PBI: The work goes on – though PBI Ireland is laid down
The Irish country group of Peace Brigades International (PBI Ireland) has been wound down and no longer exists as a separate organisation but Peace Brigades International continues to work in solidarity with peace activists and human rights defenders around the world. PBI field projects play an important role in accompanying activists in the countries in which they operate, and the PBI International Office in Brussels supports and coordinates that work through its advocacy and fundraising. PBI Ireland is grateful for the support it received over many years from volunteers, other NGOs, journalists, universities, government officials, politicians, trade unions, and more to help raise awareness among people and policy-makers in Ireland about the work of PBI and the brave and inspiring individuals and groups with whom PBI works. There are on-going PBI field projects in Colombia, Guatemala, Mexico, Kenya, Nepal, Honduras, Indonesia, and Nicaragua. Further information about the work of PBI and all of its projects can be found on its website: www.peacebrigades.org and PBI can also be contacted at: contact@peacebrigades.org
AVP / Alternatives to Violence Project
The Alternatives to Violence Project continues its work; as of early October there had been 300 participants in 28 different workshops, and the biannual community gathering took place in Limerick in September. Over the summer AVP ran 6 community gatherings in prison with more than 60 participants, reconnecting with AVPers from past workshops, refreshing skills, and offering taster sessions for those who were curious to try AVP for the first time. AVP is a network of volunteers running workshops for anyone who wants to find ways of resolving conflict without resorting to violence; if you are interested you can join the next open online information session, simply send AVP an email to info@avpireland.ie and they’ll be in touch. https://www.avpireland.ie/
Corrymeela 60
Corrymeela is continuing to celebrate its 60th anniversary and at the end of October there was a celebration in Ballycastle which included several people who were at the original dedication, performed by Tullio Vinay of Agapè, in 1965. https://www.corrymeela.org/news/267/corrymeela-celebrates-60-years A fundraising concert ‘A Season to Sing’, a choral reimagining of Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons takes place, takes place in St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast, at 7.30pm on Saturday 22nd November. https://www.corrymeela.org/events/267/a-season-to-sing There is much more happening, details on the website https://www.corrymeela.org/ including podcasts https://www.publictheologyireland.com/podcast
Legal observers at work
The first report from the Irish Network of Legal Observers, set up by ICCL/Irish Council for Civil Liberties and the Irish Centre for Human Rights in Galway (see NN 332) is available at https://www.iccl.ie/press-release/report-finds-that-gardai-violated-garda-policies-and-human-rights-obligations-when-policing-protest/ This came from a team observing the policing of a pro-Palestine demonstration at the Dublin Port tunnel on Saturday, 4 October 2025, when Gardaí deployed physical force and pepper spray against peaceful protesters, resulting in a broken wrist and other injuries. Gardaí responded to the report, justifying their actions by claiming protesters were forcing through Garda lines and throwing missiles. However the observers response was “…the UN Human Rights committee explicitly states that “mere pushing and shoving or disruption of vehicular or pedestrian movement or daily activities do not amount to ‘violence.’” It also states that “isolated acts of violence by some participants should not be attributed to others, to the organizers or to the assembly as such”. “
Housmans Peace Diary….. and World Peace Database
Paper diaries may have gone out of fashion for many but the Housmans Peace Diary is special for peace activists with its quotes and marking of special days for celebration or protest. The featured article this year is on modern efforts around the world to resist the war machine through non-violent means. The diary has been redesigned and the 2026 diary is in A5 format and no longer contains a world peace directory (see below). Individual copies are £9.95 from Housmans Bookshop in London, plus postage (UK postal area £2.95), with reductions for bulk orders. https://housmans.com/peace-diary/
l The invaluable World Peace Database covering peace, green and human rights or social change organisations, an edited or shorter version of which previously appeared in Housmans Peace Diary, is available online at http://www.housmans.info/wpd/ It is worth reading the background information on the site home page to get the best use out of it, whether the country concerned begins with any letter from A to Z.
White poppies for peace
In the ‘season of remembrance’ of the World Wars and other conflicts, wearing a white poppy is one way of showing remembrance of all victims but also opposing war and militarism. White poppies were first produced in Britain in 1933 in the aftermath of the First World War, by members of the Co-operative Women’s Guild, many of whom had lost family and friends in the First World War – they wanted to hold on to the key message of Remembrance Day, ‘never again’. You can buy them online from the Peace Pledge Union in Britain at https://shop.ppu.org.uk/ including packs numbering from 5 to 100. In Ireland you can buy them from Little Acorns Bookshop in Derry and from Winding Stair Bookshop in Dublin.
l On Armistice/Remembrance Day see also World Beyond War website https://tinyurl.com/yum86c95
Advancing nonviolence webinar with Nicolás Paz
This webinar will take place on Tuesday 2nd December @7/7.30pm (TBC) via Zoom. Nicolás is the chairperson of the Catholic Nonviolence Initiative, a programme of Pax Christi International https://paxchristi.net/cni-about-us/ He is Associate Professor and Mediator at Pontifical University of Salamanca and in his role focuses on the intersection of faith, nonviolence and social justice. Organised by Sylvia Thompson, Pax Christi Ireland member and convener of a small ‘Nonviolence Conversation Group’, and Pax Christi Scotland https://www.paxchristiscotland.org/ Further Information and to receive the link: contact Sylvia Thompson by email sylviajms11@gmail.com
Chernobyl nuclear plant attack: Statement by Adi Roche
Founder and Voluntary CEO of Chernobyl Children International, Adi Roche, issued a statement at the start of October following a drone attack on the nuclear plant at Chernobyl. “…This war has changed everything. Never before in the history of the atomic age have nuclear stations been used as weapons of war. They should remain globally ‘off limits’ because of their lethal potential to destroy the planet. The weaponising nuclear facilities has resulted in a collision between warfare and nuclear power, which is a whole new threat with potentially devastating, unimaginable consequences for humankind for centuries to come. This is nuclear terrorism…….In the name of humanity, in the name of the children, please stop this war and declare the Chernobyl and all Nuclear Power Plants and their supportive infrastructures as ‘No War Zones’”. https://www.chernobyl-international.com/
Amnesty International on British government and legacy
Amnesty has been commenting on both the mid-October UK Supreme Court case by the British government to retain secrecy powers and from other changes made. AI-UK “welcomed the publication of the UK Government’s Remedial Order and new Legacy legislation, describing them as “a long-overdue step towards correcting historic wrongs”, but warned that retaining powers to block disclosure on so-called national security grounds risks undermining the promised “new start”. “ Their key tests for legislation are: Full compliance with the European Convention on Human Rights; No retention of the Secretary of State’s power to veto disclosure; Independent and transparent access to all relevant information; Restoration and expansion of inquest rights and civil actions; Independent appointments and adequate resourcing for the Legacy Commission; Equal rights and protections for all victims, with no political interference. https://www.amnesty.org.uk/issues/Northern-Ireland
Sperrins goldmining enquiry restarts April ‘26
It has been announced by the NI Planning Appeals Commission that the (previously botched) inquiry into Dalradian’s plans for goldmining in the Sperrins will retstart on 13th April 2026. Sam McBride of the Belfast Telegraph, who visited the site, was told £250 million had already been spend by Dalradian but estimates as to the value of gold there reach £20 billion. For community resistance see e.g. https://www.facebook.com/SaveOurSperrins/ including podcast links.
SCI: Tackling hate and violent extremism
The Social Change Initiative (SCI – the same initials as Service Civil International – Ed) have published some learnings on community-based responses to tackling hate, based on a previous seminar; see https://www.socialchangeinitiative.com/tackling-hate-violent-extremism-what-works There will be a follow up to this on Monday 8th December at 2pm when Eric Ward of Race Forward in the USA will speak in Belfast.
info@socialchangeinitiative.com and website https://www.socialchangeinitiative.com/
FOE: Tenants for climate justice
Friends of the Earth are now focusing their warm homes campaigning on tenants and renters in private and social housing – an issue of both climate and social justice https://www.friendsoftheearth.ie/warm-homes-for-all/tenantsforclimatejustice They are campaigning for minimum BERs (Building Energy Ratings) in privately rented accommodation, something the Government committed to in 2021 but have not acted upon; a PBP motion comes up for debate on this in the Dáil on 13th November.
End Fossil Power climate march
This will be on Saturday 15th November at 1pm from the Garden of Remembrance in Dublin, during COP30. Organised by Stop Climate Chaos Coalition https://www.stopclimatechaos.ie/
Lex Innocentium anniversary, Palestine, videos
Lex Innocentium 21st Century recently celebrated its first anniversary and a 14 minute video is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81eFb5BIU1A and another, 12 minute, video of its involvement with the European Peace Project Manifesto for Palestine at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8i_U7sN9EgA in a ceremony at the Famine Memorial in Dublin.
Our House: Human rights information on Belarus
Belarusian organisation Our House is an excellent source of information about Belarus, reports on it, and also the fate of resistance activists from there including grave difficulties in exile. https://news.house/
Church and Peace European conference
The ecumenical peace organisation Church and Peace held its annual European conference in Germany in late October and a report is available at https://www.church-and-peace.org/en/ (see under News) and there is also a call to support the nonviolent resistance in Serbia.