Irish Anti War Movement AGM

national | miscellaneous | news report

Tuesday August 06, 2002 15:42

by Aoife Ni Fhearghail - Irish Anti War Movement

info at irishantiwar dot org

087 7955013

get organised to oppose war on Iraq

upcoming war on Iraq, details of Irish Anti-War Movement AGM and information on the War Resisters International conference

Anti-War News - Friday 2nd August

1. Iraq
2. Irish Anti-War Movement AGM
3. War Resisters’ International Conference
4. European Social Forum
5. Other events

IRAQ

On Thursday, Iraq invited the chief United Nations weapons inspector to Baghdad for technical talks in order “to establish a solid basis for the next stage of monitoring and inspection activities”. Had the UN accepted the invitation this would have been the latest in a series of disappointments for Bush’s war preparations. As it turns out, the offer will likely be refused (no real surprise since the US holds the Presidency of the UN Security Council for the month of August).

Earlier this week, King Abdullah of Jordan declined to back the US plans for a ‘regime change’ and warned that an attack on Iraq would open a ‘Pandora’s Box’ in the Middle East. Jordan has been one of the most loyal allies of the US in the past, but with a large Palestinian population, a failing economy and strong trade links with Iraq, the risk of letting a US attack launch from Jordan may be too big a gamble. At this stage, most international leaders seem to concur that the US plans to oust Saddam at all costs is a mistake. The White House now says that there will be no attack before the Congressional elections (November) and British officials say there is no serious prospect of an invasion before the Spring.

However, for Bush & his allies there is too much at stake to stop their war bid now. Iraq holds the second largest source of oil in the world and American corporations want a more compliant thug to run this valuable resource for them.

Speaking in London recently, Scott Ritter – a cardholding member of the Republican Party and someone at the centre of US operations against Iraq in the 1990s – appealed to British citizens to do whatever they could to stop the coming war. At the anti-war AGM we will be discussing Iraq, the next phase of the ‘war on terrorism’ and what we in Ireland can do to stop this brutal war.

IRISH ANTI-WAR MOVEMENT AGM

All day Saturday 31st August, Teacher’s Club, Parnell Square, D1 – 087 7955013 for info

It’s now almost a year since 9/11 and in that time the impact of the ‘war on terrorism’ has been felt in almost every corner of the globe. Regional tyrants around the world have used the logic of the ‘war on terrorism’ to settle local scores and civil liberties in Western countries have been massively eroded. Civilians continue to die at the hands of US forces in Afghanistan, while the United States, Britain and the Netherlands continue to supply Ariel Sharon with the means to murder innocent children. Although Iraq now looks to be inviting the UN to send in its weapons inspectors, the months to come will doubtless see another brutal assault on the people of Iraq. Disgracefully, the Irish government still allows US bombers to refuel at Shannon airport and has promised its ‘full support’ to Bush’s brutal war.

The Irish Anti-War Movement has brought many peace activists and NGOs from across the country together over the past year in some extremely successful demonstrations and meetings in opposition to this war. We now need to make sure that we are prepared for the challenges ahead.

The AGM will be a day-long series of discussions and aims to refocus our attentions on the next stage of the ‘war on terrorism’ and the erosion of Irish Neutrality. We will also discuss the Nice Treaty Referendum and its possible implications for neutrality.

Provisional programme

10.30 Registration
11-12.15 ‘War on terrorism’ – overview of the global implications of the ‘war on terrorism’
12.30-1.15 Iraq – the next phase of the ‘war on terrorism’
1.15-2 lunch
2.15-3.30 Ireland & the New World Order – discussion on Nice, Irish Neutrality & the arms trade in Ireland
3.45-5 IAWM organisation & finances

The AGM takes place on Saturday 31st August in the Teachers’ Club in Dublin. Accommodation will be available for those travelling from outside Dublin – just let us know by Monday 26th.

Please come along and help build the anti-war movement in Ireland. For further information contact Aoife on 087 7955013.

WAR RESISTERS INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

This weekend a major anti-war conference takes place in Dublin City University. The organisers (War Resisters International) have brought together peace activists from all across the globe in their conference on: Stories and Strategies – non-violent resistance & social change.

The events takes place from Saturday 3rd to Friday 9th August and there will be theme groups on:

· Economics, militarisation & globalisation
· Violence in society & non-violent social empowerment
· Addressing ethic community * intra-state violence
· Conscientious objectors, veterans & anti-militarism
· Asylum: strategies to prevent the closing of borders
· An exploration & introduction to non-violence
· Dealing with the past
· International ‘peace operations’, what they are & what they could be

Conference runs all week and registration is €40 per day or €350 for the full week (cost included breakfast, lunch and dinner). The organisers have offered to do a special rate for IAWM supporters, so if you want to attend but don’t think you can afford the full fee contact Pat or Siva on 01 700 7596.

EUROPEAN SOCIAL FORUM – Another World is possible

The European Social Forum is a gathering of grassroots social movements taking place this November in Florence, Italy. Themes are the gathering will rest on 3 major areas – liberalism, war and rights – across which 5 discussion points will cut horizontally:

· Europe’s relationship with the world
· Natural Resources
· Democracy
· Economic alternatives
· Conflicts

Already Irish activists have met up and agreed to establish an Irish Mobilisation for the ESF and encourage as many peace activists, trade unionists, students, environmentalists & anti-capitalists to take part in the Florence Forum. The IAWM has decided to back the mobilisation and send some members along to the event. The next meeting of the Irish mobilising group takes place on Wednesday 14th August at 7.30pm in the Teachers’ Club.

OTHER EVENTS

· Next IAWM meeting: 7pm Monday 19th August, Bowe’s Bar, Fleet St., D2

· NGO Peace Alliance Public Meeting: War is Terror is War – 8pm Wednesday August 14th in the Royal Dublin Hotel – [email protected]

· Cork Peace Alliance protest at Shannon Airport 1.30pm Saturday 17th August – for details email [email protected]

· Socialist Worker Forums on the Nice Treaty & Militarism around country – email [email protected] for details

· Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign boycott Israeli goods campaign stalls every Saturday – email [email protected] if you are available to help out

· Irish Mobilisation for the European Social Forum meeting 7.30pm Wednesday 14th August Teachers’ Club

Please email any events for next anti-war news to [email protected] by Friday 16th August.

Thanks,

Aoife Ní Fhearghail
087 7955013