Irish Neutrality League launch
The launch has taken place in Dublin of the Irish Neutrality League (INL), a body with the same name as that set up in 1914. The INL is a civil society campaign to bring pressure on the Irish Government to assert Ireland’s neutrality positively on the world stage, to be a voice for peace and human rights and to oppose wars and militarisation. It has a background with the Irish Anti-War Movement/IAWM but is backed by a wide variety of people and groups including PANA/Peace And Neutrality Alliance and a number of TDs and senators. The INL’s founding statement – which can be seen at https://irishantiwar.org/node/2953 – defines Irish neutrality as non-participation in wars and military alliances, as set out in the 1907 Hague Convention V, and as the positive engagement in the peaceful, non-military resolution of political conflicts (the last in particular being in accord with Article 29 of the Irish Constitution).
The first gathering organised by INL is on ‘How to defend Ireland’s Neutrality?’ and takes place on Saturday 15th October, 2-5pm, at the Teachers’ Club, 36 Parnell Square, Dublin 1, including workshops and a rally, with a broad range of speakers. Contact via IAWM info@irishantiwar.org or see forthcoming website www.neutrality.ie
Neutrality debate, Dun Laoghaire
The Eblana Club in 3 Eblana Avenue, Dun Laoghaire is holding a debate on; “It’s time we grew up and abandoned Irish neutrality” a quote from the Political Correspondent of the Irish Examiner. Thursday 6th of October at 7.30pm where Senator Gerald Craughwell and Roger Cole of PANA will debate Irish Neutrality. Info and booking via https://eblanaforum.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Eblana-Winter-Programme-2022-1.pdf For PANA see www.pana.ie
Cork Neutrality League
The war in Ukraine and the consequent erosion of Irish neutrality prompted the founding of the Cork Neutrality League (CNL) in March of this year. The group’s orientation is defined by the maxim “Oppose War, Resist Militarism, Defend Neutrality”. The CNL considers the war in Ukraine to be a proxy war between Russia and NATO and, on that basis, calls for an immediate end to the war and is opposed to the provision of weapons and ammunition to Ukraine by NATO and the EU. The CNL has affiliated to the Peace and Neutrality Alliance and is actively involved in the new Irish Neutrality League. It is anticipated that the government will move to ditch neutrality, possibly by way of a referendum. The CNL, with other groups, is committed to the defence of neutrality and is opposed to the increased militarisation of the Irish government. The CNL can be contacted by email at corkneutralityleague@gmail.com
Military ‘Ecosystem’ arms fair event at Aviva, Dublin
For the second year running, this time as a face-to-face event, there is an arms event taking place at the Aviva Stadium (Lansdowne Road), Dublin on Thursday 6th October, entitled (incredibly) “Building the Ecosystem: Identifying connections for collaboration in security, defence and dual-use technologies”; Minister for Defence, and Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney is a keynote speaker. Various peace groups including Afri, StoP and INNATE are organising a picket of the event from 12.30 – 2pm on Thursday 6th October. Contact Afri for further details, admin@afri.ie or phone 01 8384204.
Herstory: Peace heroines
Herstory, along with the National Museums NI and the Republic’s Department of Foreign Affairs Reconciliation Fund, have created the Peace Heroines education programme, featuring a touring exhibition with portraits of women who have worked for peace in the Northern Ireland context, and youth workshops exploring power. Launched at Stormont, the exhibition is at Glencree Centre, Co Wicklow, to the end of October https://glencree.ie/events/herstory-exhibition/ and a number of locations next year including Derry, Enniskillen and Belfast. See https://www.herstory.ie/peaceheroines and https://sluggerotoole.com/2022/09/29/peace-heroines-spotlight-on-stormont/
Nonviolent struggle in the global South
Taking place on Monday 10th October in Belfast from 7-9pm as part of the One World Festival, this INNATE workshop will explore nonviolence and nonviolent struggle in the Global South. It will have some input before sharing on nonviolent campaigns in ‘the South’ and possibly looking to see whether characteristics are the same as in ‘the North’. Further information, including about booking, at https://oneworldfestivalni.com/events/nonviolent-struggle-in-the-global-south/ and the full festival programme is at https://oneworldfestivalni.com/ including online events.
The Punter’s Guide to Democracy
“The Punter’s Guide to Democracy – What it is, sadly, and what it could be, gladly” is the latest book to emanate from Peter Emerson of the de Borda Institute http://www.deborda.org/ UnIike so many books on politics, many of which taIk about eIectoraI systems, this one looks at the whole panoply of decision-making voting systems and focuses on inclusive and effective preferentiaI decision-making. The book is aimed at the general public, of all descriptions. 120 pages, Springer, paper back, €28/ £25, also available as an ebook. It will be launched in various places including Dublin on 12th October and Belfast on 26th October, see website.
Remembrance: New design white poppies
The Peace Pledge Union in Britain, who produce white poppies as a symbol of remembrance of all those killed in war, opposition to militarism, and a commitment to peace, have a new eco-design. They are fully recyclable though you may want to reuse the safety pin, and produced by a workers’ coop. Usually worn in the period coming up to British Remembrance Day on 11th November, the white poppy is a peaceful alternative to the red one. Go to https://www.ppu.org.uk/remembrance-white-poppies for more information and orders, including other materials on remembrance. These white poppies are on sale in Derry (Little Acorns Bookshop) and Dublin (Winding Stair Bookshop) and can be ordered by post from PPU via the website; 5 for £5 (plus £3 delivery in UK postal area) or £20 for £25 (plus £3 delivery UK), see website for full details.
VSI/SCI volunteering opportunities, at home and abroad
Voluntary Service International/VSI, the Irish section of SCI/Service Civil International, has a wide variety of volunteering opportunities throughout the year. They have a mainly online Youth for Climate Justice project starting in November for 18 – 25 year olds, apply by 23rd October. https://www.vsi.ie/ Most short term volunteer projects in Europe take place in the summer but there are others on occasion including year round online projects, and VSI acts as a host/sending agency for the European Solidarity Corps for 18-30 year olds to volunteer at home or abroad for up to a year. See website, address above, for more information.
Poetry for peace and against war
Smashing Times http://www.smashingtimes.ie/ have followed up their call for poetry on peace and anti-war themes with an online hosting of a collection of anti-war poetry in written and video form – and you can still add to the collection. See https://smashingtimes.ie/anti-war-poetry-collection/
FOE Ireland; Energy poverty, ban fossil fuel ads
Friends of the Earth in Ireland has a revamped website at https://www.foe.ie/ where there is much information on their work and campaigns, including work on energy poverty. FOE has welcomed the news that long-awaited planning regulations for solar panels have now been approved by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing which previously greatly restricted installation in/on schools and homes.They have also been backing an EU-wide campaign to ban fossil fuel related ads https://banfossilfuelads.org/
Challenging the dominant economic paradigm?
This is a new research report, written by Harm-Jan Fricke, from the Centre for Global Education and Financial Justice Ireland looking to determine the extent to which the international development and development education sectors in the island of Ireland are engaging with the dominant economic system, i.e. neoliberalism, and its influence on poverty, inequality and injustice. https://www.centreforglobaleducation.com/ and https://www.financialjustice.ie/ and report available directly at https://tinyurl.com/4rdxm94s
ICCL: Budget disappointment, State of the rule of law
ICCL/Irish Council for Civil Liberties has expressed disappointment that the government has chosen not to invest in areas they identified that would help protect and guarantee human rights in its Budget 2023. While welcoming some developments, Doireann Ansbro of ICCL said they had sought “a modest investment package of €8.6 million covering a range of human rights issues for 2023 and beyond” with e.g. no additional funding for the proposed expansion of the Inspectorate of Places of Detention. Meanwhile, ICCL has a panel discussion on the European Commission’s 2022 Rule of Law Report for Ireland including access to justice, democratic oversight, press freedom and minority rights; it takes place in Dublin on 13th October from 10am. https://www.iccl.ie/
Feasta events: Emotional support, Phasing out fossil fuels
Upcoming Feasta events include an online event on 6th October, 7-8.30pm, which will present a proposal by Feasta’s Climate Group for phasing out the extraction of fossil fuels globally while providing significant climate finance to the Global South. On 7th October from 7-8pm there is an online event on managing the emotional challenge of climate change. And Feasta is involved with a raft of other organisations in an event at Cloughjordan on 11th October on ‘Democratic, inclusive and creative neighbourhoods’, in person 11am – 5pm with a live podcast 4-5pm. See https://www.feasta.org/ and http://www.cultivate.ie/community-resilience/1337-creat-neighbouthood-22
Mediators’ Institute Ireland: 30th anniversary conference
The annual conference of MII/Mediators Institute of Ireland takes place at the Clayton Hotel, Cardiff Lane, Dublin 2 on Friday 14th October. It runs from 9am registration through to an 8pm close after a ‘Happy Birthday MII’ wine reception. The theme is ‘Celebrating professionalism in mediation’ and speakers include Pay Hynes, Mary Connaughton, Judy Beranger, and Judge Rosemary Horgan. The fee is €135 including lunch and evening reception. More details at https://www.themii.ie/ and go to ‘Events’.
Chernobyl Children International work in Ukraine
CCI’s Cardiac Missions have traditionally been based in Kharkiv, however the teams have been chased by war from East to West and have needed to relocate to Lviv, which is the only safe place left where CCI can operate on the children. CCI will be sending another cardiac mission in December this year, in time for Christmas, as well as provide humanitarian aid to families and communities in the Ivankiv region north of Kyiv, and within the Chernobyl zone. https://www.chernobyl-international.com/
Preventing abuse and violence against children and youth
While the Women’s World Summit Foundation – WWSF – resource on this topic is written in a world rather than a local context, these is a large amount of information and ideas in their resource kit for their 19 Days of Activism (1-19 November) on this huge area of concern. https://woman.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2771949988f4f7f4fd1e99847&id=229bdf74c1&e=8bfbb29425 and https://www.woman.ch/
Conflict Textiles exhibitions
Current or close events and exhibitions Conflict Textiles are involved in include State of the Art: Transformative Memories in Political Violence: Interrogating the role of the Arts in Conflict hosted by Smashing Times International Centre for The Arts and Equality in Dublin in October, and Threads for Corporate Justice, the launch of a new banner facilitated by Conflict Textiles as part of programme which was initiated by Trócaire to raise awareness of their corporate accountability campaign with a launch in Belfast on 11th October. See https://cain.ulster.ac.uk/conflicttextiles/ for full details.