How does a network like INNATE measure
progress? When you look at the involvement of the UK and USA
– and Ireland through Shannon airport – in the
counter-productive war in Iraq, and when you look at the continued
political stalemate in Northern Ireland, or the lack of action
on an issue like global warming, you might despair. However,
despair, if it turns to anger and action, can be a positive
emotion.
INNATE is various things. It is a somewhat haphazard
network connected by a monthly mailing. It is also a small
group based in Belfast which meets to plan and act, both in
relation to INNATE itself and relevant issues. On the larger
scale in the world, the assessment might be that things continue
to get worse – including the increasing proximity of
the effects of global warming.
On a small scale, a very small scale, INNATE
continues to make progress on some issues. The numbers receiving
our mailings and accessing our website continue to grow; likewise
the input we make elsewhere. Like many websites, INNATE gets
loads of very short hits, thousands of people who decide within
seconds it is not what they are looking for. But we estimate
we have an average of around twenty ‘quality’
visitors a day who spend anything from a minute upwards on
the site, eight or so of whom would spend ten minutes or more
(and a couple more than half an hour). The INNATE newssheet,
Nonviolent News, is produced in e-mail, web, and (shorter)
paper editions, and appeared its normal ten times during the
year (it has now appeared ‘monthly’ for over a
decade); the e-mail and web editions can run up to 8,000 words
or more. We are committed to support peace, nonviolent, and
campaigning initiatives on the island of Ireland – many
of which relate to issues on a global scale – through
covering what they are doing, and the provision of information
and other resources. Each e-mail and web has a new nonviolence
training workshop.
INNATE is being included in a BBC Northern Ireland
‘Citizenship’ website for 11 – 14 year olds,
is going to be archived by the British Library, and will shortly
be offering free e-mailings to local peace agents of the Presbyterian
Church in Ireland. We continue to provide resources to individuals
and researchers looking for material and information on nonviolence,
related issues, and groups in the field. We have tried to
engage in action on issues such as the arms trade and ethical
investment. We have not always had great success, as with
involvement to keep AVP, the Alternatives to Violence Project,
well afloat in Northern Ireland (it is thriving in the Republic).
We have been a bit remiss in getting events
(meetings and seminars) together during 2004, although that
is certainly not to say we have been resting on our laurels.
But we do have some such events up our sleeves for 2005.
Subscriptions to INNATE have not been meeting
our normal running costs and they have therefore been increased
but still remain quite modest. The paper edition of Nonviolent
News remains our biggest outgoing on a regular basis. Subscriptions
and donations at any level are always welcome and we are introducing
the option of paying through PayPal, using your credit/debit
card over the internet. INNATE is an entirely voluntary operation
with no one paid for their input and some costs and resources
are provided directly by those involved without charge to
INNATE.
Thank you to the small Belfast networking group
of INNATE for their committed involvement (meeting times are
listed in Nonviolent News and ‘once off’ visitors
are welcome). The group meets once a month to discuss wider
issues and actions as well as INNATE business; you are welcome
to attend if Belfast is accessible to you, and despite being
a small group we are careful to avoid the ‘treasurer
at your first meeting’ syndrome, i.e. you are welcome
to attend and define your own level of involvement.
Finally, congratulations to Elaine Campbell
and our webmaster, Mark McCann, on the birth of their son
Rowan – perhaps I could say, berry well done.
Rob Fairmichael, Coordinator, INNATE,
February 2005
