Easter peace actions at Shannon warport
Edward Horgan reports: Two significant non-violent peace actions were carried out at Shannon at Easter time. On Good Friday (29th March) a group of peace activists, mainly from Co Clare, spent over an hour in the arrivals area of Shannon airport terminal building. Report and videos available at this Shannonwatch link: https://www.shannonwatch.org/content/irish-protesters-issue-good-friday-gaza-peace-plea-%C2%A0shannon%C2%A0airport
On 30 March, three peace activists from the Galway Palestinian Solidarity Campaign carried out a peace action within Shannon airport airside areas. Reports at https://www.facebook.com/GalwayPSC/ Their names were Eimear Walshe, Aindriú de Buitléir and Aine Ní Threinir. The climbed over the fence to enter the airport, where an executive diplomatic type US air force Boeing 737 had just arrived from Lebanon. It had been in Israel, Turkey and Egypt over the previous few days. They got to within 100 metres of the aircraft before they were arrested. Also at the airport was US Navy Boeing 737 C40A that had arrived from Bahrain on the previous day. The three defendants were brought to a special sitting of the court at Nenagh, Co Tipperary, where they were released on bail and summoned to appear in court on 24 April. This brings to at least 43 peace activists who have been prosecuted for similar peace actions at Shannon airport over the years. No such US military aircraft has ever been searched at Shannon airport and no one has been prosecuted for complicity with war crimes, torture or genocide due to US military being illegally allowed to transit through Shannon airport. The ongoing genocide in Gaza was the main focus on both of these peace actions.
l The next regular monthly peace vigil at Shannon is on Sunday 14th April 2pm to 3pm. Shannonwatch website is at http://www.shannonwatch.org/ A list of US war-related planes passing through Shannon or Irish air space in recent months appears there and in the e-mail and web editions of this issue of Nonviolent News.
l Meanwhile in Belfast there have been demonstrations at Thales and Spirit AeroSystems over arms links with Israel. https://www.flickr.com/photos/innateireland/53546068897/in/dateposted/ and https://www.flickr.com/photos/innateireland/53602899095/in/dateposted/
Black Shamrocks rock
The black shamrock as a multifacted symbol of Irish resistance to war in general, and the war on Gaza in particular at the moment, and it has been taking off with increased public recognition as it appears more frequently at demonstrations for Gaza and Palestine. First launched in 2006, its use is to visualise support for: Irish Neutrality and the Triple Lock, the people of Gaza and all who find themselves at the blunt end of the weapons industry, and for the rights of nature. It is also to visualise opposition to: Ireland’s involvement in war and the weapons industry, scapegoating and ‘othering’ vulnerable citizens, extractivism and the commodification of human beings. There is now a website at www.blackshamrock.ie and you can order bulk numbers of black shamrock badges to sell (non-commercial), make ones yourself, or both – as Galway Alliance Against War (GAAW) did with their presence at the St Patrick’s Day parade in Galway https://www.flickr.com/photos/innateireland/53625559130/in/dateposted/ The Black Shamrock website is still being developed so email them to order.
Corrymeela: Transforming trauma
Corrymeela is organising a 3–day series on Transforming trauma: A Community Approach to Healing, in Belfast in partnership with Dr James S. Gordon and the Centre for Mind Body Medicine. This runs in different venues from Wednesday 10th to Friday 12th April. Details on this and other Corrymeela news at https://www.corrymeela.org/
Columbia Congress: Neutrality – Strategy for Global Stabilization
This Congress on 4th and 5th April aims to focus on neutrality as a state commitment, discuss actions for a true peace with social justice, and debate on the obsolescence of war. There will be a full agenda of activities, with more than 50 speakers who will talk on various topics related to neutrality and peace building. Activities will start at 8:00 a.m. Colombian time and will conclude at 4:30 p.m. It will be a hybrid event, broadcast live, in Spanish with English translation available. Source and contacts: https://tinyurl.com/w8hf5xbn
Irish Centre for Human Rights: ICC Summer School, new post
The annual International Criminal Court Summer School at the Irish Centre for Human Rights allows participants the opportunity to attend a series of intensive lectures which are given by leading academics on the subject as well as by legal professionals working at the International Criminal Court. The course is particularly suited to postgraduate students, legal professionals, scholars, and NGO workers. This year it runs online from 10th – 13th June with a registration fee of €75. See https://www.universityofgalway.ie/irish-centre-human-rights/summerschools/
lMeanwhile Professor Siobhán Mullally, Director of University of Galway Irish Centre for Human Rights, was elected as the first Chairperson of the newly established Platform of Independent Experts on Refugee Rights, see https://www.universityofgalway.ie/irish-centre-human-rights/newsevents/professor-siobhan-mullally-elected-first-chairperson-of-platform-of-independent-experts-on-refugee-rights.html
Social Change Initiative: Northern Ireland values and attitudes
Using data from the World Values Survey (WVS) SCI have produced a report on Values and Attitudes in Northern Ireland 25 Years After the Belfast Good Friday Agreement which shows considerable liberalisation happening (among other things). See https://www.socialchangeinitiative.com/values-and-attitudes-in-northern-ireland
Síolta Chroí: Ecosystem restoration for community groups
Upcoming courses at Síolta Chroí in Co Monaghan include one on Ecosystem regeneration for community groups on 20th and 21st April at a low, subsidised fee. It will explore how individuals and community groups can play their part to mitigate climate change and biodiversity loss by creating systems that sequester carbon, build biodiversity and restores the ecosystem, mixing theory with practical hands on work. Details on this and more at https://sioltachroi.ie/
Chernobyl Children International: Peace prize for Adi Roche
Chernobyl Children International’s voluntary CEO, Adi Roche was presented with the Ahmadiyya Muslim Peace Prize at the National Peace Symposium in London on 9th March, in recognition of her life-long “contribution for the advancement of the cause of peace”. The ceremony took place at the Baitul Futuh Mosque, in London. Irish Ambassador to the United Kingdown, Martin Fraser, welcomed Adi receiving the honour in a letter of citation; “Through her inspirational work Adi has accomplished many firsts and it is particularly fitting that she is the first ever Irish honouree of this Prize”. While not within the mainstream of Islam, the Ahmadiyya Muslim community has a particular emphasis on peace. For Chernobyl Children International/CCI see https://www.chernobyl-international.com/
Afri Doolough Famine Walk, 18th May
The annual Doolough Famine Walk, organised by Afri, which walks the 18 km from Delphi Lodge to Louisburgh in Mayo in commemoration of a real life famine walk in 1849, takes place on Saturday 18th May; registration begins late morning. Further details in next issue or keep an eye on www.afri.ie
Rochtain: Training on lobbying and legislative process
The next training by Rochtain, a project of ICCL/Irish Council for Civil Liberties, will focus on effective Oireachtas communications for community and voluntary organisations, specifically on “getting your foot in the door” and making a good pitch for why your organisation should be listened to on a particular issues. The (alternative) dates are 8th or 9th April, both 11am, held remotely. Contact ronan.kennedy@iccl.ie and see also https://www.iccl.ie/activism-protest/rochtain/
IPB: Focus on military spending, Sean MacBride Awards
More relevant than ever, GDAMS (Global Days of Action on Military Spending) begins this year on 12th April. A project of IPB/International Peace Bureau, see more at https://ipb.org/events/gdams-2024-april-12-to-may-15/
lThe Sean MacBride Peace Award for 2023, presented on 22nd March 2024, went to champions of the right to conscientious objection, represented by a joint prize for three movements – Our House in Belarus, the Movement of Conscientious Objectors in Russia, and the Ukrainian Pacifist Movement – and an individual peace advocate, Tore Nærland, through his initiative “Bike for Peace”. See https://ipb.org/sean-macbride-peace-prize/
CGE: Delivering educational programme for Palestinian refugees
The Centre for Global Education (CGE) in Belfast has announced that NIPSA trade union has awarded a two-year grant to support the project titled “Chance to Learn: Educating Palestinian and Syrian Refugees in Lebanon”. The project will provide education activities in 2024 and 2025 that will enhance the formal education and employment opportunities of 100 Palestinian and Syrian children aged 12-16 years. The project will be delivered in three Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon. https://www.centreforglobaleducation.com/news/
FOE Earth Day Conference: Faster & fairer climate action
April 22nd sees a Friends of the Earth conference for Earth Day in central Dublin on Ireland 2030: Faster and Fairer Climate Action from 9am – 4pm. Sessions will be on How Politics Can Rise To The Climate Challenge; Speaking Up For Faster And Fairer Climate Action; and Our Energy Future; speakers include Hannah Daly, Professor in Sustainable Energy and Energy Systems Modelling at University College Cork; Kevin Cunningham, lecturer in Politics at TU Dublin, and MD and Founder at Ireland Thinks; as well as Eamon Ryan, Minister for Environment, Climate and Communication. More info and register at https://www.friendsoftheearth.ie/events/earth-day-conference-ireland-2030-faster-and-fairer-climate/
Church and Peace new Gen Sec
After seven years in her post as general secretary of Church and Peace, the European ecumenical peace church network, Lydia Funck has moved on. She has been rep advisor on nonviolent conflict transformation in social movements. “Juliane Prüfert brings practical experience in community-building and networking both in international contexts and with the non-governmental organisation Community Peacemaker Teams (CPT) in Colombia, Lesbos and Kurdistan/Iraq. Until recently she worked as secretary for peace and reconciliation at the Ecumenical Information Centre in Dresden and then with the Frauenkirche Dresden Foundation.” Church and Peace website is at https://www.church-and-peace.org/en/
Mairead Maguire on the state of the world
Peace People co-founder, and Nobel Peace laureate, Mairead Maguire has been busy in the recent past speaking about Gaza and Palestine https://www.flickr.com/photos/innateireland/53602771264/in/dateposted/ but in an interview with Maung Zarni, recorded last December, she also speaks about how she became involved in peace work, Myanmar, Julian Assange, Iraq and war and the state of the world in general. https://forsea.co/israel-cannot-build-peace-on-genocide-says-1976-nobel-peace-laureate-mairead-maguire/