Labour Party Conference: "Violence, What Violence" - asks Galway Peace Group

by John KellyMon Apr 16, 2012 21:55

Heartfelt solidarity to all involved.

Could I make a suggestion which myself and others have put to practical effect.

Email the paper or news station which reported the coffin being used as a 'battering ram' etc and request them to issue a prominent apology for the false report/s.

If they fail to do so, send a copy of the e-mail to the Press Ombudsman and the Broadcasting Authority and attach your formal complaint/s to the same organisations.

Dublin Shell to Sea done this with the Sindo and RTE, when both outlets smeared the victims in the "rape tape" story.

A relatively prominent correction was published by the Sindo and by RTE. I know that the Sindo initially refused to engage but the Press Ombudsman finding changed the situation.

The wretches will be much more sensitive since the hullaballo over 'tweetgate' and the priest, so it may well be worth the effort lodging the complaints.

Best Regards,

John.

by Galway Alliance Against WarMon Apr 16, 2012 22:03

Thanks for above comments and support. We do contact all media outlets. Alas, not only the warmongers dislike us but others too:

From Socialist Party Cllr Ruth Coppinger's Facebook page:
"I see Galway Anti War are bragging about the great day they had yesterday on their Facebok page. Some anti-war group. Hijack a peaceful march and get your picture in the paper is a good day's work."

And here is GAAW's response to this scandalous attack:

The above comment from Socialist Party Councillor Coppinger proves one thing, the Galway Alliance Against War has no party political bias! GAAW has been in existence over 10 years and in that time the Fianna Failers have called for us to be “run out of town”, the Republican Sinn Feiners joined forces with the Gardai to prevent us carrying out a peace event and now the Socialist Party are condemning us for highlighting the death of Irish neutrality.

It is worth noting that at the last Labour conference held in Galway 2 years ago, GAAW were outside (exactly where we were on Saturday!) and lobbied Labour delegates on the issue of Shannon warport. We didn’t ask Ruth Coppinger or Uncle Joe Higgins then could we appear, so why should we have asked them on Saturday?

Besides, we announced in the GAAW April Bulletin – well before there was any news of a household charge campaign protest – Irish neutrality’s funeral arrangements and they were to assemble at Eyre Sq at 2pm on the 14th April. We received no contact from the Household Charge campaign in Galway or Dublin and were surprised to see their expensive yellow posters all over Galway last Wednesday declaring their protest would start from Eyre Sq. at 1pm. GAAW supporters only arrived at Eyre Sq around 2pm and were again surprised to see the Household people still there!

We had no knowledge of the Household Campaign’s march route, nor did we know that Uncle Joe Higgins had come to a cosy agreement with the Gardai to hold a public meeting in NUIG’s grounds. All along GAAW’s aim was to go to the Bailey Allen Hall where we had been 2 years ago and make our feelings felt over the fact that a ¼ million armed US troops went through Shannon warport under Eamon Gilmore’s watch, as did thousands of tons of deadly armaments. We wanted to make it clear that the Labour Party leadership are accessories to mass murder.

At no point were we invited to participate in the Household Charge event nor to speak on their platform. Indeed, we have heard since that our friends in Occupy Galway were refused permission to speak on the platform until they threatened to occupy the platform! No, the only contact we had was Uncle Joe (is it Higgins or Stalin?) telling us as we began to march “to get in line”. Sorry, but we don’t take orders.

So we went on our merry way. And the rest is history.

by pat cMon Apr 16, 2012 22:21

I'm appalled at those remarks. Was it really Ruth Coppinger? I''d expect this duplicity from RBB..

Congrats again to GAAW. I posted your statement on Politics.ie It helped to counter a lot of rubbiish.

by Galway Alliance Against WarMon Apr 16, 2012 23:00

Oh, it was definitely Cllr C. The comment is on her facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=10150674956257654&id=616737653
..
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=10150674956257654&id=616737653
www.facebook.com

As we note above we are well used to being attacked. A badge of honour at this stage!

by Brian - NoneMon Apr 16, 2012 23:50

Well Pat, I know its shocking but I think RBB was actually hugely supportive of the protesters: On twitter in response to slur by Sindo RBB tweeted: "...I applauded 1000 protestors who went to conference entrance & joined them."

Funny that Ruth Coppinger makes these remarks and prominent SP members, included elected councillors were openly trying to stop people moving past the gardai and joining the protest at the doors of the Labour Party Conference.

When asked about the whole situation on RTE Radio "This Week" on Sunday, Paul Murphy (MEP) from the SP said that the SP took a decision not to join the protest at the doors of the conference- the reason? They had agreed to congregrate in a car park at a safe distance from the Labour conference.

Wonder what other activists will think of this?
I remember activists, in particular many anarchists getting very exercised during anti war protests accusing the swm of similiar stuff. Not hearing the same complaints now.

by pat cTue Apr 17, 2012 00:05

Well heres an interesting report. Maybe the foreign language was Gaeilge.

Politicians leading the demonstration, including the People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett, claimed their peaceful demonstration had been "hijacked" by large numbers of demonstrators who were seen speaking into mobile phones in a foreign language.

Mr Boyd Barrett said he didn't see any violence but heard there had been some scuffles. "I believe there was some pushing and shoving but I can't comment on any violence as I didn't see it," he told the Sunday Independent.
http://www.independent.ie/national-news/violent-scenes-as-demonstrators-take-on-gardai-outside-labour-conference-in-galway-3081360.html

by Brian - NoneTue Apr 17, 2012 01:30

That quote in the Sindo is a misquote. RBB never said that and in fact clarified same on his twitter page- backing the protesters.
Still it'll be interesting to see what people think of Coppinger and co having a go at protesters who didn't follow the party line and obey the 'workers in uniform' instructions to stay away from conference venue

by pat cTue Apr 17, 2012 01:40

ok, i guess I'll have to believe RBB over the Sindo. That stuff about people talking into mobiles in a foreign language is bizarre. Maybe it was turfcutters.

by Seanie, CorkTue Apr 17, 2012 09:34

What surprises me is that there are so few photos up on indymedia of the event. If this had been a few years ago there would be dozens or more photos from the event with people uploading pics and video from the event, now even though technology has improved there's nothing on Indymedia other the GAAW report with a single photo. The whole point of Indymedia is to provide an independent media outlet free from the bias of the establishment press. Is the dearth of reports and photos from this major protest a sign that Indymedia is in decline, people have all gone over to Twitter and Facebook or is it something else.

by TTue Apr 17, 2012 13:51

There are so few photos because no-one has posted up any. It is probably related to the fact that readership has fallen off.

What is a pity is that people post their pictures to facebook where they likely get lost in terms of the historical record and it is not clear also whether facebook take copyright of them too.

So if you have photos or know anyone who was there then please encourage them to post them here.

by W. FinnertyTue Apr 17, 2012 18:18

"The members of Occupy Galway were proud to take part in what must be the biggest peaceful demonstration of solidarity and people power in Galway for many years. Between six and eight thousand people gathered on Eyre Square to march on the Labour conference and air a range of grievances from housing, water and septic tank charges, anti-bondholder bailout campaigners, anti-war, anti-fracking, SPARK, Shell to Sea and the Rossport campaigners, as well as many people unaffiliated with any group. As the crowd grew throughout the morning, it became clear that there is massive discontent at the way that the labour party has represented itself in government." (From: http://www.occupygalway.org/ )

Eyre Square seems like a very good place to have started last Saturday's protest, because the Square has been officially renamed "John F. Kennedy Memorial Park" in honour of US President John F. Kennedy, who visited Galway City shortly before his assassination in 1965.

There is probably nobody (as far as I know) who has ever done more to try and avoid thermonuclear war than the late John F. Kennedy; and, allowing for the present threat of a thermonuclear World War 3 connected with all the warmongering of recent months relating to Libya, Syria, Iran, Israel, and so on, and the much feared involvement of Russia, China, and possibly other large nations later on, if the present warmongering efforts ever come to fruition, it seems worthwhile perhaps (just now) to remind ourselves of John F Kennedy's Radio and Television Address of July 26th 1963 to the American People, on the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty situation of that time.

Among the many memorable statements contained in that July 26th 1963 speech are the following:

"If only one thermonuclear bomb were to be dropped on any American, Russian, or any other city, whether it was launched by accident or design, by a madman or by an enemy, by a large nation or by a small, from any corner of the world, that one bomb could release more destructive power on the inhabitants of that one helpless city than all the bombs dropped in the Second World War."

"And the survivors, as Chairman Khrushchev warned the Communist Chinese, 'the survivors would envy the dead'."

The full text of former US President John F. Kennedy's speech of July 26th 1963 can be viewed at:
http://www.jfklibrary.org/Research/Ready-Reference/JFK-Speeches/Radio-and-Television-Address-to-the-American-People-on-the-Nuclear-Test-Ban-Treaty-July-26-1963.aspx

Earlier today, and allowing for the fact that much of the present very threatening "thermonuclear warmongering" referred to above appears (to me at least) to be coming from Anglo American despots (or "tin-gods" as I see them), mention was made of the July 26th 1963 speech by JFK in an e-mail sent to "The Official Website of The British Monarchy". For anybody interested, the full text of the e-mail used, which was copied to (among several others) United States Human Rights/Constitutional Lawyer Dr Francis A. Boyle, can be viewed at the following location:
http://www.humanrightsireland.com/BritishMonarchy/17April2012/Email.htm

Today's e-mail to the "The Official Website of The British Monarchy" also included the following excerpt:

"Allowing for Ireland's ancient heritage links with Brehon Law, the high-quality reputation of Brehon Law for fairness and compassion, and the great respect it was held in by the people of Ireland -- which it earned for itself during the 2,950 year period or so of its operational existence, believed to have been between around 1300 BC and 1650 AD approximately -- let this badly needed RESURRECTION of God-Given Natural Justice begin in the Republic of Ireland (in Galway perhaps!!)?"

Related Link:
Related Link: http://www.humanrightsireland.com/

by wageslave - (personal capacity)Tue Apr 17, 2012 21:41

"So if you have photos or know anyone who was there then please encourage them to post them here."

Occupy Galway have kindly obliged here:

http://www.indymedia.ie/article/101712

and a few more here:
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/101713

some great photos! thank you OG!!

Kudos to everyone from all groups who participated in the protest.Ignore the divisive trolls, by all accounts it was a great success.

rgds
wageslave

by opus diablos - the regressive hypocrite partyWed Apr 18, 2012 12:13

There was a time when Irish governments actually had a respectable record on this issue...Frank Aiken springs to mind.

R.I.P.
Irish ethics.
Buried in the greasy till.

As you say, an increasing need for resurrection of this issue as the nuclear clock ticks away. There seems to be no public Irish voice at present that recognises the growing momentum for all-or-nothing imperial collision on several fronts. The detonator ignition points are multiplying. And if Romney gets home he'll probably FALL on the fucking button, pushed by the AIPAC-funded, death-wish rapture-hypnotised, strangeloves at his back.

by MicknedThu Apr 19, 2012 01:19

Ruth should try and put her brain in gear before engaging her mouth,.

This is a peoples campaign. The political parties made a good effort getting started, but its time to let go now.

We need a peoples movement and campaigns like this are the training ground. Without a peoples movement nothing changes. This is the SPs policy actually. So please back off and stop shitting on your own side.

Ruth is risking sounding like she owns the campaign. She is the one with the conflict of interest, I mean if you support the campaign why don't you just support it, why does the support have to come with a price tag? The price being publicity and profile building. You will deny but that is what it looks like to me.

Higgins was trying to herd people on Saturday too. This shit has to stop.

The mission of this demo was to make life miserable as possible for the lousy labour delegates who sold their principles and the people of Ireland down the river for the kickbacks from the ministers merc,

This mission was subverted by the campaign, who agreed with a corral 50 yards away. We went with the mission and succeeded. For a couple of hours we took the smug smiles off their faces.

We PEACEFULLY pushed the guards aside. The guards were obstructing our free movement so as free citizens we had every right to push them in!!

There was no criminality as there was NO CRIMINAL INTENT. When we got in we just made a lot of noise and had some speeches. Tough on the collabos in Labour but that was the intention. No violence whatsoever (apart from the police pepper spray fool who sprayed other cops and the RTE man as well!)

Ruth, we did not go to listen to beautiful rhetoric. THis was not a debating society, It was RUIN THE LABOUR PARTY CONFERENCE day.

And don't agree to atomise us or corral us again.

by W. FinnertyThu Apr 19, 2012 16:16

Reply to Opus D. at Wed Apr 18, 2012 12:13

Thank you for your comment.

One of the things I really liked about former US President John F. Kennedy is that, just like former US President Abraham Lincoln 100 hundred years or so before him, he seemed to genuinely believe that the ONLY valid "authority of government (Executive, Legislative, and Judicial)" is that based on, and represented by, the "will of the people": which is fully in agreement with the statement in Article 21.3 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. (Related Link: http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/index.shtml#a21 )

The "will of the people" is the phrase that's used in Article 21.3 of the UDHR, which hundreds of sovereign independent nation-states have signed up for since 1948, including the Republic of Ireland; and, NOT the "will of the greed-ridden despots (as I see them)" in places like the City of London, and Wall Street: which is an extremely dangerous fallacy as I see things, and one which we seem to be having gently and slyly fed down our throats (morning, noon, and night) at the present time, by the vast majority of our politicians, and by our "main stream media". Much worse of course is the very scary fact that so many of our people still seem to "buy into" such insidious distortions, and VOTE for them as well.

I tried to remind some at the United Nations (and elsewhere) earlier today about the "will of the people" issue contained in the Article 21.3 statement of the UDHR, as can be seen at the following address:
http://www.humanrightsireland.com/UnitedNations/19April2012/Email.htm#Epilogue

"Those who have the privilege to know, have the duty to act." (Albert Einstein):
http://www.opednews.com/populum/printer_friendly.php?content=d&id=17153

by opus diablos - the regressive hypocrite partyThu Apr 19, 2012 19:13

I'm inclined to phrase it as the inclusive welfare...but we're into movable definition country.

With a recent report saying 1 in 5 of our kids go to school or bed hungry, while agricultural exports 'never had it so good', I wonder where the fuck the will of our famine-lamenting populace resides.

No doubt EndEamo Inc. think they are serving the long-term welfare...the iron curtains are internal and multifarious.

We'll just have to keep ploughing the snot-green furrows.

by W. FinnertyFri Apr 20, 2012 11:09

Feedback relating to comment at Thu Apr 19, 2012 16:16

... ... ... Start of feedback text:

Here's what our slimy politicians did with that (i.e. the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights) --

United States – Amnesty International writes that "The United States signed the Covenant in 1979 under the Carter administration but is not fully bound by it until it is ratified. For political reasons, the Carter administration did not push for the necessary review of the Covenant by the Senate, which must give its “advice and consent” before the US can ratify a treaty. The Reagan and George H.W. Bush administrations took the view that economic, social, and cultural rights were not really rights but merely desirable social goals and therefore should not be the object of binding treaties. The Clinton Administration did not deny the nature of these rights but did not find it politically expedient to engage in a battle with Congress over the Covenant. The George W. Bush administration followed in line with the view of the previous Bush administration."[54] The Heritage Foundation, a critical conservative think tank, argues that signing it would obligate the introduction of policies that it opposes such as universal health care.[55 "

... ... ... End of feedback received by e-mail today.

Personally, I did not know about any of the above until now.

It seems to me to explain a lot.

Far more importantly though (as I see things), I hope the people of the Republic of Ireland will -- gently but firmly, and by all the thoughtful, peaceful, and lawful means available to them -- prevent our own Government (Executive, Legislative, and Judicial) from going down the same road.

There is no good reason whatsoever that I know of why we, the people of the Republic of Ireland, and as members of an independent sovereign nation-state, have to copy what other independent sovereign nation-states do (or fail to do): unless of course they appear to us to be leading by good example.

by opus diablos - the regressive hypocrite partyFri Apr 20, 2012 12:01

..wee breakdown of the modus operandum, if I can gt it down straight..

http://www.mwcnews.net/focus/analysis/18312-european-stabilisation.html

shows how Goldman Sachs are doing what they say on their tin...just as the Vandals sached Rome in yesteryear....chutzpah cubed.

by W. FinnertySat Apr 21, 2012 09:34

Reply to Opus at: Fri Apr 20, 2012 12:01

I've just had a quick look at the contents of http://www.mwcnews.net/focus/analysis/18312-european-stabilisation.html and noticed the following excerpt:

"[Article 27, lines 2-3]: “The ESM, its property, funding, and assets . . . shall enjoy immunity from every form of judicial process . . . .”   Question: So the ESM program can sue us, but we can’t challenge it in court?"

Assuming the contents of the above excerpt are correct, and I have no reason to seriously doubt them at the present time, what citizen of the Republic of Ireland -- in their right mind -- would vote "YES" for something like this on May 31st 2012?

by opus diablos - the regressive hypocrite partySat Apr 21, 2012 10:55

I suppose they will be the propagandised/programmed and browbeaten middle classes hanging by their nails over the debt abyss, and watching the negative equity 'economic growth' yawning wider...and then being authoritatively 'informed' by our same experts who chorused the Titanic Tiger up its iceberg, that TINA(Maggot Hatcher's mantra of no alternative) if we want to keep the very services they are hocking and selling off to the white collar mafiosi keeping us at the heart of Europe(i.e. the proceeds of our sweat stashed in Swiss vaults).

The same ones who were terrorised into recognising their wrongheadedness in not voting for Nice and Lisbon at the first opportunity, and having to be Pravda-ed into straightening up and flying Right.

The ones who donate money to bronze tokens to 1840's famine holocaust memories....but allow one in five kids to go to bed and school hungry while the same hyenagribusiness suits record an export boom...just as they did whlie their great grandparents ate grass.

The same PR-op-agenda-ed media-disinformed who accept a change of 'leadership' face, but continue to be uneasily led up the box canyon valley of Debt because 'it will be all the worse' if you don't do as we say rather than as we do.

Who are persuaded that poverty will incentivise the disemployed to find non-existant work, while if we pay our betters peanuts they will turn into monkeys(ratherb than leeches) so we better lay out the trays of Faberges for their incentive bonuses on top of obscene incomes.

Who believed the Progressive Democrates were not regressive hypocrites on the make for externally funding neo-con artists, just as Libertas is their media adroit fresh wedge.

Oh, and who think the Labour Party are something other than the pink lipstick on the blueshite collar.

The ones who think her majesty is a very nice girl, and America is 'our friend'.

I better stop...I tend to get opinionated.

by 2of2 - SBUSun Apr 22, 2012 14:48

"There are so few photos because no-one has posted up any. It is probably related to the fact that readership has fallen off."... Terence

And the fact that readership has fallen off is probably related to the fact that the site is dedicated to libertarian, humanist values , and moderated by Terence and his fellow editorial board members in the interests of freedom of speech within the site guidelines . As an atheist , I very much doubt whether many Christian, Muslim or other type of religious maniac will follow the site much these days . Ireland’s population is predominantly Christian , so you would have to expect some drop-off in readership from that quarter over the years as the site’s libertarian ethos becomes clearer to all the loons out there. Of course these religious nut jobs will take an instant exception to some of the experimental art-house pictures that the editorial board test out here on Christian holy days , but what else should a libertarian site expect but outrage and indignation from the very same people who quite literally gave us the Spanish Inquisition ?

We have found here over the years that ,once an irrationalist brain begins to register indymedia’s unstinting commitment to rationality and freedom of expression , its owner will tend to take umbrage and stop using the site altogether .In much the same way , meat-eating murderers skulk away when it finally sinks into the holes of their BSE-addled brains that Indymedia Ireland is fully committed to animal rights as well as to freedom of speech.. As we know the bulk of the Irish human population consists of this meat-eating murdrering scum . . Bizarrely, some of the murderers actually become piqued and take exception to the mere truth being told about them on this site . Well, if they stop reading indymedia , good riddance to them I say ! Flesh-eaters may possibly indulge in a bit of mindless trolling and whinging about censorship on the site before going their not-so- merry-ways , but fortunately , we have Indymedia’s vigilant unpaid, volunteer, hard-working editors on hand to thwart their various ruses and uphold firmly and impartialy the integrity and humanistic values of this site.

Readership figures are down it’s true , but Indymedia shouldn’t be about finding and then pandering to the lowest common denominator . Principles are principles and sometimes small is better as far as readership is concerned . If you’re a vegan , an atheist , a supporter of the ULA , and , if you believe that Libya has recently been liberated from the Gaddafi dictatorship and that Syria is current;y in desperate need of regime change , then you won’t find much to complain about on this site .And yes, we do want your photos! If you think that Iran is run by anti-semitic , Islamo-fascist mullahs intent on building the mullah’s bomb , all the better ! You’re just the sort of genuine reader we want at Indymedia .

Finally, we often find that the folk who grouse the most on this site are usually the ones with the least to say on any subject As a consequence they attempt to drag a thread like this one off topic with irrelevant carping - usually done anonymously . .It must be said that the average negative anonimista here will typically either be just downright lazy or else incompetent - too lazy or incompetent to upload their own photos, for instance . These are the sort who are content to leave it up to others to do all the work, and then when they don’t get their way , moan and complain like spoiled little children .The naysayers here should take a long hard look at the way things are done in Putin's Russia . If you don’t like indymedia ireland , The Guardian , Amnesty International , Luke Harding ,and doubtlessly Bono , will all testify to what freedom of expression to expect from the bloody claws of the Russian bear

by opus diablos - the regressive hypocrite partySun Apr 22, 2012 15:12

..who quite literally gave us the Spanish Inquisition.'

I suggest you look up the literal meaning of literally.

And its a capital crime to have a mackerel sandwitch?

I'm of to Russia, before it closes.

by 2of2 - sbuSun Apr 22, 2012 15:29

That's precisely the type of attempts to drag the thread off topic that I referred to in my last post You should perhaps learn how to spell the word " sandwich" . No, it isn't a capital crime to eat a mackerel , it's the other way around. It seems to be a capital offence to be a mackerel as far as the likes of Opus are concerned .

by W. FinnertySun Apr 22, 2012 16:25

Reply to Opus at Sat Apr 21, 2012 10:55. RE: TINA

"There is no alternative (shortened as TINA) was a slogan which Margaret Thatcher, the conservative British Prime Minister used often. In economics, politics, and political economy, it has come to mean that 'there is no alternative' to economic liberalism, that free markets, free trade, and capitalist globalization are the best way for modern societies to develop." (From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/There_is_no_alternative )

Some believe that there IS an alternative, and that it might be a lot SAFER, HEALTHIER, HAPPIER, and GENERALLY FAR MORE SENSIBLE to what we've got now.

"Although I've only just had a very quick glance through the text of this Treaty, it appears (as I expected) to be nothing more than a time-wasting distraction from dealing with the REAL problem: which is to take control of the global-money supply out of the hands of the tiny group of despots who are at present controlling it: and to instead put control back into the hands of the peoples' of the sovereign nation states of the world (via their respective governments), which is where national money-supply control rightly resides in genuine democratic systems, of the 'government of the people, by the people, for the people' kind."

(From: http://www.indymedia.ie/article/101453&comment_limit=0&condense_comments=false#comment288247 )

Related Link:
http://www.humanrightsireland.com/TDsDail30/Group1/24April2011/Email.htm