A Call For Peace On Brigid's Day

On Thursday, February 1st 2024 ‘Brigid of Kildare’, accompanied by members of Afri and StoP, attempted to delivered a letter, a copy of the Downpatrick Declaration and a St. Brigid Peace Cross to Tánaiste Micheál Martin at the Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin.
The doors of the Department, however, were firmly closed against Brigid - it seems her message of peace is not welcome in Foreign Affairs.
This action, which represents an urgent call for peace and a firm rejection of war, on the feast Day of Brigid the Peacemaker, took place as the world endures the horror of war in Palestine, Ukraine, Yemen, Syria, Sudan and many other conflicts around the world.
The action was a compelling call for our government, in line with Article 29 of our Constitution, seriously to promote disarmament, demilitarization and de-escalation rather than mindlessly jumping on board the juggernaut of war. It was a protest at our Government’s moving ever closer to NATO, shredding our neutrality, abandoning UN-directed peacekeeping, unpicking the ‘Triple Lock’ and building a weapons industry in the Republic of Ireland. How is all this compatible with ‘Pausing for Peace’ in Kildare on the feast of Brigid the peacemaker?
Afri and StoP hope that the presentations to the Minister on Feb. 1st, St. Brigid’s Day, will contribute towards greater understanding, a lessening of tensions, and a re-commitment by Ireland to the affirmation of our neutrality, the pursuit of disarmament and the promotion of peace.
In addition, while our Government have been better than others regarding their statements on Gaza, we urge them to support South Africa’s genocide case in the International Criminal Court and break off all trade with Israel, involving military research, weapons production and the development of Ireland’s weapons industry.
For over four decades Afri has been involved in opposing war, promoting food sovereignty and tackling climate change - working especially with Secondary and Third level students as well as with the general public. We organise the annual Famine Walk in Mayo, a Hedge School in TU Blanchardstown and Féile Bríde in Kildare. Thank you for continuing to support our work.
www.afri.ie

[@joe_3]

A great video and powerful message
Well done to everyone involved