Shannonwatch

At Shannon Airport yesterday 10 people braved the weather at the monthly Shannonwatch peace vigil. There were two US warplanes at the airport, a US Navy C40 number 16-5833 and a Hercules C130 number RU 16-4598. Our usual force of Gardaí failed to show up initially. So instead of our usual location at the roundabout we decided to walk up towards the airport passed the unmanned police barriers and past the sole airport security officer at the road checkpoint.

Eventually the forces of the state were deployed against us, albeit in a relatively friendly manner. The Gardaí were formally asked to search and investigate the two US military aircraft that were clearly visible to all concerned. A Garda Sergeant took details of the aircraft, and undertook to discuss the matter with his superiors.

This Omni Air troop carrier (N207AX) has been employed fulltime for the past several weeks ferrying armed US troops between the USA and the Middle East and back. Here it is landing at Shannon today (Dec 5th), having come from Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha Nebraska.

The first International Conference against US/NATO Military Bases was held on November 16-18, at the Liberty Hall in Dublin, Ireland. The conference was attended by close to 300 participants from over thirty-five countries from around the world. Speakers representing countries from all continents, including Cuba, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, United States, Italy, Germany, Portugal, Greece, Cyprus, Turkey, Poland, United Kingdom, Ireland, Czech Republic, Israel, Palestine, Kenya, D. R. Congo, Japan and Australia, made presentations at the conference.

This conference was the first organized effort by the newly formed Global campaign against US/NATO Military Bases, created by over 35 peace, justice and environmental organizations and endorsed by over 700 other organizations and activists from around the world. What brought all of us together in this International Conference was our agreement with the principles outlined in the Global Campaign's Unity Statement, which was endorsed by the Conference participants.

This aircraft Omni Air International Boeing 777 (registration N846AX) was refueled at Shannon Airport on November 21st.

Here are some of the places its been to in recent times.

From November 16th to 18th a historic conference was held at Liberty Hall in Dublin. It was the first International Conference Against US/NATO Military Bases, hosted by the Peace and Neutrality Alliance (PANA). It was attended by delegates from 35 countries who came together to debate issues relevant to their own country and to the world.

There were at least three US warplanes at Shannon Airport today, possibly carrying up to 1,000 armed US troops through Ireland. These planes with weapons and soldiers on board, sat alongside normal civilian aircraft at the terminal building.