Global Women's Strike Protests at Salthill Airshow

galway | anti-war / imperialism | press release

Sunday June 26, 2005 11:21

by Global Women's Strike, Ireland

Ireland at allwomencount dot net

087 7838688

For several years the Global Women’s Strike has protested with many others the inclusion of warplanes in the annual Salthill air show, polluting our skies and shaming those of us who live in Salthill with its investment in killing machines. This year, the organisers have invited the participation of several military planes including from the US while publicly proclaiming themselves ‘as anti-war as the next man’....

...As women we know that the majority of casualties in war are women and our children and that we are the majority of refugees worldwide. The majority of the conservatively estimated 100,000 civilians killed by the US-led war on Iraq were women and children. It is women who pick up the pieces of every war and occupation, struggling amid bombs and tanks, poisoned land and water, with electricity blackouts and food shortages, to work day in day out for the survival of all in their care.

As mothers and other carers we want our children to know that this is what happens in war; we do not want them taught the lie that these planes are harmless entertainment or that war is an exciting adventure. We also demand to know why the Irish army mounts an armoured vehicle display and recruiting tent every year at the Salthill event. ‘If, as the organisers claim, the airshow has nothing to do with the glorification of war and the military, why is there an army presence?’ asks Maggie Ronayne, co-ordinator of the Global Women’s Strike in Ireland. ‘Now that warmonger Blair is set on taking over the EU to run it the way Bush wants, will children in Ireland end up serving in their illegal wars?’ she added.

We are with our sisters in the Strike in the US who are spearheading an Opt Out campaign – ensuring school kids and parents are informed that they can legally opt out of an increasingly desperate military contacting them at home to recruit. Bush is having to defend his killing spree in the face of an enormous and growing movement in the US, beginning with military families who have lost loved ones in Afghanistan and Iraq and women and men refuseniks, who will not go to the Middle East to rape and kill for oil. We are with our brothers and sisters everywhere who are refusing to kill. Payday a network of men working with the Strike is working with refuseniks around the world, and with the families who campaign on their behalf.

Warplanes out of Galway, out of Ireland! No military displays or recruiting at family events!

Invest in Caring Not Killing!

Global Women’s Strike, Galway, Ireland

For further info and to find out about our plans to protest at the airshow this year: Tel: 087 7838688

The Global Women’s Strike is a network of grassroots women in over 60 countries, co-ordinated internationally by the Wages for Housework Campaign. It is independent of all political parties. www.globalwomenstrike.net
Payday is an international network of men who work with the Global Women’s Strike. www.refusingtokill.net