Lex Innocentium 21st Century launched in Birr and Lorrha
There was a successful launch on International Day of Peace of this new people’s or popular law on war, based on the original 697 CE law enacted in Birr at a synod instigated by Adomnán, abbot of Iona. The website is at https://lexinnocentium21.ie/ with full information on the project, background and history – the new law includes protection for the earth. A message of support and greetings from Nobel Peace Laureate Mairead Maguire given at the launch can be seen at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2-Nwc6ZL3g and a video of the launch will be available in due course. Photos of the event can be seen at https://www.flickr.com/photos/innateireland/albums/72177720320507627 A handout used in his talk by Rob Fairmichael on ‘Resources on Irish peace history’ is available at https://innatenonviolence.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Lex-Peace-history-Resource-list-24.09.pdf and included with paper and email editions of this issue of Nonviolent News. Anyone, anywhere, will be able to sign up to support the law very soon on the website.
MII conference for Belfast, 18th – 19th October
The annual conference of the Mediators’ Institute of Ireland (MII) takes place in Belfast from 18th – 19th October, the first time north of the border, with the title ‘Broadening our perspective on mediation’. It includes a session on ‘The role of mediators in conflict zones’ with input from Cathy Ashton, Nita Yawanarajah, and Pat Hynes. There is a varied programme, details of which are at https://www.themii.ie/mii-annual-conference-2024-broadening-our-perspective-on-mediation-2/ This item appeared in the email and web editions of NN 322
l Sue Cogan has been appointed as CEO of MII as of the start of September, see https://www.themii.ie/appointment-of-new-ceo-of-the-mediators-institute-of-ireland-sue-cogan/
Resources on racism from SCI and others
It can be difficult to know where to start work in opposing racist violence and extremism and striving for an inclusive society. But there are many useful resources available to help understanding and action in dealing with these issues. See the website of the Social Change Initiative/SCI in the North at https://www.socialchangeinitiative.com/extremism Hope not Hate in the UK is at https://hopenothate.org.uk/ and the Hope and Courage Collective in the Republic at https://hopeandcourage.ie/ The Irish Network Against racism (INAR) is at https://inar.ie/
White poppies to remember all victims of war
In the season of remembrance there is the opportunity to wear a white poppy to remember all victims of war, including both civilians and soldiers, but also challenge war and militarism. The PPU/Peace Pledge Union in Britain sells white poppies as well as posters, postcards, stickers and educational resources. You can get 5 poppies for £5, postage extra, and a discount for larger numbers. Go to www.ppu.org.uk and click on ‘Shop’ and there is more information about white poppies and their origin on the website.
StoP Triple Lock betrayal video
A short (under 2 minutes) video enactment about the Triple Lock on deployment of Irish soldiers overseas can be seen at https://youtu.be/HohfeP6VnnI?si=ZJ3rSIqgnyg84loW
and https://www.facebook.com/share/v/otYiMVLdvsj4S2HY/?mibextid=WC7FNe The StoP/Swords to Ploughshares website is at https://swordstoploughsharesireland.org/
George Mitchell Institute events at QUB, Belfast
There are a number of open events coming up with topics including armed groups, transition and dealing with the past; inside the world of armed conflict mediation; Irish neutrality; resistance to ecoviolence in the Amazon; authoritarianism’s challenge to democracy as the norm, etc. Go to https://www.qub.ac.uk/Research/GRI/mitchell-institute/ for further info and to register.
Strategy on violence against women for North
Mid-September saw the launch of a new strategy for through to 2031, broadly welcomed in the sector, for Ending Violence Against Women and Girls with a focus on the areas of prevention, protection and provision, the justice system, and working together on the issue. The statistics are horrifying including 33,000 recorded (so-called) ‘domestic’ abuse incidents in Northern Ireland in 2023. See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn878054dxqo and for the full strategy go to https://www.executiveoffice-ni.gov.uk/topics/ending-violence-against-women-and-girls which includes some other research materials. A week later a Domestic and Sexual Abuse strategy for Northern Ireland was launched which is not solely focused on women and will also attempt to tackle violence against men, children and young people, and intimate partner violence within the LGBTQ+ community. See https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/publications/domestic-and-sexual-abuse-strategy-and-performance-framework-2024-2031
Catholic Institute for Nonviolence launched
Pax Christi International’s Catholic Nonviolence Initiative has launched a Catholic Institute for Nonviolence with the aim of making nonviolence research, resources and experience, more accessible to Catholic Church leaders, communities and institutions to deepen Catholic understanding of and commitment to the practice of Gospel nonviolence. To this end it will operate mainly as a virtual institute but with a small presence in Rome. Areas it will concentrate on are Gospel nonviolence, nonviolent practices and strategic power, and contextual experiences of nonviolence. More information at https://paxchristi.net/catholic-institute-for-nonviolence/
QCEA on EU Parliament after elections
Around Europe, the journal of the Quaker Council on European Affairs, has a useful one page (!) summary of where things stand with balance and policies in the EU Parliament, along with other material including on climate, at https://www.qcea.org/around-europe-398-out-now/
Friends of the Earth report card on Irish government commitments
Friends of the Earth has issued its annual report card on Irish government environmental and climate commitments; this is based on independent expert assessments. The conclusion was that “The commitments in the Programme for Government were not enough to achieve a truly sustainable society or meet our national and international climate targets” and “While we are relieved that Ireland has turned a corner away from our “climate laggard” origins, this is just the start of a long and important journey for Irish society, and momentum will have to accelerate over successive governments to make Ireland a genuinely sustainable economy”. For the fascinating detail see https://friendsoftheearth.cmail20.com/t/t-l-sxblt-jrktjjkhkl-m/ and it includes recommendations for the next Programme for Government (with an election imminent).
Human rights in Northern Ireland after Windsor Framework
Article 2 of the Windsor framework stated that the UK government would ensure that “no diminution of rights, safeguards or equality of opportunity” would come about for Northern Ireland due to Brexit. But, as always, the devil is in the detail and SCI/Social Change Initiative, Human Rights Centre at Queen’s University and the Donia Human Rights Centre at the University of Michigan have issued another report on current issues in relation to the matter; “Human Rights and Equality in Northern Ireland: Article 2 of the Windsor Framework Reaches the Courts: What’s at Stake?”, specifically looking at the Dillon judgement in the NI Court of Appeal (which was made, subsequent to this report, on 20th September, word search for details). The report is available at https://www.socialchangeinitiative.com/articles Meanwhile The Irish Centre for European Law, the Social Change Initiative and the Human Rights Centre at Queen’s are also organising a ticketed seminar to discuss the judgment on 24th October; https://www.icel.ie/event/windsor-framework-article-2-where-are-we-now-after-the-court-of-appeals-decision-in-the-dillon-legacy-act-case/
NonViolent Communication courses at Cloughjordan
There is an introductory course on (Marshall Rosenberg) NonViolent Communication (NVC) at Cloughjordan Ecovillage (Co Tipperary) on 9th – 10th November, and a “Deepening and Integrating NVC” course on 12th – 13th October. Programme run by Mel White and Aaron Bailey. Details at https://www.facebook.com/events/742242571316147 and https://www.facebook.com/events/8189655397765406
Speech by Olga Karach of Our House, Belarus
A moving and informative speech by Belarusian human rights defender and nonviolent activist Olga Karach, given in Berlin in September, can be found on the Our House website at https://news.house/63025 (with lots more info on the same website, mostly in English).
Primer on militarism and the climate crisis
A new publication from WRI/War Resisters’ International is ‘A short primer on militarism and the climate crisis’, 54 pages, A5, available at https://wri-irg.org/en/story/2024/new-resource-short-primer-militarism-and-climate-crisis “…..ours is a time of global war and global warming. Most often, however, we do not consider these processes connected. The truth is, they very much are. But how so?” – this short publication tries to look at the links, give some stories of impact, resistance and alternatives, and make suggestions for possible actions.
World Beyond War conference video
Video of their conference “Resisting the USA’s military empire” is at https://worldbeyondwar.org/nowar2024/
Amnesty backs call for investigation into 2001 journalist murder
Amnesty International has backed calls for a new investigation into the 2001 murder of journalist Martin O’Hagan who was shot dead by paramilitaries in Lurgan. No one has been convicted of his murder. Northern Ireland Amnesty International director Patrick Corrigan has said “This failure has created an environment of impunity for those who continue to threaten journalists in Northern Ireland today. It is notable that, in 2024, threats of serious violence continue to be directed at journalists from the very same sort of armed groups which killed Martin O’Hagan. We support calls from the National Union of Journalists for a fresh investigation into the killing. Press freedom must be resolutely defended.” https://www.amnesty.org.uk/issues/Northern-Ireland
l Meanwhile an Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT) will examine a complaint by the two journalists Trevor Birney and Barry McCaffrey who asked it to find out whether police from Northern Ireland and Durham used intrusive surveillance powers against them. It is scheduled to take place from 1st to 4th October at the Royal Courts of Justice (RCJ) in London. Patrick Corrigan of Amnesty stated “This is a crucial case for press freedom in the UK” since it will test legal safeguards for all UK journalists against unwarranted surveillance and right to protect sources.