Whatever you say, say something!
Healing Through Remembering is a diverse cross community organisation. Members come from a wide range of political, social and community backgrounds, from N.I., GB and Rep of I, have been meeting over the past number of years to focus on the issue of how to deal with the past relating to the conflict in and about N.I.
Dealing with the past is about addressing ‘what occurred’ in relation to the conflict. The WYSSS/‘Whatever you say, say something!’ project offers opportunities for conversations considering a wide range of issues around dealing with the past. People in Northern Ireland have survived the conflict in a context of ‘whatever you say say nothing’. The primary aim of the work is to challenge this attitude and to provide an environment which is conducive to open and honest exchange of views.
WYSSS outcomes state that participants may - feel more fully informed about the issues - Have the space to make their own personal response to the past - Start a new local project on dealing with the past - Gain a better understanding of perspectives other than their own - Contribute to the wider debate.
This project offers in-depth opportunities for conversations considering wide-ranging issues around dealing with the past by providing trained facilitators to work with groups or organisations. The project offers groups across Northern Ireland and the border counties the opportunity to work with a HTR facilitator to identify areas of interest and issues to be explored in a safe environment. There is no cost to groups as the Project is funded under Peace 3.
For more details please contact Laura Coulter, Project Co-ordinator on 028 - 9023 8844. Healing Through Remembering, Alexander House, 17a Ormeau Avenue, Belfast BT2 8HD, ph 028 9023 8844, e-mail:
Identity on the island
Saturday 27th November is the date of the next Meath Peace Group seminar - 'Identity on the Island of Ireland - Some Historical and Contemporary Aspects', Part 2, focusing on aspects of Nationalism and Republicanism, at St Columban's College, Dalgan Park, Navan, Co. Meath from 9.30 am - 5pm. Historical talks in the morning: 'The Rise and Fall of the Home Rule Ideal, 1870-1916' (Dr Colin Reid) and 'Remembering our Dead: The Irish Revolution, 1916-23' (Dr Daithi Ó Corráin). Panel discussions in the afternoon: 'Ireland : Reconciled - and United?' and 'Reforming the Republic'. Booking essential as places are limited. Contact Julitta Clancy at meathpeace@hotmail.com phone 00 353 1 8259438.
Peace & Neutrality Alliance Annual Conference
The Annual Conference of the Peace & Neutrality Alliance will be held on Saturday 4th December in the Ireland Institute, 27 Pearse Street, Dublin 2. It will start at 11.30am with reports from the Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, International Secretary and resolutions followed by the elections to the NEC. It is open to the public, but only paid up members can vote. The second session will be a public meeting commencing at 2.30pm. Speakers are John Macinnon, National Secretary of Scottish CND, Jill Gough, National Secretary of CND Cymru and David Hutchinson Edgar, Chair of Irish CND. PANA, 17 Castle Street, Dalkey, Co. Dublin, ph 01 - 235 1512, e-mail: pana@eircom.net and web http://www.pana.ie (which has information on subscribing).
Afri publications, reports; Famine graveyards, biodiversity, Hedge School
There are a couple of valuable reports new from Afri this year. “Afri Report on Famine Graveyards” (44pp, A4) is a well-produced report, edited by Sean Steele, launched during Afri’s Famine Walk listing famine graveyards in all counties of Ireland, and general information as known about the state of workhouses and famine graveyards today. This is a very useful local resource, particularly in Afri’s context of remembering and linking to the causes of famine today. Available at €5 plus postage.
Launched more recently, at their Hedge School, is “Seeds of hope in a world of insecurity” by Clare O’Grady Walshe, ed Dervla Murphy, with a foreword by Denis Halliday (28pp, A5). This research paper looks at different aspects including food security and biodiversity in Iraq, the movement for food sovereignty internationally, and the situation in Ireland. Available for €5 plus postage. Afri, 134 Phibsborough Road, Phibsborough, Dublin 7, ph 01 – 882 7563, e-mail afri@iol.ie and web http://www.afri.ie
The Afri Hedge School 2010 was organised in partnership with Kimmage Development Studies Centre (KDSC) and took place on Saturday, 23 October in Kimmage DSC in Dublin, on the topic ”Food Sovereignty – Rooting out the Causes of Global Hunger”.
The event focused on the fundamental right to food and discussed the importance of food sovereignty as a precondition for food security and tackling world hunger. Introductory talks were given by Alan Matthews, from the Economics Department at Trinity College Dublin, Former UN Assistant Secretary General Denis Halliday, and Clare O’Grady Walshe, who launched her new pamphlet, entitled Seeds of Hope in a World of Insecurity. The pamphlet deals with issues of food insecurity and loss of biodiversity and was edited by Dervla Murphy.
Following the morning session participants planted a hedge on the grounds of Kimmage DSC, in keeping with the ethos of the event and alluding to the original Hedge Schools, often located in the shelter of hedges during the Penal Law period.
In the afternoon participants engaged in a variety of workshops that explored in more depth the theme of the day. Fergal Anderson from Via Campesina held a workshop entitled Food Sovereignty: A Response to the Increasing Privatisation of the Commons, Fleachta Phelan from Comhlámh engaged participants on the issue of The Global Trade System and Hunger, and in Nessa Ni Chasaide’s workshop people learned about The Roots of the Problem: Debt, Tax and Financial Injustice.
In between the lively and thought-provoking debates throughout the day, the wonderful music of Justine Nantale and Sobor Cubano provided inspiration as well as space for thought and reflection.
The Troubles aren’t history yet
“The Troubles aren’t history yet – Young people’s understanding of the past” is a review of this important area – how the younger generation understands, and comes to understand, the past in Northern Ireland. Published by the Community Relations Council, and written by John Bell, Ulf Hansson and Nick McCaffery, the research was conducted by the Institute for Conflict Research in partnership with Achieve Enterprises. 112 pp, A4, ISBN 978 1 898276 45 6. It covers history teaching in school and its nature, how young people learn about history otherwise, and what young people feel they know about. “For some young people the ‘excitement’ of learning about the Troubles was contrasted with learning about ‘history’ more generally, which some young people felt was ‘boring’. Many young interviewees believed that the Troubles were ‘still going’ and it was therefore viewed as a contemporary rather than a historical phenomenon.” And “….while the vast majority of young people (84%) who completed the questionnaire indicated that they felt comfortable being taught about ‘anything’, within some of the focus groups it was clear that some young people were reluctant to talk about topics which could be perceived to be ‘sensitive’.” Important material for understanding how knowledge transfer on the Troubles is currently happening. Report available in paper format or shortly on the CRC website as a PDF. Community Relations Council, 6 Murray Street, Belfast BT1 6DN, ph 028 90 227500, e-mail info@nicrc.org.uk web: http://www.nicrc.org.uk
Dublin vigil calls for closure of School of Americas
There will be a Vigil outside the US Embassy in Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, on Saturday 20th November from 1pm-3pm to demand the closure of the – infamous - School of the Americas, a combat training school for Latin American soldiers, located at Fort Benning, Georgia. Over its 59 years, the SOA has trained over 60,000 Latin American soldiers in counterinsurgency techniques, sniper training, commando and psychological warfare, military intelligence and interrogation tactics. These graduates have consistently used their skills to wage a war against their own people. Among those targeted by SOA graduates are educators, union organizers, religious workers, student leaders, and others who work for the rights of the poor. This event is organised in conjunction with a major demonstration at Fort Benning from 19th-21st November - see http://www.soaw.org for up to date details on the campaign. Contact: Martin McMullan, Grupo Raices Irish/Colombian Solidarity Group + Justice For Colombia Ireland, e-mail mairtinmachuca@gmail.com and ph 086 103 5091.
Pax Christi: Momentum for Nuclear Abolition, award to Bruce Kent
Pax Christi Ireland will have a seminar in central Dublin on the theme “Towards Building the Momentum for Nuclear Abolition”, and the presentation of Pax Christi Ireland’s Peace Award to Bruce Kent, on Wednesday 24th November from 2.30 – 4.30/5.00 pm. The key-note address will be given by Michael D Higgins, President and Foreign Affairs Spokesperson of the Labour Party. Bruce Kent is one of the most prominent peace campaigners in Britain and vice-president of Pax Christi there, and has served in prominent roles with CND, among many others. There is no charge but a donation will be taken towards meeting expenses. If you wish to attend, contact Pax Christi by 22nd November at conference@paxchristi.ie or phone 01 – 4965293.
Irish CND AGM
The Irish CND AGM took place on Saturday 25th September in the Mansion House, Dublin. Reports from presented at the meeting, as well as the address by Irish CND President, Patrick Comerford, are now available on our website, http://www.irishcnd.org. We hope to add the main address by Tony D'Costa of Pax Christi shortly. The meeting re-elected Patrick Comerford as President, and Adi Roche and Terence McCaughey as vice-presidents. David Hutchinson Edgar, Mary McCarrick and Emily Doherty were returned as executive chairperson, treasurer and secretary respectively, while Elizabeth Cullen was also re-elected as a member of the executive committee. The meeting acknowledged the contribution of Patricia McKenna, who did not wish to stand for re-election to the executive. The meeting re-affirmed Irish CND's affiliation to the Peace and Neutrality Alliance, and to the International Peace Bureau (IPB) and congratulates Joe Murray of AfrI on his election to the board of the IPB.
ISE launch Conflict Transformation Masters
The Irish School of Ecumenics Trinity College Dublin) have launched their new Master’s (M.Phil.) programme, and with it also a new website http://www.conflicttransformation.ie The M.Phil. can be taken as a Master in Conflict Resolution, or a Master in Reconciliation Studies, or as a joint-course across both areas; full details on website. Irish School of Ecumenics, Trinity College Dublin | at Belfast, 683 Antrim Road, Belfast, N. Ireland, BT15 4EG email: reconsec@tcd.ie ph 028 9077 0087.
Corporate leaders call for Climate Change Bill introduction
Corporate leaders calling for anything other than corporate tax cuts in an era of austerity is pretty remarkable. A group of Irish business leaders has written to the Taoiseach asking him to bring the proposed legislation on climate change to the Oireachtas before the end of the year. "Irish Corporate Leaders on Climate Change" say the legislation is urgent for a number of reasons; it will bring the clarity and certainty to government policy that business needs to make long-term investment decisions, according to the group, and moreover, the cost of inaction far outweighs the cost of action. The letter to the Taoiseach was signed by Corporate Leaders for eight companies: Arup, Bord Gáis, Bord na Móna, Diageo, Intel, KPMG, NTR and Vodafone. Irish Corporate Leaders on Climate Change can be contacted on 087-2834418.
Meanwhile Stop Climate Chaos reported a cross-party majority of TDs have now declared their support for a strong climate change law in Ireland and new finance to help developing countries cope with climate change. 84 TDs have now signed the “Climate Commitment” launched by the coalition of environment, development, faith and youth groups earlier this year. Stop Climate Chaos, 9 Upper Mount Street, Dublin 2, ph 01 6394653, mobile 087 2834418, e-mail: info@stopclimatechaos.ie and web: www.stopclimatechaos.ie
‘Trace the Tax’ campaign
Irish justice groups, Christian Aid and Debt and Development Coalition Ireland have launched a 'Trace the Tax' campaign at the end of October as part of their push for greater financial transparency by multinational companies. Contact Sorley Mc Caughey (01 611 0801 / 087 0620062) & Nessa Ní Chasaide (01 6174835 / 087 7507001) for further details.
Dissolve NATO!
War Resisters’ International (WRI) is calling on peace activists to commit to raise the demand for the abolition of NATO. As the heads of NATO meet in Lisbon (19th-21st November 2010) to announce a new ‘global’ doctrine, WRI argues it is high time to dissolve NATO and invites people to sign a pledge to nonviolent action against NATO itself, the war in Afghanistan, and the increased militarisation of the European Union. WRI has spelt out that the proposed EU Constitution and the Treaty of Lisbon establish the EU as a military union. The new NATO doctrine refers to the EU as a “strategic partner of NATO”. Commitment forms are available from WRI or online.
Prisoners for Peace Day, 1st December, is marked by WRI with a call for people to write to prisoners for peace around the world. For the up to date Prisoners for Peace Honour Roll go to http://wri-irg.org/node/4718
You can also support WRI’s work financially. War Resisters’ International, 5 Caledonian Road, London N1 9DX, +44 20 7278 4040, e-mail info@wri-irg.org and web http://wri-irg.org
Friends of Earth Ireland recruiting interns
Friends of the Earth is now recruiting interns to participate in our fifth annual internship programme. The successful candidates will work as part of a small, multi-disciplinary team. We are recruiting for two different internships: 1. Supporter Relations and New Media Intern 2. Young Friends of the Earth Intern. These are voluntary positions with a small level of expenses payable. Closing date is 26th November. See full details at www.foe.ie
Rossport invite to students
Rossport Solidarity Camp are hoping to get more students involved in the campaign through talks, film nights and workshops at colleges around the country. We also welcome any student groups who would like to come up for a tour of the area & take part in workshops on sustainability & non violent direct action skills. See gwww.rossportsolidaritycamp.org
INNATE networking group meets next in 16 Ravensdene Park, Belfast [note venue] on Wednesday 17th November at 7pm. All interested welcome.
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