“Red Arrows & Another War Outfit” Due For Volvo Ocean Race Finale

galway | anti-war / imperialism | news report

Monday March 05, 2012 21:40

by GALWAY ALLIANCE AGAINST WAR

Race Organisers "culturally retarded"

The Galway Alliance Against War has learnt that the British military display team, the Red Arrows, will perform during the Volvo Ocean Race Finale in Galway on July 1st. Another “war outfit” has also been invited, but has not yet confirmed.

This evening, March 5th, the Galway Chamber of Commerce hosted a presentation for business people by the organisers of Let’s Do It Global. It was at this event that Enda Ó Coineen, the chairman of Let’s Do It Global, confirmed to a representative from GAAW that the Red Arrows and a possible second military display team would appear at the race finale. Mr Ó Coineen made a sheepish response when the GAAW rep, Niall Farrell, suggested that the “organisers were culturally retarded” to have invited a military display team to participate in “such a momentous occasion”.

In a statement to the media Niall Farrell of GAAW stated: “The Volvo Ocean Race is a wonderful example of human ingenuity and human endeavour combining to harness the natural elements so as to propel these sailing crafts across the seven seas. The finale of the Ocean Race is meant to showcase Galway and Ireland, what have foreign warplanes got to do with Ireland and Irish culture? Nothing! The organisers’ invite to the Red Arrows and another war outfit shows how culturally retarded these people are.

“Our opposition to war shows stems from our belief that the presence of warplanes and the fighter pilots who fly them sanitises and glorifies war. Pilots and planes that kill other people's children are not family entertainment.

“It is worth noting that on the day we learn that the Red Arrows will once again pollute the skies over Galway that its only female pilot, Flight Lieutenant Kirsty Stewart, has moved to ground duties due to the “adverse effect” the deaths of two fellow Red Arrow pilots had on her. Both died in warplane accidents in 2011 – one of them last August in an air crash at the Bournemouth air show. The fact is these war shows are not only an obscenity, they are also an accident waiting to happen.”

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Comments (5 of 5)

the red arrows are part of the RAF and are sponsored by BAE systems, the arms manufacturers

by lefty

Thu Mar 08, 2012 19:34

thats pure bullshit!

The red arrows, by their own admission are an integral part of the RAF

They serve a PR and recruitment function for the UK war machine. They are hoping young boys will be excited by their displays and will want to join the RAF so they can do it too. More fodder for foreign wars. It's a cynical attempt to influence your children into the military.

Also, it paints a one sided whitewashed picture of an organisation who are better known for bombing and killing poorly armed brown people trying to stand up for their human rights worldwide.

Check out their site and note that it says "RAF" in the title.
http://www.raf.mod.uk/reds/

Also note the prominent position of arms manufacturer BAE systems amongst their sponsors. They certainly have plenty of brown people's blood on their hands too.

Having the RAF PR operation coming here is disgusting, an affront to the sacrifices of the people who fought for our republic, to the masses killed with BAE weaponry and by RAF aircraft in imperialist wars, and the people of Galway should know better. I'm ashamed to be one of them if this is allowed to go ahead.

Bring on the red arrows.

by Real Galwegian

Thu Mar 08, 2012 18:38

I find that protesting the red arrows completely hypocritical. These are show planes not war planes. If going by Fred Johnstons reasoning any technology developed from other technology used in war.

Jet engines were first developed by the Nazi but are now used everyday.
The Sea King helicopters used for search and rescue are also used in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The average person does not see the red arrows as so called war machines, they are a in fact celebration of human engineering and and human performance.

GAAW are beginning to sound alot like the boy who cried wolf.

'..huge crowds..'

by opus diablos - the regressive hypocrite party

Tue Mar 06, 2012 13:04

Just like the good ol' days back in Nurnberg, eh, paul?

Maybe throw in a few gallons of napalm, just for a warm-up act like...

something to look forward like

by paul

Tue Mar 06, 2012 11:24

thats great news that they are coming, there will be huge crowds.

Our cultural hero Enda O Coineen

by GAAW

Mon Mar 05, 2012 22:00

224. on the Irish Rich list in March 2010: ENDA O COINEEN

€35M INVESTOR

Galway boat nut Enda O'Coineen has made hay in Central Europe, with his Kilcullen Capital dealing in telecoms, property, recruitment and energy over the last decade.

He was one of the beneficiaries of the €90m sale of Sean Melly's eTel and made a packet when Galway’s Enwest oil terminal sold for €30m to Gerry Barrett.

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“Red Arrows & Another War Outfit” Due For Volvo Ocean Race Finale

Comments (5 of 5)