Billy King on war as entertainment, political
vandalism etc Go...
Corrymeela; twig that
it begins when you leaf
Corrymeela is the only peace and reconciliation
group or organisation which started before the Troubles thirty-odd
years ago (the fortieth anniversary is coming up in 2005)
still on the go and coming out the far end. But the far end
of the Troubles also means adjustment and evolvement, not
least because of funding changes (Corrymeela currently depends
on voluntary and statutory sources for three quarters of its
income). A major review of the Corrymeela Centre and its work
at Ballycastle is being begun which may lead to more focused
work in the community with the Centre as a resource. Another
development has been, through members' involvement, with ethnic
and asylum issues.
Corrymeela Sunday, with the theme 'Exclusion
and Embrace', takes place this year on 14th March, with a
pack of resources available (for worship, information and
reflection) on request or on the Corrymeela website
The various programmes of Corrymeela continue
apace, some awaiting developments through funding. The schools
programme engages in community relations and identity work,
with a regular pattern of schools using the Centre, and the
hope to have one worker each in primary, secondary, and teacher
training sectors. Youth work includes 'seed groups' working
intensively with young people over a year. Work with families
covers a wide variety of activities including work with victims
and survivors . 'Faith and Life', focuses on spirituality
and related areas. There are conferences and events at the
smaller Knocklayd centre (which has 16 beds). Treetops, based
in the Belfast house, works with bereaved children.
The Corrymeela Community, which defines itself
as Christian though with a wide diversity of opinion, has
170 members, 3,000 Friends, and a quite new category of Associates.
Its aims include being a sign and symbol that Protestants
and Catholics can share, providing an opportunity for meeting
and learning, supporting victims of violence and injustice,
and addressing contemporary issues. A team of international
and local volunteers work at the Ballycastle Centre.
You can become a Friend of Corrymeela for £24
minimum/£12 unwaged and receive 'Connections' magazine.
Corrymeela (Belfast) is at 8 Upper Crescent,
Belfast BT7 1NT, ph. 028 - 9050 8080, and e-mail belfast@corrymeela.org
The Ballycastle Centre is at 5 Drumaroan Road, Ballycastle
BT54 6QU, ph. 028 - 2076 2626 and e-mail ballycastle@corrymeela.org
Corrymeela Knocklayd is at 28 Stroan Road, Armoy, Ballymoney
BT53 8RY, ph. 2075 1521, e-mail knocklayd@corrymeela.org Corrymeela
Link in Britain, which provides support and funding, is at
PO Box 4839, Earley, Reading RG6 1XX, ph. 0118 - 926 1062,
e-mail reading@corrymeela.org The Corrymeela website, which
includes much more news and views, is at www.corrymeela.org
Chernobyl Children's
Project; Oscar says hello, office moves
Chernobyl Children's Project (CCP) has been celebrating the
Oscar for best short documentary awarded to the film Chernoybyl
Heart, which features the project prominently; the documentary
was shot over a two-year period in the Chernobyl-affected
regions and documents the terrible effects of radiation, and
the high levels of cancer, birth defects, and heart conditions
suffered by the region's children. Meanwhile another convoy
of humanitarian aid will leave Ireland, from Celbridge, Co
Kildare on Easter Sunday 11th April bound for Belarus; there
will be 14 articulated trucks with goods and specialist medical
equipment, and 14 ambulances to be delivered to orphanages
and hospitals, in all worth in excess of €2 million.
CCP will be moving its base from about 15th March; the new
address is Ballycurreen Industrial Estate, Ballycurreen, Cork
(which is near the airport); phone numbers are not yet available
but the e-mail and web addresses will remain the same, e-mail
adiroche@adiccp.org and website www.chernobyl-ireland.com
The website now features the ability to make donations online,
otherwise donations can be made to Chernobyl Children's Project,
A/c No. 36410021, sort code 99 07 01, at Permanent TSB, 1
Lapp's Quay, Cork.
Pax Christi Ireland
The AGM of Pax Christi takes place on Sunday 28th March from
10.00 - 4.30 at Avila Spirituality Centre, Dublin (and this
year the International Pax Christi Council takes place in
Connecticut, USA). Pax Christi continues with its work on
landmines at an international level, on weapons of mass destruction,
global peace and security, small arms and children, and also
regarding the situation in Northern Ireland. Subscriptions
remain at €25 waged, €10 unwaged, and €5 for
students. Pax Christi, 52 Lower Rathmines Road, Dublin 6,
ph 01 - 496 5293, fax 496 5492, and e-mail paxtdc@indigo.ie
Restoring Justice? A
challenge for Northern Ireland
Kilcranny House, Coleraine and WAVE have a joint one day conference
coming up looking at different perspectives on justice and
exploring how some communities have responded in the development
of community based restorative models. It will take place
in the Lodge Hotel, Coleraine on Monday 15th March, from 9.30
am - 3.30 pm; the fee of £5 includes all costs and lunch.
Enquiries and booking should go to WAVE Trauma Centre, 13
Castlecroft, Main Street, Ballymoney, BT53 6DT. For Kilcranny
House, ph 028 - 7032 1816, www.kilcrannyhouse.org
New director sought
for CAJ
CAJ, the Committee on the Administration of Justice, is seeking
a new director. Martin O'Brien, who was director, has moved
on to funding for peace and reconciliation; Martin worked
for the CAJ for 16 years, and was director for half that,
during its consolidation as the premier organisation dealing
on human rights issues in Northern Ireland, taking up a wide
variety of issues. CAJ prioritises four key areas of work;
policing, criminal justice/emergency laws, equality and protection
of rights. Candidates require various qualifications, skills
and experience including 3 years senior management experience,
and an in depth knowledge of human rights issues relevant
to Northern Ireland. The closing date for applications is
19th March and further information and applications are available
from; Liz McAleer, CAJ, 45-47 Donegall Street, Belfast BT1
2BR, phone 028 - 90961122, e-mail liz@caj.org.uk and web www.caj.org.uk
Peace People meditation
A Silent Meditation group meets on the second Tuesday of the
month (9th March, 13th April, 11th May, 8th June) at 7pm;
Peace People, 224 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 6GE, phone 028
- 90663465, e-mail info@peacepeople.com and web www.peacepeople.com
Meath Peace Group; DUP's
vision
The next Meath Peace Group public talk will take place on
Monday 29th March at 8pm in St Columbans College, Dalgan Park,
Navan, Co. Meath on the topic "The DUP's vision for the
future". Full details to be announced nearer to the date.
Enquiries: Julitta Clancy, Batterstown, Co. Meath, phone 01-8259438,
e-mail meathpeace@hotmail.com website www.geocities.com/meathgroup/index.html
contains summaries/ transcripts of many talks held since 1993.
New Ireland Group; voting
often (encourages them)
The latest pamphlet offering from the New Ireland Group is
on "A review of the voting procedures in the Belfast
Agreement". As these led to some strange goings on, and
despite the current impasse (or because of it), this is a
very welcome little pamphlet (12 pages, A5, price £1.50).
New Ireland Group, 7 Slievedarragh Park, Belfast BT14 8JA,
e-mail sec.newirelandgroup@ntlworld.com and web www.newireland.com
PANA; Iraq anniversary,
Bush visit
The Peace and Neutrality Alliance will be marking the conquest
of Iraq by holding a demonstration outside the American Embassy
on Saturday 20th March between 12.30am and 1.30pm. Please
inform all your contacts. PANA will also be helping to organise
protest demonstrations against George Bush's visit as Ahern
seeks to help elect Bush by inviting him to Ireland. PANA;
e-mail pana@eircom.net or phone 01 - 2859111 / 2808247 / 2844765.
FEIC/Foyle Ethical Investment
Campaign
FEIC monthly vigil marking International Women's day: Women
and War will be at 5.00 pm Saturday 6th March at 2004 Raytheon,
Branch Road, Derry. This will be an act of solidarity with
women victims of the arms trade and FEIC's contribution to
International Womens Day. We will be facilitating those at
the vigil who wish to reflect on the theme of women and war.
E-mail feicmail@yahoo.ie or phone 078 - 0326890.
Burma Action Ireland;
beyond recognition
[-A much shortened version of this appeared in the paper edition]
Burma has recently caught the attention of the Irish media
due to the decision by the Irish Foreign Minister, Brian Cowen
to establish diplomatic relations with the ruling regime.
Minister Cowen claims the decision "will ensure that,
during the [EU] Presidency, we can contribute more directly
to promoting the process of democratisation and national reconciliation
there." As Burma's military is infamous for its appalling
human rights records, many have posed the questions, 'why
now and how exactly will it help ?'
The decision has come at a time when Burma's
ruling regime, the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC),
are conducting a propaganda offensive designed to convince
the international community that they are serious about a
transition to democracy. In August last year they launched
their 'roadmap' for democracy, a non-timetabled program calling
for a national convention, a new constitution and free elections.
However, this seemingly reasonable pronouncement has to be
seen in its true context. The regime have for many years claimed
they are to embark on the road to democratic transition 'very
soon', while simultaneously employing draconian measures to
stifle the voice and grassroots organisation of the democratic
opposition.
This latest initiative comes in the wake of
the murderous attack on pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu
Kyi's entourage in May last year, her subsequent arrest and
indefinite period of detention, now into its tenth month.
Nobel Peace Laureate and Freewoman of the City of Dublin,
Aung San Suu Kyi is not alone in paying a heavy price for
her non-violent struggle for democracy. Thirteen hundred political
prisoners languish in Burma's jails, among them eighteen elected
members of parliament. If the regime were genuinely interested
in dialogue, the first meaningful step would be the release
of Suu Kyi and all elected representatives so that they can
play their rightful part in any negotiations toward a democratic
transition. Burmese pro-democracy organisations have condemned
the 'roadmap' as yet another stalling tactic, designed to
defuse the growing pressure in the international community
for concerted, measured action to compel the SPDC to engage
in genuine dialogue.
Next month the European Union's Common Position
on Burma is due for review amid calls for it to be hardened
to include economic and trade measures, in line with those
taken by the US administration in the wake of last year's
arrest of Suu Kyi. The regime's best hope for the EU is that
member states will allow the Common Position to remain weak,
that trade will continue to grow with Burma and that their
grip on power will be strengthened. Into this picture steps
the Irish Foreign Minister, determined to establish diplomatic
relations with the regime. There is no tangible reason to
believe that the SPDC 'roadmap' is any different materially
than any other of the regime's bogus pronouncements on democratic
transition.
In the absence of clarification from Minister
Cowen on just how his initiative will help the process, it
is difficult to see how it will be received as anything other
than a propaganda coup for Burma's ruling regime at a time
when they seek what they lack most, the respectability that
comes with diplomatic recognition.
Meanwhile the Euro-Burma Network (a collection
of European-based Burmese solidarity groups) is holding their
Spring Conference in Dublin on March 6th, hosted by Burma
Action Ireland. Dr Sein Win will be in attendance and film
director John Boorman ("Beyond Rangoon") is opening
proceedings. For more information on Burma Action Ireland
please contact: John Copley, Burma Action Ireland, 01-4950171,e-mail
ba-i@yahoo.com and web www.freespeech.org/bai
Servas
An opportunity for travellers and hosts to participate in
other cultures [-A shorter piece appeared in the paper edition]
SERVAS is a non-governmental, interracial and international
association. It was founded in 1949 as a peace movement. SERVAS
is a non profit making organisation working to build understanding,
tolerance and world peace. It operates through a network of
SERVAS hosts around the world who are prepared to open their
doors to SERVAS travellers.
There are over 15,000 "open doors"
scattered throughout the world. Through SERVAS, travellers
are offered the chance to meet hosts, their families and friends
and participate in their every day life. Where convenient
hosts offer two nights accommodation and invite travellers
to share in their evening meal. The names and addresses of
hosts appear in annually produced lists which are made available
to approved travellers. SERVAS hosts are ordinary people.
The only requirements to join SERVAS as a host is the willingness
to offer hospitality to travellers of any race, religion or
culture.
SERVAS encourages travellers to experience other
societies more deeply and with more understanding than is
possible with a casual or tourist visit. You do not need to
be a host to become a traveller - it is not reciprocal in
any way.
See www.servas.org for further information.
E-mail servasireland@hotmail.com for the information pack
or send a stamped addressed envelope to your Local Co-ordinator:
John Grubb Fedamore LIMERICK Tel: 061-390321 Seán O
Fearghail 10 Cremore Avenue, Glasnevin, DUBLIN 11 Tel: 01-8367880
Gerry Duffy Caretaker's House, Waterworks, Lee Road, CORK
Tel: 021-4541876 Ellen Duly 9 Demesne Manor, Demesne Road,
Hollywood CO. DOWN Kirsten Doherty 54 Merrion Strand, Sandymount,
DUBLIN 4 Tel: 0-219 6012 Br Baptist Sugrue St Francis School,
Clara, CO.OFFALY Tel: 0506-31129
"With every true friendship we build more
firmly the foundations on which the peace of the whole world
rests". Mahatma Gandhi
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