Children deliver tough message to Taoiseach

AMERICAN President George W Bush may not be taking much notice of either the United Nations or anyone else these days, but Irish schoolchildren are hoping their own political leaders will be different.

Some 47 children lined up outside the Dáil yesterday to deliver a hard-hitting peace message to the Taoiseach that they believe he will not be able to ignore. The students from Loretto College in Swords, Co Dublin, were symbolically representing the 47% of Iraq’s population which is under 16.

In advance of this week’s Dáil debate on war in Iraq, the schoolchildren lined up outside Leinster House to deliver a “stop fuelling the war” message to Bertie Ahern.

Dozens of US military planes, transporting troops and arms to the Gulf, have been refuelling at Shannon Airport.

Trevor Sargent, leader of the Green Party, was there to sign his postcard and all other leaders of the opposition parties were also invited to attend. Among those at the ceremonial posting was Labour leader Pat Rabbitte.

The postcard asked the Taoiseach to reconsider Ireland’s position regarding the US military planes that stop and refuel at Shannon Airport. The simple message is: “Stop fuelling the war: We are not at war with anyone.”

The postcard parade is the start of a week-long series of nationwide events that culminates in a 5.5-mile family-friendly peace walk to Shannon Airport at midday on Saturday.

The walk, entitled “From the River to the Planes”, starts at the River Shannon beside Bunratty Castle and finishes at Shannon Airport.

Poetry, music and talks will take place at Shannon Airport when the walkers arrive at 2pm. Luka Bloom and Glen Hansard of The Frames are among the performers taking part.

Bishop Willie Walsh of Killaloe and Denis Halliday, former Assistant Secretary General of the United Nations, will also be there. Mr Halliday was the UN’s head of the Humanitarian Programme in Iraq. He resigned five years ago in protest at UN sanctions against Iraq.

Postcards will be available on the day of the peace walk and people are asked to sign and post the pre-addressed cards to the Taoiseach.