|
Written by Austin Mitchell
|
|
09 December 2004 |
|
CAMERA TO THE RESCUE: PHOTOGRAPHER MP VOLUNTEERS TO SAVE THE PEACE PROCESS
________________________________________________________________________________
Austin Mitchell, the MP Photographer and author of Parliament in Pictures today stepped forward to try and save the Northern Ireland Peace Process by bringing his photographic skills and cameras to its rescue. “Photography has never been more important than it is at this moment”, Mitchell said today. “That`s why I have written to the leading figures in the Peace Process, Gerry Adams, Bertie Ahern, Tony Blair and Ian Paisley (in strictly alphabetical order) to offer my services as a Parliamentarian and photographer to go anywhere at any time to photograph both weapons caches from either side offered for de-commissioning, and/or the processes of putting the weapons beyond use by whatever means are chosen, as a historic record of this vital process. The photographs will be made available exclusively to the four Leaders above who will then be free to make what use of them they both want and agree”.
“I`m offering to do this as a public service in the hope that it can help to clear the way to peace and a resumption of devolved government in Northern Ireland. As Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Photography Group, a photographer and a Parliamentarian known, and I hope trusted, by all sides in the argument I have a unique position. I am ready to photograph on film or digital, colour or black and white, using my own photographic gear, and undertaking that there will be no retouching or digital manipulation. I`m ready to go anywhere at any time, at my own expense, and using my own trusty photographic gear to help the Peace Process. The intention is not to publish or retain the photographs but to turn them over to the participants for them to decide what use they can best make of what could become historic documents and will certainly constitute a landmark in the history of photography. I`m hoping that a swift decision can be made to use my services as an aid to peace disarmament, and good photography. Put down the arms. Take up the camera”.
________________________________________________________________________________ |
