Glencree summer school
This takes place from 24th - 26th August and the theme is ‘Walled in: Working with divided communities’; further details from Glencree as they become available. Upcoming courses include one on “Roots of Reconciliation: Humanising Enemies”, running from Sunday 19th - 24th August; fees are €500 with a limited number of bursaries, see website for more information. You can also sign up for Glencree e-newsletter online. Glencree Centre for Peace and Reconciliation, Glencree, Co. Wicklow, ph 01 – 2829711, info@glencree.ie and http://www.glencree.ie
ICCL - Irish Council for Civil Liberties
ICCL has just launched its annual report covering its 30th anniversary when it continued making representations to expert bodies, and, for example, highlighted the need to mainstream human rights considerations into Garda policy and practice, and produced an important ‘Equality for All Families’ report. Meanwhile ICCL has warned that the Government could end up before the European Court of Justice if it fails to act on a formal request by the European Commission to fully implement EU rules banning discrimination on the grounds of race or ethnic origin (which it should have done by 2003). More information on ICCL on the website at http://www.iccl.ie ICCL, 9-13 Blackhall Place, Dublin 7, ph 01 – 7994504. Donations can be made via the website or to the Irish Civil Liberties Trust, a charitable body (see web for details or enquire).
Sustainability
Sustainability is a new journal ‘for green building, renewable energy and sustainable communities’ produced from Co Mayo.; the tone is knowledgeable but still readable for the layperson. No. 1 was a spring edition (64 pages, A4) and No. 2 is expected for August. Features in No. 1 include A short history of global warming, Making housing sustainable (and several other articles on housing, one quote being “Calculations recently carried out by the Sustainability Institute suggest that the energy it takes to build a modern house would provide the renovation of an existing house plus the energy needed to heat it for up to 90 years.”), articles on transport, food, and energy. The piece on Development of Atlantic Gas Little Benefit to Ireland suggests a two year moratorium on the Atlantic gas fields. Within Ireland subs are €19 for 4 issues including No.1, or €22 from No.2 onwards; the respective rates outside Ireland are €24 and €28. The editor is Andy Wilson, with a backing team, and the address of Sustainability is Corrig, Sandyhill, Westport, Co Mayo, ph 098 – 26281, e-mail info@sustainability.ie and http://wwww.sustainability.ie
Townland of the Green - and Orange
What would a mixed urban area look like in Northern Ireland? That is, mixed by religion, class and ethnicity. It would certainly have some of the characteristics of Ballynafeigh (Baile na Faiche, Townland of the Green/Lawn) in south-east Belfast which has remained a mixed area throughout the Troubles. “A Shared Today: Belfast’s Ballynafeigh Neighbourhood” is a new report from Ballynafeigh Community Development Association (BCDA) which has done so much over the years to support the continuation and development of the area’s plurality. Written by Robin Wilson, the report looks back over past research as well as examining current realities, opportunities and threats (e.g. housing boom pricing many people out), and has lessons for the future of integration in the North. Further research is being commissioned by BCDA on the role of faith based organisations in such an area, and an exploration of neighbour relationships as social glue binding people and allowing diversity to function. The report is available from BCDA, 283 Ormeau Road, Belfast, ph 028 – 90491161, e-mail bcda@bcda.net and http://www.bcda.net (website revamped by the autumn
The Study of Peace at Saor-Ollscoil Na hÉireann
Saor-Ollscoil Na hÉireann (Free University of Ireland) was established in 1986 by a small group of educationalists with a creative vision of the life-long learning process. The university is a free and independent institute not in receipt of state funding. Saor-Ollscoil Na hÉireann was created as an university of ‘civil society’ and our motto is ‘Beholden to None’. If you are interested in the study of peace programme or any of the other courses please check the web site below for details.
The Visions of Peace Centre was established in the year 2000 at Saor-Ollscoil Na hÉireann. The centre is in the process of developing a new project and is calling for proposals that are relevant. The aim of the Project is to develop a programme which will try and identify the contribution of peace ideas to the main environmental crises of the present system. Contact the Centre through the Saor-Ollscoil website. 55 Prussia Street, Dublin 7, ph 01 – 8683368. http://www.saor-ollscoil.ie
Ending The Wars, Making The Peace
A British-Irish peace symposium with this title will take place at Saor Ollscoil na hÉireann, Free University of Ireland, 55 Prussia Street, Dublin, on 28th July. This gathering is open to all whom have the long term interests of peacemaking in Britain and Ireland, and particularly the ending of the long conflicts in Ireland at heart. It is being held in Dublin following its launch in Anglesey last year, and hopefully it will be possible for participants to come both from Ireland as well as throughout the British Isles. It is open to examine testimony concerning all aspects of the conflict in Ireland, and also open to examine Britain’s role in the wider world of international relations. If you are able to attend, or send a representative, please contact: The International Institute of Peace Studies and Global Philosophy, Rhos y Gallt, Llanerfyl, Nr. Welshpool, Powys, Wales, SY21 OER, Tel/Fax. 01938 820586 (m) 07951 600959 iipsgp@educationaid.net and http://www.educationaid.net
A Briefing Paper on Ireland
As a general guide to the Troubles in Northern Ireland, there is a 47-page (A4) ‘A Briefing Paper on Ireland’ written (and recently updated) by David Stevens, leader of the Corrymeela Community, available on the Corrymeela website This covers an historical introduction, a chronology of the Troubles, some of the main groups and political parties, information on the churches and different religions in Ireland, a few statistics on division etc. Definitely the best value for no money you’re going to get on the North! To download this ‘A Briefing Paper on Ireland’, go to the Corrymeela website at http://www.corrymeela.org then go to ‘Resources’ on the top bar, click on ‘Free Resources’ on the drop-down menu, and click on ‘A Briefing Paper on Ireland’.
WRI: Gender and Militarism seminar, Israel
This Gender and Militarism seminar will take place at Neve Shalom (Israel) from 23-26 August, followed by the War Resisters International/WRI Council meeting (until 29th). It will bring together activists and academics from all over the world to study the mutual connections between militarism and gender and is organised jointly by WRI together with the Israeli feminist antimilitarist movement New Profile; a critique of militarised masculinity is an integral part of WRI's work on conscientious objection. Details on WRI website at http://www.wri-irg.org WRI, 5 Caledonian Road, London N1 9DX, ph 020 7278 4040, email iipsgp@educationaid.net
UN International Day of Non-violence
Tokenism or not, 2nd October (Gandhi’s birthday) is going to be ‘International Day of Non-violence’, as decided by the UN General Assembly on 15th June; "desiring to secure a culture of peace, tolerance, understanding and nonviolence," it invited states, UN bodies, regional and nongovernmental organizations and individuals to commemorate the day, including through education and public awareness. This followed a move from a conference in India in January and the adoption of the proposal by the Indian government. How this squares with UN ‘International Day of Peace’ on 21st September, just 11 days earlier, remains to be seen, but where there’s a day of non-violence, there’s an opportunity for nonviolent activists. For further info see here and here
Instant Karma from Amnesty International, Galway, Palestine
Instant Karma - the album where more than 30 international stars have come together to raise money for Amnesty International and awareness of the current human rights crisis in the Darfur region of Sudan - hit the #1 spot in Ireland in its first week of release. All 38 tracks are available through the iTunes music store http://www.apple.com/itunes, while the 24-track double CD album is available in record shops. Amnesty International has launched a global petition on Sudan which can be accessed at: http://www.amnesty.org/noise
Meanwhile the Amnesty Galway Group will host a stand at various films with a human rights theme at the Galway Film Fleadh (10th-15th July) - "In the Name of the Father", "A Mighty Heart", "Ghosts", "God Grew Tired of Us" and "Daratt", and will host stands at two events of the Galway Arts Festival: Mark Thomas and War Womens Photographers.
On the Occupied Palestinian Territories, the "DENIED" campaign intends to raise awareness among the Irish public of the persistent human rights violations perpetrated by the Israeli Government against the Palestinian population. It is also intended to lobby Irish, EU, Israeli and Palestinian officials to take action to end the current human rights crisis in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The building of the fence/wall, restrictions of movement and the construction and expansion of illegal settlements are having a huge impact on Palestinians in the Occupied Territories. Human rights are consistently DENIED. Further info on all these at http://www.amnesty.ie Amnesty International, 48 Fleet Street, Dublin 2,. ph 01 - 677 6361, e-mail info@amnesty.ie
Make Trident History at Faslane
Make Trident History is organising a return trip to Faslane, Britain's nuclear WMD base near Glasgow. It's your last chance to support Faslane 365, the year-long blockade of the base. So far 104 different supporting groups (MTH being the only one from Ireland to date) have taken part in the blockade, including several international groups. The Big Blockade (faslane365.org/1Oct) is happening on 1st October, following a weekend of preparation. MTH will be leaving Belfast on Friday 28th September & returning Monday evening/Tuesday morning. Travel by train and/or minibus. Contact make.trident.history@ntlworld.com more for info/involvement.
IFOR Coordinator
The International Fellowship of Reconciliation (IFOR), with which INNATE, Peace People and Glencree have links in Ireland, is (re)advertising for a Coordinator. The Coordinator oversees organizational and financial management and takes direction from the decisions made by the IFOR Council and International Committee and carries out their mandates. As part of a detailed specification, candidates require English and French, and a willingness to learn Dutch is desirable. Closing date: 22nd July for a late-2007 start; fuller info on the website at http://www.ifor.org IFOR, Spoorstraat 38, Alkmaar, 1815 BK, The Netherlands, ph. + 31 (0)72 512 3014
Deadline for September issue; 31st August (as usual there will be no August issue though if material warrants it then there may be an e-mail supplement).
INNATE networking group meets regularly, mainly Belfast – you’re welcome, please enquire for details.
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