Bush - not welcome here

by daffy duck - none Wed May 28, 2008 11:46

I was in Belfast yesterday at the Raytheon 9 trial and the irony of the Bush visit was mentioned in the short speech that Colm Bryce, one of the 9, gave before they went into the court.
The irony is that politicians in this country will be falling over themselves for the chance of a photo opportunity with the man who gave the orders for the bombing of countless thousands of innocent Iraqi civilians and the continued occupation of their country for oil and political clout.
Meanwhile nine men are on trial for trying to stop the murder machine called Raytheon from inflicting more death on innocent Lebanese civilians. Not one politician has expressed any support for them in this country.
As for the above comment, I think Jim the troll needs a reality transplant.
But the more people we can get out to demonstrations, the more we make sure that the war crimes will not be forgotten

by seriousaboutbuildingaresponse Wed May 28, 2008 16:58

Dear All

A big thank you to everyone who signed the letter opposing the visit of George Bush to Belfast next month. The letter has been sent to all the papers in the hope it will be published by at least some of them!

All those who signed the letter are being invited to an organising meeting on Thursday 29th May 2008. The meeting has been called by the Belfast Anti War Movement and will be attended by representatives of the Fire Brigade's Union, the National Union of Students/USI, Belfast Trade's Council, the Muslim Families Association, Belfast Islamic Centre, and Unison - all of whom are backing a demonstration/demonstrations on the day Bush arrives here. It is also hoped that as many signatories to the letter as possible will attend the organising meeting - so please come along, whether you signed the letter as part of a group or signed in an individual capacity. It is important that there is a broad range of people involved in agreeing the format of the events and the speakers etc and adding their talents to designing posters and publicising the events.

The demonstration is also being backed by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (NI). Members of other unions and organisation are currently arranging to get backing from their organisations. As well as that, a whole series of individuals are backing the demonstration.

As Bush's intended whereabouts on the 16th June is not yet known, the agreement so far is that there will be a lunchtime rally at city hall at lunchtime on the 16th. When it is discovered where he will actually be (likely Stormont) a demonstration and transport etc can be organised for that.

In order to build the maximum possible demonstrations on the day, a public meeting has been organised for next Wednesday evening. The meeting has a great line up and posters to help build it will be available at tomorrow's meeting and will be emailed around.

Please find details of the organising meeting and the public meeting and the lunchtime rally and the signatories to letter below.

Organising meeting
6pm Thursday 29 May 2008
Transport House, High Street
(last building at end of street, beside Albert Clock)

public meeting - all welcome

BELFAST SAYS NO TO BUSH

7pm Wednesday 4 June 2008

Transport House, High Street Belfast
(last building at end of street beside Albert Clock)

Speakers:
Rose Gentle - Military Families Against War (her son Gordon was killed in Iraq)
Eamonn McCann - Journalist and Campaigner, currently standing trial as part of "Raytheon 9"
Rayed Al Wazzan - Muslim Families Association

Chair:
Brian Kelly - award winning US author and historian

lunchtime rally - all welcome

BELFAST SAYS NO TO BUSH

12.30pm Monday 16 June 2008

City Hall

Called by:
Belfast Anti War Movement

Supported by:
Irish Congress of Trade Unions - NI
Unison
Fire Brigades Union
Belfast trades Council
National Union of Students- USI
Irish Anti War Movement
Justice not Terror
(others to be added when confirmed)

* Other actions on the day to be confirmed

GEORGE BUSH – NOT WANTED HERE

We are appalled at the news that George Bush will visit Belfast next month. It is disgraceful that his visit is as a result of an invitation issued by the First Minister and Deputy First Minister.

This part of the world more than most places has an understanding of the deep damage and pain that war and conflict produces. George Bush is internationally regarded as a warmonger. The so called “war on terror”, now rebranded as the “war for democracy” that he has championed has inflicted that damage and pain on countless millions.

The world has seen the particular type of Bush “democracy” that was brought to Iraq in the form of the torture photos of prisoners held at Abu Ghraib Prison and the pictures of twisted bodies lying in the streets of Baghdad’s marketplaces. There are now over 2 million internally displaced Iraqis who have been forced to flee their homes. There are also over 3 million refugees who have been forced to flee the country completely.

According to CNN almost a third of all Iraqi children are suffering from chronic malnutrition and almost three quarters of Iraqi civilians no longer have access to clean water.

Bush’s phony war has done nothing except create global misery and despair. His justification of the war has been to condemn Muslims as backward fundamentalists prone to violence. This has led to a massive increase in Islamophobia and racist attacks committed against those perceived to be Muslim has risen massively in recent years.

Apart from the war, Bush’s international crimes include a refusal to sign up to Kyoto and a refusal to do anything meaningful about global warming. This has placed the lives of millions of people in immediate danger due to the freak weather conditions that are already taking place. Longer term, the very planet itself is at risk.

Bush has also been responsible for misery much closer to home. Americans rightly accused Bush of leaving the residents of New Orleans to perish following Hurricane Katrina simply because they were black and poor and therefore considered expendable. Whilst he has spent countless billions on the war he has left millions of Americans without a proper healthcare system and a proper social security infrastructure. Bush has presided over a country where ordinary working people have seen their conditions deteriorate massively. While the poor have gotten poorer, the rich have gotten richer.

George Bush is the most unpopular President in US history. According to the Washington Post his current approval rating is less that thirty percent.

George Bush is not liked in the US and he is not liked here. It is not surprising that media blogs following the announcement were filled with messages condemning the visit.

When George Bush visits here in June we will make sure that he is followed by protests wherever he goes. We call on all of those who oppose this visit to ensure that they are on those protests and that they make their voices heard.

OUR MESSAGE IS CLEAR GEORGE BUSH IS NOT WANTED HERE.

Moazzam Begg - Former Guantanamo Bay Detainee

Richard Belmar – Former Bagram Airbase and Guantanamo Bay Detainee

Patricia McKeown - Regional Secretary UNISON

Jimmy Kelly - Regional Secretary UNITE/A&TGWU

Jim Barbour - Executive Council FIRE BRIGADES UNION

Brian Campfield - Belfast & District Trades Council

Kevin Doherty - Belfast & District Trades Council

Richie Brown - Education Officer, UNITE/A&TGWU

Dominic Murray – International Officer UNISON RVH

Sean McMonagle - Community Worker, Derry

John Mc Laughlin - Union Organiser UNITE

Brian Crawford, Chairperson, NIPSA ’s Equal Opportunities Committee

Jim Quinn Senior Organiser (acting) UNITE

Naomi Connor - Branch 8 NIPSA

Patrick McGinley - Branch 8 Secretary NIPSA

Eamonn McCann - Journalist & Raytheon 9

Goretti Horgan - Derry Anti War Coalition

Davy Maguire - Musician/Artist

Jimmy Donaghey - Assistant Secretary, Queen’s UCU

Wendy Blemings - New Belfast Community Arts Initiative

All the staff - The Pat Finucane Centre, Derry and Newry

Brenda Callaghan - SIPTU

Bernadette Mc Aliskey

Rayed Al Wazzan - Muslim Family Association NI

Colm Bryce - Derry Anti-War Coalition & Raytheon 9

Marie McLoon -Women’s Officer, NUS USI

Diarmuid Fraser - Vice President of UU Jordanstown.

Harry Jones - President St Mary's College SU

Gerry Carroll - VP Jordanstown elect, UUSU

Matthew Collins - Welfare Officer elect, NUS USI

Wendy Finn - Global Dimensions Officer elect, St Mary’s College

Pól Mac Adaim - Folk Singer/Writer

Jamal Ilweida - Ex President Belfast Islamic Centre

Brian Kelly - Author and US History Lecturer

Dr Fintan Lane - Historian

Dr Robbie McVeigh - Researcher & Activist

Diane Kirby – Lecturer

Professor John Pinkerton

Sean Mitchell – People Before Profit

Ryan McKinney - NIPSA

Peter McGuire - Chairperson, International Voluntary Service, N.I.

Mark Langhammer- Irish Labour Party

Daisy Mules

Paul Maguire - Unison International Solidarity Group

Rónán Ó Scolláin - Glór na Móna and Gort na Móna CLG

Caitlin Ni Chonaill – Belfast Branch Secretary, IPSC

John McCusker – Chairperson Belfast Branch, IPSC

Freya Maeve Mackenzie - Film Producer

Padraigin Drinan - Solicitor

Barbara Muldoon - Immigration Practitioner & ARN

Mark Hewitt - Branch 516 NIPSA Shop Steward

Mark Chapman - Justice Not Terror Coalition

Raymond Watson - Artist

Sean Moraghan -Tralee Anti-war Group

Steven Corr - Community Worker

Kellie O’Dowd - Trademark

Joe Law - Trademark

Ciarán Ó Brolcháin - IPSC

Niall Enright

Liam Enright

Terry Enright

Mary Enright

Fred Brown

Mary Nelis

Mirjam Bader

Sara Boyce

Danny O Rawe

Cécile Faroux.

Eoin Clarke

Lynda Walker

Fergal Quinn

Cathy Braithwaite

Brian Semple

Gerry Ruddy

Jennifer Kelly

Carey Ann Clarke

Manus McCrory

Roisin Davis

Petesy Burns

Brenda Morgan

Caoimhe Morgan-Burns

Oran Morgan- Burns

John Pinkerton

Maria McConville

Ann Zell

Ruth Carr

Casey Daniel

Wyn Sproule

Catherine Cavendish

Fiona Boyd

Seán MacBradaigh

Hilary Midgley

Conor Midgley

Fanad Midgley

Niall Houston

Liam McMullan

Ruth Graham

Mark McGregor

Liam Ó Boírr

Nuala O'Neill

Brian Pelan

Rita Wild

Shane O’Curry

Christopher May - West Kerry

Rab Jackson – Eirígí

Helen McGowan

Seán Ó hAdhmaill

Chris McCabe

Tim Currie - People Before Profit

Stephen McCloskey

Fred Johnston - Galway

Chris McCabe

Manus Mc Crory

Tatiana Rehakova

Nuala McGurk

Helen Crickard

Naomi Ryder

Michael Rooney

Martha McClelland

Dale Moore

Doctor Juliet Homan

Peter Homan

Stella Kemp

Siobhan Mullen

Shaun Wolfe-Murphy

Daniel Holder

Sean Rooney

Eamon McMahon

Damian White

Donal Daly

Ruaidhri Quinn

Charlie McMenamin

Annie Holland

Rita Simmonds

Waiata Tamihana

Matua McCrory

Alex McCrory

Chris Simmonds

Cherie Marsh

Ciárán Marron

Rónán Marron

Heather Lynas

Paddy Mackel

Michelle Clarke

Feargal Mac Ionnrachtaigh

Monica Daly

Tiarnán Belshaw

Jonathon O’Callaghan

Tyrone Curliss

Michael mc Laughlin

Mo Shafaar

Jordan Mc Dowell (Student)

Hassler Edoucnal

Peter Green (TGWU)

Eóin Mac Daibhí

Thomas Nicholl

Jean Sloan

Margaret Field

Leo Devlin (artist)

Ciaran Mc Kay

Aisling Dornan

Sinead Haywood

Leo Arbuckle

Peggy Quinn

Marian Farrell

Lynda Walker

Ernest Walker

Wendy Blemings

Ashleigh Allen

Emma Young

M Macgregor

Emma Bunce

Heather Gillespie

David Gillespie

Jean Magill

Jim Magill

Ian Matthews

Alan Matthews

Clare Mcguire

Geordie Bordick

Reene Moore

Aaron Moore

Silvana Lau-Lo

Kathy Matthews

Tom O’Neill

Bobby O’Neil

Hubert O’Neil

Lorna Creighton

Adrian Creighton

Colin Creighton

Róisín Russell

Michelle Mitchell

Terri Sloan

Alex Gilmore

Aimee Hawthorne

Chris mc Burnley

Daniel Jack

Paul Hunter

Uná Magee

Ana O’Reily

Stan Forsythe

Katie Sweeney

Richie MacRitchie

Leah Brennan

Shauna mc Grillen

Lara Woods

Colette Campbell

Oisin Jayat

John Cahoon

Amanda Curliss

Anna Devlin

Sarah Louise Long

Arrate Etxebarria

Peter Abbott

Sonia Dawson

Simon Heatley

S.Alexander

Caroline McGuire

Irene Matthews

Mary Crumley

Oisín Jayat

by anti-bush protestor Wed May 28, 2008 18:26

So the SWP have called a meeting for tomorrow in Transport House to discuss the anti-Bush protests, which as the above post shows they have already organised without consulting ANYBODY else!
Not only that do they expect everyone who might attend tomorrow's meeting to walk past the protesting Belfast Airport Workers at Transport House and attend the meeting in Transport House as if their protest doesn't matter!
This is an insult by the SWP against the Airport workers. But then we shouldn't be surprised - Jimmy Kelly will have got them the room for their meeting in Transport House, thats the same Jimmy Kelly (SWP) who has been screwing the airport workers!

by Socialist Wed May 28, 2008 18:39

Jimmy Kelly has called the cops again to arrest the Belfast Airport Workers at Transport House.
The anti-war meeting should be moved to a different venue and if the SWP don't move it then people should boycott the meeting.

by serousaboutbuildingaresponse Wed May 28, 2008 19:42

'....organised without consulting ANYBODY else!'

well, no one except the 400 or so who have signed on to the open letter.

i take it no one showed up at the sp's rump meeting then.

by Aye right... - The Real World Wed May 28, 2008 20:04

The SWP does not consult anyone (and I WOULD include the 400 people who have signed the petition) about organising events under the title of the Belfast Anti-War Movement. When I recently complained to one of their younger members about other groups not being invited to organising meetings of BAWM, and the SWP substituting themselves for 'the movement', I was told that others weren't excluded... there simply are no meetings! Simply, a couple of leading SWP members discuss it amongst themselves and make decisions on behalf of everyone who opposes the war! The SWP should not be allowed to hijack the opposition to Bush simply because they have brass necks and no regard for basic democracy! They were invited to the meeting today, if they have a case to make or are serious about having a broad and democratic movement, why didn't they attend?

by 1 of 400 Thu May 29, 2008 14:20

As one of the 400 who signed the BAWM letter I can assure you neither I nor a few others I know who signed were "consulted" about the BAWM meeting or the public protest. We were simply invited by email to attend.

by politicsisrotten Thu May 29, 2008 16:26

The Politicians in Ireland have represented themselves as Bush Lap-Dogs,they fell into the 911 trap from Day 1.Ahern and Now Cowen's and actually most of Ireland's politico's hands are stinking of stale blood, by allowing the use of Shannon to further their sick idea's,as a nation you should be ashamed of yourselves.