What's the solution?

national | anti-war / imperialism | opinion/analysis Friday January 20, 2006 14:43 by Davros - The Daleks The Planet Skaro

Is there a possibility of direct action in connection with Shannon?

What is the solution to the U.S. military and special rendition use of Shannon airport? Do we wait quietly for the European inspection? Or, do we have another march, as proposed by Richard Boyd Barrett at the recent Chomsky lecture?

Despite the inappropriate remarks reminding the elderly Chomsky of his mortality, perhaps we could take the suggestion of the Workers’ Solidarity member on the same night, and partake in a mass act of civil disobedience at Shannon, thus making the facilitation of the U.S. torture/war machine too much hassle to continue with.

There are at least three reasons why the latter suggestion will not be entertained:

1: Most protesters are happy to voice their objections without risking the benefits allowed them by their social contracts with the state. In other words, if you get busted at Shannon you might lose your job and your kids will go hungry.

2: The chances of such an action being well planned (i.e. not posting the full details on the net where the powers that be can read them) seems pretty remote, and that’s off-putting.

3: And this is the main one, the Irish Anti War Movement steering committee have long been opposed to such actions. Remember how they called for a demonstration at Shannon on March 4th 2003, the same day Grassroots Network Against War planned for an act of non-violent civil disobedience at the airport? This was an attempt by the SWP dominated steering committee to diminish any alternative efforts to counter the U.S. war machine. The resulting confusion caused protest figures to fall from the one hundred thousand plus of February 15th 2003, to an average of 20,000 tops. Then there was the attempt by non-SWP affiliated individuals to place themselves on the IAWM steering committee that resulted in disaster, as was well documented on this site. It is also the opinion of many that the very formation of the IAWM was divisive.

The IAWM have ensured that the mainstream media sees their organisation as the prominent voice of the Irish anti-war effort. The IAWM have achieved this because they are very intelligent, media savvy and well organised. It also does not hurt that their members are very articulate, as evidenced by Boyd Barrett’s recent contribution at the Chomsky lecture. Boyd Barrett’s contribution to the event was widely reported in the media the next day.

But it is worth remembering the mass applause received by Richard Boyd Barrett’s promise of direct action made from the podium at the conclusion of the February 15th 2003 march. If the government did not listen we would take the civil disobedience route was the suggestion. What happened to that idea? Is it not worth taking such action now that the revelations of what is happening at Shannon are growing increasingly obscene? Will another series of marches work even if they are as well attended as the February 15th one, or did the government succeed in calling the our bluff?

I am not a member of WSM (or any organisation of that type) but I believe that a mass act of non-violent civil disobedience is long overdue. When I say “mass” I mean that many, many people will have to be involved in order for this action to be truly disruptive and also to affirm that it is a popular course to take, so we are talking thousands not hundreds. Is this possible? Only if the will is there, the idea will have to be put into circulation to confirm this. It would also be difficult to coordinate such an action, and to do so in a truly democratic fashion, but things like this have been done before, even in the days before t’internet.

United we stand… etc. Any suggestions?