Nonviolent News 116: February 2004

Great oaks from little acorns…
FEIC persistence wins over Derry City Council
7th January 2004 will long be remembered by arms campaigners in Ireland as the day when Foyle Ethical Investment Campaign (FEIC) succeeded in persuading Derry City Council to reject the arms trade locally, and to ask for further assurances from Raytheon that they are not involved in military-related work at their local software plant.

The Council adopted a resolution to introduce a 'policy of opposition to the city's economic participation in the international arms trade' and instead elaborate a policy of Socially Responsible Investment (SRI). Derry City Council had held a special council meeting to discuss the presence of Raytheon, the world's largest missile manufacturer, in Derry. The Council invited FEIC and Raytheon to participate in that meeting, although Raytheon refused this (as every other) invitation to debate their situation, although they do claim only civilian-related work goes on there. Raytheon's software plant in Derry includes work on I-ORION, an information system that enables Raytheon to enhance its design, procurement and sales of armaments. The council meeting took place in the Guildhall, and FEIC held a day of witness in Guildhall Square, highlighting the human and economic costs of the arms trade, with many prominent people in attendance. The City Council resolution includes;

"Derry City Council opposes the arms trade, because it depends upon and promotes the continuation of war and instability and creates poverty and disaster, sucking in physical, human and intellectual resources into a vortex of violence.... Derry City Council acknowledges that Raytheon's core business is the arms trade. Raytheon is an integral part of the international arms trade and Derry City Council wants no part of that trade here in this city. In particular we declare our opposition to the development or production of weapons or any software whose end use is a military application and if that is shown to be the case at Raytheon in Derry then Council will declare the firm to be unwelcome here."

Contact FEIC at e-mail feicmail@yahoo.ie or phone 078 - 0326890.

BLEIC first outing for Thales
The same day as the arms hearing in Derry saw dead, ancient Greek scientist and philosopher, Thales of Miletus, coming to Belfast and Castlereagh to protest at the hijacking of his name by Thales Air Defence (previously Shorts Missile Systems); "to name a manufacturer of weapons of destruction after me is the total negation of everything I stood for" he said in handing in a letter of protest to Thales Air Defence's Castlereagh plant. Accompanied by some modern citizens of Belfast, this is the first known arms protest at the missile factory, and also a first outing for the Belfast and Lisburn Ethical Investment Campaign (BLEIC) who are currently meeting once a month (next meeting 7.30pm Monday 16th February, check for venue). BLEIC, c/o 16 Ravensdene Park, Belfast BT6 0DA, ph. 028 - 90 64 71 06, e-mail bleic@yahoogroups.com

Afri new pamphlet on militarisation in Republic
Meanwhile Afri, who have researched and worked on the issues of armaments production both in the Republic and Northern Ireland, will shortly publish another pamphlet on the increasing militarisation of the Republic. Watch this space or contact; Afri, 134 Phibsboro Road, Dublin 7, phone 01 - 496 8595 or e-mail afri@iol.ie

Upcoming opportunity for mediators in Norn Iron
In February Mediation Northern Ireland will be recruiting 15 mediators to join our Associate Practitioners team. This team will deliver our services over the coming years. They will be engaged on a sessional basis and will benefit from our full training and development programme. We hope to advertise for recruitment during February. Watch out for this through the usual community relations networks and the Belfast Telegraph. For more information contact; Sean O Baoill, Development Officer (Associates), Mediation Northern Ireland, 10 Upper Crescent, Belfast BT7 1NT. Ph 028 - 90 438614, Fax 90 314430 or e-mail sean@mediationnorthernireland.org

'EAPPI to meet' in Belfast, 15th February
It's a case of 'EAPPI to meet, sorry to part' in Belfast when Angela O'Donoghue, recently returned from the West Bank, talks about her work with the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel. This takes place on Sunday 15th February at 3.00pm in Friends Meeting House, Frederick Street (near Clifton House), Belfast. All welcome. Queries to Rosemary Calvert at 028 - 9082 6708. EAPPI monitors human rights, supports nonviolent resistance alongside Christian and Muslim Palestinians and Israeli peace activists, and engages in public policy advocacy. EAPPI is supported by Churches Together in Britain and Ireland and managed in Britain and Ireland by Quakers. You can visit websites at www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/international/palestine/eap.html or www.quaker.org.uk/peace/current.html or e-mail eappi@quaker.org.uk

VSI: Africa/Asia/Latin America exchange programme
The programme enables people to gain an insight and understanding of different development issues facing people and countries of Africa, Asia and Latin America by participating in voluntary work projects, of practical benefit to local communities During their two- month stay in a developing country, volunteers will join in 2-3 short- term projects in different parts of the country as well as visiting development and community projects run by other organisations.

VSI (Voluntary Service International) organise a comprehensive preparation and orientation programme for participants from March to May. Volunteers intending to take part in the programme must join in the Preparation Programme. VSI have organised a series of Information Workshops around the country (Belfast, Cork, Dublin , Galway, Limerick, Midlands etc) during February 2004 where you can get more details about the programme and application forms. Cork and Dublin have already happened; Galway: Wed. 11 February at 7.30pm, The Gaf Youth Cafe,14 Francis Street, Galway. If you are over 21 and have voluntary work experiences under your belt then contact VSI for more details. VSI, 30 Mountjoy Square, Dublin 1. Ph 01-8551011, e-mail: deved.vsi@iol.ie web: http://www.vsiireland.org

Refugee Project and CAN
Keeping up to date with the rapidly changing situation regarding refugees and asylum seekers is a difficult task. One extremely useful project, primarily but not only in relation to the Republic, is the Refugee Project of the Irish Bishops' Conference, staffed by Joan Roddy. Resources include 'Sanctuary' news sheet (every 2 months) and an "Asylum Seeker/Refugee Information Pack", both of these available by e-mail (or post if no e-mail). A Churches' Asylum Network (CAN) meets every two months in Dublin including Catholic, Protestant and other representatives. Refugee Project, Columba Centre, Maynooth, Co Kildare, ph 01 - 505 3157, fax 601 6401, e-mail refproject@iecon.ie

Community relations e-newssheet
The Community Relations Resource Centre, your one-stop shop for community relations and related information in Northern Ireland, is going to be sending its newssheet out monthly by e-mail. It previously produced a paper edition on new resources and upcoming events in the field. If you want to receive this, please e-mail info@community-relations.org.uk
Information for inclusion welcome; send by end of month to be in the following month's issue. Resource Centre, Community Relations Council, 21 College Square East, Belfast BT1 6DE, ph 028 - 9022 7555, web www.community-relations.org.uk

Women Peacemaker Programme; new resources
New materials from the Women Peacemakers Program of IFOR/International Fellowship of Reconciliation include: 1) Nonviolence for the Brave - a documentary video on gender-sensitive active nonviolence training (30 minutes) including a viewer's guide. Available at €20 or UK£14 (or for €30/£21 including workshop kit 'Women and a Culture of Peace' and poster. 2) You changed my life: Towards gender-sensitive nonviolence training, the final report of the 2003 Women Peacemakers Program's Training of Trainers, ask for details. 3) Build Bridges, Not Walls: Women for peace in the Middle East, the 28-page information pack from IFOR and IPB/International Peace Bureau for International Women's Day for Peace and Disarmament, 24th May 2004. Contact Janne Poort-van Eeden at +31 72 5 123 014, e-mail j.vaneeden@ifor.org or at Spoorstraat 38, 1815 BK Alkmaar, Netherlands. See also www.ifor.org/WPP

Policing the island: challenges, issues and co-operation.
This is the title of the Irish Association's spring seminar with speakers Hugh Orde, Chief Constable, P.S.N.I., and Noel Conroy, Commissioner, of An Garda Siochana, with chair - Paul McErlean, President Irish Association. Saturday 21st February, 2004, 10.30 -12.30 at Holiday Express Inn, University Street, Belfast. All welcome, members - £2.00, non-members - £4.00. The principal objective of The Irish Association is the promotion of communication, understanding and co-operation between all people of Ireland both North and South. P.O. Box 8417, Dublin14, e-mail info@irish-association.org and web www.irish-association.org

Fairtrade Fortnight 1st - 14th March
This is the main awareness raising period annually for Fairtrade in Ireland, the fortnight takes place during the first two weeks of March every year and highlights the benefits of Fairtrade and the availability and quality of FAIRTRADE Marked products in Ireland. FAIRTRADE Mark Ireland awards a consumer label, the FAIRTRADE Mark, to products which meet internationally recognised standards of Fairtrade. Supported by Amnesty International, Actionaid Ireland, Christian Aid, Comhlámh, Concern, Oxfam, Trócaire, War on Want Northern Ireland, and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, we are a small Third World charity based in Dublin. We are active throughout Ireland via our supporter network of dedicated volunteers, involved in the promotion of Fairtrade and FAIRTRADE Mark products. See www.fairtrade.ie

Sustainable Ireland Network Bulletin
Current issue of this valuable e-newssheet (see NN 113) includes request for volunteers for Convergence Festival, news of various different projects and mention of almost 400 environmental projects in Dublin listed by the Environmental Focus Group of Dublin City Community Forum and available at www.dublin.ie (click on 'environment' tab). For SINB contact info@sustainable.ie and web www.sustainable.ie

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