Morale is high at the Shannon Peace Camp

national | miscellaneous | news report

Tuesday January 07, 2003 16:55

by katherine harford - shannon peace camp

shannonpeacecamp at hotmail dot com

Entrance to Shannon Warport

061 365871

...While the Gardai and Aer Rianta fumble for tactics

Local support, media coverage, Aer Rianta and Gardaí management of the stand off, have all helped to raise the profile and the morale at the peace camp during the cold days and colder nights.

Since Saturday lunch time there has been a round the clock presence by people maintaining the Peace Camp at the entrance to Shannon Warport. Due to local support, media coverage and more people getting involved, the protest and morale has definatly moved up a gear. Today a local man brought a bottle wiskey to keep away the cold and even Aer Lingus staff have been beeping car horns in support!

It is a stark reminder of why the protest has remained, when in full view of the camp two World Com cargo planes were refreshing and refuelling, the World "lingus" plane has also paid a visit over the last couple of days.

The Peace Camp has also been given a bit of breathing space, because Aer Rianta (who have now incidently denied asking the peace camp to move, despite Peace Camp visits from Aer Rianta management!?)have been asked to produce deeds of ownership of the land where the caravan is now stationed. The Gardaí in an interesting turn of action have informed the camp that they will wait for this documentation before taking action and will then issue a 24 hour notice. This does not mean that we can relax, if the camp is forced to move on, the sentiment will not. While the US build up to war continues with the blatent use of Shannon, bringing Ireland into a war that is sure to kill innocent Iraqi civilians, the protest will continue. Your help is vital, if you can make it down to Shannon, great, don't forget to wrap up warm. Food, firewood and funds are a constant need.