Galway anti-war movement gathers momentum

national | miscellaneous | news report

Tuesday January 14, 2003 13:27

by John Cunningham - Galway Alliance Against War

johnliamsheain at eircom dot net

Those who addressed a large Galway Alliance Against War public meeting on Monday night included Mary Kelly and Ed Horgan of the Shannon Peace Camp, Caoimhe Butterly (now also of the Shannon Peace Camp), Joe Murray of Afri, and Eoin Dubsky. Michael D. Higgins chaired the meeting.

The Atlanta Hotel in Dominick-street was filled to overflowing on Monday night for a public meeting under the auspices of the Galway Alliance Against War (GAAW). Following a lively and constructive discussion, plans were made for future activities.

There was an especially warm welcome for Mary Kelly from the Peace Camp at Shannon. Ms. Kelly, a founder of the camp, traced the background to the action, described its effectiveness, and appealed for support. She urged Galway people to join the camp, or at least to visit it. The camp, she believes, can have a major impact. If sufficient pressure is brought to bear on the government, and the passage of US troops and weaponry through ‘neutral’ Ireland halted by the efforts of anti-war activists, this would reverberate internationally.

GAAW gave a commitment to organise a roster of volunteers and to fundraise locally for the camp. It was pointed out that the national anti-war demonstration on next Saturday (18 Jan.) presented an early opportunity to act in solidarity with Mary Kelly and her fellow-activists. Buses will leave Galway on Saturday morning —places can be booked by ringing GAAW at 086-8343667 or by e-mailing .

Caoimhe Butterly, recently returned from volunteering in Palestine where she was injured by Israeli troops, also addressed the meeting. She recounted her experiences, and described the oppressive conditions endured by the men, women, and children of Palestine. Stressing the importance of acting as a ‘witness’ against oppression, she urged those present to join her at the Peace Camp. ‘Neutrality is not enough’, she insisted, ‘we must be active and partisan in the struggle against war and injustice’.

Joe Murray of Afri and Eoin Dubsky spoke on the growth in the manufacture of armaments in Ireland. From being negligible less than a decade ago, weapons production has grown into a major industry in Ireland -and is grant-aided by the IDA. Joe Murray traced the development of the Irish arms trade, which encompasses everything from leg-irons and other instruments of torture to software for nuclear weapons. Eoin Dubsky spoke about the immorality and illegality of the nuclear arms industry in particular and described his efforts to highlight the involvement of Galway’s Hewlett-Packard in the production of software for simulated nuclear testing. He pledged to continue working with GAAW, (and pressuring the Garda Siochana & the Department of Enterprise) to bring an end to this aspect of Hewlett-Packard’s work in Ireland.

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Comments (5 of 5)

And a little to the west of you...

by Andrew

Tue Jan 14, 2003 13:38

NO WAR BUT CLASS WAR

The elite of the USA and Iraq, personified by George Bush and Saddam Hussein, are leading their countries and much of the world, into a disastrous confrontation on the plains where civilization arose. The cost of this clash of powers will be paid, in sweat and in blood, by millions of people across the globe to enrich the coffers of the sultans of industry, their executors of State, and officers of war.

In this struggle over petrochemical wealth we will have no share of riches, only sorrow. This war, and all future wars of nationalist futility, will never be prevented by appeals to those who would be our masters. Only when we, whose toil creates their wealth, cast off these murderous despots, can we enjoy the peace and freedom which is the right of each and all.

The hollow excuses for this war cannot be defended. The tyrannical regime in Iraq, while a misery for its citizens and a threat to its neighbors, is to Western powers but an opportunity to introduce a greater military presence in an economically and geographically strategic point on the global chessboard. Even as heads of State prepare for war against Iraq, they dance diplomatically around North Korea. Even as they demonize a despot in Iraq, they support monarchies and dictatorships around the world. They would wage war against Iraq not because they must, but because they can.

Unemployment, low wages, lack of education and decent housing in the USA are mirrored by outright starvation and continual warfare in Iraq. Our mutual suffering is for the benefit of the elite and the States they control. Taxes on American workers fund the military that guarantees control of cheap oil for industry and the profits of its owners. For their pleasure we pay the State, in sweat and in blood.

The oil for which we toil and kill, poisons the very earth itself. Instead of developing sustainable energy and managing resources for the benefit of all humankind, the energy most easily controlled is extracted and marketed for the profit of the powerful. These oil wars are not only wars against humanity, but against the earth itself.

The current economic crisis of overproduction, wage slavery, and rampant speculation in the financial markets cannot be solved by the gluttonous destruction of war. War will only increase the miseries of we who must pay for the pleasures of those who exploit the world for their own desires. Americans, and citizens of the world, must say no to Iraqnophobia and yes to freedom! No to the war on our fellow citizens and yes to war against the bosses and States! War will only end with the end of capitalism and nationalism. No to the war on our fellow workers and yes to war against all of the international ruling elite! NO WAR BUT CLASS WAR!

Roundhouse Collective (NEFAC), Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Link: http://www.nefac.net

Great talk

by Clare - NUIG ecosoc, Gluaiseacht

Tue Jan 14, 2003 13:50

Good night and real interesting. Sincere thanks to all involved in bringing the night together.

Remember a suggestion was made for a central information anti war place in Galway - is this a real possibility or do we have the resources (people) for this? It would be really worthwhile. Any suggestions from people on how we could run such a thing? What type of information could be held and distributed from it?

Sat 18th

by Denise

just to reiterate what everyone's saying, please please come out to Shannon on Saturday 18th. With the war just weeks away, its so important to spread support for the peace camp, to show our disgust at the activities going on at Shannon Airport, and the "war on terrororism" itself. This is urgent. Come and show your solidarity to the men, women and children of Iraq. Let us show the world once more that we do not accept what is going on and we will not sit back and allow Bush, Blair & Co. to fuck up our world. Peace*

Yes, indeed

by Shane

Tue Jan 14, 2003 16:41

Yes it was a great meeting. Well done to the GAAW - hopefully there will be many who will go down on Saturday and spread the word between now and then.

What about buses from dublin?

by madrad - none

Tue Jan 14, 2003 19:36

Does anyone know of buses organised from dublin...especially non-SWP ones?
M.R.

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Galway anti-war movement gathers momentum

Comments (5 of 5)