Eye-witness account of Glasgow Anti-War action

On the morning of the 19th of December, 6 activists from 'Glasgow anti-war action' blockaded Weir Pumps Ltd in Glasgow who have been profiting from the war in Iraq. The company who are a supplier to Halliburton are part of a new campaign of direct action with the aim of causing the company sufficient disruption and economic damage, that they stop supplying components to Halliburton. Further, still, the company make parts for the Trident nuclear submarines based just thirty miles from Glasgow at Faslane. (Some activists involved with Glasgow Anti War Action are from Faslane Peace Camp.) The activists lay locked-on at the main gate for four hours, and D-locked the other foot-gate causing, as one worker put it, "mass disruption." Workers were very supportive, giving us fists of solidarity, hoots from cars, waves…even tobacco, and advice on where to get the best coffee locally! The management on the other hand responded to one activist who shouted, "Sir, this company is profiting from the war in Iraq. It has blood on its hands," by answering with, "Too right we're profiting from it, you bet, and proud!" (One worker security guard who was seen as too friendly with the protestors got hauled over by management and disciplined in front of everyone, which indicates, they are worried about worker disapproval too. We intend to contact the union from the company, for whom we have a contact.) The management all seemed to be driving Porsches, BMWs, Merks etc. One car had, "Death 911" as it's number plate. These people are sick. There was massive media coverage with STV (ITV in Scotland) putting a piece on their lunchtime news, Five radio stations doing live interviews, and several newspapers did interviews following a PA Newswire, including the Guardian, Herald, Daily Record, New Internationalist and we got front page of the Glasgow Evening Times with a big photo! BBC have it on their website too… One activist explained, "This is just the start of a new wave of direct action in Scotland targeting those profiting from war. Gordon Gentle, a soldier of just 19 from Glasgow, died in Iraq, and meanwhile a company in Gordon's home city are profiting from the slaughter. We demand that the Weir Group stop supporting Halliburton." This week, it was revealed that Halliburton have made over $10 billion in contracts with Iraq. NB. Faslane Peace Camp needs visitors! See www.faslanepeacecamp.org.uk for directions or dial 01436 820901 For mainstream coverage, see: http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/hi/news/5033497.html http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/4091273.stm and on the new campaign of direct action, see http://www.sundayherald.com/46562

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http://www.faslanepeacecamp.org.uk

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Re: Eye-witness account of Glasgow Anti-War action

Ok. I'm sick of all this... Some people have got it all wrong. "Gordon Gentle, a soldier of just 19 from Glasgow, died in Iraq, and meanwhile a company in Gordon's home city are profiting from the slaughter". Gordon Gentle is a soldier. Sentimentalism regarding his age is not relevant. He is getting paid to be a soldier. He decided to be a soldier, it was his choice and no one forced him. I would understand the comment if military service was obligatory, as it is in Greece for example. If he had not died, but had killed shit loads of Iraqis, earning medals most of his family and friends would regard him as a hero. No soldier is a hero unless he quits his job- that's the only heroical action he could possibly do. Secondly) of course people are profitting from this war. What did you expect? Do u really think they are doing it for the benefit of nations? When in the history of this bloody world have nations moved their asses without gaining profit? When? Brits beleive this shit, just like americans, because capitalism has fucked their brain up. Their is no point in taking action against those who profitted now. The point was to prevent the death of innocent people (soldiers are not innocent) and prevent the capitalist pigs from profitting. But no!!! I remember marching with a load of "left wing" wannabes in glasgow city center, while the americans and the brits killed innocent people. I could see not a single person with anger in his/her eyes. Smiling faces. And supid little jingles like 'we all live in a terrorist regime' (as: we all live in a yellow submarine). A march is not a children's party ladies and gentlemen. And by the way, at that march, i remember most people reffering to the scotish soldiers as the key point of interest. The scottish soldiers are doing their job: they are killing those they have been told to kill. Therefore i feel nothing for them or their sad lives. As it has been said " imagine if their was a war and noone turned up...". Tell that to your children. What would Tony the pig do if instead of a peaceful march on the day the war begun, 1 million of you guys were out their creating chaos. Show the pig how much his desisions disturb you. And do it again and again. Do you really think he would go to war? Fuck london up. Would he go to war??? Create a fucking civil war: you against those on top. WOULD HE ATTACK IRAQ??? Singing stupid little jingles, and carrying a red flag does no make you a rebel. You are recreating the image, the surfice of the idea the meadia have plated in your brain of what a rebel is. And if you are going to march for the 'poor little soldiers' let me know..because i realy do not want to march with you again. Guess what: Tony the pig is having a great big party with his other big fat friends in july here in scotland. They are going to plan which african country to fuck up first. This time in the name of starvation, illness, poverty etc. Will you beleive them??? Brits are getting the same reputation americans have all around europe. Don't think you are that much different. Wake up! I would be glad to find one person out there that agrees with what i have just written.. I seriously doubt it...

Re: Eye-witness account of Glasgow Anti-War action

In addition to what i have written above, here's a bit of Albert Einstein to help me prove my point: "He who joyfully marches to music in rank and file has already earned my contempt. He has been given a large brain by mistake, since for him the spinal cord would suffice. This disgrace to civilisation should be done away with at once. Heroism at command, senseless brutality, deplorable love-of-country stance, how violently i hate all this, how despicable and ignoble war is; i would rather be torn to shreds than be a part of so base an action! IT IS MY CONVICTION THAT KILLING UNDER THE CLOAK OF WAR IS NOTHING BUT AN ACT OF MURDER". I shall not feel sorry for the death of anyone who has chosen to be a murderer of innocent people. Want to be a hero? quit the army. -Iannis

Re: Eye-witness account of Glasgow Anti-War action

What do the "protestors" people expect Weir Pumps to do? Do they expect them not so supply pumps to Iraq? They do realise that pumps pump water right? WATER! A fairly important commodity in a desert region. They also pump sewage. Thus providing sanitation. The "protestors" must also agree that's a pretty vital requirement. Pumps also pump Oil. Oil that is needed to bring income to Iraq. All of this adds up to infrastructure. Are the "protestors" suggesting that Iraq shouldn't have any infrastructure? That Iraq shouldn't be supplied with pumps? Or are you suggesting that they just shouldn't be supplied with Weir Pumps? So some other company can make money from the War, just not this particular company. See the thing is, Iraq doesn't have any pump manufacturers. They have to import them. They have always imported them. They have bought them from Weir Pumps for eighty years in fact. The protests against Weir Pumps are for show! They're pathetic conscience easing acts carried out by people who are picking the most hassle free target regardless of its legitimacy. Why are you protesting against Weir Pumps? Because it's in Glasgow! It's just down the road! Jump on a bus, lie outside for a few hours, drink some coffee, get your picture taken, go home and call yourselves freedom fighters. But wait! Did they think to lie in front of the BACK gate? I mean surely someone thought "Hang on...this is a big factory this...wonder if there's a back door!" Nope. Not one soul asked this. So the action to "causing the company sufficient disruption and economic damage, that they stop supplying components to Halliburton" is off to a flying start. It cost the trucks an extra £2 in diesel to drive round to the back gate. Let us not forget the "mass disruption" caused by D locking the foot gate though! This meant that a handful or workers in Weirs had to walk for an extra 5 mins to get into work! Not to be thwarted, the protestors aint done though! They're going to follow up this devastating act of disruption with a telephone barrage! I bet that'll have Weirs trembling! A few "protestors" are going to call a massive international company with THOUSANDS of phone lines and subject them to a crushing barrage of calls. I'm sure those 12 lights on the switchboard will drive the receptionist nuts. Those LEDs will probably cost the company an extra 6p for the day. Now if you add that, to the estimated £20 in disruption caused by sending the lorries to the back gate in then that means that this devastating series of events has cost the multi million pound company of Weir Pumps £20.60. Never again will the corporate fat cats and blood spillers dare to deal in water and sanitation and once again the world is reminded that 16 lazy, half hearted “protestors� with little or no grasp of the realities of life are still able to lie in the street drinking coffee and...well...achieve nothing. The protestors are an embarrassment to anyone that believes the war in Iraq is wrong, but at least they can all sit round a table in the union drinking watered down pints of lager and blackcurrant and share stories about the day they got a security guard told off.

'One car had, "Death 911" as it's number plate. These people are sick.'

Did it really? I find that extremely unlikely. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that you are in fact making that up. I suppose the manager in question had horns and a flaming trident? Stopped on his way across the car park to rape a passer-by? Ate the eyeballs of child on it's way to school? Thought not - please try to confine this sort of thing to your creative writing module at college....

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