Government poised to end Triple Lock

With the Defence (Amendment) (No.2) Bill listed for the spring Dáil session, its purpose described as “To amend the Defence Acts to reform the existing provisions concerning the dispatch of members of the Defence Forces for service outside the State”, the Irish government, spearheaded (sic) by Micheál Martin, is set to remove one of the key features of Irish neutrality and its protection. Without the need for UN authorisation for sending more than 12 troops overseas, the government can commit the armed forces to engage in any actions or wars it sees fit. More info on Triple Lock at https://swordstoploughsharesireland.org/triple-lock/ and see also https://people.ie/english1.html A number of groups are working together and have adopted the slogan “Save our Neutrality; Save the Triple Lock “; contact any of StoP, PANA, Transnational Institute, World Beyond War, Action Against War (Cork), Afri, Uplift, Lex Innocentium.

lNow, immediately, is the time for residents of the 26 counties to contact their TDs demanding that they stand by the Triple Lock. See also editorial in this issue.

lInternational peace organisations CODEPINK, International Peace Bureau (IPB), Transnational Institute (TNI), Veterans For Peace and World BEYOND War have written a collective letter to the Taoiseach asking for the retention of the Triple Lock.

Frank Aiken and the Irish contribution to international peace

This event, ‘Frank Aiken and the Irish Contribution to International Peace in Times of Risk and Uncertainty’ takes place in Loyola Building, Trinity College Dublin on Thursday, 27th March 2025, at 7.00 p.m. to 8.30/9.00 p.m. with speakers Prof Patrick Bresnihan, Maynooth, Prof John Maguire, Professor Emeritus, UCC and one other speaker. Chair: Carol Fox. Organised by Lex Innocentium, 21st Century and hosted by Irish School of Ecumenics. https://lexinnocentium21.ie and https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61560485884212

The Irish government and legacy investigations

Legacy issues North of the border have obviously had centre stage in recent years but there are also significant questions about how the Irish government handles matters within its jurisdiction. CAJ/Committee on the Administration of Justice and ICCL/Irish Council for Civil liberties have published the report on a seminar in September 2024 looking at how the Irish government should deal with legacy investigations. The 24 page report can be accessed at https://caj.org.uk/publications/reports/policing-for-peace-commitment-to-repeal-and-replace-the-northern-ireland-legacy-act/ and https://www.iccl.ie/news/human-rights-groups-victims-and-families-call-on-government-to-investigate-historic-human-rights-violations/ The report states that “Victims and survivors of outstanding violations from conflict-related violence in the South, including the Dublin and Monaghan bombings (1974) and the Sallins train robbery (1976), have not been provided with a formal and systematised approach to investigations and accountability.” It also says “Various UN treaty bodies have highlighted the lack of accountability and transparency for violations in Ireland, including concerns regarding the independence and effectiveness of GSOC to investigate instances of torture and ill-treatment…..The roundtable discussions revealed a general consensus on the need for a new legacy mechanism(s), or combination thereof, to investigate State and non-State actors in conflict and non-conflict related historical cases, to be established in consultation with survivors and families.” Conclusions include the lack of political will to proceed and the untapped potential of the inquest model. It calls on the Irish government to establish a Historical Investigations Unit (HIU) to investigate unresolved deaths and incidents of torture and ill-treatment, including (but not limited to) cases related to the Troubles.

CCI on Chernobyl drone attack and 3 years of war

When Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant was again attacked in February, Adi Roche, voluntary CEO of Chernobyl Children International (CCI), issued a statement which included “I appeal, on behalf of all humanity and as a first-step towards peace negotiations, that the deadly and toxic Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, with its thousands of tons and gallons of highly radioactive material, no longer be targeted, or used as an area of shelling, bombardment, and ground fighting under the Hague Convention. My worst nightmare in this conflict is that the tragedy of the Chernobyl disaster could be re-released on the world. I fear that this area…. could once again, have deadly radioactive contamination released which would spread everywhere, like a great and uncontrollable monster.” A further statement from Adi Roche came on 24^th February for the third anniversary of the war; “The war in Ukraine and this recent attack on Chernobyl has highlighted the dire need to formally recognise ‘Ecocide’—the deliberate destruction of the environment—as a crime under the International Criminal Court (ICC)…….Ecocide is not collateral damage; it is a targeted and systematic weapon of war. The radioactive contamination unleashed by military activity in Chernobyl has already affected thousands, with rising levels of long-lived radionuclides detected on civilians, particularly children, in heavily populated areas. This environmental devastation will have consequences for generations, further underscoring the urgency of holding perpetrators accountable…..We urge the Irish Government to support Ukraine’s initiative in advocating for the recognition of ecocide as a war crime under the Hague Convention…..” https://www.chernobyl-international.com/

Central Bank of Ireland and Israeli war bonds

The Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) is acts as the regulator of Israel bonds in Europe, taking over that role from the UK after Brexit. These fund the Israeli Treasury and are now marketed as ‘war bonds’. World Beyond War Ireland states “By providing this gateway into Europe for Israel bonds, the CBI is making itself complicit in funding genocide and apartheid. Under EU law (Regulation 2017/18, Article 32), CBI has the power — and the responsibility — to refuse to validate Israel bonds on the grounds that the ICJ has found that Israel is plausibly committing genocide” (though a ceasefire began on 19^th January). https://tinyurl.com/mvnkste7

lThe international report for World Beyond War/WBW for 2024 can be found at https://tinyurl.com/y558zdth

Terminal illness: LNG storage for Ireland?

Friends of the Earth/FOE are campaigning against a liquefied natural gas/LNG terminal for Ireland – LNG has been shown to be worse than coal burning for its carbon footprint by the time it is shipped here. FOE are organising email letters to the Taoiseach and Minister for Climate; they point out that the government plan to go ahead with an LNG terminal has not been backed up with analysis and it may be cosying up to President Trump. See https://www.friendsoftheearth.ie/act/make-sure-government-says-no-to-climate-wrecking-lng/

Race hate crimes in North hit high in summer 2024

Amnesty International has expressed concern at the level of racist hate crime in Northern Ireland, as new figures published show attacks hit an all-time high during summer 2024; these are in a report by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA), which tracked recorded hate crimes and incidents for the twelve months to the end of December 2024. The report reveals that there were 1,777 racist incidents and 1,150 racist crimes recorded by the police during 2024. There were 454 more race incidents and 292 more race crimes recorded in 2024 than the previous year. Six of the eight highest monthly levels of race incidents since records began in 2004 were recorded between May and October 2024. Amnesty International Northern Ireland director Patrick Corrigan stated ““Tackling racism and hate crime in Northern Ireland will require not just a more consistent response from the police but unambiguous political leadership and effective strategies from the Executive, something which has hitherto been lacking.” See https://www.amnesty.org.uk/press-releases/northern-ireland-latest-police-figures-show-race-hate-crimes-hit-all-time-high which has a link to the report.

Introduction to Eco Congregation Ireland

Eco Congregation Ireland/ECI produces a valuable monthly round up of religious/church involvement in green issues in all parts of Ireland and you can subscribe to receive it on their website. https://www.ecocongregationireland.com/ They also have a new flyer introducing ECI. https://www.ecocongregationireland.com/2025/02/23/eci-flyer-available/ and the possibilities for local churches to go green.

ICC summer school at Irish Centre for Human Rights

2025 is the 25^th year that the Irish Centre for Human Rights in Galway has run a summer school on the International Criminal Court; this year it runs from 9^th – 13 June. Participants follow a series of lectures given by leading academics, as well as by legal professionals, including those working at the International Criminal Court. The participation fee is €475 and further info is at https://universityofgalwayichr.clr.events/event/137231:summer-school-on-the-international-criminal-court-2025 The website also gives details of upcoming talks.

Uncertainty at Spirit AeroSystems, Belfast

What the implications are for jobs and involvement in military related production, including dual use, remains uncertain as Spirit AeroSystems (formerly Bombardier), Belfast’s largest private sector employer, faces the possibility of being broken up with Airbus purchasing the part of it producing its A220 aircraft wings while Boeing has been negotiating a takeover of Spirit AeroSystems. Wordsearch for further information.

Síolta Chroí programme

‘Tis the season to start growing again and the current programme at Síolta Chroí, Carrickmacross, Monaghan, includes a workshop on food growing with Joanne Butler on Saturday 24^th March along with much else, e.g. a workshop on syntropic agriculture on 8^th March. See https://sioltachroi.ie/

INNATE change of address

INNATE’s postal address is changing, with immediate effect, to 24 Broughton Park, Belfast BT6 0BD (from the previous long term address of 16 Ravensdene Park). Other contact details including the ‘landline’ (actually VOIP) phone number +44 28 90647106, web addresses and the email address innate@ntlworld.com will remain unchanged.

Troubles victims: CAJ report on reform of ICRIR

With the change in government in Britain, what is Labour going to do concerning the infamous Northern Ireland Legacy Act which it promised to repeal, and the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR) established by it? Since coming to power Labour have announced they will keep the ICRIR (which already has an enormous number of staff) but with some changes, including ensuring its independence; this detailed 98 page report examines what substantive root and branch reform of the ICRIR might look like and whether it would be sufficient to gain public confidence and ensure ECHR compatibility. The report includes comparison with the Stormont House Agreement proposed HIU/Historical Investigations Unit and it is extremely valuable and detailed commentary.

https://caj.org.uk/publications/reports/what-could-substantive-root-and-branch-reform-of-the-icrir-look-like-and-would-it-be-enough/

PANA: Deliberate confusion in FF, FG election manifestos

In a press release in November well before the election, PANA/Peace And Neutrality Alliance, pointed to pieces in Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael manifestos which are “very vague and confusing”. Fianna Fáil in its manifesto says it will “‘continue to protect and promote Ireland’s military neutrality including sensible reform of the ‘Triple Lock’ legislation.’  PANA goes on to say “Abandoning the Triple Lock signifies a serious diminution of our commitment to the UN system, to UN peace-keeping efforts, and to multilateralism. This was borne out in the government’s March 2023 decision to withdraw approximately 130 defence personnel from the Golan Heights to ‘ensure that the Defence Forces have the capacity to fulfil their commitment to the EU Battlegroup 2024/2025’. “ Regarding Fine Gael, PANA goes on to say “Fine Gael appears more open in their support for this emerging EU military structure, through EU Battlegroups, and the PESCO agreement. …. the Fine Gael General Election 2024 Manifesto states, ‘we will enhance cooperation between our Defence Forces and international partners, including the United Nations, European Union, and NATO’. “ PANA website is at www.pana.ie    

Building bridges, bridging gaps – Peacebuilding in Northern Ireland

A new 14-page PDF pamphlet from INNATE chronicles the journey of Belfast woman Laura Coulter through a wide variety of peacebuilding activities in the Northern Ireland context, and in one case abroad, in Nepal. In this pamphlet Laura Coulter looks at how she became involved in the first place and the very different contexts she has worked in – before and during the ‘peace process’ in the North. It is on the INNATE website under Pamphlets, click on ‘Much more’ on the menu bar, or download directly at https://innatenonviolence.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Laura-Coulter-Building-Bridges-Final-24.12.pdf

Gaza, Palestine, Ireland

Afri have published a short but very powerful pamphlet ‘Palestine, Gaza and Ireland: a Shared History of Colonial Persecution’. The booklet contains the texts from the 2024 Afri Doolough Famine Walk leaders Faten Sourani and Donal O’Kelly, and a talk given by Iain Atack at Afri’s Féile na Beatha in Carlow. The publication is available on the Afri website in their publications section at https://www.afri.ie/publications/education-publications/

Afri also runs a solar lights campaign for Africa, see https://www.afri.ie/donate/

l A reflection by Centre for Global Education (CGE) director Stephen McCloskey after a year of the war in Gaza appears in Z at https://znetwork.org/znetarticle/a-year-of-israels-genocide-in-gaza-a-reflection/ The CGE website is at https://www.centreforglobaleducation.com/

Election asks, party analysis from ICCL, FOE

While the general election in the Republic is over, ICCL/Irish Council for Civil Liberties’ election asks or manifesto https://www.iccl.ie/2024/iccl-2024-ge-manifesto/ and analysis of the political parties’ policies/manifestos https://www.iccl.ie/digital-data/general-election-manifestos-iccls-human-rights-analysis/ make for very informative reading.

lMeanwhile Friends of the Earth’s analysis of party positions is at https://www.friendsoftheearth.ie/news/five-party-leaders-pledge-faster-and-fairer-climate-action-i/ but as FOE director Oisín Coghlan concludes there, “After the election it will be the negotiations on a Programme from Government that will actually determine the direction of Irish climate action.”

Corrymeela: Belfast office, appeal

While the Belfast office of Corrymeela acts primarily as work space for Belfast based staff, this is now at the Skainos Centre, 239 Newtownards Road, Belfast BT4 1AF (Ballycastle remains the primary centre). You can see and support Corrymeela’s ‘Shine a light for peace’ appeal at https://www.corrymeela.org/donate/shine-a-light-for-peace with full info on Corrymeela’s work at https://www.corrymeela.org/

Glencree 50, call for new directors

The Glencree Centre for Reconciliation has been marking the 50th anniversary of its founding. This has included a dialogue on ‘Between Memory and Legacy, Navigating The Dark Past of Irish History’ with a recording available at https://glencree.ie/events/glencree50-event-the-glencree-dialogue-series/ This reference also includes links to reports of an event which took place marking Glencree founder and prominent member Una O’Higgins O’Malley and to a reunion weekend which was held for former volunteers.

Glencree is seeking to add three new Trustees to its Board of Directors to continue leading on the work of the Board in line with its strategic plan; these are voluntary posts and they are particularly looking for people with experience in peacebuilding, marketing and communications, fundraising, and IT. The closing date is 15^th December and details are at https://glencree.ie/featured/call-for-board-director/

Chernobyl Children International – address change, appeal

Chernobyl Children International’s address has changed….they have moved just three doors away from their previous home. Their postal address is now 4 The Stables, Alfred Street, Cork T23 VPX2 but other details remain the same. Meanwhile you can support their Christmas appeal at https://www.chernobyl-international.com/donate/

Mitchell Institute annual review

The comprehensive 2023-2024 annual review from the Senator George J. Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice at Queen’s University Belfast can be found at https://mailchi.mp/qub/annual-review-2023-2024?e=0cc0f657e5

16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence

This campaign continues until 10^th December (Human Rights Day) and has already been marked in different locations in Ireland. See e.g. https://www.unwomen.org/en/get-involved/16-days-of-activism and https://www.who.int/campaigns/16-days-of-activism-against-gender-based-violence/2024

Muck map of the North

Friends of the Earth in the UK and others have produced a ‘muck map’ concerning intensive and factory farming waste, including coverage of Northern Ireland and how rivers and loughs are affected https://friendsoftheearth.uk/nature/muck-map-how-much-factory-farm-waste-does-your-area-produce NI firm Moy Park (whose ultimate owner is Brazilian) appears among the worst offenders. Most of the North appears as high on the production scale, and Lough Neagh is one of the worst affected areas. FOE-NI is at https://friendsoftheearth.uk/northern-ireland and https://www.facebook.com/foenorthernireland/

Church and Peace: Resisting war today

Reports and material from Church and Peace, a peace church network, on their European conference in October, “Resisting War Today – Preparing Collective Nonviolent Alternatives” can be found on their website at
https://www.church-and-peace.org/en/european-conference-2024/

‘Cultivating Solidarity and Hope in a Fractured World‘

The Social Change Initiative (SCI) has a webinar on this topic with with Eric Ward and Deepa Iyer, leading social justice activists from the United States, taking place on Wednesday, 4th December at 4:00 pm Irish Time with the platform being Zoom. Book at https://tinyurl.com/2k3xsevk The SCI website is at https://www.socialchangeinitiative.com/

Death of Derick Wilson

We regret to record the death of Derick Wilson, a major figure for many many years in the peace and reconciliation scene in the North, a mentor to many, and also a major figure in both youth work training and initiatives on conflict. Among his many inolvements he was Corrymeela Centre Director from 1978 to 1985 and co–founder of the Understanding Conflict Trust. The Corrymeela page about him is at https://www.corrymeela.org/news/248/derick-wilson-19472024 with links to a couple of tributes given at his memorial service. There is a photo of him at Corrymeela in 2015 at https://tinyurl.com/52cm6b8p

AI-NI annual lecture, on genocide in Palestine

Francesca Albanese will give Amnesty Northern Ireland’s annual lecture on the topic of Israeli genocide in the Occupied Palestinian Territory; online on Tuesday 3 December (6pm). Free registration is available at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/genocide-as-colonial-erasure-tickets-1086907111429

Triple Lock and the election

With a general election happening in the Republic, there are many issues on which citizens will try to get commitments from prospective politicians. One such is the Triple Lock which the outgoing government, and in particular Micheál Martin, have been trying to ditch but which is a guarantee that Ireland will not get mixed up in wars fought by NATO or, forthcoming, the EU. See the StoP website at https://swordstoploughsharesireland.org/

Nonviolence and empowerment, nonviolence and democracy

Iranian-Canadian political philosopher Ramin Jahanbegloo will be visiting Northern Ireland in late November and providing programme for different organisations, including INNATE. Ramin Jahanbegloo has written many books including a number on Gandhi and on nonviolence (a word search will show up bio details and YouTube interviews).

On Thursday 28^th November at 3pm he will speak on ‘Nonviolence and empowerment’ at a meeting in Belfast, venue to be finalised, sponsored by Conflict Textiles, the Hume O’Neill Chair in Peace (Ulster University), and INNATE. Bookings to https://tinyurl.com/raminnonviolence and the INNATE website will have the venue as soon as it is finalised. The same evening, at 7.30pm on 28^th November he will contribute to an online webinar on ‘Nonviolence and democracy building’; this is open to anyone interested, anywhere, and bookings should come to the INNATE email address, innate@ntlworld.com with the subject heading ‘Ramin Jahanbegloo webinar’. PDF flyers with more info sent out with email edition of Nonviolent News and are on the website.

Corrymeela

The Corrymeela website at https://www.corrymeela.org/ has a full listing of upcoming open events as well as full information on programmes (sectarianism, public theology, nurturing hope, marginalisation, legacies of conflict). On Saturday 30th* November  from 1 – 4 pm there is a Christmas open day with Santa, refreshments, crafts, story time, movies, and stalls. [Please note this is a change from Corrymeela’s previous notice of it happening the following day, 1st December. Admission free] The next Dialogue for Peaceful Change (DpC) training is from 24^th – 28^th March; this is a four–day immersive experience designed to provide participants with practical tools for managing and transforming conflict. Details on the website at https://www.corrymeela.org/events/255/dialogue-for-peaceful-change-training

Sign up to Lex Innocentium 21^st Century

Lex Innocentium 21^st Century, a modern take on Adomnán’s 697 CE ‘Law of the Innocents’, is now taking online signatures at https://lexinnocentium21.ie/ and there is full information there. Lex Innocentium, 21st Century states itself to be “a bottom-up, soft-power, moral people’s law that declares that War is a Crime against Humanity, War is a Crime against the Earth, War is a Crime against the Future”. As well as a general video of the day, the talks and messages from the launch are available, see under ‘About us’ on the website.

CAJ: Hiring communications officer, report on policing of protest

CAJ, the Committee on the Administration of Justice, is hiring a communications officer to co-ordinate communications, promotional and PR activity for CAJ, including related stakeholder engagement, CAJ’s online presence, publications, events and other products; they will join the current team of seven. Deadline is 8^th November. https://caj.org.uk/latest/caj-is-recruiting-2/ Meanwhile a short report on the CAJ and ICCL joint conference last March on “The Policing of Protest: A Shifting Landscape?” is available via https://caj.org.uk/publications/reports/the-policing-of-protest-a-shifting-landscape/ This concludes that “there is much work to be done to ensure that the PSNI and An Garda Síochána fully protect, respect and fulfil the right to protest on an equal basis for all protesters. Perceptions of uneven and biased responses to protest are strong and undermine public trust and public confidence in both services.”

SCI: Changing perspectives in the North, and dealing with that

SCI/the Social Change Initiative has worked with a range of community leaders to delve into data emerging from the World Values Survey in Northern Ireland and a new 20 page report is available which draws on the lessons learned from the experience of supporting communities to use data to think about values and to unpack why people hold particular views. Using the WVS data, five segments of NI society were identified – disaffected pessimists, anti-establishment urbanities, comfortable progressives, moderate traditionalists and confident individualists (obviously this way beyond the usual and traditional NI designations). The report is available at https://issuu.com/sci_belfast/docs/sci_lessons_learned and may help thinking about how to move issues forward in the North. It states, for example, that “Although Northern Ireland remains a deeply divided society…there has in fact been considerable attitudinal, political and demographic change in the last 25 years. This shift is not always apparent in the public narrative, which often fails to reflect the plurality of perspectives and identities that exist…”

Cork: Strong support for closure of Collins Aerospace

30^th October saw another strong demonstration at Collins Aerospace in Cork demanding its closure; it was organised by Action Against War, Cork Neutrality League and the Cork Palestine Solidarity Campaign. Collins Aerospace is a Cork subsidiary of RTX Corporation – formerly Raytheon, one of the world’s largest armaments manfacturers. Among other military entanglements Collins Aerospace has a role in the development of a new NATO helicopter. Contact: Dominic Carroll corkneutralityleague@gmail.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/action.against.war_/

Hate crime law passes Dáil

After various controversies and impasses, the Criminal Justice (Hate Offences) Bill 2022 passed all stages in the Oireachtas, meaning that it can now be signed into law; it will provide for increased prison sentences for certain crimes, where proven to be motivated by hatred, or where hatred is demonstrated. Hate speech elements were not included in the final legislation. Various groups have campaigned for hate crime laws for years. The Hate Crime Coalition previously stated “much more needs to be done in support of it, including enhanced training for criminal justice actors, improved reporting, better monitoring and data collection, enhanced victim supports, and public awareness campaigns on the legislation and the specific nature and impact of hate crime. Ultimately, we should all be working towards preventing hate crime from happening in the first place, including through education and awareness raising.” [Quote source; ICCL www.iccl.ie press release for Coalition Against Hate Crime]

Harland & Wolff: Green energy not battle ships?

A proposal has been made about iconic Belfast shipyard Harland & Wolff which went into administration in September. The Common Wealth think tank in Britain has proposed an arms length company be set up by the British government to buy the shipyard and re-orient towards offshore wind energy production. This proposal is part of Common Wealth’s “A Lucas Plan for the Twenty First Century” https://www.common-wealth.org/publications/a-lucas-plan-for-the-twenty-first-century-from-asset-manager-arsenal-to-green-industrial-strategy and see also https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/oct/18/uk-should-repurpose-belfast-shipyard-to-make-green-infrastructure?CMP=share_btn_url

Quaker hub in Belfast

Frederick Street Friends Meeting House (FMH) in central Belfast is positioned in an emerging vibrant part of Belfast with Ulster University’s new main campus right beside. It is undergoing a major development including Quaker Service moving to be based there and the intention to make it a Quaker hub; there is a fundraising appeal for this, see https://quakers-in-ireland.ie/2024/10/10/appeal-for-frederick-street-quaker-hub/ for more information and contacts. See also Billy King item in email and web editions.

FOE: Climate justice day of action

Friends of the Earth Ireland has a Climate Justice Day of Action on Tuesday 12^th November where they invite people to get out into their communities and talk to neighbours, friends, family or indeed local politicians about the most pressing climate justice issues of the day. See https://www.friendsoftheearth.ie/events/climate-justice-day-of-action/

Housmans Diary 2025

The end is nigh, of 2024 at least, and time for those who use a paper diary to consider what they want. For the peace activist, Housmans Peace Diary with its World Peace Directory is an obvious choice – handy if you find yourself in Armenia or Australia to only cover a couple of the ‘A’s, or you want contacts there. It has a week to a view, quotations, and dates for celebration or protest and in the directory over 1,400 peace, environmental and human rights groups around the world. UK£9.95 plus postage, discount on 10 or more in UK postal area. Order at https://housmans.com/peace-diary/

l A more extensive version of the World Peace Directory in the 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.

CCI: Continuing developments in its Chernobyl work

Chernobyl Children International (CCI) continually strives to improve the services it provides in Chernobyl affected regions, e.g. their Hospice and Community Care team partnered with their Nursing team for a specialised training, where they expanded their knowledge in therapeutic massage and physical therapy. A 5-minute video on Chernobyl and the work of CCI is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0MUmRcrDaY See also the CCI website at https://www.chernobyl-international.com/

Lex Innocentium 21^st 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, 18^th – 19^th October

The annual conference of the Mediators’ Institute of Ireland (MII) takes place in Belfast from 18^th – 19^th 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 20^th 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 24^th 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 9^th – 10^th November, and a “Deepening and Integrating NVC” course on 12^th – 13^th 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.

ICND: Annual commemoration of Hiroshima, Dublin,                6^th August

Irish CND/Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament will mark the 79^th anniversary of the Hiroshima bombing, which took place on 6th August 1945, holding the customary annual commemoration in Merrion Square in Dublin.

The ceremony will take place at the memorial cherry tree in Merrion Square Park, at 1.10 p.m. on Tuesday 6^th August. There will be short speeches by Deputy Lord Mayor Donna Cooney, Japanese ambassador Mr Norio Maruyama, and Irish CND vice-president Adi Roche (CEO of Chernobyl Children International). There will also be contributions of music and poetry, and a wreath of flowers will be laid at the tree at the close of the commemoration.

An estimated 80,000 people were directly killed by the bomb dropped on Hiroshima, with casualties reaching 140,000 within a year. Approximately 14,000 nuclear weapons remain in the world today, more than enough to destroy life on earth as we know it many times over.

Irish CND goes on to say: “Sadly, the dark shadow of the possibility of nuclear war looms more grimly than perhaps ever before. Russian nuclear weapons are now stationed in Belarus. Plans to resume the stationing of US nuclear weapons in the UK have been widely reported. Spending on nuclear weapons reached more than $90 billion last year, a shocking new high. Nuclear weapons states are all engaged in modernising their arsenals and delivery systems. We’ve heard bellicose rhetoric about the potential use of nuclear weapons from government representatives in Israel and Russia, and from Republican lawmakers in the United States. It would only take a moment of madness to plunge the world into an irreversible nuclear war.

“We must meet darkness with positive hope and determination. Wherever you are, even if you are not in a position to join us in person this year, please do join us in spirit to stand in solidarity with the victims of these horrific weapons of mass destruction, and to affirm our determination to work for their elimination, the only way to ensure that the ghastly events of Hiroshima and Nagasaki will not be repeated.”

http://irishcnd.blogspot.ie/

Hiroshima commemoration, Galway, 3^rd August

The annual Hiroshima event organised by GAAW/Galway Alliance Against War will be on Saturday 3^rd August at 2pm at Spanish Arch, Galway; the speaker will be Jeremy Corbyn MP. GAAW continues to be active in a variety of areas including Shannon antiwar solidarity, work to get trade unions to oppose US military use of Shannon, working to defend the Triple Lock, and demanding the freedom of the city be removed from Hilary Clinton for her opposition to a ceasefire in Gaza. You can get put on their mailing list to be kept up to date: galwayallianceagainstwar@gmail.com and https://www.facebook.com/groups/312442090965

At 6pm, also on 3^rd August, there will be a book launch of “Poetry for the many: An Anthology” with Jeremy Corbyn and Len McCloskey in Charlie Byrne’s Bookshop, Middle Street, Galway.

And PANA pinpoints part of the problem

A press release from PANA/Peace And Neutrality Alliance includes the following – “According to Roger Cole of PANA, “the NATO military alliance will not accept an emerging multipolar world, our foreign policy is based on hypocritical “double standards” on international law and on global conflicts, that has become the main driving force for a New Cold War Arms Race.”

The United States announced plans to install long-range Cruise missiles in Germany following an agreement reached at the recent NATO summit in Washington. Russian President Putin responded: “If the US implements such plans, we will consider ourselves free from the previously imposed unilateral moratorium on the deployment of intermediate and shorter-range strike weapons.”

The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) latest report “Surge: Global Nuclear Weapons Spending 2023” exposes the massive increase in global nuclear weapons spending. In 2023, nine nuclear armed countries spent $91.4 billion on nuclear weapons.

In 2023, military spending by NATO EU countries amounted to €215 billion, so you might expect that our Irish government representatives are out there trying to calm conflicts around the world, advocating peace, diplomacy and an end to this arms race. According to Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, newly promoted Fine Gael Minister of State with responsibility for EU Affairs and Defence. ‘We spend about €1.2bn (or 0.23pc of GDP) on defence. NATO members have a target of spending 2pc of GDP, or almost 10 times as much…I believe €3bn is a target we now need to be working steadily toward.’

PANA asks you to support those regular protests organised by Shannonwatch/IPSC at Shannon Airport for the month of August and the Annual Irish CND Hiroshima Commemoration that will be held next Tuesday 6^th August in Merrion Square, Dublin.” https://www.pana.ie/

Shannon Warport vigils continue, big demo 8^th September

Anti-war vigils are taking place all day every weekend (Saturday and Sunday) in July and August at Shannon Airport with the theme “US military out of Shannon – No complicity with war crimes”. kinvarasolidarity@gmail.com and https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61554239395818 but for seeing the timetable and slots to volunteer contact Barry Sweeney barrysweeney11@gmail.com Meanwhile IPSC/Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign is organising a major national protest at Shannon on Sunday 8^th September to coincide with the regular monthly Shannonwatch peace vigil which normally takes place at 2pm. See also http://www.shannonwatch.org/

Action Against War, Cork, and Collins Aerospace protest

A new campaign group has been established in Cork, initially under the auspices of the Cork Neutrality League. Action Against War (AAW) will campaign against Ireland’s and the EU’s increasing militarism and in defence of neutrality. The group is opposed to colonialism and imperialism, and supports liberation struggles in Palestine, Myanmar, the Sahrawi Republic (Western Sahara) and others.

The groups says: “We will campaign to keep Ireland neutral – a neutrality rooted in anti-colonialism. We defend a neutrality where Ireland sides with anti-colonial struggles – for instance, with the struggle in Palestine – and against colonisers and imperialists. That’s how neutrality was defined more than a hundred years ago when the Irish Neutrality League was set up by James Connolly and fellow revolutionaries. That’s what neutrality means to us today.”

AAW aims to to build a united front against militarism and war involving campaign groups (including Palestine-solidarity groups, anti-racism groups, tenants’ groups), trade unions, left political parties, student groups and other progressive associations and individuals.

Campaign activity in Cork will include protests at Collins Aerospace (a Cork subsidiary of RTX Corporation – formerly Raytheon), at the Tyndall National Institute (a “deep-tech research centre”), and at other military-oriented (including dual-use exporters) companies and institutions. Shannon Airport and government parties will also be a focus for protests. AAW will support the national protest at Shannon Airport on 8th September.

On Wednesday 7th August from 3 – 5pm, AAW and the Cork Palestine Solidarity Campaign will hold a joint protest at Collins Aerospace, Lower Glanmire Road, Cork.

Contact: Dominic Carroll corkneutralityleague@gmail.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/action.against.war_/

War planes in Irish skies

The Irish state has failed to block at the High Court an action by independent Senator Gerard Craughwell concerning a secret deal allowing the British Royal Air Force/RAF to intercept aircraft inside Irish airspace. Senator Craughwell has claimed any such deal is illegal and unconstitutional. See https://www.thejournal.ie/state-loses-high-court-action-to-block-senator-gerard-craughwell-case-over-secret-raf-air-policing-deal-6430367-Jul2024/

A Borda border poll, Belfast

Having proposed various constitutional arrangements, participants, for the first time ever, will cast their decision-making preferences in a multi-option border poll; they will vote at www.debordavote.com on their mobile phones on a (short) list of about six of these options, and, a few nanoseconds later, the result will emerge. 11-12 o’clock, Saturday 3rd August as an event in Féile an Phobail, at St Mary’s University College, Falls Road, Belfast. Chair – Eilish Rooney; Notes – Tommy Sands; Words – Peter Emerson. https://feilebelfast.com/events/should-majority-voting-a-cause-of-the-troubles-be-part-of-the-solution/?occurrence=2024-08-03 and see also http://www.deborda.org/

Good Relations Week deadline

Good Relations Week in Northern Ireland runs from Monday 16^th to Sunday 22^nd September with the opportunity to showcase work done and learn about others’ approaches; the theme is ‘OpportUNiTY’. The deadline for the inclusion of events is Friday 6^th September. See https://goodrelationsweek.com/

Síolta Chroí: Introduction to ecosystem restoration

An introduction to ecosystem restoration course takes place at Síolta Chroí ecosystem restoration demonstration site in Carrickmacross, Monaghan, on Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th of August (10:00am – 4:00 pm). The course is subsidised by a European project funded by Leargas and so it is only €50 for the two days. Participants will explore how they and their community can begin to be part of the movement of people that are working to restore local and global ecosystems. https://sioltachroi.ie/product/an-introduction-ecosystem-restoration-for-community-groups/

Stair na Síochána in Éirinn

This 300 page book, in Irish, by Risteárd Mac Annraoi on the history of peace in Ireland is an important addition to thinking about peace and the story of peace in Ireland. It is published by Coiscéim at €20. It is available at some Irish language booksellers (e.g. An Siopa Leabhar in Harcourt Street, Dublin) and by post (search online). It is reviewed by Máire Úna Ní Bheaglaoich in the email and web editions of this issue of Nonviolent News.

New Afri Coordinator

The incoming coordinator of Afri is Katie Martin, taking up appointment at the start of September; Joe Murray, Afri coordinator for the past thirty years is retiring at that point. Katie Martin is a Global Citizenship Education practitioner who has worked with Development Perspectives since 2018 and has been Coordinator of the post-primary projects (the SDG Challenge Schools and Water Wise Explorers). She has a BA in International Relations and an MA in International Peacebuilding, Security and Development Practice, and is a member of Comhlámh Justice for Palestine, a former Board Member of AfrI, and an activist. Meanwhile Joe Murray was surprised with a farewell party he knew nothing about, at the Teachers’ Club in Dublin on 6^th June…a hundred people gathered to pay tribute to him and the work Afri engages in without him knowing anything about it beforehand! Afri website www.afri.ie For a photo of Katie and Joe at the farewell party for Joe, see https://www.flickr.com/photos/innateireland/53826121818/in/dateposted/

lAfri Doolough Famine Walk video

A 12 minute video on this year’s Afri Doolough Famine Walk, including extracts from powerful talks by Faten Sourani and Donal O’Kelly on Palestine, is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2iCG99vN_E with the text of those talks available on the Afri website at www.afri.ie

Conflict Textiles; Threads of Empowerment

A new Conflict Textiles exhibition, Threads of Empowerment, with nearly thirty arpilleras on violence and conflict, human rights violations, poverty, oppression and environmental issues, is on display in the Ulster Muesum, Belfast, until January 2025. It is arguably the most powerful presentation of arpilleras in Ireland to date. Other contemporary displays of arpilleras/textiles are in The Troubles and Beyond exhibition also at Ulster Museum; at McClay Library, QUB; UU Coleraine campus and Belfast campus; Linenhall Library, Belfast; Tower Museum, Derry; the Regional Cultural Centre, Letterkenny; and Ballymoney Museum. Full details at https://cain.ulster.ac.uk/conflicttextiles/ and click on ‘Events’.

Shannon vigils, July and August

Suggested by Kinvara Palestine group, in the summer months there will be an increased number of anti-war vigils at Shannon with vigils proposed every weekend with the theme “US military out of Shannon – No complicity with war crimes”. kinvarasolidarity@gmail.com and https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61554239395818 but for seeing the timetable and slots to volunteer contact Barry Sweeney barrysweeney11@gmail.com

GAAW: Galway Alliance Against War – Hiroshima and more

GAAW’s annual Hiroshima event will be on Saturday 3^rd August at 2pm in Eyre Square, Galway; the speaker will be Jeremy Corbyn. GAAW continues to be active in a variety of areas including Shannon antiwar solidarity, work to get trade unions to oppose US military use of Shannon, working to defend the Triple Lock, and demanding the freedom of the city be removed from Hilary Clinton for her opposition to a ceasefire in Gaza. You can get put on their mailing list to be kept up to date: galwayallianceagainstwar@gmail.com and https://www.facebook.com/groups/312442090965

Caverns are not great gas

Campaigners against giant gas caverns in Larne Lough won a victory in the NI Court of Appeal in mid June when there was a ruling that the matter should have gone to the whole Northern Ireland Executive. Campaigners, including No Gas Caverns, Friends of the Earth NI, and the PILS Project, celebrated the overturning of a previous decision by the (ir)responsible minister to allow these giant caverns to be made locking the North into fossil fuels and with great environmental risks. Word search for further info and see https://friendsoftheearth.uk/climate/no-gas-caverns-under-larne-lough

Tools for Solidarity: 40

From 3^rd to 7^th July, Tools for Solidarity is celebrating four decades of work. The big celebration event will be on Friday 5^th July at the Dockers’ Club, 57 Pilot Street, Belfast with the Hoakers and others, plus Tim McGarry and Terri Hooley; 7.30pm for 8pm, suggested donation £10/£7 unwaged. There is an open day workshop at their Sunnyside (up!) Street headquarters, Belfast from 11am – 5pm, also on 5^th July, and the following day, 6^th July, a treasure hunt beginning at Belfast City Hall at 12 noon. Tools For Solidarity is a not-for-profit organisation in Belfast which is fully run by international, local and supported volunteers; the main focus is to support artisans in the poorest parts of the world and mostly in the countries of Africa. Lots more info at https://www.toolsforsolidarity.com/

Mairead Maguire on Gaza

For links to talks by Nobel peace laureate Mairead Maguire on Gaza, and a written A plea for peace by a mother, see News items at http://www.peacepeople.com/

ICCL campaigns for Special Criminal Court abolition

ICCL, the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, continues to campaign for the abolition of the jury-less Special Criminal Court, 52 years after it was introduced as an ‘emergency’ measure. Two different review groups have been established by the government to examine the Offences Against the State Acts and the Special Criminal Court, with reports in 2002 and 2023 but, to date, none of their recommendations have been implemented. ICCL continues to call for the Special Criminal Court to be abolished and the jury system to be reformed to protect jurors with proportionate measures ensuring human rights are not interfered with. https://www.iccl.ie/police-justice-reform/state-of-emergency-52-years-of-the-special-criminal-court/

CGE: Reimagining Development podcasts

The Centre for Global Education (CGE) in Belfast https://www.centreforglobaleducation.com/ has a new series of podcasts which aim to discuss new ways of thinking about and practising global education and international development. Go to https://open.spotify.com/show/0I9MX9YXBsq6Ldon9jyIQp

Amnesty International on ‘shocking’ PSNI surveillance report

Amnesty International’s Patrick Corrigan has said that ‘The police appear to have forgotten that journalism is not a crime’ following the publication of a Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) report on their use of surveillance on journalists and lawyers. This showed 323 applications for journalists’ phone data including 10 attempts to identify confidential sources and 500 applications for lawyers’ phone data raising questions on compromised lawyer-client confidentiality in the reporting period 2011-2024. AI has also expressed concern about a 21% increase in the use of various forms of force by PSNI in the year to April 2024. https://www.amnesty.org.uk/issues/Northern-Ireland

Political advocacy and communications with Rochtain/ICCL

Rochtain is taking expressions of interest in its training to build advocacy capacity and understanding of the political system with smaller community and grassroots organisations around the Republic. It has already provided three rounds of online training to over 150 organisations plus 1-to-1 sessions. Training is provided free. There is a survey on needs at https://www.surveyhero.com/c/gbmfunuy and you can enquire directly to ronan.kennedy@iccl.ie

Eco-Congregation small grants scheme

Eco-Congregation Ireland (ECI) has a new small grants scheme for churches and congregations for small scale practical projects which are either already running or will begin before the end of 2024. The church or congregation must have already registered with ECI (a very simple process) and begun their Eco-Congregation journey. The closing date for applications is 31st July. https://www.ecocongregationireland.com/ You can also sign up there to receive the regular ECI newsletter.

FOE Cuppa for Climate

Friends of the Earth Ireland is continuing its Cuppa for Climate campaign as a way of helping bring people together to talk about the climate crisis in an informal yet constructive way that leads to an invitation to explore positive actions together. It can be used as a fundraiser and/or as a way to mobilise people locally. More info at https://www.friendsoftheearth.ie/cuppa-for-climate/signup and see also their Act Local project https://www.friendsoftheearth.ie/act-local/

Bremen Peace Prize

Church and Peace has welcomed the award of the the Bremen Peace Prize, from the Schwelle Foundation, to its board member Maria Biedrawa for her work in various African countries including the Central African Republic: Connection e.V. was awarded the group peace prize simultaneously for its work protecting conscientious objectors. https://dieschwelle.de/en/home https://www.church-and-peace.org/en/

World Beyond War resources

While some of the material is US-centric, World Beyond War has a large variety of useful resources on its website including many podcasts, go to https://worldbeyondwar.org/resources/ and you can select what kind of material you are interested in.

Síolta Chroí courses

Courses at Síolta Chroí over the summer include An introduction to Ecosystem Renewal for community groups on 10^th and 11^th August, and a one day taster on Syntropic Agriculture (respecting the principles of life) on 13^th July, both in Carrickmacross, Monaghan. More info at https://sioltachroi.ie/