I met Ciaron O’Reilly six years ago, at a demonstration outside the World Economic Forum in Melbourne. He struck me as committed, sensible, passionate. I was moved by the sacrifice of the Ploughshares movement and although I’m not a Christian I have great respect for people who express the best elements of their faith in their lives.
This group of primarily Catholic pacifists symbolically “disarm” nuclear weapons, bombers, and warships by breaking into bases and performing exorcisms on the weapons or “beating them into ploughshares” with hammers. They have been arrested constantly, and have served long gaol terms (and will again, in all likelihood) in spite of the fact that their actions are entirely non-violent and cause no real property damage.
And just yesterday I was reminded of all this, when Ciaron appeared on Australian television. He hasn’t stopped in those years, and they’ve been hard on him – certainly he’s as thoughtful and committed as ever but it appears the battle has cost him much of his ease and confidence.
Look at it this way. In those six years I’ve organised rallies against war and militarism, written letters to politicians, educated and campaigned for peace. But I’ve also gotten on with my life; had two more children; helped run a business; paid taxes. Have I done all I can to try to prevent the wars, mistreatment of refugees, and ecological damage for which the Australian government bears responsibility? Clearly not. And to that extent I’m complicit in the actions of my government.
This is the calculation I’d make. If let’s say one quarter or one third of the Australian population put as much effort as I have into calling on the government to stay out of the Iraq war, then I think we would have been successful. But if out of the Australian population of 20 million even as many as 100 thousand has been as committed as Ciaron in working for peace, then I think they would have been successful. That makes Ciaron worth sixty of me.
And for that, Ciaron, thank you.