Villagers: Letters to the Editor 2006-08-10
The appearance of Croke Park-sponsored "bring your litter home" advertisements on the big screen in Croke Park this weekend is obviously a direct response to the controversy surrounding the same advertisements taken out by Dublin City Council.
At the beginning of the Championship season, Dublin City Council confirmed, by means of a reply to a council question, that they were paying almost ?25,000 to Croke Park for an anti-litter campaign on their big screen. This taxpayers' money was to be paid over to Pairc an Chrocaigh Teo, despite regular promises being broken that Croke Park would initiate a publicity campaign asking patrons to respect the local area.
The big-screen messages that appeared this weekend give the same "bring your litter home" message as the Dublin City Council advertisements. Therefore it is only right that the ?35,000 of taxpayers' money be returned to the local authority as Croke Park are finally fulfilling some of their responsibilities.
Croke Park has behaved extremely poorly throughout this entire episode. I am calling on them, even at this late stage, to save some face and refund Dublin City Council the advertising fee, which I'm sure could be put to much better use for the residents of the local area.
Aodhan Ó Riordain
More Contact at Aodhan Ó Riordain at 086-8190336
EU advertisements - EU ads abuse our democracy
Martin Territt of the European Commission Representation in Ireland seeks to defend the advertisements which the commission has been funding on Irish local radio in recent months by saying that they are merely informing people of the existence of some EU information centres, with accompanying statements of fact regarding citizens' rights under EU law, and are in no sense political or propagandist in character (Village 20 July).
Village readers can judge for themselves whether the following excerpts from these EU advertisements broadcast throughout the country this April are politically propagandist or not:
"Do you know that since 1973 Ireland received over ?5.5bn from the European Community?"
"Do you know that telephone calls cost less because of the EU?"
"Do you know that the EU is the largest contributor of development aid to poorer countries?"
"Do you know that as a citizen of the EU you are guaranteed the right to buy goods in any of the EU member states? What's more, the introduction of the euro enables you to compare prices and get the best value for your money in the EU."
"Do you know that the EU is helping developing nations to combat poverty?"
"Do you know that there is EU legislation to ensure the food you eat is safe?"
Political advertising on Irish radio and television is illegal in in this country. The jurisprudence on the matter indicates that the political character of broadcast advertising does not depend on its factual content or accuracy, but on whether it can influence people's votes. Radio advertising to tell people of their rights and benefits from the EU, while simultaneously stating they can learn more from various EU information centres, is surely capable of influencing voting behaviour in so far as that may be affected by the policy and attitudes of political parties and candidates on EU matters.
In the past year, since French and Dutch voters rejected the proposed EU Constitution, the Brussels commission has been given a hugely expanded communications budget to encourage more positive attitudes to the EU among Europe's citizens. Territt's office is the conduit for this money in Ireland.
The power of the EU Commission, a non-elected body, increases with every EU treaty. It would be increased further if the proposed EU Constitution, or some future treaty based upon that, were to be ratified. If the commission can get away with funding political advertising on Irish radio under the guise of providing information citizens' rights, it is wide open to abuse, and indeed can endanger, our democracy. There can be little doubt that this is the real reason for the commission's zeal in pushing out positive information about the EU and its own activities in this manner.
Anthony Coughlan, Secretary, The National Platform EU Research and Information Centre, Crawford Avenue, Dublin 9
STATEMENT Trade unions could help end Middle East slaughter
The Israeli bombardment of Lebanon and Palestine continues unabated, and it appears that more than 1,000 people have already died. Of these, the vast majority are civilians: men, women and many children.
It is important that voices are raised internationally against this slaughter. Here in Ireland, we need to be clear in our condemnation of Israeli belligerence, but Anti-War Ireland believes that we must move beyond simple condemnation. In particular, we believe that trade unionists and labour activists should not be afraid to act in solidarity with those under attack. It is ordinary workers and their families who are suffering in Lebanon and Palestine, and the international labour movement must play an active role in opposing US-backed Israeli military aggression.
Anti-War Ireland asks those opposed to this ongoing mass murder of civilians to participate in the solidarity events that are being organised throughout Ireland. We also call for the immediate expulsion from Dublin of the Israeli ambassador.
In addition, however, Anti-War Ireland calls for a general boycott of Israeli goods for as long as the Israeli state continues to oppress and murder the people of Palestine and Lebanon. We believe that Irish workers should extend tangible solidarity and support to the people of Palestine and Lebanon by arguing for, and participating in, workplace boycotts of Israeli products.
Anti-War Ireland calls on trade union activists to raise the issues of Palestine and Lebanon at their local trades councils and at their union branches, and to put forward motions in opposition to Israeli aggression and in favour of a concerted boycott of Israeli goods.
Finally, we ask sailors, dockers, transport, wholesale and retail workers to refuse to handle Israeli goods and to seek the support of their union branches in implementing this boycott.
An injury to one is an injury to all. This trade-union principle should be implemented in our efforts to end the slaughter in the Middle East.
Fintan Lane, Anti-War Ireland, Dublin 20. More www.antiwarireland.org, info@antiwarireland.org
Weapons guidance systems - Irish-made systems support war
The national outcry over the Israeli bombing of innocent children and civilians in the Lebanon must be matched with equal concern at the use of Irish-manufactured weapons support systems in the current military conflict. As a long-time republican and civil-rights campaigner I am calling on the 26-county administration to ban the export of computer systems by Irish firms that assist American arms companies.
It is no secret that America is supplying the Israelis with hi-tech weapons and these systems operate on computer-generated guidance systems manufactured in Ireland. It is now time for this Fianna Fáil and Progressive Democrats coalition to back up their words of condemnation with firm action against the Irish weapons industry.
It is no use crying crocodile tears over the awful deaths of young children in Lebanon if Irish computer expertise is being used by American weapons companies to cause these fatalities. It is time that an audit was conducted of the Irish-based but American-owned computer companies engaged in this war effort.
The Irish politicians highlight the neutrality of the state when it suits them but on this occasion mere words are not enough. There must be determined action to ensure that no Irish-manufactured weapons guidance systems are exported to America for use by the arms industry.
Des Long, Corbally, Limerick
UN draft resolution - UN punishes Lebanon but not Israel
The draft UN resolution on Lebanon is a disgrace. Israeli troops, who have done most of the killing, are to continue to occupy Lebanon, while those citizens of south Lebanon still alive will remain exiled. Israel is to be asked to halt only "offensive" actions, but Israel claims that all its actions, including the massacres at Qana and Qaa, are "defensive".
If the resolution was to be really fair the border security zone would be 90 per cent in Israel and 10 per cent in Lebanon, as Israel has committed over 90 per cent of the killings of innocent civilians. It also fails to deal with the Lebanese Shebaa Farms which have been occupied by Israel after it was forced out of the rest of Lebanon in 1990 and it does not deal with the exchange of prisoners, some of which have been held by Israel for over six years.
It seems to me that Lebanon is being punished by the US- and Britain-dominated UN for having over 1,000 of its citizens killed, 3,000 injured and one million displaced, while Israel is being rewarded for causing this death and destruction.
Tony Blair recently said a new approach was needed to the Middle East and I agree with him as I have no time for religious fundamentalists (Islamic, Jewish or Christian) and their backward attitude to women, gays and liberal values generally. But the approach of Bush and Blair to Lebanon, Iraq and Palestine is driving more and more Muslims into the hands of extremists.
Dessie Ellis, Dunsink Road, Dublin 11
Peace-troops shortage - UK is at it again in Afghanistan
There is a good reason why there are few countries available to send troops to the Middle East as UN peace troops. Like the Irish, many of our peacekeepers are already working in many countries throughout the world. However, there is another area of the world where there are 60 countries assisting in a quietly publicised low-key war.
Shortly after Tony Blair ended his presidency of the EU he arranged a meeting in London to get support for the continuing Afghanistan occupation. Presumably, his EU presidency permitted him to seek out many countries to support this work. In all he achieved the support of 60 countries, along with the strong support of the Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner.
At present, the UK is the appointed leader of this group NATO-ISAF ( NATO-International Security Assistance Force). So it is most unlikely that Tony Blair will be trying to transfer these troops to go to the Lebanon!
However, you have to hand it to the UK for its pure, selfish and totally focused self-interest. Over 100 years ago Afghanistan was part of the British Empire. But now here it is back with the backing 60 countries! That surely is some achievement. With peace in Northern Ireland, the UK is able to transfer 5,000 troops to assist in its subjugation of Afghanistan, again!
Peter Kennedy, Sutton, Dublin 13
1916 to 1923 - Reality check for republicans
I'm heartened that Nick Folley (Villagers) regards the period between 1916 and 1923 as historically complex. He surely must concede from this premise, that only through rigorous forensic historical analysis can one arrive at some objective understanding as to how, and why, a nation at peace, at least at home on the 23 April 1916, awoke the following day to the bloodcurdling rhetoric and mass killing undertaken in their name by republican fanatics against them!
The whole enterprise of separatism was predicated on the belief that Ireland was a fallen nation before 1916; how ironic that it was those who believed in that who became the fallen Irish. The 1916 Rising demonstrated the moral corruption at the heart of the gael; as did all the subsequent violence from the same quarter. It was revealed to the world, by 1922, that this canker was only too capable of devouring the beast from within: as gael fought gael. And in the maelstrom of all this convulsive violence the "non-combatant innocent", as usual, paid the heaviest price.
Nick should note that 71 per cent of all killings, and woundings, from 1916 to 1923 were committed by republicans. He should also face the fact that it took the British almost a year to respond effectivily to the wholesale slaughter of RIC men, and civilians, by the IRA during the second civil war. The Black and Tans came into service in January 1920.
The first Dáil in 1919 didn't embody the "will of the Irish people". This illegal and nationally illegitimate parliament claimed to rule the whole of the country, inside an undivided polity, with less than 47 per cent of a compromised vote. No liberal democracy could surrender national power to such a body, where over 50 per cent of the electorate had voted against it. Had Lloyd George done so he would have committed treason! Republicans repudiated the terms of their amnesty by preparing for war in 1919 – that's why the Castle moved against them.
Pierce Martin, Celbridge, Co. Kildare
Fianna Fáil at Galway races - Voters must remember the tent
The display of wealth and power broking inside the Fianna Fáil tent at the Galway races is the unacceptable face of capitalism in the 26 counties today. Dinners and lunches at ?350 a head were far from the fare on most ordinary people's tables. This is a display of wealth and power; it is as simple as that.
The owners of wealth mingle with the holders of political power for the benefit of their mutual interests. While the wealthy hob-nob with the politicians, this Fianna Fáil and PD coalition preside over a health service in crisis, rising costs and a prison population under threat and tension.
What ordinary man or woman living in an estate in any county can afford to fork out ?350 for the privilege of meeting ministers? The ordinary people are hard-pressed to make ends meet – this is like the last days of the Roman Empire when Nero laid on lavish entertainment for the powerful – yet the empire was crumbling.
The lesson we must take from the Fianna Fáil tent is that, the way the country is going, soon young couples will be forced to live in tents – already the homeless are tentless. This Fianna Fáil tent is a symbol of a new and uncaring society.
In short it is a measure of how far Fianna Fáil has gotten into bed with the wealthy and powerful. The voters must remember the tent.
Mick Ryan, Chairman RSF, Ballynanty, Limerick