IAWM BULLETIN 11 MAY 2015
1. IAWM AGM RESOLUTIONS
2. Donating to the IAWM
1. Irish Anti War Movement 2014 Annual General Meeting
21 February 2015, Teacher’s Club, Parnell Square, Dublin 1.
Present:
Steve Woods
John Molyneux
Michael Youlton
Marnie Holborrow
Frank Marshall (in part)
Gearóid Kilgallen
Abdullah Sayegh
Kieran O Sullivan
Jim Roche
Ed Horgan and Rev. Patrick Comerford (from 13.40)
Apologies:
Glenda Cimino, Mark Price, Fatin Tamimi, Rory O Neill and Memet Uludag
Agenda
• 11:00 – 11:30 Registration
• 11:30 – 12:15 Chair’s Report and discussion
• 12:15 – 12:30 Treasurers Report
• 12:30 – 13:45 Motions and Election of Steering Committee
• 14:30 – 16:30 Public Meeting – The new ‘War on Terror’ – is there a clash of civilizations?
Motions
1. The Nordic Battle Group
The NORDIC BATTLE GROUP is a European military structure, which comprises bodies of troops from the armies of IRELAND, SWEDEN, FINLAND, NORWAY, ESTONIA, LATIVA LITHUANIA.
The Irish Anti-War Movement has voiced concern in the past that this battle is the beginning of a military project, which will in the future be used to play a role on the world stage to complement the N.A.T.O.’s aggressive militarist policies and strategies.
At the same time our involvement in this battle group is a continuation of the government’s policy to compromise our neutrality by stealth.
IAWM BULLETIN 11 MAY 2015
1. IAWM AGM RESOLUTIONS
2. Donating to the IAWM
1. Irish Anti War Movement 2014 Annual General Meeting
21 February 2015, Teacher’s Club, Parnell Square, Dublin 1.
Present:
Steve Woods
John Molyneux
Michael Youlton
Marnie Holborrow
Frank Marshall (in part)
Gearóid Kilgallen
Abdullah Sayegh
Kieran O Sullivan
Jim Roche
Ed Horgan and Rev. Patrick Comerford (from 13.40)
Apologies:
Glenda Cimino, Mark Price, Fatin Tamimi, Rory O Neill and Memet Uludag
Agenda
• 11:00 – 11:30 Registration
• 11:30 – 12:15 Chair’s Report and discussion
• 12:15 – 12:30 Treasurers Report
• 12:30 – 13:45 Motions and Election of Steering Committee
• 14:30 – 16:30 Public Meeting – The new ‘War on Terror’ – is there a clash of civilizations?
Motions
1. The Nordic Battle Group
The NORDIC BATTLE GROUP is a European military structure, which comprises bodies of troops from the armies of IRELAND, SWEDEN, FINLAND, NORWAY, ESTONIA, LATIVA LITHUANIA.
The Irish Anti-War Movement has voiced concern in the past that this battle is the beginning of a military project, which will in the future be used to play a role on the world stage to complement the N.A.T.O.’s aggressive militarist policies and strategies.
At the same time our involvement in this battle group is a continuation of the government’s policy to compromise our neutrality by stealth.
This AGM should authorised a formal relationship and indeed close contacts be established with anti-war groups in the above mentioned countries to develop close ties so that in the event this battle group goes into action in the future we will be to co-ordinate our response quickly.
Proposer: Steve Woods
Seconder: Kieran O Sullivan
Passed unanimously
2. Islamophobia
This AGM notes with concern the rise, under the guise of the war on ISIS, of Islamophobia. While Ireland, unlike Greece, France Germany or Britain, or France, has no fascist or openly racist party, this AGM resolves to continue to take the initiative in organising public meetings and mobilisations against any manifestations of Islamophobia as they occur, as it believes that no ground should be ceded, under whatever guise, to racists.
To this end, the IAWM is sponsoring the UN anti-racist day on March 21st. The event already has the backing of trade unionists, the Islamic community, refugees and asylum seekers, immigrants, migrant workers, immigrant and refugee support groups, student organisations, antiracists and all those involved in the many aspects of multiculturalism in Ireland. The themes of the day are No to racism, No to fascism, and End discrimination against asylum seekers and refugees in Ireland. The event will take place in solidarity with anti-racist and anti-fascist mobilisations in Europe. The IAWM pledges €250 to assist with the organisation of this event.
Proposer: Marnie Holborow
Seconder: Jim Roche
Passed unanimously
3. Terrorism
The Irish Anti-War Movement, as a broad anti-war organisation, is opposed to terrorism. By terrorism we mean violent attacks (with bombs, guns etc.) on individual politicians, ministers, or groups of citizens for political purposes.
We are opposed to terrorism on both moral and political (i.e. strategic and tactical grounds). We are opposed to it morally because of the extreme likelihood of it claiming innocent lives. We are opposed to it politically because it is ineffective and fuels reaction rather than producing progress.
We believe that liberation from national, racial, political or social oppression is best achieved by people themselves through mass action and not through individual or group terrorists attempting to act on their behalf.
However we believe that the most violent and dangerous terrorists in the world today are the major imperialist powers and their armed forces, in the first rank of which stands the United States. It is clear that the state terrorism of the United States and its allies (in Afghanistan, Iraq, Israel, Saudi Arabia and many other countries) have claimed more innocent lives than all the actions by Al Qaeda, ISIS, and other officially designated ‘terrorists’ put together.
We further recognise that imperialist wars and occupations, together with racism and other forms of oppression are the principal cause of the misguided resort to terrorism by oppressed groups.
We also recognise that the label ‘terrorism’ is frequently and falsely applied to genuine liberation struggles.
In light of this we oppose any response to terrorist attacks in terms of war, revenge, denial or restriction of civil liberties or racial or religious discrimination.
Proposer: John Molyneux
Seconder: Marnie Holborrow
4. Syrian Civil War
The IAWM AGM condemns the violence in Syria that has taken so many lives and that has caused such misery and disruption to the Syrian people. It recognises that the civil war developed as a result of repression by the Assad regime to peaceful protests by ordinary Syrians for a better life.
The IAWM AGM condemns the interference by world powers that has escalated and prolonged the civil war and that has led to the rise of reactionary groups such as Islamic State.
The IAWM AGM expresses solidarity with the victims of the Syrian civil war and the refugees and pledges to make a donation of €250 to Médecins Sans Frontieres (or an equal approved charity) to help it alleviate the suffering of Syrian refugees in neighbouring countries.
We call for the international financing of all sides in the war to be stopped.
But most importantly, we call on the EU, including the Irish Government, to accept more Syrian refugees from the conflict.
Proposer: Jim Roche
Seconder: Kieran O Sullivan
Passed unanimously
5. Anti-Racism
The Irish Anti-War Movement will seeks to make links and work with anti-racist groups, trade unions, and others on the issue of racism and war over the next year.
This will begin with the 21 March | UN Anti Racism Day Rally | Ireland and then continue with a joint conference that deals with the many pressing situations around the world that link our groups and need to be highlighted so that awareness can be raised, people informed and educated. This will result in the anti-racism & anti-war movements strengthening and supporting each other, and mobilising together as necessary.
This is particularly important in light of recent and ongoing incidents.
For Example:
• Paris Shootings, Islamaphobia & Anti-Semitism;
• Remembering the Holocaust;
• Free Speech & Hate Speech;
• The rise of Euro-fascism;
• International/national law & Ireland’s role in war & torture;
• Austerity & scapegoating immigrants;
• Fortress Europe, immigration controls & migrant deaths.
• Drivers of migration: poverty, famine, climate change and war and how Ireland fails those affected.
This will be followed with a celebrate diversity carnival or some such event later in the year?
Proposed: Dette Mc Loughlin
Seconder: Marnie Holborrow
Passed unanimously
6. The rise of ISIS
The Irish Anti War Movement recognises the worrying rise of the Islamic State or ISIS organisation throughout Iraq and Syria.
We are opposed to and condemn the sectarian and reactionary politics with which ISIS are associated. We recognise the brutal and violent persecution of minority ethnic groups under the rule of ISIS, and are furthermore opposed to the taking hostage and execution of journalists, an act for which ISIS have become notorious.
However, we also condemn the hypocrisy with which the Western powers have responded to the rise of ISIS. Firstly, it is blatantly obvious that the United States, for example, has long been a key ally and financial backer of the Saudi regime, who practice exactly the same kind of repression and means of execution for which ISIS have been condemned in Western media.
Furthermore, we recognise that the United States (and its NATO allies) bears an enormous level of responsibility for the current lamentable situation in Iraq. The rise of ISIS is the legacy of a cycle of invasion and destruction imposed by the United States on the people of Iraq which began with the First Gulf War and was compounded by the devastation and brutality of the 2003 invasion. Furthermore, sectarian divide in Iraq was promoted by the presence and actions of the US military.
(The United States was the key backer of the sectarian Shi’ite regime of Nouri al-Maliki whose reprehensible anti-Sunni policies allowed the reactionary ideas of ISIS to gain support.)
Thus we recognise that there is a clear pattern of Western invasion and subsequent destabilisation and sectarianism in the Middle East over the past 25 years. We therefore oppose all military intervention in Iraq on the grounds that it is sure to only make the situation worse and contribute to the dynamic which has driven the rise of ISIS in the first place. Rather, we affirm our solidarity with groups such as those Kurdish groups who have been fighting their own liberation struggle against ISIS.
Proposed: Rory O’Neill
Seconder: Jim Roche
Nominations to Steering Committee
Thanks to Raymond Deane for his participation last year.
The current Steering committee is running for re-election.
• Jim Roche
• Kieran O’Sullivan
• John Molyneux
• Steve Woods
• Marnie Holborow
• Fatin Al Tamimi
• Memet Uludag
• Glenda Cimino
• Gearóid Kilgallen
• Rory O’Neill
• Michael Youlton
• Mark Price
• Ed Horgan was proposed to SC and accepted
All the above were elected unopposed to the SC.
Emergency Motion on Ukraine
The Irish Anti-War Movement stands in solidarity with the people of Ukraine who are experiencing appalling suffering in the present conflict. Over 5000 have died with many more injured and more than a million people displaced from their homes.
We call for an immediate end to all hostilities.
The ‘west’ i.e. US and NATO (with the support of the Irish Govt) present themselves as defenders of Ukrainian freedom and independence. This is false and hypocritical. In reality they have long been working to draw Ukraine into their sphere of influence as part of an overall NATO strategy of isolating and surrounding Russia.
Russia under Putin is no less ruthlessly trying to use the Ukrainian people for its own imperial project.
Both sides, and the Ukrainian oligarchs who are aligned with them, have fanned the flames of sectarian conflict.
We urge the Ukrainian people to unite in peace and cooperation, on the basis of respect for the rights of all minorities, and oppose the war mongers on both sides.
Proposer: John Molyneux
Seconder: Jim Roche
Passed unanimously
2. Donating to the Irish Anti-War Movement
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