Issues carries RAF recruitment ad
'Issues' magazine for 13 -26 September contains a very
interesting and commendable article entitled `Ireland and the Arms
Race'. It exposes the continuing scandal of massive spending on
nuclear and other weapons and the attempts to draw this country
into the NATO web.
It highlights also the pressure from
the British Royal Air Force for increased spending on its
facilities. All this makes it even more scandalous that 'Issues'
accepted a full-page recruiting advertisement from the same RAF
that was published in the 30 August-12 September issue.
As well as their worldwide role as carriers of nuclear
weapons, the RAF still occupies bases in part of Ireland. The
reply coupon on the advertisement that Issues carried was
addressed to the RAF at Palace Barracks, Hollywood, Belfast.
RAF and British Army helicopters still cause daily disruption
to the lives of people in the North East of Ireland, especially
in the heavily militarised area of South Armagh. It is a disgrace
that these British armed forces should seek to recruit anywhere
in this country. It is even more disgraceful that a publication
sold in this country should accept their recruiting
advertisements.
Sinn Féin TD Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin
has writtent to the editor of Issues magazine Marc Kelly, and
stated: ``I have regularly bought Issues and its predecessor Big
Issues over a long period, especially as sales directly benefit
homeless people and asylum-seekers. I know I speak for many
people who have complained to me about this RAF advertisement
when I say that I am now unwilling to buy the magazine again
until I can be sure that such advertisements will never
reappear.''
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