E-mail TDs to stop military use of Shannon

by iosaf Tue Mar 18, 2003 12:43

it costs a fraction more, but at least someone has to open the letter. someone has to put the letter in the bin.
with emails be it to Oireachtas or White House or Vatican or Baghdad they get "erased" immediately.

has any reader entered into correspondance with a politician using their official email address?

I doubt it.

by Sparks Tue Mar 18, 2003 12:43

I think you'll find hand-written letters have more impact. Total cost of a handwritten letter is comparable to the cost of an email as well anyway.

by Justin Moran - Sinn Fein Tue Mar 18, 2003 14:32 maigh_nuad at yahoo dot com

Emails will get a response, often in letter format, from most TDs. And it is effective when a load of emails comes in. Interestingly, I have not got one anti-war email from anyone. I've got three or four pro-war emails. But on a local issue, I got 39 emails in a 48 hour period. When people wonder why polticians spend so much time talking about local issues, you need only look to those inds of numbers.

I'd suggest those FF TDs on the record as opposing the use of Shannon without a second resolution be targetted. In the past, FF TDs have crossed the line on local issues, simply because the pressure put on them was so intense, surely that kind of pressure can be put on them this time around.

Dáil debate all day this Thursday. Support would be welcome outside.

by Rob Tue Mar 18, 2003 14:44

I have a postcard hosted on the IAWM web site, the reverse of which has a space for a personnell massage, a general message saying that the sender will not support the recipient again in any future election due to their determination to ignore the values of democracy.
I have a more well designed reverse side than the one given which also states the three articles of Bunreacht na hÉireann most definitely broken by the current government, and a reference to the scale of the US government's military spending per year. I hope to have the renewed version up by tomorrow. ( . . . hopefully with the hosts help).

http://irishantiwar.org/paddys-day/

by Sparks Tue Mar 18, 2003 14:57

Justin,
Are you saying then that every TD in every party reads every email he or she gets?

by king mob Tue Mar 18, 2003 14:58

Would that be support for your mate bush that you are polling for.

by Sparks Tue Mar 18, 2003 15:13

Lets see now - Bush is declaring a UN-unsanctioned war, Ahern won't even discuss the matter in the Dail until 9 hours after the invasion, Shannon and our airspace are still at US disposal, North Korea is considering a preemptive nuclear strike on america as they feel they're next on the "regieme change" list, Iran is developing nuclear weapons to gain security from the US, Libya is sitting on the UN Human Rights council, and the most pressing thing on your mind is posting inneuendo about Sinn Fein?

I'm no friend or supporter of theirs, I consider them to be a part of the terrorist movement in the North and I've not seen anything yet to convince me otherwise, but right now there are bigger elephants in the room.

by Justin Moran - Sinn Fein Tue Mar 18, 2003 15:27 maigh_nuad at yahoo dot com

Sparks: I have no idea about every TD, but almost everyone I ever wrote to on any issue, by post or email, responded.

King Mob: :)

Below, quotes from Feb 14th Indo regarding two TDs who pledged to opposed the use of Shannon in the even of unilateral attack by the Americans and Brits.

And Michael Finneran, TD, of Longford-Roscomon said he would be "absolutely opposed" to unilateral action by the US and Britain.
And he said that if they went ahead with war on Iraq without another UN resolution, then Shannon should not be available to the US for re-fuelling.

Kilkenny TD John McGuinness also believed that if the US goes ahead without UN backing the Government should withdraw permission for the use of Shannon airport.
"We would have to reconsider the position if there is unilateral action by the US. In that case I think we can't allow the use of Shannon. You are either on one side or the other. It's not anti-American, it simply has to be done through the UN," he said.

by for what it's worth - hope springs eternal Tue Mar 18, 2003 16:01

I suggested e-mailing the TDs as time is so short that snail mail isn't going to get there before the vote. And I can't afford to buy 60-odd envelopes, stamps etc!

I have had correspondence with several politicians via e-mail, although I'd imagine some of those on the list only have an address because someone told them they should. Several TDs had no e-mail address listed at all.

Come on, it's only going to take 10 mins to express your views to all of them. If at least some of them bother to read our e-mails and see that opposition is widespread (obviously, the more people do it the better) it's got to be worth a go.

by for what it's worth - hope springs eternal Tue Mar 18, 2003 16:12

barryandrews@ireland.com
dahern@iol.ie

Wasn't Barry Andrews one of the possible waverers?

by king mob Tue Mar 18, 2003 16:44

Allowing a group of political opportunists who have already sold out the anti war movement for a fucking photo op with Bush, is dangerous.

Theyll sell the antiwar movement down the river when its convient for them.

Sinn Fein should be allowed no part in the antiwar movement. They are liars and hyprocrites, and FF will use their paddys day behaviour to discredit the entire antiwar movement

by Sparks Tue Mar 18, 2003 17:43

I still think they have more impact. And sending them by registered mail means that they have to be signed for, so that's another way to get noticed (3.50euro, a bit steep to do this for all the sods, but for one it's not so bad).
So I'll be doing it that way myself, along with the emails.

by LD Tue Mar 18, 2003 20:10

As much as I trust your judgement-
On this occasion I must disagree, I e-mailed P.Rabitte about the war a couple of months back and got a reply the next day that was as nasty as the mail I sent him, so they read them and they even reply to them especially if you write something close to the bone!

by jailbertienow Wed Mar 19, 2003 12:32 jailbertienow at hotmail dot com

Jailbertienow has e-mailed all the above addresses witha copy of the criminal complaint against Bertie and the Cabinet.

INDICTMENT FOR AIDING AND ABETTING WAR CRIMES :- use of SHANNON

ALL those voting on the use of Shannon for a US led war should be aware of the legal consequences.
The war is illegal, and despite the propoganda, sensible people are aware that there will be widespread indiscriminate bombing of civilian areas, as well as use of Daisycutters, MOABs and other weapons of mass destruction.
If we are complicit in this then we are vicariously liable for any war crimes committed by the US military in Iraq.
At the moment, as the decision has gone no futher than cabinet level, the majority of TDs are not guilty of aiding and abetting a war crime.
Any who vote to do so, should carefully read the following and perhaps consult a solicitor (if not the AG).

I would urge you all to vote NO, firstly on moral grounds, but you must also consider your legal position, the constitution and the fact that the International Criminal Court has been set up and that this would fall well within its remit.

The following complaint is available online, and has been lodged with Garda Stations in different parts of the country.

A similar complaint is already with the DPP.

by Sparks Wed Mar 19, 2003 17:06

And got several delivery failures. Text sent was as follows, for anyone interested:

A Chara,

I write this note with a growing sense of concern regarding
recent developments in international affairs and a greater
sense of outrage at the role Ireland has played in them to
date. We have seen the triumph of military force over
reasoned diplomacy, and I fear both the consequences and the
precedent set by the actions of the United States of America
against Iraq.

It is my belief that this country must take a moral stance on
these matters, for to abandon what little influence we have
on the stage of international politics would be an act of
depraved indifference to humanity and a vile slander on the
good name of the citizens of this state by their government.

I urge you to press for the following measures in the Dail
debate this thursday:

- That the Government condemn the abandonment of diplomacy
and the abuse of the United Nations by the United States of
America and the United Kingdom.

- That the Government pledge to assist the United Nations in
humanitarian efforts in the aftermath of military action
against Iraq.

- That the Government withdraw permission for the use of
Shannon Airport by the United States armed forces, save for
emergency landings or humanitarian flights, the latter to
be unarmed and inspected by the Irish authorities

- That the Government withdraw permission for the use of
Irish airspace by the United States armed forces, save for
those humanitarian flights inspected at Shannon

I urge you, a chara, to seek these measures in the name of
the people of this nation, who have shown by mass civil
protest their extreme dissatisfaction with both the
international situation and the Irish Government's policies
regarding that situation to date.

Mise le meas,