couple of hours out to attend part of the anti-war meeting and then returned to their own gathering.
Hey, just to clarify we actually had to go back to our WSM conference upstairs otherwise we would have missed out on discussion of our position papers. I was quite enjoying the meeting even if I did think the format was somewhat problematic, I certainly wouldn't walk out in disgust.
www.wsm.ie