IRELAND: Limerick to ban Caterpillars

Limerick City Council is considering a motion to declare Limerick city the world's first Caterpillar-free zone. In 2003, a Caterpillar bulldozer ran over human rights activist Rachel Corrie as she attempted to stop a house being demolished in Gaza, Palestine, killing her. Caterpillar bulldozers are routinely used by the Israeli state to break international human rights laws, by demolishing Palestinian homes and vineyards. They are also used throughout council sites in Limerick, which the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign intends to change. Caterpillar has refused numerous demands, including from Amnesty, to stop selling to Israel. The motion will ban the use of all Caterpillar merchandise on council sites, and requests traders in the city to do likewise. Corrie's parents have written to the council asking them to support the motion. They are asking others to do likewise, emails can be sent to the council at <michael.hourigan@council.limerickcity.ie>.

From Green Left Weekly, April 13, 2005.

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From GLW issue 622