Ploughshares Five; a
victory of sorts as trial collapses again
The description GUBU (grotesque, unbelievable, bizarre and
unprecedented) could be said to pertain in the second trial
of the Catholic Worker Five (for their disarmament action
on a USA warplane at Shannon) when it collapsed at the Four
Courts, Dublin at the final hurdle (day ten). This was under
the weight of the revelation that the judge (Donagh MacDonagh)
had attended the inauguration of George Bush in 2001 and had
been invited to the 2004 re-inauguration. Defence argued that
such a situation pertaining to a juror would exclude them,
and the judge (who had made some very negative judgements
concerning the defence case) subsequently dismissed the jury,
thus collapsing the trial. But the defendants were put on
continuing bail to appear in court again on Friday 11th November.
See
this and
this Donations can be made to: "Ploughshares Defence
Fund", 134 Phibsborough Road, Dublin 7 or lodged at any
Bank of Ireland branch: "Ploughshares Defence Fund",
Account No. 80965573, Sort Code 900551. More information:
http://www.peaceontrial.com
e-mail ploughsharesireland@yahoo.ie
Phone mob - 087 918 4552 / landline 01-4549144.
Promoting peace: Norway,
Ireland
'Promoting peace: Norwegian and Irish experiences' is the
title of a one day seminar at Glencree on Tuesday 22nd November.
Both countries have contributed to UN operations, both have
become involved as peace facilitators internationally, and
both increasingly focus on the role of social and economic
development in achieving a just and lasting peace. Speakers
at this one-day event, running from 9.30 am until after 4.00
pm, co-sponsored by the Norwegian Embassy and Glencree, include
Eamonn McKee, Jon Hanssen-Bauer, Stein-Erik Horjen, and Tom
Arnold; there will be parallel roundtables after lunch on
1) Security: The use of military tools, in creating/maintaining
peace, 2) Political Development: Reconciliation, democracy
and good governance in post-conflict societies, and 3) Development:
the role of economic aid in peace processes. For further information
contact Helen at Glencree info@glencree.ie
or phone 01 - 282 9711. Website http://www.glencree.ie
Top Burmese democrats
visit Ireland
Leading advocates of Burma's pro-democracy movement visited
Dublin in October to brief Irish parliamentarians on the recently
published report 'Threat to the Peace: A Call for the UN Security
Council to Act in Burma', commissioned by Vaclav Havel and
Bishop Desmond Tutu. The delegates, U Bo Hla Tint and U Hlwan
Moe, representing Burma's Government in exile - the National
Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB), and U
Maung Maung, General Secretary of the National Council of
the Union of Burma (NCUB) and General Secretary of the Federation
of Trade Unions of Burma (FTUB) attended official meetings
with Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs,
Mr Conor Lenihan, TD, and members of the Joint Oireachtas
Committee on Foreign Affairs as well as ICTU's International
Solidarity Committee.
The report looks at the threat that the Government
of Burma poses to its own people and to regional peace and
security. The evidence and facts contained within the report
make it clear that the UN Security Council should become engaged
with Burma as soon as possible and that Security Council action
is both warranted and necessary. Some human rights violations
that are unique to Burma, or particularly pervasive, include
the destruction of more than 2,700 villages since 1996, massive
forced relocations, rape of ethnic minorities by soldiers,
70,000 child soldiers and widespread forced labour.
The report also highlights the continued detention
of Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of Burma's National League for
Democracy (NLD) and Nobel Peace prize winner. Daw Suu Kyi,
who is a Freewoman of Dublin (2000) and Galway (2005), is
one of the world's leading pro-democracy activists and advocates
of non-violence. She has endured three separate periods of
arrest, adding up to a total of 10 years of confinement on
October 24th. 'Threat to the Peace' may be downloaded
For more information on Burma Action Ireland, contact: Flavia
Zimmermann, ph 01 6688570, e-mail: info@burmaactionireland.org
and web www.burmaactionireland.org
Tools for Solidarity
events
Every first Sunday afternoon of the month Tools for Solidarity
(TFS) is open - get your hands really greasy & support
working people in Africa. Thursday 10th November at 6.30pm;
Launch of a TFS exhibition which runs from Friday 4th November
- Saturday 17th December at Central Library, Royal Avenue,
Belfast on ground floor. Tuesday 15th November; 10.30am -
10 sewing machine kits leave our workshop on the Crumlin Rd
for tailoring groups in Mwanza, Tanzania. Friday 2nd December:
Shake 'em hips at the Bob Marley tribute benefit nite for
TFS @ Pavilion bar, Ormeau Rd, Belfast with DJ, Terri Hooley.
Saturday 10th December; Another world famous "Tools"
jumble sale @ 2pm, St.Kevin's Hall, North Queen Street, Belfast
with cakes, books, gardening tools, and more. Volunteers would
be much appreciated. Thursday 15th December; TFS flag day
(collecting money) in Belfast city centre, 11am -9pm, volunteers
appreciated. Contact details: e-mail tools.belfast@virgin.net
web http://www.toolsforsolidarity.org.uk
phone 028 90747473, write or visit TFS, Unit 1B1, Edenderry
Industrial Estate, 326, Crumlin Road, Belfast BT14 7EE. Open
Monday - Friday, 9.30 am - 5 pm & 1st Sunday afternoon
of every month. Or visit our Downpatrick workshop 028 44616171,
at Southwell School, English Street; open Monday - Wednesday,
9 am - 4 pm.
Gandhi at Queen's
The Gandhi - King - Ikeda Peacebuilders Exhibition at the
Visitors' Centre, Queen's University, Belfast (main/Lanyon
building) runs to 21st December. Open Monday to Friday 10
am - 4 pm and 10 am to 1pm on Saturdays 12th and 19th November.
This consists mainly of two dozen floor-to-wall panels on
the three men, co-existence and nonviolence; King and Gandhi
need no introduction but Daisaku Ikeda, who is still alive,
is a leading Buddhist philosopher and president of Soka Gakkai
International (SGI), an international lay Buddhist organisation
and originators of the exhibition. See
this for 27th October.
Amnesty International Northern Ireland: Amnesty International's
prejudice-challenging 'Sex, Love & Homophobia' exhibition
comes to the Millennium Forum in L'Derry from Friday 18 November
for two weeks. The exhibition launch (on Friday 18th Nov at
3:30pm) will feature speeches from the city's Mayor, survivors
of homophobic attacks and John Harkin of Amnesty's local Foyle
group.
AI have recently launched a NI version of the
'Real Love' DVD educational pack on domestic violence, which
feature four 1-minute films, backed by guidance notes, challenging
attitudes towards domestic violence. The pack is designed
for use by trainers, youth workers, etc. Available priced
just £3.50 from patricia.campbell@amnesty.org.uk
/ 028 9064 3000.
Monica McWilliams will give the Amnesty International
Annual Lecture on 'Stopping violence against women' at Queen's
on Monday 5th December. Hosted by the Human Rights Centre,
School of Law, Queen's University Belfast.
The next phase of Amnesty's 'Stop Violence Against Women'
campaign will be launched at Stormont on Tuesday 6th December,
11am at an event hosted by Arlene Foster MLA. Focused on securing
a joined-up government strategy on Violence Against Women,
the campaign is to be carried out in partnership with Women's
Aid, Rape Crisis Centre and other groups.
Meanwhile AI members have been busy establishing
new local branches around the north with new groups being
set up in recent weeks in Lagan Valley and Coleraine, joining
existing groups in Armagh, Belfast, Craigavon, East Antrim,
Fermanagh, Foyle, Mid Down, Mid Ulster, Newry & Mourne,
and North Down, as well as new student groups at Queen's,
UU Coleraine, Jordanstown and Magee. To join Amnesty and for
more info on AI campaigns and events in NI, visit: http://www.amnesty.org.uk/ni
or phone 028 9064 3000.
Republic: Amnesty's candle
day takes place on 10th December; the aim is to raise funds
for Amnesty International's vital work through the sale of
candles and raise awareness of, and show solidarity with,
victims of human rights abuses around the world (including
Ireland) through the distribution of STOP VIOLENCE AGAINST
WOMEN Campaign Postcards addressed to the Irish government.
Meanwhile Naom Chomsky will speak on 'The war
on terror' at the annual Amnesty lecture on Wednesday 18th
January in TCD, Dublin; tickets are free but priority will
be given to Amnesty members.
We also regret to record the death at the start
of October of Frank Jennings, Campaigns Manager of Irish Amnesty
for many years (see tribute on website).
Further details on all aspects of AI's work at http://www.amnesty.ie
Phone 01 - 677 6361, e-mail info@amnesty.ie
AI, 48 Fleet Srreet, Dublin 2.
CAJ: Hardy annual meeting
The Committee on the Administration of Justice (CAJ) had their
AGM in Belfast recently and a new committee elected; Fiona
Doherty came in as chair in succession to Kieran McEvoy (who
became Vice Chair), Les Allamby is treasurer, Barbara McCabe
membership secretary, Fiona McCausland minutes secretary,
Paddy Hillyard parliamentary liaison officer, and Fionnuala
Ní Aolain continues as editor of Just News. Imran Khan,
speaker at the AGM, warned of some of the dangers the UK is
facing regarding its liberties and spoke of the need to inform
Muslim communities in Britain of how people in Northern Ireland
survived through repressive legislation so they can learn
from the experience here. The Annual Report for 2004-5, as
usual launched at the AGM, gives a detailed account of work
done (free to members); Also produced recently is a leaflet
detailing some of the work done in 25 years (CAJ has its 25th
birthday in 2006). CAJ, 45/47 Donegall Street, Belfast BT1
2BR, ph 028 - 9096 1122, e-mail info@caj.org.uk
and website http://www.caj.org.uk
Membership is £20 employed, £5 unwaged including
Just News monthly.
The dedicated peace
diary
Housmans Peace Diary gives you the world of peace in your
pocket with its World Peace Directory listing around 2,000
national and international peace, environmental and human
rights organisations in 150 countries. With this in your pocket
or bag you're never stuck for that difficult to remember address
or web site ('amaze your friends!!!') The diary is handy format,
two pages to a week and marks anniversaries [ISBN 0 85283
261 3 and ISSN 0957-0136]. Single copies of the 2006 diary
are UK£7.95 to any destination worldwide and there are
discounts for 5 copies or more. Housmans, 5 Caledonian Road,
Kings Cross, London NI 9DX, phone 020 - 7837 4473, e-mail
diary@housmans.com
and it can be ordered online at http://www.housmans.com
[Leaflet enclosed for most people receiving the paper edition]
Pax Christi: Great shakes
for the Great Lakes
The Pax Christi family worldwide is inviting people to join
in prayer for the Great Lakes region of Africa on the First
Sunday in Advent, 27th November, or another more suitable
date, as the countries there struggle to emerge from a tragic
period in their history. Resource material is available at
http://www.paxchristi.net (other documents of interest there
include the message sent to the World Culture of Peace Day
organised by Pax Christi in Cork on 9th August). Pax Christi
International, Vieux Marché aux Grains 21, 1000 Bruxelles,
Belgium, ph +32 2 502 55 50, e-mail hello@paxchristi.net
Editorial policy on religious events:
We are happy to cover relevant religious-based events where
there is a definite and direct link with peace, solidarity
or nonviolence. We try to respect both religious and secular
bases of action.
Irish CND AGM
The AGM of the Irish Campaign for Nuclear disarmament takes
place on Saturday 3rd December at a Dublin venue, from 11
am to 2 pm, when the expected speaker will be Cllr. Deirdre
de Burca on nuclear power. Membership of Irish CND is €20
household, €15 individual and €7.50 concession.
The current issue of their newsletter, Peacework, lists nuclear
weapons in Europe for US and NATO air force use. The address
is PO Box 6327, Dublin 6, phone 087 - 231 1944, e-mail irishcnd@ireland.com
and web
ICND is currently looking for more members to join its Executive.
IFOR post.comm
The International Fellowship of Reconciliation (IFOR), based
in Alkmaar, Netherlands, is looking for a part-time (60%)
Communications Officer. Skills required include fluent English
and French and editing, writing and computer experience. Further
details from David Mumford, International Coordinator at IFOR;
closing date is 28th November. IFOR, Spoorstraat 38, 1815
BK Alkmaar, Netherlands ph +31 72 512 3014, e-mail office@ifor.org
web http://www.ifor.org
Nonviolent
News is usually produced 10 times a year (on
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