4 PM An Evenings Vigil At Shannon
For Womens Little Christmas
On Saturday, 7th January 2006, we invite you to attend an Evening Vigil at Shannon Airport starting at 4.00 pm. This vigil will take place on the approach road to the airport and the invitation is extended to everyone, young and old,. We remember the thousands of people killed in Bushes "War on Terror", including thousands of Iraqi children, slaughtered by the U.S. military occupation of their country taking freedomÂs name in vain.
For more information please call Joe @ 0868228032 or Mary @ 0879112961.
We will show the Shannon premier of Margaretta D'Arcy's award winning film "Big Plane Small Axe", documenting the trials of Mary Kellly, who disarmed a US Navy cargo jet plane on the airfield at Shannon on the 3rd of February 2003.
There will also be a tree planting service in remembrance of one of the founding peace campers, our friend, Emma O Carroll who sadly passed away this week after a long battle with cancer.
Three years ago, as war loomed in Iraq, a group of peace activists spent the month of January camped on the doorstep of Shannon Airport to highlight the amount of U.S. troops and military cargo being trafficked through IrelandÂs second international airport to the Middle East, in preparation for the impending war. The first night spent at the airport was the coldest night on record for decades as the temperature plummeted to -7 degrees Celsius. The brave women of the peace movement won praise from the mainstream media in Ireland for their vigil on the night of "WomenÂs Little Christmas". As the peace camp increased in numbers and stature the worldÂs press were drawn to the West of Ireland with live links and images beamed all over the globe.
Thousands of people visited from every corner of the country and abroad, bringing food and equipment to make life easier for the campers. They brought good cheer and gratitude for the activists who provided a centre for information on what was, and still is happening at Shannon. The camp also served the purpose of providing focus for the peace movement that was being created in Ireland, as people marched for peace all over the world.
The stance taken at Shannon by this action put the Irish government on the spot, with activists from the camp breaking several news stories to the press, including the fact that vast amounts of weapons, ammunition and military explosives were being shipped through the civilian airport. Further information revealed that patriot and cruise missiles had been smuggled through the airport.
Other actions happened at Shannon Airport including the disarmament by Mary Kelly and the Pit Stop Ploughshares of a US Navy cargo jet, causing disruption of logistics. These actions reverberated all over the world further highlighting the Irish GovernmentÂs docile attitude to the aggressive Bush administration of the USA.
'What's that Willie? Nothing furtive happening at Shannon?' During the time of the peace-camp plane spotter Tim Hourigan logged the landing of one of the CIA flights involved in "Extraordinary Rendition". This logged plane became part of a Swedish TV documentary and later the subject of investigations by the United Nations and the Council of Europe, amongst other bodies. Thankfully, the U.S. Ambassador has given assurances to the Minister of Foreign Affairs that no torture victims have been "Rendered" through Shannon Airport. This assurance would be laughable if not for the serious nature of the issue.
Troop numbers through the Airport to theatres of war in Afghanistan and Iraq are now at record levels with over 303,300 soldiers passing through Shannon Airport this year. We of Na Cosantoiri Siochana demand that Bertie Ahern realise the expectations of the 150,000 people who marched for peace on the 15th of February 2003 by stopping the US Military and CIA using Shannon Airport in their war crimes.
Start Date: 2006-01-06 19:00:00-05
End Date: 2006-01-07 06:59:59-05
Event E-mail: info@cosantoiri.org
Event URL:
Created By: Kieran O'Sullivan
Comments
Dublin - Irish Aviation Authority Vigil -
Demilitarise Shannon Airport
by Ploughshares
phone: 087 918 4552
*FRIDAY 4pm-6pm
*Aviation Authority, Burgh Quay, Dublin City Centre
*Vigil for the Demilitarisation of Shannon Airport
In solidarity with those gathering at Shannon Airport the following evening and with all those active against the war, before the courts & in military brigs & prisons for resisting the war.
Say no to the Irish Aviation Authority & Irish Government's role in the ongoing illegal invasion of & war on Iraq, the kidnapping & torture flights through Ireland.
http://www.peaceontrial.com
Created By: Damien Moran
Follow the money.
Created By: Dr Raeder Anderson
Here is more on Shannon from the BBC.
US soldiers boost Irish airport sales
Green, damp and tranquil, the west coast of Ireland is not somewhere you would expect to find American soldiers in desert uniform.
US soldier dressed as Father Christmas
US soldiers returning home for Christmas boost airport business
But flying through Shannon airport in County Clare over Christmas, I found the departure lounge crowded with GIs.
Most were sipping coffee, some sampled the Guinness.
Trade was brisk in the duty-free store, and there were queues for the public telephones as their plane refuelled on the runway.
Brisk business
These men and women had just finished their tour in Iraq.
They had flown from the sand and harsh desert sun into the green fields and mystical light of the Shannon estuary.
It was clearly and understandably a culture shock.
Young, clean-shaven, with short hair and neatly-pressed twin-tone fatigues, these brown and beige figures dominated the scene.
And, as I've since discovered, this is a familiar sight.
More than 300,000 American soldiers have flown home via Shannon in 2005.
That is twice the number who passed through in 2004, and that was much higher than the previous year when the Iraqi invasion took place.
"I don't approve of it," says one local, returning home. Even officials agree that there has been much controversy in Ireland.
But the bartender at the Clare Cafe seems to appreciate the trade, and one shop assistant in the duty-free explains that "some of them are quite nice".
Cash-starved airport
The airport authorities are coy.
"We don't reveal the commercial value of this business," says external relations manager Eugene Pratt.
"But you can take it that it is substantial when aeronautical charges, in-flight catering, ground handling, duty free and ground catering sales, as well as fuel sales are tallied."
The Irish Examiner has come up with a figure.
It says Shannon has received more than 27m euros ($32.5m; £18.6m) from the US government in 2005 alone.
That is useful revenue for an airport with a total turnover of only 95m euros last year.
"The revenue generated from the commercial liners carrying troops is very welcome for a cash-starved airport", says Pat Breen, the Fine Gael Deputy for County Clare.
"Shannon has to spend 70m euros on airport infrastructure over the next number of years and in deals struck with the likes of Ryanair, it is not going to generate those kind of revenues."
A long way home
One wonders whether some of the troops would like to step outside and drive along the magical coastline of the Emerald Isle, booking into B&Bs, strolling along empty beaches with their hair blowing in the wind, cosying up to a peat fire in a cosy pub.
One or two might have Irish roots to check out.
However valuable to the airport, this for them is just a short stop on the way home.
One says, "It's a long trip," but after months in Iraq, she can't wait to get back on the plane and head out west across the Atlantic.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4577906.stm
Created By: Brendan H