Dublin GPO Mon.4pm-6pm Vigil - U.S. Military Out of Shannon, Iraq & Afghanistan!

by Ciaron - Dublin Catholic Worker/Ploughshares Tue Oct 07, 2008 05:38

Colm Roddy in orange Gitmo suit/black hood has taken to kneeling/head bowed in an alcove at the front of the GPO for the two hours, while the rest of us stand in front of the pillars facing the street with a large "U.S. Military Out of Shannon". Colim has a backdrop of images from the U.S. war on Iraq and Afghanistan and the recent return of Jason Cupples home to County Cavan from the Afgham front. Passersby, who might not otherwise wish to be engaged, pause and reflect on the scene. Colm reports he got a very sympathetic look and face time from a guide dog last week!

Meanwhile, our regular crew was joined this week's vigil by Pitstop Damien who has concluded his english teaching work at unfortunate hours to focus on preparations to his move to Africa for voluntary work and a last week's activism around promoting "Hammered by the Irish" book and gig. Also Anti-Imperialist Diarmuid joined us that brought the fluent Irish speakers up to three at the vigil. We weere also joined by Pushbike Kevin, who rescues bikes from tips, fixes them and gives them away as he dropped in after a recent sojourn to Rossport. Fara, a CW / Voices in the Wilderness (having done nonviolent deployments to Iraq and Lebanon) activist from the U.S.now studying for her peace masters in Dublin, got to the vigil just before the closing circle. Various French punk anarchists, hip protestants, legalise cannabis dudes and sundry swung by the vigil to buy copies of Harry's book and flyers to promote Thursday's gig.

In our 10 strong closing circle, folks shared concerns for wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, Colombia, tension a brewing on the eastern front, the inadequate opprtuinsm of NGO Amnesty International Inc focussing on Shannon soley on the issue of rendition as the troop movements (includnig interrogators and torturers remain under the mainstream media (thus NGO radar in terms of brand enhancement opportunity). Joy at the news of Conor Cregan's recent victory in court, Dublin C.W. hopes to head up to October's Afri's Hedge School in Rossport, organise a solidarity vigil at U.S. embassy in November with the 20,000 folks deployinng to Ft. Benning to protest the School of the Americas www.soaw.org

See you Thursday night at the Lower Deck - be there or be square!

by Afghanistan Tue Oct 07, 2008 15:46

Brits/Yanks split over whether the war on Afghanistan is winnable...

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/rtrs/20081007/tpl-uk-afghan-us....html

Obama's & McCain's Afghan Goofy Bluster
by Patrick Cockburn

http://www.counterpunch.org/patrick10072008.html

by Jerry - Omaha Catholic Worker Fri Oct 10, 2008 07:31 Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.A.

Photos at this link:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/31114835@N03/2924580901/in/set-72157607863341047

Eight Midwest Catholic Workers and friends were arrested Wednesday, October 8, Midwest Catholic Workers and their friends were charged with "Failure to Leave" while they were participating in a "Die-In" inside of the Qwest Center. Among those arrested was long-time peace activist Peg Gallagher who will turn 90 next Wednesday.

Omaha-area peace activists who were arrested and released include: Peg Gallagher, 89; Kathy J. Peterson; 54, Mark Kenney, 51; and Jerry Ebner (Omaha Catholic Worker), 58. Also arrested were: Frank Cordaro, 57, Des Moines Catholic Worker; Greg Boertje, 53, Duluth, Minnesota, Catholic Worker; Michael Walli, 60, Duluth, Minnesota, Catholic Worker; and Steve Jacobs, 53, Columbia, Missouri, Catholic Worker. In the action, participants lay down near the entrance to the Qwest Center to symbolize the thousands of people who die each year at the hands of the rampant global militarization. STRATCom continues to be a primary, international promoter of space weaponry.

Those participating in the "Die-In" said their principal reason for being there was to "expose the lie of legitimacy given by the City of Omaha and the Qwest Convention Center to the 2008 Strategic Space and Defense Conference and to name this an unholy alliance which can only end in global death and destruction."The group also wanted to draw attention to the United Nations' "Prevent an Arms Race in Outer Space" (PAROS) resolution that is currently opposed by only two nations--the United States and Israel. Further the Midwest Catholic Workers and their friends pledged to keep returning each year in the future as long as STRATCom's Space Weapons Bazaar, (officially named the "Strategic Space and Defense 2008 Conference") continues to be held in Omaha. Detains of the action include: Prior to the "Die-In," carrying a banner that read "Space Weapons = Death," members of the actions shared personal reflections that influenced their reasons for coming. We gathered in a circle and shared personal reflections on why each were there.

Just outside the door, Steve Jacobs (Columbia, Missouri, Catholic Worker) read the following statement:

Midwest Catholic Worker and Friends statement: Strategic Space and Defense 2008 ConferenceQwest Convention Center Omaha, Nebraska "We recall Martin Luther King, Jr.'s admonition that, "…a nation which spends more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death". We are here to expose the lie of legitimacy given by the City of Omaha and the Qwest Convention Center to the 2008 Strategic Space and Defense Conference and we name this an unholy alliance which can only end in global death and destruction. We refuse to surrender the land, sea, air and the heavens above to those who have given their allegiance to the gods of war and greed.For the scriptures remind us of the hypocrisy of those who put their faith in "gods of metal" to protect them. We call on the city of Omaha and this conference's sponsoring organizations to turn away from this unholy collaboration with global death and evil and to choose life. So, we stage this "Die-In" to say as clearly as we can, that "Space Weapons = Death."

Then the eight arrested lay down for the duration of thirty minutes. After thirty minutes when no one from the Qwest Center or the police had approached them, they rose, and proceeded to enter the Qwest Convention Center, read the statement again and continued with the "Die-In." The "Die-In" was somber and respectful and the police were very respectful as the group entered. As the statement was read inside an employee of the Qwest Center, Rebecca Kleeman, tried to interrupt Steve Jacobs from reading the statement. When Steve Jacobs finished reading the statement eight of us lied down and continued with the "Die-In". Rebecca Kleeman asked us to leave.A police officer announced to the eight that they were in violation of City of Omaha Ordinance 20-155 "Request to Leave." The eight were arrested after refusing the order and taken to Central Omaha Police Headquarters.

by Catholic Worker Fri Oct 10, 2008 22:13 Omaha, Nebraska, USA

Below is an update we just received from Jerry Ebner in Omaha on the Midwest Catholic Workers arrested on Wednesday, October 8, 2008, at the Strategic Space and Defense 2008 Conference.

The four held in jail were arraigned yesterday afternoon, October 9, 2008, in Douglas County Court, Judge Quade, presiding, with the following outcomes.

Defendant
Home
Plea
Sentence

Frank Cordaro, 57
Des Moines Catholic Worker
No Contest
4 days in jail

Steve Jacobs, 50
Columbia (MO) CW
No Contest
3 days in jail

Greg Boertje, 53
Duluth (MN) CW
Not Guilty
Held over for trial. Trial now set for Oct. 29

Michael Walli, 60
Duluth (MN) CW
Not Guilty
Held over for trial. Trial now set for Oct. 29

Jerry Ebner will be speaking to the Public Defender for Michael Walli and Greg Boertje to possibly arrange bail or a change of plea.

Peg Gallagher, 89; Kathy J. Peterson; 54, Mark Kenney, 51; and Jerry Ebner were also arrested at the action, but were cited and released on their own recognizance.

Jerry Ebner, Omaha Catholic Worker

by Downing St. Action Sat Oct 11, 2008 08:03 London, England

Photos & Report: Seven Years into the War Reading out the Names of the Dead Outside of Downing St. London

http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/10/410224.html