Villagers: Letters to the Editor 2006-09-07

I hope it won't seem immodest to point out that my play, Allegiance, performed at the Edinburgh Fringe, merits inclusion in your report by Jessie Collins: 'Irish success at Edinburgh' (Village, 31 August).

Although not produced by a specifically Irish company, Allegiance was listed in the Edinburgh festival brochure as an Irish play, conceived and written by an Irish author and focusing on an Irish political subject – the relationship between Michael Collins and
Winston Churchill and the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921.

It played to full houses at the Assembly in Edinburgh and was prominently reviewed by the London and Edinburgh critics; it received some rewarding plaudits from the Guardian, the Times, the London Independent, the Financial Times, the Daily Telegraph, the Daily Mail, the Scotsman and Scotland on Sunday.

The Times nominated it as one of the five plays (out of 1,800 at Edinburgh) which were most likely to transfer to the London West End (two of the others were the Scottish National Theatre's spectacular Blackwatch, and Rough Magic's brilliant Improbable Frequency, which was originally premiered at the Abbey.)

Your critic may not have cared for Allegiance, but on any objective criteria, the play qualifies as one of the Irish successes at Edinburgh.

Mary Kenny, Dublin and Deal, Kent

More Log onto www.mary-kenny.com or email mary@ mary-kenny.com

Media and the church: Unbalanced coverage of Catholicism

For many years there has been the obvious political bias of the editorials of the 'quality' daily and Sunday newspapers. As John Waters points out in his article 'Hierarchy of (in)tolerance', what has also been equally as evident is the anti-Catholic church and, more particularly, anti-Catholic-church hierarchy bias in the Irish media.

Irish readers expect the modus operandi of journalism to be fair and balanced reporting with an independence of opinion based on the facts as presented. We also expect that journalism be 'progressive' but not to the extent of some reporters being consistently hostile in their coverage of the Catholic church and its teachings.

Up to the early 1990s, it is true that the Irish Catholic church had a tight control over the moral teachings of the Irish people and the main political parties were always keen to listen to its pronouncements on moral as well as religious principles before legislating on the social issues of the day. The scandals which have come to light over the last decade-and-a-half have diluted this control and, to an extent, have downgraded the church from its position of 'moral policeman'.

However, the Catholic faith is still the main religion in this country and its teachings give comfort and guidance to many Catholics, whether they are churchgoers or not.

It is for this reason that more balanced reporting of Catholic teachings should be encouraged in the Irish media. After all, whether these reporters who are hostile to Catholic church teachings like it or not, a sizeable readership still subscribe to the traditional religious views which now seem abhorrent to their image of modern Ireland.

Some journalists are quick to embrace the new religions which have gathered momentum through immigration. Consequently, they should also embrace a religious institution which, though fallible, has done many good works for this nation and its people, the chief amongst which have been the education and healthcare of hundreds of thousands of Irish people, the tremendous missionary work which has been carried out overseas and its many good teachings, which, though subject to criticism in the media each week, gave the Irish people hope when we were not so progressive or prosperous.

Mel Duignan, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4

Sports coverage: Village should cover Irish soccer

Regarding Ken Early's article in Village (31 August) on Roy Keane and the capabililities of the current playing staff at Sunderland, personally I don't care if 20 Roy Keanes go to Sunderland. Can Village promote Irish Eircom League soccer (pictured) in future editions instead of the claptrap that comes from Roy Keane's mouth?

Gareth Daly, Ballyfermot, Dublin 10

STATEMENT: Public meeting with the Pitstop Ploughshares

On 15 February 2003, more than 100,000 people marched in Dublin against the impending invasion of Iraq and against Irish complicity with the US war machine. This huge demonstration was one of many acts of resistance taken by people across the world in opposition to the savagery they feared would be unleashed on the Iraqi people. At Shannon airport, through which thousands of US troops were passing, smaller demonstrations occurred and several acts of direct action took place.

In October 2002, for example, a mass trespass by roughly 100 people occurred at Shannon airport, resulting in charges against 10 anti-war activists for their participation in a peaceful act of civil disobedience.

More dramatically, in late January and early February 2003, Mary Kelly and the Pitstop Ploughshares (Deirdre Clancy, Ciaron O'Reilly, Damien Moran, Karen Fallon and Nuin Dunlop) engaged in two separate direct actions against US warplanes at the airport. All five were subsequently brought before the courts.

As the imperial occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan continue, the worst fears of the anti-war movement have been realised. At present, the average death toll in Iraq from occupation-related violence stands at roughly 1,000 per month. Tens of thousands of men, women and children have been slaughtered as a direct result of US invasion and Iraq remains a country in turmoil. Likewise, many of the US soldiers who have passed through Shannon airport have returned to their families in body bags. In pursuit of geopolitical power, the neo-conservative regime of George W Bush has brought horror and suffering to families across Iraq, Afghanistan and the United States. History will damn them as the callous warmongers that they are.

In Ireland, the Fianna Fáil/PD government has steadfastly supported the murderous actions of the Bush regime by facilitating its war machine at Shannon airport. Indeed, Shannon remains a hub airport for the US military on its way to war in the Middle East. In this context, Irish 'neutrality', if it ever existed, has been rendered null and void.

In addition, the Pitstop Ploughshares, who resisted the war by decommissioning a US warplane at Shannon airport, were forced to endure three court trials as efforts were made to criminalise their action.

However, on 25 July, a 12-person jury in Dublin's Four Courts unanimously acquitted the five anti-war activists, simultaneously damning Irish complicity with US imperialism. The jury accepted that the five acted to protect human life in Iraq and Ireland. It was an amazing verdict that indicates the depth of anti-war sentiment in Ireland.

On Thursday 7 September, the Pitstop Ploughshares will speak publicly for the first time since their acquittal, as they reflect on their trial and talk about the continuing campaign to demilitarise Shannon airport. Deirdre Clancy and Ciaron O'Reilly will be joined on the platform by Village columnist and Anti-War Ireland member Harry Browne.

This public meeting, organised by Anti-War Ireland, begins at 7.30pm and will be held in the ATGWU Hall at 55 Middle Abbey Street. All are welcome and admission is free.

On Tuesday 12 September, the Pitstop Ploughshares will address a similar public meeting in Belfast, where they will be joined by Colm Breathnach of Anti-War Ireland. Beginning at 8pm, the event takes place in Jury's Inn on Great Victoria Street. Again, this promises to be a fascinating meeting and all are welcome.

Fintan Lane. Anti-War Ireland. More www.antiwarireland.org

Howard and trade unions: Australia criminalises basic rights

The Howard government in Australia is one of the most anti-union in the world, breaking new ground in its efforts to smash the trade-union movement in that country. Among its first victims are 107 construction workers, who are being prosecuted for alleged "illegal" industrial action following the sacking of a union delegate. According to Kevin Reynolds, secretary of the west Australian branch of the CFMEU union, "Under the Howard government, the basic right to vote to take strike action in support of better conditions and a safe workplace has now been criminalised." The workers made their first appearance in court on Monday 4 September.

They are asking workers around the world to mobilise and send messages of protest to government officials today: www.labourstart.org/cgi-bin/solidarityforever/show_campaign.cgi?c=137.

The families of the 107 are facing fines of $28,600, meaning massive financial hardship and destitution because of these punitive laws. Please give generously: http://www.labourstart.org/docs/en/000360.html

Paul Kinsella, Santry, Dublin 9

Space travel to the moon: Over the moon about lawless space

Last week's 'Space' article (Village, 31 August), highlighting the deliberate crashing of a spacecraft into the moon should have read as follows:

"We are inviting you to get out your telescope to witness our ability to deliberately crash into the moon and waste more of our valuable resources. We hope the impact will be powerful enough for all to see. Dumping waste and damaging the property of our neighbours is disrespectful, as well as illegal, on Earth. So we are 'over the moon' that there are no such laws to limit our activities in space. The craft will be abandoned at the site of impact and any damage experienced by our neighbour will be ignored. That we might rely on the support of the moon for survival is of no consequence. We are scientists, we have no moral boundaries and can inflict any torture we like on our environment...

"The lawless white man's rule continues to reign supreme and we are glad to see that there isn't a compassionate voice in our midst that has the power to stop this wanton destruction being visited on our beautiful, majestic world. This action is possible due to those involved having lost the sense of wonder they were born with thanks to their excellent education. The current practise of our poets and philosophers using this spinning rock as a source of inspiration will hopefully discontinue. Its time has come to serve us as another place for target practise and ultimately a dump site."

It may be worth remembering the following quote from Galileo Galilei: "I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use."

Pearl Finn, Salthill, Galway

Gun amnesty: Two months to surrender weapons

Members of the public who have unwanted weapons at home have two months to

hand them in or face the toughest anti-gun laws ever introduced in this country.

The inclusion of knives and crossbows, as well as unwanted and unlicenced guns, is an important move given the number of stabbings that take place in Dublin and in other parts of the country, in particular at weekends.

Many of these attacks are drink-fuelled and removing the knives will undoubtedly make our streets safer.

While I have not been under any illusion that gangs will surrender their guns overnight, the amnesty will reduce the number of guns in circulation and prevent them falling into the wrong hands.

I have remained in close contact with the minister since first calling for the amnesty and welcome the fact that he has taken the points I raised with him on board.

Over the next two months, unwanted weapons can be handed over at Garda stations and, provided the weapon has not been used in a crime, there will be no prosecution.

It is important that people are told that the amnesty is a one-off opportunity and if they don't avail of it they will be facing hefty fines and even jail.

The amnesty will free up gardaí to tackle more serious crimes, rather than trying to track down unlicenced guns.

John Curran, Fianna Fáil TD Dublin Mid West

More The weapons amnesty continues until 31 October 2006. Anyone with queries on the amnesty can visit a special website, www.weaponsamnesty.com, or check details in a national advertising campaign

All-Ireland semi-final: Lamenting Dublin's loss against Mayo

I am still receiving counselling after Dublin's defeat at the hands of the Mayo footballers in the semi-final of the All-Ireland football championship.

The small crumb of comfort I can derive from the defeat is to know that there was unbridled joy from the other 31 counties and to remind myself that it is great to be Irish, but it's a miracle to be a Dub.

Jimmy Murray, Drimnagh, Dublin 12