{"id":1536,"date":"2026-03-02T14:52:20","date_gmt":"2026-03-02T14:52:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/innatenonviolence.org\/wp\/?p=1536"},"modified":"2026-03-02T14:52:20","modified_gmt":"2026-03-02T14:52:20","slug":"news-march-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/innatenonviolence.org\/wp\/2026\/03\/02\/news-march-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"News, March 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

Local councils including Galway support Triple Lock retention<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

While at a government level Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael remain determined to remove the Triple Lock on the deployment of Irish troops overseas, at a local level grassroots democracy is more at work and a number of local councils, a dozen or so, have backed its retention. This includes Galway City Council which initially refused to even discuss the matter until GAAW\/Galway Alliance Against War mobilised and<\/span> campaigned on the issue and achieved a \u2018retain\u2019 vote in February with one councillor from both FF and FG having the courage to vote against the party line. https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/312442090965\/<\/u><\/span><\/a> Councils who have supported<\/span> the retention of the Triple Lock are Cavan, Clare, Derry & Strabane, Donegal, Dublin South, Galway City, Galway County, Louth, Mayo, Mid Ulster, Waterford, and Wexford. Limerick and Dublin City are still considering\/voting. Standing orders have precluded, or been used to prevent, some councils from considering the matter, e.g. Kildare.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

l<\/span> A poll in the Irish Times<\/i> 7\/2\/26 showed 71% of citizens in the Republic back a guarantee of neutrality being added to the Constitution (only 18% against); 45% wanted the Triple Lock retained, 35% removed, 21% don\u2019t know\/no opinion. See https:\/\/tinyurl.com\/p8ewrrfw<\/span><\/a> (pay wall) Note they didn\u2019t headline the remarkable 71%\u2026..<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

l <\/span>Particularly with the Irish government move to abolish the Triple Lock being around for so long \u2013 partly because of citizens\u2019 resistance – there can be confusion on the process. See PANA website https:\/\/www.pana.ie\/posts\/what-is-the-legislative-process-to-pass-the-changes-to-the-triple-lock<\/span><\/a> for the legislative process.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Can Ireland remain neutral? Ireland\u2019s place in a troubled world<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

This is a major conference on Saturday 7th<\/sup> March in Dublin organised by Lex Innocentium 21st<\/sup>C. Details at https:\/\/innatenonviolence.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Lex-Innocentium-event-March-7-2026-flyer.pdf<\/span><\/a> and the Lex website is at https:\/\/lexinnocentium21.ie\/<\/span><\/a> (no booking required). The conference is in Wynn\u2019s Hotel, Abbey Street, Dublin 1 and runs from 10am to 3.30pm. People providing input or chairing include John Maguire, Patrick Bresnihan, Rory Rowan, Carol Fox, Patricia McKenna, Eamon O Cuiv and Sean English, and there is also video input. An after lunch session focuses on \u201cExploration of options and strategies for saving the Triple Lock and Irish Neutrality\u201d.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Corrymeela 60 exhibition at Linen Hall Library<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

T<\/span>he Corrymeela Community in collaboration with <\/span>its<\/span> archive partners The Linen Hall Library <\/span>in Belfast <\/span>will celebrate 60 years of the Corrymeela Community with a free exhibition, \u201c<\/span>A<\/span>n Unfinished Journey Towards Peace\u201d<\/span><\/strong> at the<\/span>ir<\/span> Vertical Gallery between 1st April and 15th May. The exhibition will highlight the continuing need and work of the Community towards peace and reconciliation both here and abroad. It will also showcase the other organisations that have arisen through and out of Corrymeela\u2019s work of peacebuilding and reconciliation over the past 60 years.\u00a0\u00a0There will be a series of events from 1<\/span>st<\/span><\/sup>\u00a0April to 15<\/span>th<\/span><\/sup> May <\/span>(launch on 10<\/span>th<\/span><\/sup> April)<\/span> details later on Corrymeela website <\/span>https:\/\/www.corrymeela.org\/<\/span><\/span><\/a> or next issue of <\/span>Nonviolent News<\/i><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Northern Ireland: Was nonviolence an option in 1969?<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

One of the issues regarding the start of the Troubles in Northern Ireland in the period from 1969 is the simple one of why violence escalated and whether nonviolence was an option, at least theoretically. Involved in an online discussion on Zoom, \u201cWas nonviolence an option in 1969?\u201d will be veteran activists Felicity McCartney, Mairead McKeown and Rob Fairmichael, with the questions asked by Stefania Gualberti. It is organised by INNATE at 7.30pm on Wednesday 25th<\/sup> March as part of the Imagine! Belfast Festival of Ideas and Politics. See https:\/\/imaginebelfast.com\/event\/was-nonviolence-an-option-in-1969\/<\/u> (book through there) with the whole programme available at https:\/\/imaginebelfast.com\/2026-events-at-a-glance\/<\/u><\/span><\/a> It will be recorded.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

International Criminal Court summer school<\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n

The 26th annual Summer School on the International Criminal Court, hosted online by the Irish Centre for Human Rights <\/span><\/span>(ICHR)<\/span><\/span>, will take place from <\/span><\/span>8-11 June 2026<\/span><\/span>.\u00a0This is the premier summer school specialising on the International Criminal Court. 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 interactive course is suited to postgraduate students, legal <\/span><\/span>professionals, scholars and those working for non-governmental and intergovernmental organisation. <\/span><\/span>It will take place online and the 2026 programme will be announced in March; see <\/span><\/span>https:\/\/universityofgalwayichr.clr.events\/event\/139679<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a> with lots more info about ICHR events and study options on the website.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

ICCL 50, action on \u2018digital wallet\u2019, legal observers<\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n

President Connolly spoke at an event celebrating 50 years work by the Irish Council for Civil Liberties on 25th<\/sup> February where she congratulated them \u201cfor their courageous hard work over five decades, for their advocacy as a constant defender of human rights and for speaking truth to power without fear or favour.\u201d<\/i> w<\/u>ww.iccl.ie\/news\/iccl-50th-anniversary-event\/<\/u> (her speech is also on the website). ICCL has been active in relation to the Irish government\u2019s proposed \u2018digital wallet\u2019 for accessing social media on various grounds including pointing out that \u201cThe real harms children face online aren\u2019t caused by anonymity, but by the business models of Big Tech.\u201d\u00a0 See e.g. https:\/\/www.irishexaminer.com\/opinion\/commentanalysis\/arid-41782544.html<\/span><\/a> Meanwhile those interested in protest and public order policing can find out more about becoming a legal observer with the Irish Network of Legal Observers at https:\/\/www.iccl.ie\/iccl-irish-network-of-legal-observers\/<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

WRI online course: <\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Disarming the climate crisis<\/b><\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

F<\/span><\/span>rom April to July <\/span><\/span>WRI\/War Resisters\u2019 International is organising an online<\/span><\/span> Disarming the Climate Crisis<\/i><\/span><\/span> training programme<\/span><\/span>. <\/span><\/span><\/strong>In<\/span><\/span><\/strong> eight online sessions, activists, researchers and organisers from around the world will share their experience and knowledge of taking action at the intersection of militarism and the climate crisis. <\/span><\/span>It is<\/span><\/span> an opportunity to extend knowledge and understanding of the relationship between militarism and the climate crisis, confidence in taking action on these complex issues, and contribute to building solidarity networks internationally. <\/span><\/span>It will run fortnightly from <\/span><\/span>Tuesday<\/span><\/span> 21st April to 28th July, at 1:00-2:30pm UTC <\/span><\/span>(= Irish time). See <\/span><\/span>https:\/\/wri-irg.org\/en\/story\/2026\/disarming-climate-crisis-militarism-and-climate-justice-training<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a> for further info and registration; participation free, donation invited.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

l<\/span> An updated briefing from TNI\/Transnational Institute on the impact of the military on climate change is at https:\/\/www.tni.org\/en\/publication\/climate-collateral-2pagebriefing<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Handbook for Nonviolent Campaigns<\/i> from WRI<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The very useful and relatively comprehensive second edition of the \u201cHandbook for Nonviolent Campaigns\u201d published by War Resisters\u2019 International (WRI) in 2014 had a layout makeover in 2025 and is available for downloading at https:\/\/wri-irg.org\/en\/node\/42811<\/span><\/a> where you can also find the link for ordering a paper copy (UK\u00a312 though postage will add to this, particularly outside of the UK postage area). This is the only currently available, comprehensive manual of its kind that INNATE knows about, weighing in at 233 pages A5. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Insights on tackling hate and extremism<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

It is easy to get discouraged, in both jurisdictions in Ireland, about the rise of far-right linked racism. Useful \u2013 and often hopeful – insights from a visiting US civil rights activist, Eric Ward, appear on the SCI\/Social Change Initiative website at https:\/\/tinyurl.com\/9fzb6yf4<\/u><\/span><\/a> and the SCI home page is at https:\/\/www.socialchangeinitiative.com\/<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

PCI statement on Iran<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

While it might seem irrelevant with war ongoing, a statement from Pax Christi International on 11th<\/sup> February 2026 sets out important principles. https:\/\/paxchristi.net\/pax-christi-international-declaration-on-iran\/<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

CCI on 4th<\/sup> anniversary of Ukraine invasion by Russia<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOn the 4<\/span><\/span>th<\/span><\/span><\/sup> anniversary of the illegal invasion of Ukraine, via the toxic \u2018Chornobyl\/Chernobyl Exclusion Zone\u2019, Chernobyl Children International (CCI) has called for renewed international solidarity with children and families living through ongoing conflict, displacement, and deepening humanitarian uncertainty, as the world approaches the 40th anniversary of the Chornobyl nuclear disaster.\u201d <\/span><\/span>Also \u201cS<\/span><\/span>ince the beginning of the war and the invasion of the Chernobyl and Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plants, CCI have been advocating for all nuclear facilities be deemed a \u2018No War Zone\u2019 and for World Leaders to invoke the Hague Convention which defines any attack on a nuclear facility to be a \u2018war crime\u2019.\u201d See <\/span><\/span><\/em>https:\/\/tinyurl.com\/yxm62mr7<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/em> and home page <\/span><\/span><\/em>https:\/\/www.chernobyl-international.com\/<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Edward Horgan compilation: Righting the wrongs of human rights<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Edward Horgan is a redoubtable campaigner for peace and an inveterate letter and article writer. This book, \u201cRighting the wrongs of human rights\u201d, is a compilation of published letters and articles weighing in at 358 pages. Independently published, \u20ac13.20, available online.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

FOE: Day of Action on data centres, LNG submission<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Friends of the Earth has a Day of Action on 11<\/span><\/span>th<\/span><\/span><\/sup> March on data centres including the Private Wires bill which would allow data centres build their own electricity networks; in a survey last autumn, 86% of people felt new data centres should only be permitted if powered by renewable energy. See <\/span><\/span>https:\/\/www.friendsoftheearth.ie\/events\/stop-the-power-grab-join-our-day-of-action-on-march-11th\/<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a> FOE\u2019s submission on <\/span><\/span>the proposed <\/span><\/span>Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) Bill <\/span><\/span>for a gas terminal in Clare \u2013 much of which would presumably be supplied with fracked gas from the USA \u2013 is available at <\/span><\/span>https:\/\/www.friendsoftheearth.ie\/publications\/our-submission-on-the-pre-legislative-scrutiny-of-the-propos\/<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

F<\/b><\/span>easta job for major conference <\/b><\/span>and project<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Feasta is hiring a project and event coordinator, hours vary and the job runs to the end of 2027, <\/span><\/span><\/span>in cooperation <\/span><\/span><\/span>with a variety of other groups <\/span><\/span><\/span>and partly in relation to a major conference<\/span><\/span><\/span> to take place in Cork in <\/span><\/span><\/span>August 2027. \u201c<\/span><\/span><\/span>This project\u2019s objective is to clarify and publicise environmental democracy\u2019s governance role in a \u2018wellbeing economy\u2019 that supports sustainable and inclusive wellbeing and intergenerational fairness.\u201c <\/span><\/span>Details at <\/span><\/span>https:\/\/www.feasta.org\/2026\/02\/23\/feasta-is-recruiting-a-project-and-event-coordinator\/<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a> and the closing date is 16<\/span><\/span>th<\/span><\/span><\/sup> March.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Militarisation and difficulties for COs in Belarus<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

A new report from Our House speaks of \u201cHow military logic in Belarus becomes a social norm from early childhood, displacing the right to refuse service\u201d and is at https:\/\/tinyurl.com\/3mwct69f<\/span><\/a> and https:\/\/ndbelarus.com\/<\/u> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Ongoing threat to Y<\/span><\/span><\/span>urii Sheliazhenko<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

At the end of January<\/span><\/span><\/span> a wide variety of organisations issued a statement of support for Y<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>urii Sheliazhenko<\/span><\/span><\/strong> of the Ukrainian Pacifist Movement following threats to him, a CO\/Conscientious Objector, from the state saying there was no right to conscientious objection in war and threatening him with arrest and conscription. The right to conscientious objection applies in international law in any situation. See <\/span><\/span>https:\/\/tinyurl.com\/2vvpmuur<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a> and <\/span><\/span>elsewhere.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Local councils including Galway support Triple Lock retention While at a government level Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael remain determined to remove the Triple Lock on the deployment of Irish troops overseas, at a local level grassroots democracy is more at work and a number of local councils, a dozen or so, have backed its … Continue reading News, March 2026<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[33,168,300],"class_list":["post-1536","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-nonviolent-news","tag-ireland","tag-peace-news","tag-triple-lock"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/innatenonviolence.org\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1536","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/innatenonviolence.org\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/innatenonviolence.org\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/innatenonviolence.org\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/innatenonviolence.org\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1536"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/innatenonviolence.org\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1536\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1537,"href":"https:\/\/innatenonviolence.org\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1536\/revisions\/1537"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/innatenonviolence.org\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1536"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/innatenonviolence.org\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1536"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/innatenonviolence.org\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1536"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}