Fivemiletown and Belfast as potential Russian targets
Fivemiletown, Co Tyrone, has been named as a potential Russian target in the UK, one of 23 so identified by former Deputy Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin, see e.g. https://vt.co/news/world/23-locations-in-the-uk-have-been-named-on-russia-nuke-list because of the presence of Cooneen Defence, a large scale supplier of uniforms to the UK and other militaries. An understatement of the century in the above report is that “Experts warn that a nuclear attack on Fivemiletown would be catastrophic.” Belfast is also listed in relation to Harland and Wolff, Spirit Aerosystems, and Thales. DUP leader Gavin Robinson said this showed how Northern Ireland benefitted from UK protection….whereas INNATE would say not being involved in the war industry would be a far greater protection for everyone everywhere….
Afri Doolough sponsored cycle
On 12th September there is a sponsored ‘Famine’ Walk Solidarity Cycle on the same Louisburgh-Doolough route (though both ways for the cycle) as the summer Afri ‘Famine’ Walk. This is to be led by Joe Murray, former Afri coordinator, and Richard Moore, of Children in Crossfire. This will support Afri’s work for peace, justice, human rights and sustainability. The start will be in Louisburgh Town Hall at 12 noon. More info at https://drive.google.com/file/d/1O3vp3_a8Cy5MEXA2KTn6pVfZNyt57rN9/view Afri website is at www.afri.ie
Hiroshima Lanterns for Peace
Pax Christi International has been involved in a new vigil initiative in August to mark the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings, using traditional lanterns as symbols of remembrance, peace, hope, and nuclear disarmament. INNATE held such a vigil in Belfast https://www.flickr.com/photos/innateireland/55445646490/in/dateposted/ despite Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann being in full swing in the city at the time. See https://paxchristi.net/lanterns-for-peace-from-hiroshima-to-the-world/
Include. Everyone. Everywhere. Everyday.
This is the title of Good Relations Week in the North which is from 12th – 18th October, now running annually for over twenty years and involving a wide range of groups. The aim is to use workshops, panel discussions, talks, podcasts, film screenings, performances, storytelling and shared experiences to encourage people to connect, listen to different perspectives and build greater understanding across communities. The closing date for participation is 1st October. See https://goodrelationsweek.com/
Portadown Carlingford North South peace camino
The North South Way Peace Camino is a 33miles / 53km shared island walking route from Portadown to Carlingford, following the Newry Canal Towpath and Carlingford Lough shoreline. It passes through Scarva, Poyntzpass, Newry and Omeath. See https://northsouthwaypeacecamino.com/pilgrims-for-peace/ and northsouthwaypeacecamino.com/upcoming-events-2/ which details a walk on 30th September when there is an 8.5 mile/13.7 km walk along some of the way Portadown-Omeath with the rest by bus. This peace camino has been developed by REACT Armagh https://www.facebook.com/ArmaghREACT/ to work for connection across communities, safe, shared and inclusive spaces, opportunities for healing and reflection, community-led peacebuilding and opportunities to bring people together as one for peace. northsouthwaypeacecamino@gmail.com
Global education in Ireland
A very useful peer review look at global/global citizen education in Ireland was published in June by GENE, the Global Education Network Europe. It runs to 105 pages and outlines the evolution which has happened since the 1970s in this area, the current situation and also makes recommendations. Available at https://tinyurl.com/fsdzv3j7
ICCL on threats to crime and security journalism in Ireland
While police surveillance of journalists, and attempts to illegally identify their sources, is relatively well known about in Northern Ireland (e.g. the Vincent Kearney case), ICCL/Irish Council for Civil Liberties has published, in cooperation with Reseach Ireland and Maynooth University, a well researched 60-page study involving interviews with 23 journalists working in the North and South of Ireland on crime and security. One of the conclusions is that An Garda Síochána routinely question Irish journalists in an effort to identify their confidential sources – despite journalistic protection of sources being a key cornerstone of a free media. But there are other major concerns, North and Republic, including issues of gendered threats to women journalists and that “Many non-specialist participants felt that the relationship between specialist crime and security journalists and the police (PSNI or An Garda Síochána) is too close and undermines objective reporting on policing in Ireland.” The report can be downloaded via https://www.iccl.ie/news/an-garda-siochana-questions-journalists-confidential-sources/ There are Irish government plans to “give gardaí greater powers to search journalists’ digital devices without adequate protection or safeguards for journalists” but as ICCL states “We need to be protecting the rights of journalists, not stripping them away.”
Podcast interview with AVP/Alternatives to Violence Project
AVP, the Alternatives to Violence Project, https://www.avpireland.ie/ is a vitally important resource in relation to violence and nonviolence, society, and prisons. A 45-minute Social Justice Ireland interview with AVP coordinator Lisa Oelschlegel and former AVP participant Robert Cullen is available at https://tinyurl.com/5b2dsrnc AVP depends on volunteer facilitators and details on getting involved, along with other information, is on the website.
Eco Congregation Ireland: Resources for Season of Creation
Eco Congregation Ireland and its monthly newsletter is an important resource and source for Christians and Christian churches who recognise the importance of green and ecological issues, including the interaction with their faith. The September issue has a list of links for material marking the Season of Creation. Celebrated annually from 1st September to 4th October —the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi – this ecumenical season mobilises churches, faith-based organisations, and communities worldwide to respond to the ecological crisis. For 2026, the official theme is “Living Water.” https://www.ecocongregationireland.com/
Demilitarise for the Just Transition!
The third annual Week of Action for Peace & Climate Justice, backed by a wide variety of groups, is taking place from 21st – 27th September and will address the links between war, militarism/militarisation and social, economic and climate injustice; the title of the week is Divest from War – Invest in The Just Transition! It will promote grassroots action and policymaking to confront both genocide and ecocide – for peace and a just systemic transition. See https://climatemilitarism.org/weekofaction/ Source: War Resisters’ International www.wri-irg.org
Trump Trump Trump (etc)
The current POTUS/President of the USA is expected in Ireland for the weekend beginning 12th September including attending some of the Irish Open golf tournament at the golf course he owns at Doonbeg, Co Clare, plus a possible turning of the sod for the planned new USA embassy in Ballsbridge, Dublin, among a few other engagements. Look out for protests or DIY. Lex Innocentium’s statement on the visit includes, after listing the wars and violence he has engaged in, that “He has shown utter contempt for the principles of international law and created an environment of bullying and fear across our world” and “We reject President Trump’s attitude to the natural environment – denying climate change, promoting continued and excessive use of fossil fuels and taking sometimes wrongful measures to sell toxic and destructive fracked gas around the world.” Their statement concludes “It is time to put an end to international conflict and for all of us, together, to focus on protecting our shared home, Planet Earth.” https://lexinnocentium21.ie/
WBW War Abolisher Awards
The 2026 War Abolisher Awards from World Beyond War were given to No Foreign Bases in Ecuador, Mazin Qumsiyeh and Jessie Chang Qumsiyeh, the Directors of Earth’s Greatest Enemy, Palestine Action, and Flotillas to Gaza. An 80 minute video is available at https://worldbeyondwar.org/war-abolisher-awards/
Keep Ireland LNG / fracked gas free
The Irish government’s plans for a LNG (liquefied natural gas) terminal in Clare “means inconceivable harm and pollution for communities in Clare—and beyond” says Friends of the Earth, and makes nonsense of the 5-year old Climate Law and puts Ireland even further behind its climate targets. Indeed the government is disapplying section 15 of that Act in relation to LNG, Dublin Airport, and infrastructure. Residents of the Republic can urge their TD to vote against the LNG Bill in the Dáil via https://www.friendsoftheearth.ie/act/stop-the-lng-bill/ FOE goes on to say “Ireland banned fracking nearly a decade ago for its severe impact on health and the environment. How can the Government now be pushing to bring in fracked gas through the back door via this Bill?”
Universal Basic Income (UBI) and a wellbeing economy: Ireland
In July Feasta launched a report on “Universal Basic Income and a Wellbeing Economy: A Proposal for Ireland”; “It is well-established now that the ecological transition will require a broad economic transformation. Changes are needed not only in production and consumption patterns, but also in overarching economic objectives. The paper’s central argument is that this transformation needs to include a Universal Basic Income (UBI).” See https://www.feasta.org/2026/07/13/paper-launch-july-24-at-1pm-irish-time/ for more info and download.
ICCL urges defence of International Criminal Court (ICC)
ICCL/Irish Council for Civil Liberties has urged the Irish government to use its EU Presidency to actively defend the ICC against the US attempt to dismantle it. https://www.iccl.ie/news/ireland-eu-protect-international-criminal-court/