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The OAWM were very busy this week, starting on Monday with the St.
Patrick's Parade, where OAWM received an award for best Original
Entry. This was followed by a meeting on Tuesday evening where we agreed to
present Brian Cowen with the 6,000 plus petitions against the war
(signed mostly by the people of Tullamore, representing 50% of his
home town constituency) at Leinster House on Day X which fell on
Thursday 20th March 2003.
Brian Cowen has been asked to comment on the anti-war sentiment in
his home constituency but to date we have had no response. He was
unable to accept the petitions personally and sent his Personal
Advisor Mr. Gerry Steadman to accept them on his behalf. Mr.
Steadman assured a delegation of OAWM at the Dail, last Thursday,
that Brian Cowen would receive the petitions when he had finished
addressing the Cabinet.
Mr. Bertie Ahern is committing an unconstitutional, illegal act by allowing Shannon and
Baldonnel Airports to be used as military refueling points for the US.
He is aiding and abetting the coalition war drive.
Brian Cowen is standing alongside Bertie Ahern, Fianna Fail and the
Progressive Democrats in this outrageous decision to continue
Ireland's involvement in this war, citing economic reasons more
important than ethic and moral and by definition they are accountable
too.
The OAWM have been active in both Tullamore and Dublin in the last
week's events. Prior to the handing over of petitions to Gerry
Steadman, OAWM joined the hundreds of other protesters outside the
Dail which included SIPTU, Green Party, Fine Gael, Labour, Social
Workers Party, Catholic Workers Party, Sinn Fein, Socialist Party,
Schools Against the War and the various Religious Organisations that
have condemned this war. They then proceeded to the US and British
Embassies where approx. 4000 people rallied against the war.
On the 15th February in NYC between 500,000 and one million American
anti-war protesters took to the street to express their opposition to
George W. Bush's war drive. This information has been censored by the
US Media; the Network Channels and National Newspapers
Locally Tullamore Urban District Council have passed our declaration
and we would like to thank the St. Patrick's Day Parade committee for
their recognition of our efforts.
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