Day X: Galway

by Damian Mac Con Uladh - Galway Alliance Against War Thu Mar 20, 2003 15:20

from: Galway Alliance Against War

A chara,

Despite the tremendous efforts of anti-war activists across the world, it seems likely that tomorrow (Thursday) or Friday will be DAY X ,? the first day of a murderous war.

With regard to DAY X, the Galway Alliance Against War is falling into line with the strategy agreed between the Irish Anti-War Movement, the NGO Peace Alliance, and the Peace and Neutrality Alliance ,? the groups who co-ordinated the 15 February demonstration in Dublin. A strong anti-war response will pressurise the government to withdraw the use of Shannon, and show how unpopular the war is.

Leaflets, posters and press releases have been issued in Galway, and there has been lobbying in some workplaces to put the DAY X strategy into effect. We are appealing to all those on our list to make a special effort in this regard. Forward this message, text or phone your friends, discuss the details with friends and colleagues.

* At noon on DAY X (probably tomorrow or Friday), stop whatever you're doing for 10 minutes: organise your colleagues to stop working for ten minutes of discussion or reflection, leave lectures and classes and go outside, stop housework and go into the street, stop driving your car.

* At 6 pm on DAY X. come to the Shop-street / High-street junction. Let all your friends know about this by text, phone or e-mail during the day. Bring a candle, join the lobby of Minister O Cuiv's office.

* On the Saturday after DAY X, there will be six regional anti-war demonstrations. In Galway, go to the Fr Burke Park on Fr Griffin Road at 1 pm. From there, we will march to the Square, where there will be music and short speeches. Already, Sean Tyrell, Chad Dughi and Michael D. Higgins have agreed to participate.

* We would encourage people to continue wearing white ribbons to show their opposition to war. Other suggested ways of declaring this would include placing a lighted candle in your window or displaying a white or black flag outside your home.

Le gach dea-ghui
John Cunningham

Pasted below is the SIPTU statement endorsing the ten minute stoppage at
midday on Day X. This will be useful for any SIPTU
members who are trying to organise workmates or workplaces for the ten
minute stoppage. The statement also indicates support for the 6pm
protests on Day X and the marches in major cities this weekend. Again
this should help in getting workplace delegations or branch banners on
those protests.

Anti-war protests call

General Officers
- 14 March 2003

With the Bush administration moving inexorably towards a full scale war
against Iraq, SIPTU is calling for support for a series of protests in
the event that military action is taken against Iraq, without the
approval of the United Nations Security Council and in direct
contravention of the wishes of millions of people on all continents.
The country?s largest union, SIPTU, has endorsed the Irish Anti-War
Movement?s call for a ten minute voluntary protest at 12 noon on the day
that hostilities are launched against Iraq.
Union members are also being encouraged to support locally organised
protests in town centres around the country at 6pm on the first day of
the war. In Dublin, for example, the US Embassy would be the focal point
for protests. A third stage in the campaign would be a series of
regional protests organised for the Saturday following any such attack
at 2pm ö again in Dublin this will be at the Central Bank.
The Union?s three General Officers, Des Geraghty, General President, Joe
O?Flynn, General Secretary and Jack O?Connor, Vice President have urged
all union members to demonstrate their opposition to an unnecessary war
which would be conducted in contravention of international law.

SIPTU
Liberty Hall, Dublin 1, Ireland
tel: 01 874 9731 - fax: 01 874 8642
url www.siptu.ie