A World Beyond War? Conversations on alternatives
The Irish chapter of World Beyond War (WBW) have a weekly series of online seminars starting at 7pm on Wednesday 13th January and running for 5 weeks. “War: Who wins and who loses? How is it waged and financed? How does it impact the civilian populations of the world? How does it contribute to human misery? What are its effects on the environment? And why it doesn’t have to be like this.”
On 13th January the topic is ‘Ireland, the United Nations and the Security Council’ with Denis Halliday, former UN Assistant General Secretary; January 20th, ‘The military industrial complex and politics’ with Clare Daly MEP; January 27th, ‘Militarism and Ecological Destruction’ with Dave Donellan, peace activist; February 3rd,’ Militarism and human displacement’ with Suad Aldarra & Yaser Alashqar, respectively from Syria and Palestine; February 10th, ‘Are militaries lthe most appropriate Peacekeepers?’ with Edward Horgan, former Irish peacekeeper All these are on Zoom from 7pm to 7.45pm. For further details (click on the individual sessions) and booking see https://worldbeyondwar.org/ireland/
Féile Bríde – Seeds of the Heart - and Afri’s video report
Afri’s 29th Féile Bríde gathering will take place on line for the first time in 2021, on 6th February beginning at 2pm. There have been 28 such gatherings as part of community events organised by Cáirde Bhríde in Kildare, taking place around Brigid’s Day in February – but this year due to Covid restrictions it has to be a virtual event. This year’s title is ‘Seeds of the Heart’ and it will look at issues to do with care for the planet and ‘welcoming the stranger’, among others.
Confirmed speakers so far include social entrepreneur Ruairi McKiernan and founders of Síolta Chroí Karen Jeffares and Gareth Conlon. There will be music from Kila’s Dee Armstrong and friends among others. For further details contact admin@afri.ie or see the website in due course https://www.afri.ie/
A 10-minute video report on Afri’s work in 2020 can be seen at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uEeGm0NUpc
De Borda seminar: Consensus voting
‘Democratic Decision-making, Consensus Voting in Civic Society and Parliaments’ is an online seminar organised by the de Borda Institute, hosted by Anna Tulin Brett (NUI, Galway) and introduced by Prof Hugh Miall, (Conflict Research Society). This short session takes place on Thursday 14th January from 10.30am. The link is https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86570929098?pwd=OTVHQkl5Q3ZhUjRwLzFpeDZpNFR4Zz09 Meeting ID: 865 7092 9098 and Passcode: 5G34xF The de Borda website is at http://www.deborda.org/
Arms Trade networking
An online cross-border network of people interested in or working on arms trade issues has grown out of a seminar organised by INNATE. It is quite informal and will share information, perceptions and possibilities for work on this issue. The next meeting is online on Tuesday 26th January at 7.30pm and anyone interested is welcome; contact INNATE innate@ntlworld.com to receive the link and report from the last meeting..
Nuclear weapons illegal on 22nd January
The nuclear armed powers may ignore the matter and pretend it isn’t happening but anything to do with nuclear weapons becomes illegal in international law on 22nd January when there is an opportunity for civil society to draw attention to this through the ringing of church bells, and other manifestations of this important development – the day will be marked by various groups and organisations internationally. INNATE has a downloadable poster for home printing, ‘Nuclear weapons illegal’, at http://www.innatenonviolence.org/posters/index.shtml
Holocaust memorial exhibition
To mark Holocaust Memorial Day, Conflict Textiles has partnered with the Linen Hall Library in Belfast to present a small online exhibition, Light during the darkness: Remembering the Holocaust (12th January – 1st February) with a brief guided tour on 27th January from 2.00 – 3.30pm; there will be inputs from a transnational panel of 5 contributors on Holocaust-related family memorabilia. You can register on https://linenhall.com/events/online-event-light-during-the-darkness-remembering-the-holocaust/ and the exhibition details are at https://cain.ulster.ac.uk/conflicttextiles/search-quilts2/fullevent1/?id=226
Eco-Congregation Ireland gathering
Eco-Congregation Ireland is holding an online meet up on Saturday 16th January 2021 at 11.00am. This online event will be for faith communities to share experiences and ideas. There will be input from a congregation that has received their Eco-Congregation Award, as well as a church on their journey towards their Award. Participants are welcome to bring their questions about any aspect of their ECI journey whether that is about getting started, working towards an ECI Award, the ECI Awareness and Endeavour Certificates or hosting the ECI Climate Justice Candle. If you would like to attend please email Karen Nicholson to register and to get the Zoom link – info@ecocongregationireland.com You can also sign up to receive the regular ECI newsletter. https://www.ecocongregationireland.com/