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Bush - not welcome here
down |
anti-war / imperialism |
press release
Monday May 26, 2008 00:34 by Mark Hewitt - BAWM & SWP
Oppose the visit to Belfast of George W Bush GEORGE BUSH – NOT WANTED HERE The world has seen the particular type of Bush “democracy” that was brought to Iraq in the form of the torture photos of prisoners held at Abu Ghraib Prison and the pictures of twisted bodies lying in the streets of Baghdad’s marketplaces. There are now over 2 million internally displaced Iraqis who have been forced to flee their homes. There are also over 3 million refugees who have been forced to flee the country completely. According to CNN almost a third of all Iraqi children are suffering from chronic malnutrition and almost three quarters of Iraqi civilians no longer have access to clean water. |
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Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8I was in Belfast yesterday at the Raytheon 9 trial and the irony of the Bush visit was mentioned in the short speech that Colm Bryce, one of the 9, gave before they went into the court.
The irony is that politicians in this country will be falling over themselves for the chance of a photo opportunity with the man who gave the orders for the bombing of countless thousands of innocent Iraqi civilians and the continued occupation of their country for oil and political clout.
Meanwhile nine men are on trial for trying to stop the murder machine called Raytheon from inflicting more death on innocent Lebanese civilians. Not one politician has expressed any support for them in this country.
As for the above comment, I think Jim the troll needs a reality transplant.
But the more people we can get out to demonstrations, the more we make sure that the war crimes will not be forgotten
Dear All
A big thank you to everyone who signed the letter opposing the visit of George Bush to Belfast next month. The letter has been sent to all the papers in the hope it will be published by at least some of them!
All those who signed the letter are being invited to an organising meeting on Thursday 29th May 2008. The meeting has been called by the Belfast Anti War Movement and will be attended by representatives of the Fire Brigade's Union, the National Union of Students/USI, Belfast Trade's Council, the Muslim Families Association, Belfast Islamic Centre, and Unison - all of whom are backing a demonstration/demonstrations on the day Bush arrives here. It is also hoped that as many signatories to the letter as possible will attend the organising meeting - so please come along, whether you signed the letter as part of a group or signed in an individual capacity. It is important that there is a broad range of people involved in agreeing the format of the events and the speakers etc and adding their talents to designing posters and publicising the events.
The demonstration is also being backed by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (NI). Members of other unions and organisation are currently arranging to get backing from their organisations. As well as that, a whole series of individuals are backing the demonstration.
As Bush's intended whereabouts on the 16th June is not yet known, the agreement so far is that there will be a lunchtime rally at city hall at lunchtime on the 16th. When it is discovered where he will actually be (likely Stormont) a demonstration and transport etc can be organised for that.
In order to build the maximum possible demonstrations on the day, a public meeting has been organised for next Wednesday evening. The meeting has a great line up and posters to help build it will be available at tomorrow's meeting and will be emailed around.
Please find details of the organising meeting and the public meeting and the lunchtime rally and the signatories to letter below.
Organising meeting
6pm Thursday 29 May 2008
Transport House, High Street
(last building at end of street, beside Albert Clock)
public meeting - all welcome
BELFAST SAYS NO TO BUSH
7pm Wednesday 4 June 2008
Transport House, High Street Belfast
(last building at end of street beside Albert Clock)
Speakers:
Rose Gentle - Military Families Against War (her son Gordon was killed in Iraq)
Eamonn McCann - Journalist and Campaigner, currently standing trial as part of "Raytheon 9"
Rayed Al Wazzan - Muslim Families Association
Chair:
Brian Kelly - award winning US author and historian
lunchtime rally - all welcome
BELFAST SAYS NO TO BUSH
12.30pm Monday 16 June 2008
City Hall
Called by:
Belfast Anti War Movement
Supported by:
Irish Congress of Trade Unions - NI
Unison
Fire Brigades Union
Belfast trades Council
National Union of Students- USI
Irish Anti War Movement
Justice not Terror
(others to be added when confirmed)
* Other actions on the day to be confirmed
GEORGE BUSH – NOT WANTED HERE
We are appalled at the news that George Bush will visit Belfast next month. It is disgraceful that his visit is as a result of an invitation issued by the First Minister and Deputy First Minister.
This part of the world more than most places has an understanding of the deep damage and pain that war and conflict produces. George Bush is internationally regarded as a warmonger. The so called “war on terror”, now rebranded as the “war for democracy” that he has championed has inflicted that damage and pain on countless millions.
The world has seen the particular type of Bush “democracy” that was brought to Iraq in the form of the torture photos of prisoners held at Abu Ghraib Prison and the pictures of twisted bodies lying in the streets of Baghdad’s marketplaces. There are now over 2 million internally displaced Iraqis who have been forced to flee their homes. There are also over 3 million refugees who have been forced to flee the country completely.
According to CNN almost a third of all Iraqi children are suffering from chronic malnutrition and almost three quarters of Iraqi civilians no longer have access to clean water.
Bush’s phony war has done nothing except create global misery and despair. His justification of the war has been to condemn Muslims as backward fundamentalists prone to violence. This has led to a massive increase in Islamophobia and racist attacks committed against those perceived to be Muslim has risen massively in recent years.
Apart from the war, Bush’s international crimes include a refusal to sign up to Kyoto and a refusal to do anything meaningful about global warming. This has placed the lives of millions of people in immediate danger due to the freak weather conditions that are already taking place. Longer term, the very planet itself is at risk.
Bush has also been responsible for misery much closer to home. Americans rightly accused Bush of leaving the residents of New Orleans to perish following Hurricane Katrina simply because they were black and poor and therefore considered expendable. Whilst he has spent countless billions on the war he has left millions of Americans without a proper healthcare system and a proper social security infrastructure. Bush has presided over a country where ordinary working people have seen their conditions deteriorate massively. While the poor have gotten poorer, the rich have gotten richer.
George Bush is the most unpopular President in US history. According to the Washington Post his current approval rating is less that thirty percent.
George Bush is not liked in the US and he is not liked here. It is not surprising that media blogs following the announcement were filled with messages condemning the visit.
When George Bush visits here in June we will make sure that he is followed by protests wherever he goes. We call on all of those who oppose this visit to ensure that they are on those protests and that they make their voices heard.
OUR MESSAGE IS CLEAR GEORGE BUSH IS NOT WANTED HERE.
Moazzam Begg - Former Guantanamo Bay Detainee
Richard Belmar – Former Bagram Airbase and Guantanamo Bay Detainee
Patricia McKeown - Regional Secretary UNISON
Jimmy Kelly - Regional Secretary UNITE/A&TGWU
Jim Barbour - Executive Council FIRE BRIGADES UNION
Brian Campfield - Belfast & District Trades Council
Kevin Doherty - Belfast & District Trades Council
Richie Brown - Education Officer, UNITE/A&TGWU
Dominic Murray – International Officer UNISON RVH
Sean McMonagle - Community Worker, Derry
John Mc Laughlin - Union Organiser UNITE
Brian Crawford, Chairperson, NIPSA ’s Equal Opportunities Committee
Jim Quinn Senior Organiser (acting) UNITE
Naomi Connor - Branch 8 NIPSA
Patrick McGinley - Branch 8 Secretary NIPSA
Eamonn McCann - Journalist & Raytheon 9
Goretti Horgan - Derry Anti War Coalition
Davy Maguire - Musician/Artist
Jimmy Donaghey - Assistant Secretary, Queen’s UCU
Wendy Blemings - New Belfast Community Arts Initiative
All the staff - The Pat Finucane Centre, Derry and Newry
Brenda Callaghan - SIPTU
Bernadette Mc Aliskey
Rayed Al Wazzan - Muslim Family Association NI
Colm Bryce - Derry Anti-War Coalition & Raytheon 9
Marie McLoon -Women’s Officer, NUS USI
Diarmuid Fraser - Vice President of UU Jordanstown.
Harry Jones - President St Mary's College SU
Gerry Carroll - VP Jordanstown elect, UUSU
Matthew Collins - Welfare Officer elect, NUS USI
Wendy Finn - Global Dimensions Officer elect, St Mary’s College
Pól Mac Adaim - Folk Singer/Writer
Jamal Ilweida - Ex President Belfast Islamic Centre
Brian Kelly - Author and US History Lecturer
Dr Fintan Lane - Historian
Dr Robbie McVeigh - Researcher & Activist
Diane Kirby – Lecturer
Professor John Pinkerton
Sean Mitchell – People Before Profit
Ryan McKinney - NIPSA
Peter McGuire - Chairperson, International Voluntary Service, N.I.
Mark Langhammer- Irish Labour Party
Daisy Mules
Paul Maguire - Unison International Solidarity Group
Rónán Ó Scolláin - Glór na Móna and Gort na Móna CLG
Caitlin Ni Chonaill – Belfast Branch Secretary, IPSC
John McCusker – Chairperson Belfast Branch, IPSC
Freya Maeve Mackenzie - Film Producer
Padraigin Drinan - Solicitor
Barbara Muldoon - Immigration Practitioner & ARN
Mark Hewitt - Branch 516 NIPSA Shop Steward
Mark Chapman - Justice Not Terror Coalition
Raymond Watson - Artist
Sean Moraghan -Tralee Anti-war Group
Steven Corr - Community Worker
Kellie O’Dowd - Trademark
Joe Law - Trademark
Ciarán Ó Brolcháin - IPSC
Niall Enright
Liam Enright
Terry Enright
Mary Enright
Fred Brown
Mary Nelis
Mirjam Bader
Sara Boyce
Danny O Rawe
Cécile Faroux.
Eoin Clarke
Lynda Walker
Fergal Quinn
Cathy Braithwaite
Brian Semple
Gerry Ruddy
Jennifer Kelly
Carey Ann Clarke
Manus McCrory
Roisin Davis
Petesy Burns
Brenda Morgan
Caoimhe Morgan-Burns
Oran Morgan- Burns
John Pinkerton
Maria McConville
Ann Zell
Ruth Carr
Casey Daniel
Wyn Sproule
Catherine Cavendish
Fiona Boyd
Seán MacBradaigh
Hilary Midgley
Conor Midgley
Fanad Midgley
Niall Houston
Liam McMullan
Ruth Graham
Mark McGregor
Liam Ó Boírr
Nuala O'Neill
Brian Pelan
Rita Wild
Shane O’Curry
Christopher May - West Kerry
Rab Jackson – Eirígí
Helen McGowan
Seán Ó hAdhmaill
Chris McCabe
Tim Currie - People Before Profit
Stephen McCloskey
Fred Johnston - Galway
Chris McCabe
Manus Mc Crory
Tatiana Rehakova
Nuala McGurk
Helen Crickard
Naomi Ryder
Michael Rooney
Martha McClelland
Dale Moore
Doctor Juliet Homan
Peter Homan
Stella Kemp
Siobhan Mullen
Shaun Wolfe-Murphy
Daniel Holder
Sean Rooney
Eamon McMahon
Damian White
Donal Daly
Ruaidhri Quinn
Charlie McMenamin
Annie Holland
Rita Simmonds
Waiata Tamihana
Matua McCrory
Alex McCrory
Chris Simmonds
Cherie Marsh
Ciárán Marron
Rónán Marron
Heather Lynas
Paddy Mackel
Michelle Clarke
Feargal Mac Ionnrachtaigh
Monica Daly
Tiarnán Belshaw
Jonathon O’Callaghan
Tyrone Curliss
Michael mc Laughlin
Mo Shafaar
Jordan Mc Dowell (Student)
Hassler Edoucnal
Peter Green (TGWU)
Eóin Mac Daibhí
Thomas Nicholl
Jean Sloan
Margaret Field
Leo Devlin (artist)
Ciaran Mc Kay
Aisling Dornan
Sinead Haywood
Leo Arbuckle
Peggy Quinn
Marian Farrell
Lynda Walker
Ernest Walker
Wendy Blemings
Ashleigh Allen
Emma Young
M Macgregor
Emma Bunce
Heather Gillespie
David Gillespie
Jean Magill
Jim Magill
Ian Matthews
Alan Matthews
Clare Mcguire
Geordie Bordick
Reene Moore
Aaron Moore
Silvana Lau-Lo
Kathy Matthews
Tom O’Neill
Bobby O’Neil
Hubert O’Neil
Lorna Creighton
Adrian Creighton
Colin Creighton
Róisín Russell
Michelle Mitchell
Terri Sloan
Alex Gilmore
Aimee Hawthorne
Chris mc Burnley
Daniel Jack
Paul Hunter
Uná Magee
Ana O’Reily
Stan Forsythe
Katie Sweeney
Richie MacRitchie
Leah Brennan
Shauna mc Grillen
Lara Woods
Colette Campbell
Oisin Jayat
John Cahoon
Amanda Curliss
Anna Devlin
Sarah Louise Long
Arrate Etxebarria
Peter Abbott
Sonia Dawson
Simon Heatley
S.Alexander
Caroline McGuire
Irene Matthews
Mary Crumley
Oisín Jayat
So the SWP have called a meeting for tomorrow in Transport House to discuss the anti-Bush protests, which as the above post shows they have already organised without consulting ANYBODY else!
Not only that do they expect everyone who might attend tomorrow's meeting to walk past the protesting Belfast Airport Workers at Transport House and attend the meeting in Transport House as if their protest doesn't matter!
This is an insult by the SWP against the Airport workers. But then we shouldn't be surprised - Jimmy Kelly will have got them the room for their meeting in Transport House, thats the same Jimmy Kelly (SWP) who has been screwing the airport workers!
Jimmy Kelly has called the cops again to arrest the Belfast Airport Workers at Transport House.
The anti-war meeting should be moved to a different venue and if the SWP don't move it then people should boycott the meeting.
'....organised without consulting ANYBODY else!'
well, no one except the 400 or so who have signed on to the open letter.
i take it no one showed up at the sp's rump meeting then.
The SWP does not consult anyone (and I WOULD include the 400 people who have signed the petition) about organising events under the title of the Belfast Anti-War Movement. When I recently complained to one of their younger members about other groups not being invited to organising meetings of BAWM, and the SWP substituting themselves for 'the movement', I was told that others weren't excluded... there simply are no meetings! Simply, a couple of leading SWP members discuss it amongst themselves and make decisions on behalf of everyone who opposes the war! The SWP should not be allowed to hijack the opposition to Bush simply because they have brass necks and no regard for basic democracy! They were invited to the meeting today, if they have a case to make or are serious about having a broad and democratic movement, why didn't they attend?
As one of the 400 who signed the BAWM letter I can assure you neither I nor a few others I know who signed were "consulted" about the BAWM meeting or the public protest. We were simply invited by email to attend.
The Politicians in Ireland have represented themselves as Bush Lap-Dogs,they fell into the 911 trap from Day 1.Ahern and Now Cowen's and actually most of Ireland's politico's hands are stinking of stale blood, by allowing the use of Shannon to further their sick idea's,as a nation you should be ashamed of yourselves.