"What the arms trade does... is transfer public money... into private profits." Andrew Feinstein from Shadow World Investigations explains why arguments that militarisation helps create jobs and growth are a red herring.
People's Forum on Peace and Neutrality
@neutralityforum.bsky.social
Bringing together advocates and specialists in international law, diplomacy, peace studies and the arms trade for an open and critical examination of current Irish government policy and proposed changes.
"It's not about doing good for the world, but about the power of Europe." Dr Karen Devine discusses successive governments' given reasons for Ireland's participation in the EU's "security and defence policy."
"Palestine is not a terra nullius. It was never empty." Former president of Ireland Michael D. Higgins passionately affirms the rights of the Palestinian people at the People's Forum on Peace and Neutrality.
"Plucked out of the air to please Donald Trump and bring massive profits to the arms industry." Campaign Against Arms Trade's Sam Perlo-Freeman discusses the NATO 3.5% military spending commitment.
"Successful diplomacy requires some kind of moral horizon." Former diplomat Philip McDonagh, drawing on a career of negotiation in numerous contexts, from European diplomacy to the United Nations to the OSCE, outlines some of the necessary ground rules for diplomacy.
New NATO spending will "result in a carbon footprint the size of Brazil." Co-director of the Transition Security Project Khem Rogaly discusses the severe environmental impacts of a move away from climate and towards military spending.
"Active neutrality is the only sensible policy for a small country to adopt in the modern world." Former MEP and international peace campaigner Clare Daly @claredalyirl.bsky.social states the simple, clear meaning of neutrality in international law.
"Military spending in 2025 reached 2.9 trillion dollars." Expert on the arms trade Sam Perlo-Freeman outlines the vast increases in military spending in recent years.
"They couldn't utter a word of protest." Solicitor Stephen Kelly at the People's Forum on Peace and Neutrality on why the government's response to Trump's war against Iran shows why the Triple Lock is needed.
"We all have the right to discuss the kind of world that we want." Former president of Ireland Michael D. Higgins speaks about the narrowing of debate, and the attitude in government and establishment media that "matters of foreign affairs... should be left to the experts."
"I thought this was a discussion?" Dr Karen Devine relates an exchange she had with the Department of the Taoiseach about the government's "Consultative Forum on International Security Policy" in 2023.
"Two thirds of the budget goes to four countries: France, Germany, Italy and Spain." ENAAT's Laëtitia Sédou explains how the EU's huge increase in direct military spending is divided unevenly, benefitting a small handful of companies in four EU Member States.
"You know the consequences of that type of letter, okay?" Solicitor Joe Noonan reads out US ambassador Claire Cronin's letter to the Taoiseach, which demonstrates the effects of tthe US economic relationship on Irish foreign policy. More: twitter.com/@neutralityforum
"Some diplomats should be at the service of the process. Someone has to hold the pen." Former diplomat Philip McDonagh explains why the status of neutrality allows states to participate in diplomacy in important ways. More: youtube.com/@neutralityforum
"The reality is that military spending doesn't produce jobs and growth." Co-director of @transitionsec.bsky.social and researcher on military industries Khem Rogaly explains at the People's Forum on Peace and Neutrality why the so-called "defense dividend" doesn't add up.
"We should stay out of great power conflict and refuse to be a pawn." Former MEP and international peace campaigner @claredalyirl.bsky.social answers the question "how can a small country protect its citizens and play its part on the world stage?" at the People's Forum on Peace and Neutrality.
"The most horrific trade known to humankind." Shadow World Investigations' Andrew Feinstein @andrewfeinstein.bsky.social describes the reality of the global trade in weapons at the People's Forum on Peace and Neutrality.
"It has not changed. It has not wavered." Why do people in Ireland support neutrality? Do we, as some argue, just not really understand what it means? Dr. Karen Devine summarises opinion polling on neutrality on these questions over 40 years.
"The European Union has no credibility... in relation to respect for the most basic norms of international law." Former president of Ireland Michael D. Higgins expresses his hopes for Irish moral leadership during Ireland's presidency of the EU, at the People's Forum on Peace and Neutrality.