The Irish Anti-War Movement, The People’s Movement and PANA commit themselves to campaign for the State to immediately formally withdraw from all military an financial commitments under PESCO.
Press-Release
This is a re-issue of the Shannonwatch Press Release please contact shannonwatch for details. Shannonwatch, 23rd February, 2016 A total of 116 candidates have committed to restoring Ireland's neutrality in response to a Peace Pledge drafted by the main peace and anti-war groups in Ireland. These candidates have said they will only support or join a Government that is prepared to end the US military use of Shannon Airport. "This is a very important commitment in terms of Ireland's foreign policy" said John Lannon of Shannonwatch, one of the organisations behind the Peace Pledge. "It is also in line with the wishes of the Irish people. Polls consistently show that over two thirds of the population want a neutral Ireland that is not involved in wars of aggression or occupation. But by allowing Shannon Airport to be used as a US military base we are contributing to war and human rights abuse. The next government must end this practice and restore Irish neutrality." All 50 Sinn Fein candidates are committed to supporting the Peace Pledge as are the Anti Austerity Alliance / People before Profit and the Workers Party. A number of candidates from the Green Party, Social Democrats and other parties, as well as Independents, have also signed up. One of the first to sign the Peace Pledge was Richard Boyd Barrett TD who is also chairperson of the Irish Anti War Movement. "The fact that not a single candidate from Fine Gael, Labour, Fianna Fail or Renua has signed the Peace Pledge is telling" said Edward Horgan of the Peace and Neutrality Alliance (PANA). "These parties may well have instructed their candidates to refuse to sign anything that helps protect our neutrality or diminish our role in military alliances. In doing so they are contributing to the death and suffering of millions of people, and to the refugee crises we have today."
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IAWM Press Release, 09 December 2015 Irish Anti War Movement (IAWM) welcomes the release of Mick Wallace TD Mick Wallace, the Wexford TD, was arrested this morning and taken to Limerick Prison. The reason for his arrest and imprisonment is his refusal to pay a 2,000 Euro fine imposed on him, along with Clare Daly TD, following his attempt to inspect US military planes in Shannon Airport. As the motivation for their actions was entirely in the pursuit of peace and against war, the IAWM welcomes his release. In compliance with their duties as elected public representatives and legislators to hold the Government to account, Clare Daly and Mick Wallace felt obliged to undertake what the complicit Irish authorities have failed to do. They tried to enter Shannon Airport and search the military aircraft that are carrying war munitions, armed soldiers and possibly even prisoners. On July 22nd last year they entered the airport. They were arrested by the police and subsequently convicted of breaching ‘regulations’, fined 2,000 Euro each, which they decided to refuse to pay and they are now facing a prison sentence of one month. “In light of the current deadly airstrikes by the US, UK, France and Russia on Syria, a country ravaged by war, it is particularly crucial that we in Ireland disassociate ourselves from this imperialist bombing,” said Michael Youlton, Chair of the IAWM. “Mick and Clare are demanding positive neutrality from Ireland and are prepared to pay a high price to this end. A number of previous and current Government Ministers have repeatedly misled the Dáil with regard to Ireland’s neutrality while allowing nearly three million armed US soldiers to transit through Shannon Airport on their way to and from the killing fields of the Middle East.”
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IAWM Press Release, 08 December 2015 IAWM RALLY AT DÁIL – DON’T BOMB SYRIA The Irish Anti-War Movement (IAWM) is having a protest at Dáil Eireann starting at 5pm this Thursday 10 December. NO MORE BOMBING OF SYRIA - CEASEFIRE NOW! END ARMS SALES NOW - STOP PROFITEERING FROM WARS RESTORE IRISH NEUTRALITY - US MILITARY OUT OF SHANNON END THE CYCLE OF WAR AND TERROR - NO MORE WESTERN WARS IN MIDDLE EAST Speakers include: - Richard Boyd Barrett TD, President IAWM The Irish Anti-War movement, in solidarity with other anti-war events in the UK, France and elsewhere, is assembling outside the Dail at 5pm on Thursday December 10th to demand of the Irish Government that it upholds Irish neutrality, refuses to facilitate, or participate in, the bombing of Syria, calls for an immediate ceasefire and withdraws permission to use Shannon Airport by the US military. “The claim that bombing will destroy Da’esh (Islamic State) is patently false, said Marnie Holborrow,” IAWM Steering Committee member.
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IAWM press statement 26 November 2015 IAWM Public Meeting – After Paris, Stop the Terror, Stop the Wars Date / Time: Thursday 26th November, 7.30pm Venue: Academy Plaza Hotel, 10-14 Findlater Place, Dublin 1 (off Marlborough Street, Parnell Street East end) Speakers include: The IAWM are holding a public meeting this evening with three TDs speaking on how best to react to the Paris terrorist attacks and the response by the French and other governments. The IAWM is urging people to attend this important meeting to hear suggestions as to how we can stop the new mad rush to war by western political leaders. John Molyneux, Secretary of the IAWM said: “We believe it is necessary to break out of the vicious cycle of war, terrorism and more war and more terrorism in which we have become locked. The appalling events in Paris come 14 years after 9/11, (itself a response to previous wars and occupations in the Middle East) and the launching of George Bush’s so-called ‘War on Terror’. These 14 years have seen wars on and in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Syria, Yemen, Palestine and elsewhere and yet, predictably the terrorist attacks continue. No one should imagine that these drone strikes and bombing raids only kill targeted terrorists – on the contrary they kill hundreds and cumulatively thousands and thousands of ordinary people thus fuelling further bitterness.” Jim Roche, IAWM PRO said:
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IAWM Press Release, 20 November 2015
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Irish Anti-War Movement Press Statement 16 November 2015 After Paris: Stop the Terror, Stop the Wars The Irish Anti-War Movement believes it is necessary to break out of the vicious cycle of war, terrorism and more war and more terrorism in which we have become locked. The appalling events in Paris come 14 years after 9/11, (itself a response to previous wars and occupations in the Middle East) and the launching of George Bush’s so-called ‘War on Terror’. These 14 years have seen wars on and in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Syria, Yemen, Palestine and elsewhere and yet, predictably the terrorist attacks continue. And still there are those like Francois Hollande and David Cameron who want to respond with more war and more bombing. The day before the Paris atrocity David Cameron and US Secretary of State were celebrating the killing of so-called ‘Jihadi John’ by a drone strike. The day after the Paris slaughter Francois Hollande says he will respond with ‘merciless war’ and France launches massive air strikes on the IS held city of Raqqa. But no one should imagine that these drone strikes and bombing raids only kill targeted terrorists – on the contrary they kill hundreds and cumulatively thousands and thousands of ordinary people thus fuelling further bitterness. The anger and rage inevitably unleashed by the horrifying attacks in Paris are then replicated in Syria, Iraq, or wherever the war is unleashed. The bitter desire for revenge continues. The Irish Anti-War Movement says we must break out of this cycle by stopping making war in the Middle East or, where the Irish Government is concerned, assisting the making of war by allowing the US military use of Shannon.
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