We're delighted to support the activists who are holding a 36 hour peace camp and vigil at Shannon Airport Roundabout  from 6:00 a.m. on Saturday 12th July until 6:00 p.m. on Sunday 13th July.

Their statement about the camp is as follows:

For the past year, every Sunday, from 9am until 12 noon, this group of peace activists have stood on the Shannon Airport Peace Roundabout to call on the Irish government to respect Irish neutrality and to stop allowing the U.S. military use our civilian Shannon Airport as a transit hub for U.S. military personnel and weapons transfer. Shannon Airport has, in the past, supported the US war on Iraq; a war based on the false claim that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction. Ireland has supported the U.S. military use of ‘extraordinary rendition’ (state-sponsored abduction, or, kidnapping) via Shannon Airport.

In the last 21 months, the use of Shannon Airport by the U.S. Military has been egregious, given the genocide in Palestine. Our civilian airport has been used by the US Military for over twenty years. Shannon airport is being used as a de facto U.S. Military base. Ireland purports to be a neutral country – clearly we are a military ally of the United States.

The People of Ireland have not given permission to any Irish Government to misuse civilian Shannon Airport. Our taxes fund the Gardaí and the Irish Army who, on occasion, protect U.S. Military planes. As citizens, we are being forced to collude with the U.S. Military by our Government. There is no logistical reason for U.S. Military planes or personnel to land or indeed fly over Irish airspace – other than the United States’ attempt to lay claim to Ireland as a military ally.

This anniversary will be marked by a 36-hour Peace Camp & Vigil at Shannon Airport Peace Roundabout from 6:00 a.m. on Saturday 12th July until 6:00 p.m. on Sunday 13th July.

We respect the day-to-day civilian operation of the airport, and all its employees. We request that workers at Shannon airport refuse to service or facilitate U.S. Military aircraft at Shannon.

The time has come to end Ireland’s involvement in American wars and, to paraphrase our Taoiseach: government misuse of Shannon Airport is a ‘huge stain’ on our neutrality.

Contact:
Eileen Thomas email: eileenat1@hotmail.com
Martin Roper phone: 087 1557900