99 Red Balloon Peace Event Against RAF Killers This Saturday

galway | anti-war / imperialism | news report Wednesday May 27, 2009 16:46 by Niall Farrell - Galway Alliance Against War

The Galway Hooker Assoc & Liam Ó Maonlaí of Hothouse Flowers Oppose Red Arrows

The Galway Alliance Against War will hold a 99 Red Balloon Peace Event this Saturday at noon beside the Spanish Arch to protest against an “air display” by the RAF’s Red Arrows. Nearly every one of the pilots participating in this war manoeuvre over Galway Bay at midday on Saturday has been involved in the imperialist wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The invitation to the RAF killers came from Fáilte Salthill – an anonymous group of Salthill business people still hurting from the cancellation two years ago of the obscene Salthill War Show. The invite, however, coincides with the stopover of the Volvo Ocean Race and Discover Ireland has been more than happy to advertise this war display in its publicity campaign.

The Irish Tourist Board prefers to ignore the huge contrast between a totally environment-friendly event such as the Ocean Race and the Red Arrows’ war display. The latter is both morally and environmentally a pollutant. In contrast to Bord Fáilte, Cumann Húicéirí na Gaillimhe, the Galway Hooker Association, have issued a statement deploring the invitation to the Red Arrows:

“Tá Cumann Húicéaraí na Gaillimhe míshásta go bhfuil cuireadh faighte ag na RED ARROWS taispéantais a thabhairt le linn na féile a bheidh ar siúl mar chuide go rás Aigéin an Volvo. Deir an Cumann nach bhfuil aon bhaint ag na Red Arrows le féile séoltóireachta agus nár cheart go mbeadh a leithéid go thaispéantas cogaíochta mar chuid don fhéile seo.”

“The Galway Hooker Association is disappointed that the Red Arrows have been invited to display during the Volvo Ocean Race stopover in Galway. The Association states that there is no connection between a sailing festival and the Red Arrows and that such a display of war machines should not be part of this festival of sail.”

And support for GAAW’s stance continues to grow. Liam Ó Maonlaí of the Hothouse Flowers intends to voice his opposition on stage on Thursday night when the group plays at the Ocean Race Festival in Galway. He will be calling on people to join the GAAW peace event on the Saturday.

GAAW has now written to Brian Cowen calling on him to ban the Red Arrows. In an email the group refers to the revelations in the Ryan Report:

“The people of Ireland are rightly outraged by the revelations contained in the Ryan Report and condemn the brutality of the religious orders. Surely you agree, we must learn from this episode in our history. We should not remain silent in the midst of abuse of the innocent. The RAF pilots – due to perform in Galway – have been involved in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, where innumerable innocent men, women and children have been killed through indiscriminate attacks by British warplanes. As you know, these pilots are trained to kill and terrorise. Therefore, is it not the height of hypocrisy to condemn the wanton acts of violence carried out by the religious orders and then to remain silent about the outrages caused by these RAF pilots? Or should pilots and planes that kill other people’s children be considered fun for our kids?”

This Friday night starting at 9.30pm in Monroes Tavern Galway, GAAW will hold a fundraising event at which the US singer/songwriter and political activist David Rovics will perform.