An Appeal for Solidarity with the Pit Stop Ploughshares, 2 Weeks from Trial at the Four Courts (O24)

dublin | anti-war / imperialism | news report Thursday October 06, 2005 10:55 by Ploughshares At Large! 087 918 4552

Charged with $U.S.2.5 million Disarmament of a U.S. Navy War Plane at Shannon Airport!

**APPEAL****
To Help The PIT STOP PLOUGHSHARES
(Deirdre Clancy, Nuin Dunlop, Karen Fallon, Damien Moran, Ciaron O'Reilly)

ON TRIAL - Dublin Four Courts, October 24th. 2005

Dear Friends,

It has been a long journey to trial
for the "Pit Stop Ploughshares" community, since our February 3rd, 2003, non-violent disarmament of a U.S. Navy War Plane at Shannon Airport, Co. Clare, Ireland.

It has been a long 2 years for our ploughshares
community, but a much longer two years for the people of Iraq suffering an invasion, occupation and plunder of their homeland.

The Irish State's attempt to criminalise our
non-violent act of peacemaking complements their
militarisation of the civilian Shannon Airport to
service the U.S. war machine. We are not alone, as other peace activists, and also resisters within the British and U.S. military are being dragged before courts & court martials, imprisoned in jails & stockades for their non-violent resistance to this
war. In war, authentic peacemaking is criminalized, as killing, theft, torture, incineration, internment, rape and sexual abuse are legitimised as policy.

*TRUTH THE FIRST CASUALTY OF WAR

Over the past two years the lies that were employed to market this "illegal war" have been exposed;

-A WAR AGAINST WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION

No WMD has been found during the two years of
U.S./U.K. military occupation of Iraq.

-A WAR AGAINST TERRORISM

U.S. destruction of Iraqi civil society through its
1980's support for Saddam Hussein, 1990's imposition of a genocidal sanctions regime and now a brutal bombardment and military occupation has transformed Iraq into a swamp of vengeance and a breeding ground for terrorism.

- A WAR TO BRING SUPERIOR WESTERN VALUES TO THE MIDDLE
EAST

U.S. colonial rule by decree from Saddam's former
palace, trans-national privatisation of Iraqi
resources, and evidence of crimes Abu Ghraib &
Fallujah puts lie to this mirage.


Over the past two years, 100,000 Iraqis mostly women and children have been slain. Over the last two years, over 2,000 U.S. soldiers, many who passed through Shannon Airport, have returned in body bags. Uncounted thousands of Iraqis, Americans, Britons and others
have lost limbs, sanity, loved ones and homes.

As the late Peter Ustinov reflected, "War is the
terrorism of the rich; Terrorism is the war of the
poor"

Over the past two years, following our remand time in Limerick Prison, the State has tried to keep the Pit Stop Ploughshares in a state of suspended animation on bail. We have tried to remain faithful to the non-violent disarmament we undertook and vigilant to continued Irish complicity in this war.

We have refused to see our jail time, bail time, trial
and the threat of future punishment as a personal
predicament to evade or disown. We have seen these phases of our non-violent disarmament witness as opportunities to speak truth to power and to express solidarity with the people of Iraq & the young Americans being shuttled through Shannon to Iraq, to kill and die for the rich and powerful.

We are on a journey inspired by the ancient prophecy of Micah and Isaiah to "beat swords into ploughshares and study war no more". We invite you to join us on this journey.

We see our act of "beating swords into ploughshares" at Shannon Airport as a non-violent gift of faith enfleshed, hope enacted and freedom offered at a time when the war machine is deployed at full throttle to invade, occupy and plunder. In turn, we have been sustained over the past two years by the gifts of solidarity from old friends and new. Gifts of hospitality, friendship, transport, musical talent, legal expertise have accompanied us through the roller coaster ride of the courts. A judicial process designed to isolate, intimidate, and defeat the war resister. The only sustenance we have is our faith and your solidarity.

We hope to join with you to take this witness of
non-violent resistance to the ongoing war into the New Year and to Dublin’s Four Courts from October 24th., 2005.

We hope the gathering around our our trial, beginning on October 24th., will be a time of celebration and non-violent opposition to the war. We hope friends from around Ireland, and from
overseas, will gather in Dublin to celebrate
non-violent disarmament as an authentic option for the human family.

We hope the trial will non-violently confront the
U.S., British and Irish institutions that continue to
wage war on the people of Iraq. We hope other acts of nonviolent resistance and solidarity will grow out of the trial and our time together - whether we are acquitted or imprisoned.

WE ARE IN URGENT NEED OF FUNDS TO BRING RELEVANT WITNESSES TO COURT TO TESTIFY TO THE NATURE OF THE
HIGH CRIMES INFLICTED IN IRAQ AND TO FACILITATE OUTREACH IN THE LEAD UP AND THROUGHOUT THE TRIAL.

PLEASE CONSIDER DONATING TO:

"Ploughshares Defence Fund"
134 Phibsborough Rd.
Dublin 7
IRELAND

Donations can be lodged at any
Bank of Ireland branch:
"Ploughshares Defence Fund"
Account No. 80965573 Sort Code 900551

More information
www.peaceontrial.com
ploughsharesireland@yahoo.ie

Contact
Mobile - 087 918 4552
Land Line 01-454-9144
International Call +353-1-454-9144