New Events

Clare

no events posted in last week

Blog Feeds

Public Inquiry
Interested in maladministration. Estd. 2005

offsite link RTEs Sarah McInerney ? Fianna Fail supporter? Anthony

offsite link Joe Duffy is dishonest and untrustworthy Anthony

offsite link Robert Watt complaint: Time for decision by SIPO Anthony

offsite link RTE in breach of its own editorial principles Anthony

offsite link Waiting for SIPO Anthony

Public Inquiry >>

Human Rights in Ireland
A Blog About Human Rights

offsite link UN human rights chief calls for priority action ahead of climate summit Sat Oct 30, 2021 17:18 | Human Rights

offsite link 5 Year Anniversary Of Kem Ley?s Death Sun Jul 11, 2021 12:34 | Human Rights

offsite link Poor Living Conditions for Migrants in Southern Italy Mon Jan 18, 2021 10:14 | Human Rights

offsite link Right to Water Mon Aug 03, 2020 19:13 | Human Rights

offsite link Human Rights Fri Mar 20, 2020 16:33 | Human Rights

Human Rights in Ireland >>

Lockdown Skeptics

The Daily Sceptic

offsite link Further Evidence Gaza Casualty Numbers Are Fake Thu Mar 28, 2024 17:36 | Will Jones
The evidence that the Gaza casualty numbers from the Hamas-run Health Ministry (now over 32,000) are wildly inflated continues to mount. Mark Zlochin looks at what the proportions of male and female UNRWA workers tell us.
The post Further Evidence Gaza Casualty Numbers Are Fake appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

offsite link Don?t Be Fooled by the ?Britain is Growing? Fairytales Thu Mar 28, 2024 15:22 | David Craig
Don't be fooled by the 'Britain is growing' fairytales, says David Craig. Any 'growth' is accounted for by the hike in the benefits bill and in civil servants' pay and a heap of other unproductive deficit spending.
The post Don’t Be Fooled by the ‘Britain is Growing’ Fairytales appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

offsite link Climate: The Movie is a Perfect Cure for Climate Anxiety Thu Mar 28, 2024 13:00 | Toby Young
Climate Change: The Movie, the new film by Martin Durkin, should be shown at every school in the country to disabuse anxious young people of the idea that we're in the midst of a 'climate emergency'.
The post Climate: The Movie is a Perfect Cure for Climate Anxiety appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

offsite link The WHO?s Plot to Seize Power Over Nation States in Future Pandemics Must Be Stopped Thu Mar 28, 2024 11:12 | Will Jones
The World Health Organisation is gearing up to persuade the world's governments to sign a new pandemic treaty that would allow the unelected body to seize power over nation states in future pandemics, warns Matt Ridley.
The post The WHO’s Plot to Seize Power Over Nation States in Future Pandemics Must Be Stopped appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

offsite link Easter Quiz: Why Are White Things So White? Thu Mar 28, 2024 09:00 | Steven Tucker
It's hard to tell the difference these days between genuine news stories relating to 'anti-racist' ? or, more realistically, anti-white ? ideas and the spoofs and fakes. Pit your wits against our Easter quiz.
The post Easter Quiz: Why Are White Things So White? appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

Lockdown Skeptics >>

Voltaire Network
Voltaire, international edition

offsite link Moscow attack reminds us of the links between Islamists and Kiev's fundamentalis... Tue Mar 26, 2024 06:57 | en

offsite link Failure to assist a people in danger of genocide, by Hassan Hamadé Tue Mar 26, 2024 06:32 | en

offsite link Yugoslavia March 24, 1999 The Founding War of the New Nato, by Manlio Dinucci Sun Mar 24, 2024 05:15 | en

offsite link France opposes Russian Korean-style peace project in Ukraine Sat Mar 23, 2024 11:11 | en

offsite link Voltaire, International Newsletter N°79 Fri Mar 22, 2024 11:40 | en

Voltaire Network >>

Shannon - the vigils continue

category clare | rights, freedoms and repression | news report author Thursday July 17, 2008 22:30author by John Lannon Report this post to the editors

The regular monthly vigil against Shannon’s role in international torture networks and war-mongering took place on Sunday 13 July. Activists gathered at the roundabout just outside the airport and spent an hour reminding the public that there should be no place in Shannon for CIA torture planes or the US military.
Visual reminder to passers by that torture is happening in known and unknown US holding sites
Visual reminder to passers by that torture is happening in known and unknown US holding sites

The vigils which have been ongoing since January demand accountability for what is going on at Shannon - for the complicity in war, the international networks of torture, and the routine transiting of munitions and arms across the world. They are also small acts of remembrance of those suffering starvation, displacement, bereavement, torture and isolation as a result. And they are a reminder to the Irish authorities that steps must be taken to investigate whether or not Irish territory and airspace is been used illegally and against our wishes.

As always the peaceful protesters that gathered at Shannon airport on Sunday evening were surrounded by several marked and unmarked police cars and vans. Their occupants monitored the people attending the peaceful vigil closely, burning gallons of petrol as they drove around in aimless circles. They may have their explanations for why there is such a large presence of Gardai in attendance at every vigil, but it certainly doesn’t look like they are there to uphold the right to freedom of assembly and expression.

The presence of the police to monitor peaceful protesters at Shannon is in stark contrast to their refusal to monitoring the torture jets that use the airport, or to question the contents of the munitions/arms carrying planes. This refusal leads to a situation where questions exist over the arrival of all US registered aircraft at Shannon. Indeed while Sunday’s vigil took place, two US-registered executive jets sat on the tarmac inside the airport perimeter fence. These may have been engaged in legitimate activities but without effective investigations and proper reporting on the use of the airport by the CIA and the US military, there are doubts.

It is worth noting that Amnesty International’s June report on Europe’s role in rendition and secret detention reported a high-ranking Romanian official as saying that US pilots routinely filed bogus flight plans, or none at all, and flew to undeclared destinations. There is every possibility that the same is the case with flights into and out of Shannon.

On a more positive note, it was heartening to find that support from passing motorists and passengers seems to be growing. While the majority have not yet mobilised to demand changes at Shannon, there is growing disquiet at the shameful use of the airport to help inflict torture and suffering.

The vigils will continue. Next one is on Sunday August 10th from 5pm to 6.

author by lulupublication date Fri Jul 18, 2008 10:49author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Well done all - we need to be reminded of the horrible deeds done in the name of democracy. Keep it up; some people's consciences will wake up to what's going on.

author by Mark Cpublication date Fri Jul 18, 2008 11:46author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Good work folks, well done. I keep meaning to get to these vigils but there's always something in the way of it happening (very, very young twins, visitors, meetings elsewhere, etc). I suspect there's many like me, so your numbers are probably much more than are visible.

Again, well done,
Mark.

author by Ciaron - Catholic Worker/Ploughsharespublication date Fri Jul 18, 2008 11:54author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Keep on keeping on folks. Amazing the acceptance in Ireland of co-operating with torture and internment with these kidnap flights at Shannon.
Check out this film review in the Guardian of "Standard Operating Procedure" dealing with the issue.
Just released hope it makes it to Limerick
http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/film/2008/02/standard_opera....html

Related Link: http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/film/2008/02/standard_operating_procedure_h.html
author by B747 - nonepublication date Fri Jul 18, 2008 12:50author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Shannon is in Co.Clare Ciaron.............

author by Ciaronpublication date Fri Jul 18, 2008 14:51author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Very good on the gography there B baby, from memory you're right. But my guess is the closest urban centre with a multiplex could be Limerick at a guess. Hope the film makes it to Ennis as well

author by Fred Johnstonpublication date Fri Jul 18, 2008 17:30author email sylfredcar at iolfree dot ieauthor address author phone Report this post to the editors

The need for vigils at Shannon; and for dedicated people continually to voice their displeasure at having the US military effectively invade the area, is greater than ever. As a writer, I am remain dismayed at the apparent reluctance of more Galway-based writers and artists to become more fully involved in this area. The same small number, often under attack from cynical pretend-socialists and other me-fheiners in the city, turn out dutifully and more praise to them. We should be grateful for their courage.

author by Mortimerpublication date Sun Jul 20, 2008 12:49author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Stay on topic folks. It is important that writers and musicians and other artists get involved in what is happening at Shannon. Their best use would be to exercise some sort of cultural pressure on local politicians. If they are not pepared for any of this, there isn't much can be done to persuade them. The US military presence on Irish soil is a disgrace and an insult to our sovereignty - surely everyone can understand that?

author by on topicpublication date Sun Jul 20, 2008 14:09author address author phone Report this post to the editors

What Fred Johnson says about Galway writers in his comment above amounts to a gross falsification of the facts, for which he should issue a public apology.

A reading from 'Poems From Guantanamo Bay' was held recently in Galway and several prominent Galway writers were actively involved.

See an article about it here.
http://www.galwayindependent.com/entertainment/entertai...ding/

author by Edward Horganpublication date Tue Jul 22, 2008 22:45author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Internal squabbling and self-flagellation within the peace movement is counterproductive. Lets save our anger and criticism for those who have either committed or been complicit in crimes against humanity.
Different individuals within the peace movement have the opportunity and inclination to commit to different levels of activism, at various times. This is the nature of volunteerism. It is pointless criticising others because we may feel they are not doing enough. Focus on what you can do yourself, and lead and motivate by example.
In my experience we all tend to greatly underestimate the amount we can achieve, and most peace activists prevaricate far too much. We need to seek out opportunities to promote human justice, and we need also to act when momentary opportunities present themselves.
Remember it is pointless regretting our failures, or others failures, to act in the past, and we can only waffle about what we might do in the future.
The only time we can actually act is in the present as it rapidly passes us by. The motto “if not I, who, if not now, when” has an awful lot more meaning that its few words might suggest.

We need all the support we can get down at Shannon, every weekend if possible.
If you can spare one hour for the people who are being tortured and unjustly killed and injured in unlawful wars, please do so by protesting at Shannon airport.

author by S.O.A.W.publication date Sat Aug 23, 2008 08:27author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Vietnam Veteran, Nonviolent Resister and a founder of "School of the Americas Watch" www.soaw.org
addresses presidential candidate John McCain on changing his line on torture (vid 1.10)

http://act.truemajorityaction.org/p/7002/stoptorture?pe...EY=68

Related Link: http://act.truemajorityaction.org/p/7002/stoptorture?petition_KEY=68
Number of comments per page
  
 
© 2001-2024 Independent Media Centre Ireland. Unless otherwise stated by the author, all content is free for non-commercial reuse, reprint, and rebroadcast, on the net and elsewhere. Opinions are those of the contributors and are not necessarily endorsed by Independent Media Centre Ireland. Disclaimer | Privacy