Derry: Raytheon computers crash On 9th August, at the height of the war
in Lebanon, 9 Derry Anti-War Coalition (DAWC) activists occupied
Raytheon’s Branch Road premises for almost 8 hours and
during that time computers and files were thrown out of the
windows, and the main frame computer disabled. One fascinating
and horrifying report available from DAWC outlines what was
happening in Lebanon and Israel during this time; Raytheon
is a supplier of a variety of missiles, and other military
material, used by Israel in the war on Lebanon. Initial bail
conditions for those arrested and charged, inter alia, with
£350,000 criminal damage, were very harsh and while
subsequently revised, the 9 face a possible trial under Diplock
(non-jury) courts set up for ‘terrorist’ offences.
The defendants’ argument is that to resist war crimes
is not a crime. Contact resistderry@aol.com
or websites (being set up) http://www.dawc.org
and http://www.raytheon9.org
You can sign an online
petition of support. For info also see http://www.indymedia.ie
- See Editorial in
this issue
Shannon warport/Pitstop
Ploughshares after their acquittal
25th July saw the acquittal of the Catholic Worker/Pitstop
Ploughshares 5 in their third trial at Dublin’s Four
Courts. Deirdre Clancy, Nuin Dunlop, Karen Fallon, Damien
Moran and Ciaron O’Reilly succeeded in their defence
that they had reasonable excuse in doing $2.5 million damage
to a US warplane at Shannon on 3rd February 2003 and therefore
were innocent of the charge of criminal damage; the unanimous
jury decision came after four hours of deliberation. Anti-war
activists are working to build on the momentum provided by
the trial verdict to demilitarise Shannon airport; if interested
in being involved in nonviolent resistance there, or in supporting
it, you can contact ploughsharesireland@yahoo.ie
For further details, or to make donations see under ‘Support’,
on website http://www.peaceontrial
See also the extensive coverage on the Indymedia site at http://www.indymedia.ie
[Previous news on this appeared in August supplement]
- Anti-War Ireland (AWI, see below) are organising
meetings in Dublin and Belfast including Ciaron O’Reilly
and Deirdre Clancy of Pitstop Ploughshares as speakers in
- Dublin, ATGWU Hall, Middle Abbey Street, Dublin, Thursday
7th September at 7.30 pm
- Belfast, Jury’s Inn, Great Victoria Street, Tuesday
12th September at 8.00 pm.
- Derry There will be a separately organised meeting in Derry
on 11th September with Ciaron O’Reilly and Deirdre Clancy
and member of the Raytheon 9; see http://www.blackshamrock
for details.
Anti-War Ireland
Anti-War Ireland (AWI) is an 'individual membership' based
anti-war group that currently is active in Dublin, Belfast,
Cork and Cobh. It formed in response to the Bush administration's
so-called "war on terror" and campaigns actively
against Irish complicity with the US war machine. AWI is a
broad-based, non-party organisation that argues that the anti-war
movement must be willing to deploy a diversity of tactics
from marches, mass rallies and pickets to civil disobedience
and direct action. In terms of its political outlook, AWI
does not take the view that my enemy's enemy is necessarily
my friend; for example, while utterly opposed to US threats
against Iran, AWI is also fully aware of the brutal nature
of the current Iranian regime and supports the Iranian people,
rather than the government, against US imperialism. The group
is particularly committed to campaigning for the expulsion
of the US war machine from Shannon airport. Membership of
Anti-War Ireland is €10 per annum (waged) or €5
(unwaged/student/low waged). Email: info@antiwarireland.org
Website: http://www.antiwarireland.org
Remembering the conflict:
HTR taking submissions
Healing Through Remembering has an open call for ideas about
what form a living memorial museum to the conflict in and
about Northern Ireland should take; questions that might be
considered include who it is for, what it should be, whether
it should be something other than a building, its location,
and whether it should be temporary or permanent etc. Submissions
can be made in various forms and a touring exhibition will
be formed for late 2006 or early 2007 with a selection of
submissions. Art-based workshops are also taking place currently
to give further encouragement and assistance. The closing
date for submissions is 30th September. Information packs
are available from Emma McClintock, Healing Through Remembering,
Alexander House, 17a Ormeau Avenue, Belfast BT2 8HD, ph 028
– 9023 8844, e-mail callforideas@healingthroughremembering.org
Journeying with active
nonviolence
This is a five week course run by the Peace People and the
Irish School of Ecumenics and taking place in Belfast. Meetings
will be Thursdays 28th September – 26th October in the
Wellington Park Hotel, Malone Road, Belfast and sessions will
be chaired by Dr Johnston McMaster. Sessions are as follows:
28th September, Dr Eamonn Phoenix on Physical force traditions
and state violence; 5th October, Prof Christine Kinealy on
The Irish story of nonviolence; 12th October, Dr Johnston
McMaster and Dr Cathy Higgins on Jesus’ nonviolence;
19th October, various speakers on Nonviolence in the great
faith and humanist traditions; 26th October, Mairead Corrgan
Maguire on Beyond violence in Ireland – Building communities
of nonviolence, living nonviolently. Queries can be made to
Karen Nicholson, Irish School of Ecumenics ph 028 9077 5010
or Kevin Cassidy, Peace People ph 028 4173 8997.
‘30 Years of Peace
Making’ - Peace People 30th Anniversary
The Celebration takes place on Friday, 6th October 2006 ,
7.30pm - 8.30pm in Windsor Presbyterian Church, 224 Lisburn
Road, Belfast. There will be refreshments afterwards in Peace
House which is next door to the Church. Old and new members
of the Peace People movement are very welcome, and please
bring along your friends and family. Please RSVP by Friday
29th September to Peace House, 224 Lisburn Road, Belfast or
e-mail info@peacepeople.com
to have an idea of numbers.
Conflict resolution
survey and introduction, Republic
The Irish Peace Institute (IPC) is in the process of compiling
and editing an introduction to the basics of conflict resolution
for community & voluntary groups. The central aim of the
project is to design and develop a booklet that communicates
the core ideas of conflict resolution to a general audience
that has no previous background in the subject. IPC is currently
researching the experience and needs of the community &
voluntary sector in the Republic of Ireland in regard to Conflict
Resolution and has a survey it is requesting groups in the
sector to fill in. The Irish Peace Institute is a non-governmental
organisation committed to the just and peaceful transformation
of violent conflict by helping to identify and address the
root causes of violence through education, research and outreach.
Contact: Dr Matt Cannon, Irish Peace Institute, University
of Limerick, phone 061-202768, fax 061-202572, e-mail: matthew.cannon@ul.ie
and web http://www.ul.ie/ipi
Poppy the question
White poppies are a brilliant way at Remembrance (or other
times) to indicate remembering of those who have died in wars
and opposition to current and future war. The Peace Pledge
Union supplies white poppies in varying quantities as well
as other resources, printed materials and CDs, for those (including
teachers) wanting to explore the issues. Within the UK postage
area you can purchase a 10-poppy pack at £8 including
postage or 100 for £42, as well as smaller quantities.
PPU, 1 Peace Passage, London N7 0BT, ph 0870 770 7944, e-mail
wp@ppu.org.uk or visit
http://www.whitepoppy.org.uk
where you can order online. Leaflet enclosed for most receiving
the paper edition of Nonviolent News
The Irish churches and
peace education
This is the title of a report giving an “Overview and
evaluation of the scope and quality of peace education in
Northern Ireland and the Border counties” and specifically
on the work of the Churches’ Peace Education Programme
since 1978. Written by Gerard McCann and Ciara Davey from
St Mary’s and Stranmillis University Colleges it is
a wide-ranging review of 60 pages, A4, to be launched on 11th
September. Churches’ Peace Education Programme, 48 Elmwood
Avenue, Belfast BT9 6AZ, phone 028 – 90663145, e-mail
irish.churches@btconnect.com
The Study of Peace at
Saor-Ollscoil Na hÉireann
The Study of Peace course starts again in October in the Saor-Ollscoil
Na hÉireann (Free University of Ireland, based in Dublin)
and is celebrating its 20th year in operation. Much has changed
in the Peace Studies area over that period; the Cold War is
nearly a forgotten memory, the fall of the Iron Curtain is
still hard to imagine and, as one historian put it, 'One hundred
years of violence would not have brought about the type of
social and political changes that non-violence created in
Europe over that 2-3 year period'. Unfortunately many new
phobias has been created in the western mind to justify our
structures of violence.
Saor-Ollscoil was lucky recently to host a visit
of group of dynamic volunteers who did Trojan work on the
building, this group were from the Ark Community based in
Southern France. This community is a movement of groups based
on the work of Lanza del Vasto and Gandhi and they do really
live the message in amazing ways. This is a sign of hope for
the future. Contact Saor-Ollscoil; e-mail ollscoilweb@eircom.net
or web http://www.saor-ollscoil.ie
Mediation Northern Ireland
training courses
Mediation Northern Ireland (MNI) has the following open access
courses coming up (some bursaries available):
- Handling Life’s Conflict (includes conflict styles
and alternatives), 21st and 28th October, Belfast venue, fee
£220; - Group Mediation Skills (OCN accreditation),
for experienced mediators, 21st, 22nd, 28th, 29th September
and 5th and 6th October, Craigavon, fee £835;
- Foundation training in Mediation (OCN accreditation), 2nd,
3rd, 9th, 16th, 23rd and 30th November, Belfast venue, fee
£770;
- Handling aggression, suitable for those interfacing with
the public, 6th December, Cookstown, £175 per person.
For further details and a booking form, please contact Maire
or Joanna at Mediation Northern Ireland at 83 University Street,
Belfast, BT7 1HP. Telephone: 028 9043 8614 or e-mail: info@mediationnorthernireland.org
Honour for John Morrow…..and
the meaning of ‘Corrymeela’?
John Morrow, former leader of the Corrymeela Community, received
an honorary doctorate from the University of Ulster in the
summer in recognition for his work in community relations
and inter-faith relations (Council for Christians and Jews).
Terry O’Keefe in his citation explored the origin of
‘Corrymeela’; "Corrymeela is both a living
community and, of course, a place. It is the name of the original
property purchased in 1965 and the name is often translated
from the original Irish as 'the hill of sweetness' - apt,
you might think, for such a centre of reconciliation. But
there is another and more probable translation. The name comes
from a neighbouring town land, Corrymellagh, in the parish
of Culfeightrin. Culfeightrin means in Irish 'the corner of
the strangers' and, I am told, Corrymellagh means 'the lumpy
crossing place'. Perhaps we might consider this etymology
even more apt: a place where different groups, strangers to
each other, are offered the opportunity to cross over into
another space. And the crossing is 'lumpy', not easy, full
of obstacles and pitfalls. The name Corrymeela was used in
a poem by Moira O'Neill, published in the early 20th century
and adapted in the 1930s for the house which was built at
that time. It seems likely that O'Neill derived the name from
Corrymellagh town land in the southeast of the parish of Culfeightrin".
Corrymeela Community, 8 Upper Crescent, Belfast BT7 1NT, e-mail
belfast@corrymeela.org
Get Rossport Solidarity
Camp ready for the winter…
In order to prepare for winter Rossport Solidarity Camp are
holding a building week from the 18th – 24th of September.
We are looking for volunteers to come to the camp for the
week or a few days to help us with building and general winter
preparations. Because of the exposed location of the camp
and the extreme weather conditions enjoyed by Erris in winter
we need to secure and insulate our structures, build an indoor
kitchen, take down the marquee and secure and upgrade other
bits and pieces. The work we hope to undertake depends on
our ability to collect materials. We hope to get most materials
free and are constantly gathering materials in the area but
we still need more. In addition to building we will still
be engaged in our usual activities including picketing the
Bellanaboy terminal, maintenance, cooking etc. For more details
contact Aron at 087 2895036.
Cork Alliance Against
War website
Cork Alliance Against War, which is campaigning to end Ireland’s
involvement in war in the Middle East, has a newly established
and well presented website at http://www.corkagainstwar.org
FEASTA courses on sustainability,
Dublin
The Cultivate Centre for Sustainable Living and Learning will
be hosting two FEASTA courses this autumn: - “Joined Up Thinking and Sustainability”,
Wednesday nights from the 13th September –
18th October, €65.00 Members €55.00. This is a 6
week course designed by FEASTA to explore the root causes
of unsustainability: how our society and economy fails to
think about and plan for its own long-term health and survival.
The course fosters joined-up thinking in considering how to
tackle the problems and frame potential solutions. - “Understanding the Economics of Sustainable
Development”, a part time course by FEASTA:
The Foundation for the Economics of Sustainability in association
with Cultivate and supported by Trócaire. Tuesday Nights
from the 26th September to the 31st October. This series is
designed to take as a 6 week course or as individual lectures.
FEASTA/ Cultivate Members plus concessions €60 for course
or €12 per lecture, Non Members €80 for course or
€15 per lecture.
See http://www.feasta.org
for more details. Cultivate - Sustainable Living & Learning
Centre, Essex Street West, Temple Bar, Dublin 8, http://www.cultivate.ie
and ph 01 - 6746396
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