Anti-War Network invites anti-war organisations

by Flynn - agrescon@agrescon.nl Tue Aug 15, 2006 12:31 agrescon at agrescon dot nl 0031102102055

We all must face the Historical Facts, the Irish were vilified, humiliated, discriminated,castigated, throuout the centuries in many Countrys and Lands, no less than the Negroes ot Yesteryear than the Muslims of Today, or of the Jews of Yesterday. The Politics of the Past in Ireland was always geared to Who was oppressing us, and Who was manipulating Us, very different topics. The current situation on the Irish Oil and Gas Reserves may at a later date throw a Great Light into the Abyss on the War in the North of Ireland. Not forgetting that Oil Companys move in Cycles of Decades, not of weeks and with a Criminal Disregard of Local peoples, Traditions or Cultures,the divide and rule principle. Britain did not Rule Half of the World , 1 because they were Thick. 2 because they were ill informed. 3 because they were not after something, read the History of Quinnine, anti malariant and Sir Charles Raffles Singapore ins.4 because they werent brutal or ruthless. 5 Even recently Mark Thatcher in Africa, along with Sandline Channel Islands Instance,all equate to Manipulation,with different rules and regulations.I personally met a few groups in my Life , Uda, Uvf, Sandline, Shin Bet, Boss, Eta, Bader Mienhoff, all pale in comparison to the Oil Companies, along with the Offshore Banks. Get Smart ,Quick ! But always Remember its not those Who say the Most, Who,s got the Most to Say. IF your not worried about the OIl and Gas Companies then your reading the Game Wrong,from my Wisdom, Past, Present, and Future. I Remain Yours Respectfully G. D. Flynn O Flynn. Student to Dr Proff. Aime Van Santen Molitor. Univ Prague. Rott Erasmus. Proff. Linguistics. Russian and Slavonic Studies, European Law. Int Law. Maritime Law.etc enz, enz.

by anti-war activist Tue Aug 15, 2006 13:02

When was it decided that this would be the focus of the next Antiwar network meeting? Did it happen at a properly constituted meeting? When?

Is this a Vize-Youlton bi-solo run or what?

by MichaelY - iawm Tue Aug 15, 2006 13:09

Dear anti-war activist,

The first few lines of the message above answers both of your questions. I am sorry you missed it.
Lol!

by anti-war activist Tue Aug 15, 2006 13:12

How many exactly attended that meeting MichaelY and how many groups were represented? Pray do tell.

by MichaelY - iawm Tue Aug 15, 2006 13:24

Again you missed it - my use of the verb 'miss' referred to the couple of lines of text above, which answered your questions, not the meeting itself. Sorry I wasn't clear enough.

To tell the truth, I also missed the said meeting, the last Plenary, but I, along with all the members of the Anti-War Network, received its minutes - and there it stated the decision taken by those present.
And it's a decision I fully support - in fact, it refers to the discussion about Sept. 23rd that took place in the Plenary before that where, over 30 people were present with at least 6 groups represented. That's why I signed it.

The key question, over and above semantics here, is whether this invitation is a good idea and whether you, as an anti-war activist, on your own or with your mates/comrades, consider taking part - now that you know about it!

And pls forward to the link indicated your suggestions for action/tactics/campaigns.....for Sept. 23rd and beyond.

by anon Tue Aug 15, 2006 16:14

I see the IAWM is trying out some tricks learned from US corporate business. Here's how it works:

1. The bosses make the decision and select a new product to push.

2. Middle management are informed and are told to get the workers on board. Experience shows that workers with motivation will push and sell better than those who don't believe or don't care about the product.

3. Meetings of workers are called to solicit their views on the product and to ask for their input into how to sell it and market it and promote it. Workers are given a sense of "ownership".

4. Workers feel "ownership", think they've played a role in the whole enterprise and work their arses off to push the product.

5. The bosses are delighted and they continue making decisions in the same authoritarian top-down fashion...

And on it goes.

by Tank Girl Tue Aug 15, 2006 16:22

I have had a few disputes with Michael Y in the past but what you just published is nonsense. Independent activists will not tolerate having a line handed down to them. They will however welcome and take on board good ideas.

by anon Tue Aug 15, 2006 16:28

And what are they doing exactly to demonstrate their 'independence'? we've heard this nonsense of glasnost in the IAWM before and each time it was crushed by the central committee. I see ne evidence of any change of behaviour at the moment. The SWP still run the show as anybody with two eyes can see. MichaelY jumping up and down declaring it's different doesn't change that reality.

by MichaelY - iawm Tue Aug 15, 2006 16:57

Anon, whoever you are,

The specific meeting next Saturday 19th has been called by the Anti-War Network...the SWP or even those of us in the AWN from the IAWM had nothing to do with it....if you had one eye working, let alone two, you would have sensed that this type of meeting is not exactly part of the traditional set of recipes....if the meeting is successful their palate may just about take it. If people like you manage to bamboozle it, then they'll say we told you so - impossible to work with these guys. Back to the 'right' way of doing things.

Surely you know that the IAWM, along with PANA and the NGO Alliance, has already called a demonstration for Sept 23rd...leaflets to that effect have gone out over the past few weeks.
Comrades in the AW Network made consistently the point that the preparation for a demo of that nature, if it is to be national, integrated and effective should involve in its preparation and tactics all the forces of the anti-war movement. Thus - the meeting next Saturday.

Last Saturday a number of organisations, political parties as well as the AWI, IPSC, the IAWM, the Derry Collective, the WSM and others worked quite well during the three parallel demonstrations in Belfast, Cork and Dundalk. So, yes, it's time "to jump up and down", to use your very perceptive phrase, and try to enlarge that process of co-operation.

In the meantime leave your US or any other fancy management talk to its proponents and join us in building a strong and united anti-war movement.

by John Tue Aug 15, 2006 19:02

That's a fine list, Michael, but, tell us, who is the IAWM working with? And I'm not talking about you personally.

by MichaelY - iawm Tue Aug 15, 2006 19:19

Sorry John - I read your question but would like you to clarify its context so that I can respond adequately. The organisations that I mentioned above are the organisations that the IAWM, and its membership around the country, are working w i t h.
Now if there is a hidden meaning in your question, that obviously escapes me, please clarify and I'll do my best to respond when I come back later tonight.

by anon Tue Aug 15, 2006 20:25

The IAWM didn't call the demostration the SWP filled STWC in the UK called a demostration and IAWM and PANA and NGOA went along with it. What happening in Ireland on the September 23rd? Where will the Aherns be that day?

by Nordie Wed Aug 16, 2006 12:04

Does Irish anti-war activists marching on the same day as a national demonstration in the UK count as an International Day of Protest. They aren't even calling it that across the water. Is it just the Irish wing of the Imperial SWP? Talk about Britain sneezing and Ireland catching the cold.

by Southie Wed Aug 16, 2006 12:21

But are you surprised? The march has been called and it would be bad if people didn't turn up but the rationale for it escapes me. Marching without purpose seems to an IAWM/SWP speciality.

I'm all for antiwar marches, but there should be a definite purpose. Can the IAWM/SWP please explain the purpose on this occasion? Maybe I just don't see it. Or did they just feel that a march was due?

by MichaelY - iawm Wed Aug 16, 2006 12:31

The anti-SWP disease is so irritating at times as to push reasonable people to rage.
Anon and this new flower nordie please take two minutes and visit :
http://www.septemberaction.org/cs/

If you can read, with one or two eyes open, you will see that September 23-26 are dates around which anti-war activists in the US will be mobilising in DC and around the country against their own government's foreign policy.
Last May's European Social Forum also discussed those dates and a number of European anti-war movements will be having mobilisations.
And, yes, the anti-war movement over the water will be having a mass mobilisation in Manchester on September 23rd.
So please dear friends get off the anti-SWP horse [Horse Show is over] and if you can lend a hand in working with anti-war activists in building a united movement good and fair.

Otherwise let it go - every message you post makes you appear worse nitwits than the previous post

by me Wed Aug 16, 2006 12:48

The poor SWP gets an awful hammering on this site. Some of it is irrational but some also comes from direct experience of their horrible sectarian behaviour. They accuse all their critics, without exception, of sectarianism but they are, by a long shot,the most sectarian left-wing organisation in Ireland. Look at their control freakery in the IAWM. Look at their general behaviour.

MichaelY is right to point to ask people to tone down the SWP paranoia but he's kidding himself if he thinks the distrust of the SWP is unearned and undeserved.

by MichaelY - iawm Wed Aug 16, 2006 12:51

My message above southie was not directed to you. Your question is significant and will try to respond.
Over the past two-three months a whole set of anti-war activities have taken place all over the 32 Counties. Meetings, visits of comrades from abroad, local demonstrations (three last Saturday), the Ploughshares trial/acquittal, the Derry occupation of Raytheon and the subsequent arrests and vicious bail conditions imposed. All this while the carnage in Afghanistan and Iraq continued and then came Israel's invasion of Lebanon and its warmongering in Gaza.
A whole set of people around the country feel that while smaller/sectional/regional responses are absolutely essential it is also important to focus and channel that diffuse opposition to one singular central demonstration...a couple of people in Indymedia recently criticised the IAWM for organising small demos and not going for something like Feb 2003!!
So while your question re:purpose remains valid, the answer to it would have to be to show that as a people, as a diffuse anti-war movement with all its components, we have the capacity to bring large numbers of people into the street and tell this Government that the collaboration with the Empire, the allowing of Shannon to be used a Warport, has to stop. To bring people into the streets and create the conditions that our show anger and frustration finds an expression and an outlet.
Is this 'purpose' good enough for you? What other elements of purpose would you like to see? Let us discuss any other possible options and it would seem to me that next Saturday's meeting is called by the Anti War Network for precisely that purpose.