PROTEST AT TOP THIS SATURDAY

by Chekov Fri Mar 28, 2003 13:09

"picketing Intel etc where it would have an impact"

Maybe there is an argument for this assertion, but damned if I can figure it out.

As far as I see it:
- By far the major Irish contribution to this war is Shannon.
- TOP oil are refuelling US warplanes at Shannon.
- TOP oil is a relatively small company and a consumer boycott campaign would have the real potential of affecting the company's profits to such an extent that the Shannon contract would become economically counter-productive. This would lead to an end to the refuelling (capitalist companies exist to make profits - remember Marx?) and other companies would be very reluctant to step into the breach since the negative economic effects and PR blowback would linger.
- If no companies were willing to refuel the US warplanes the stopover would end.

Therefore I think that this type of picket, in prominent locations, advertising a boycott, are very good initiatives.

On the other hand, I can't see how a picket on Intel's offices would make the slightest bit of difference to the war effort of the Irish state. There are other things to be borne in mind:
- The connection of intel in Ireland to the war effort is tenuous at best. I have heard no reports of specific military-related projects being carried out in Intel Ireland. Maybe I'm wrong? Certainly Intel chips are used by the military, but that hardly makes them a good target since lots of common produce which are primarily of civilian use are also used by the USAF such as nails, hammers, etc....
- Intel is not a particularly consumer oriented company and the effects of a consumer boycott would be negligible. The vast majority of Intel customers don't know that they are buying Intel merchandise and wouldn't know what the alternatives are.
- Intel is a giant multinational corporation and even if a succesful boycott was carried out, their pockets are plenty deep.
- Intel have, as far as I know, no outlets in prominent locations and therefore any picket would be primarily a tokenistic effort aimed at the media and in the likely event of it not attracting coverage would be a tree falling in an deserted forest.

Once again it's pathetic to see the R-r-revolutionary parties having a go at anybody who suggests anything that has a chance of effecting Irish support for the war. Labour Youth are a bunch of careerist, reformist, politicians? I shudder to think what that makes the R-r-revolutionaries who won't even dare to leaflet the delegates at a TU conference for fear of pissing off the ultra-careerist SIPTU & ICTU bureaucracy.

by Magneto - Labour Hacks Fri Mar 28, 2003 11:18

Why do the SP have such a fascination with Labour Youth, maybe its because they see them as a threat.

The Socialist Party claimed that it was committed to acheiving strike action against the war, but when it was presented with a perfect opportunity to lobby shop stewards, it shirked in case the ICTU Burocracy might be upset.

What happened at this Masonic IAWM meeting last Sunday? Why did the SP vote down a proposal to lobby the Congress SDC?

by diceman Fri Mar 28, 2003 01:00

labour youth are practicing to be TD's when they grow up. They want to fool the gobshites into having a useless picket where it will have no effect. There is no danger of these young opportunists picketing Intel etc where it would have an impact, unlike the idiotic swp these labour chancers know what they are doing, and they are doing it well.

by Michael Fri Mar 28, 2003 00:33

The TOP station in Amiens Street is part of the Stafford motors business which is running a lucrative business draining mony out of the North inner city.

The stafford family are staunchily Fianna Fáil and the owner of the garage on Amiens Street is running for Fianna Fail in the local elections.

There is no fear that this "old man" who doesn't work in the garage anyway but runs the car sales showrooms is going to be put out of business. TOP will stop their refuelling at Shannon long before their rest of their business is about to fold (its called capitalism - trying to make the maximum profit). TOP is not principled and will not loyally stand by the U.S. military as they watch their more lucrative business collapse!

A protest at the headquarters rather than at a filling station is exactly what TOP would like activists to do - stage a protests out of sight, away from customers and members of the public, ensuring that their profits aren't effected at all.

Protesting at TOP headquarters - instead of at filling stations - is exactly what Bertie would want us to do as well. He'd love us to mount ineffective protests. This way the refuelling at Shannon wouldn't be threatened and his Fianna Fáil cronies in his constituency would be left to profit from their customers in the North Inner city.

by Badman Thu Mar 27, 2003 17:15

Is a prominent businessman with a string of businesses in the city and whatsmore is an ex-FF counciller. I weep for him.

by Joe Thu Mar 27, 2003 17:07

Look there are lots of old men getting bombed in Bagdad at the moment and the bombs are helped on their way by Top Oil and Fianna Fail. Pressure should be put at Top at every level but its ABC that what hurts corporations first is anything that hits their profit. HQ pickets won't necessarly do this.

GNAW (Dublin) are planning to picket all Top outlets in Dublin and the HQ on April 5th BTW to demand they stop refueling war planes. So franchise holders like the one in Amien st need to start putting pressue on Top now to announce that refueling will stop.

by Gaillimhed Thu Mar 27, 2003 16:58

This has been said before by others in relation to protesting against TOP, why not protest at their Head office. this Old man in Amiens St. isnt pumping unleaded into US death planes, he just runs a garage and sells sweets. Its the head office guys you want to protest to, they make the decisions and reap the profits. And another thing, youre just making the anti-war movement look stupid, thats what joe-public thinks when he sees this kind of crap going on, and maybe hes right. Direct protests at the top (no pun intended) of the system, the big-wigs and decision makers who fuck with all our lives.

by Joe Thu Mar 27, 2003 16:42

TOP refuel war planes at Shannon - we can force them to stop.

Congrats to LY for going where so called r-r-revolutionaries fear to tread

by blistered in the Global Warmed Ireland Thu Mar 27, 2003 16:37

is in off the street where hardly anyone can see and is just going to upset the older man - get real - make a real difference - I'm sure top have a bigger operation somewhere - this is a labour Joke right?