CHASE Indaver incinerators
from Cork Harbour and Co Meath
CHASE (Cork Harbour Alliance for a Safe Environment) have
labelled the announcement by Indaver Ireland of their intention
to shelve plans to build two incinerators at Ringaskiddy,
Co. Cork, and at Carranstown, near Duleek, Co Meath, as a
cynical effort to pressurise government to subsidise their
lost cause – incineration – which even they now
see as uneconomic (others have labelled it a pre-election
ploy). A CHASE spokesperson said “We regard this as
a victory for the campaign because it proves what CHASE have
been saying for the last 6 years, that these incinerators
are not economically viable. However, in real terms, nothing
has changed. The EPA operating licence is still in place,
as is the planning permission which attaches to the site and
so could be sold on. Both planning and licence are subject
to High Court challenges, which will continue, as Indaver
have stated that ‘when there is greater certainty in
the market they’ll return to build those incinerators’.
CHASE, 1 Lr. Midleton Street, Cobh, Co. Cork, ph. 021 - 481
5564, e-mail info@chaseireland.org,
and web http://www.chaseireland.org
Scottish Centre for
Nonviolence closes
Members present at the AGM in March 2007 agreed (without dissent)
that the Scottish Centre for Nonviolence should close by the
middle of May. There will be a farewell party on Sunday 10th
June. Part of a letter from the Centre read: “Much of
the original task of the Centre, in the field of nonviolent
education and training, is now being fulfilled by others,
including some in the mainstream. For example in Scotland
this is available through networks such as the Scottish Parliament
Cross Party Group on a Culture of Peace, the Scottish Mediation
Network Education Initiative Group and Scotland’s for
Peace. Also nonviolent training is being provided, free of
charge, by Turning the Tide, a London based Quaker organisation
and the Action Trainers, a loose co-operative of trainers
who share their skills with other radicals. Thus the main
object, expressed in our constitution as ‘to advance
the education of the public about violence reduction’,
has been achieved and no longer requires our specific input…..
We need to be open to change, and letting go of something
precious can allow space for the growth of new ideas and the
creative initiatives”. Scottish Centre for Nonviolence,1
Kirk Street, Dunblane FK15 0AJ, http://www.nonviolence-scotland.org.uk
Presbyterian ‘Gospel
in Conflict’
A couple of hundred people attended the launch of the ‘Gospel
in Conflict’ programme in Belfast on 20th March. Aimed
at Presbyterians, 'The Gospel in Conflict' course reflects
on peacemaking as an integral part of discipleship, focusing
on the biblical mandate to love our neighbour and rooting
it within the experience of participants. Five themes are
explored: Living in a Divided Society, Exploring our Presbyterian
Identity, Dealing with Disagreement, Relating to our Neighbours
and Taking Steps in Building Peace. By considering how the
early church dealt with conflict it helps those taking part
develop ways in which the divisions they experience today
can be dealt with from personal, church and community perspectives.
There are two full time peace officers funded by the project’.
Presbyterian Church in Ireland, Church House, Belfast BT1
6DW, ph 028 - 9032 2284, e-mail: Info@PresbyterianIreland.org
and you can e-mail Laura Coulter of the Programme directly
at lcoulter@presbyterianireland.org
Restorative Justice
in the community: Portlaoise, Dublin, Galway
One day seminars ‘From Managing To Transforming Conflict
- A Restorative Approach” on restorative practices in
a community setting will be taking place in Portlaoise (Heritage
Hotel, 9th May), Dublin (Marino Institute, 10th May), and
Galway (24th May, Oranmore Lodge Hotel). The trainer is Jim
McGrath of NetCare, see http://www.netcare-ni.com
Inclusive costs are €95 beforehand or €120 after.
These workshops will explore the use of restorative approaches
in a variety of settings including community, schools, residential
units and youth offending - from the most serious and challenging
incidents through to minor incidents. Contact: NetCare, 7
Ardfreelin, Newry, Co Down, Newry BT34 1JG, ph 028 (048 from
Republic) 30256469 or e-mail: info@netcare-ni.com
SCI/VSI/IVS volunteer
opportunities
As always, Service Civil International and its groups Voluntary
Service International (in the Republic) and International
Voluntary Service (in Northern Ireland) have a wide variety
of volunteer opportunities open, both medium term and summer
projects/workcamps. VSI has just launched its 2007 Book of
International Volunteer Projects. There are hundreds of short-term
volunteer projects (2-3 weeks) in over 70 countries worldwide.
There are projects in Ireland, throughout Europe (East and
West), Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East including
work with peace and solidarity groups, environmental group
and community organisations. More details from VSI, 30 Mountjoy
Square, Dublin 1. Tel: 01-8551011 http://www.vsi.ieinfo@vsi.ie On 18th April
at the Irish Film Institute, Temple Bar, Dublin from 7.00-9.00pm
there will be a Information Workshop on Volunteering 2007.
lThe IVS/International Voluntary Service office in Belfast
is open but currently staffed by volunteers and those interested
in volunteer opportunities from anywhere on the island, North
or Republic, should contact VSI.
Kilcranny House: Human
rights and the path to peace
Kilcranny House is organising a half day seminar on Human
Rights and the Path to Peace on Friday 4th May 2007 at the
Lodge Hotel, Coleraine, 9.30 – 1.30 followed by lunch.
This is being organised as part of Community Relations Week.
Those attending must choose beforehand from 3 workshops: 1)
Human Rights and Young People, 2) Truth Recovery: An International
Perspective, 3) Is Parading a Human Rights Issue? Enquiries
and bookings to: Rachel Rafferty, Kilcranny House, 21 Cranagh
Road, Coleraine, BT51 3NN. info@kilcrannyhouse.org.
ph 028 7032 1816.
Meath Peace Group; Truth
Recovery and Shared Future
The next two dates are: Monday, 23rd April – ‘Making
peace with the past – options for truth recovery’
at St Columban’s College, Dalgan Park, Navan, Co. Meath
at 8pm. Speakers from various groups including Healing Through
Remembering (Belfast), Justice for the Forgotten (Dublin/Monaghan),
West Tyrone Voice and others (names to be confirmed) , chair,
Dr. Richard Clarke, Bishop of Meath and Kildare. The meeting
title is taken from the Healing Through Remembering report
of the same name (see NN 145) On Monday 21st May: ‘A
Shared Future: Ballymena’ will take place at Newgrange
Hotel, Navan, Co. Meath at 8pm. Speakers: Jackie Patton (Community
Relations Officer, Ballymena Borough Council), Delia Close
(Vice-Chair, District Policing Partnership, Ballymena), and
others (names to be confirmed). This is the third talk in
MPG’s series on the ‘Shared Future’ document
and its implementation at local and regional levels. Transcripts
of the previous talks on this theme (63 and 65) are available
on the website http://www.meathpeacegroup.org
or tel. 01 – 8259438.
Amnesty International;
wide ranging campaigns
Amnesty International in Ireland continues working on a wide
variety of issues, current campaigns include to close Guantanamo,
U.S.A.; stop harassment of activists, Zimbabwe; dealing with
human rights violations in Mexico and Uzbekistan. A new Amnesty
International report, ‘USA: Cruel and inhuman –
Conditions of isolation for detainees in Guantánamo
Bay’, published 5th April, condemns conditions in Guantánamo;
the large majority of detainees who remain in Guantánamo
are held in cruel conditions of isolation which flout international
standards, and a new facility which opened in December 2006,
known as Camp 6, has created even harsher and apparently more
permanent conditions of extreme isolation and sensory deprivation.
Zimbabwe has a range
of economic and human rights problems of massive proportions,
not least having the lowest life expectancy, 34 years, in
the world (WHO figures). On Zimbabwe there are a range of
possibilities for action including:
Sign letters asking the police and police representatives
in Zimbabwe to fully investigate the murder of Gift Tandare
(a young activist shot dead by police) and to ensure that
police officers operate in a manner consistent with international
human rights laws and standards at http:www.amnesty.ie
Sign letters asking the African Union and the
Southern African Development Community to call on the Zimbabwean
Government to end human rights violations in Zimbabwe at http://www.amnesty.ie
Turn up at the Amnesty International’s
Freedom Café, 48 Fleet Street, Dublin 2 on 19 April
at 7pm to hear researcher Simeon Mawanza speak about his recent
visit to Zimbabwe (admission €7/€5 concession including
refreshments).
Join Amnesty International’s Zimbabwe
group by e-mailing info@amnesty.ie
Members campaign on a wide range of individual cases and human
rights issues and organise a variety of exciting events.
See Amnesty’s comprehensive website, as
above, including subscription information, or contact e-mail:
info@amnesty.ie or phone: 01 - 677 6361.
Afri Famine Walk
Afri’s annual Famine Walk in Co Mayo takes place on
Saturday 26th May starting at 2.00 pm from Doolough and walking
to Louisburgh. There will be a shuttle bus from Louisburgh
to Doolough e.g. for those leaving cars, and likely to be
a bus from Dublin. Further details in May issue or contact
Afri, 134 Phibsborough Road, Dublin 7, ph 01 – 8827581/8827563,
e-mail afri@iol.ie and website http://www.afri.ie
Identity, Interdependence
and Nonviolent Transformations: July
The International Institute on Peace Education (IIPE) 2007
will be hosted by Baketik, the Peace Centre in Arantzazu in
the Basque Country (Spanish State) from July 14-22, 2007.
The event is being co-organized by Baketik and the Peace Education
Center at Teachers College, Columbia University. IIPE 2007
will explore the theme of “Identity, Interdependence
& Nonviolent Transformations - Practical Priorities of
Education in Transitions to Peace,” an appropriate
theme for a region that has suffered forty years of continuous
violent conflict. For more information visit the institute
website at http://www.tc.edu/PeaceEd/IIPE
Prisoner Abuse: From
Abu Ghraib to The Passion of the Christ
This will be a public lecture, response and discussion on
Tuesday 1 May 2007 from 6.00pm - 7.30pm at Irish School of
Ecumenics, co-hosted with Irish Council fo Churches, at 683
Antrim Road, Belfast. Chaired by Dr Duncan Morrow of the Community
Relations Council, lecture by Dr David Tombs, Irish School
of Ecumenics, and response by Rev. Dr. Sam Kobia, General
Secretary, World Council of Churches. Places limited so email
poolea@tcd.ie or phone. 028 – 90770061 if intending
to attend. Websites http://www.tcd.ie/ise
http://www.irishchurches.org http://overcomingviolence.orghttp://www.wcc-coe.org
ARAN seeks skills and
poster hangers
ARAN, the Animal Rights Action Network, is asking people to
display their 'Street Wise Against Animal Abuse' printer-friendly
A4 posters in any locations where people will see them including
vets’ surgeries, schools, youth clubs etc. They are
also asking for people with a wide variety of skills they
may be able to lend – proofreaders, analysts, researchers,
event managers, legal skills, web design etc. See http://www.aran.ie
and contact John Carmody, Campaigns Coordinator (ARAN), 120
Vale Avenue, Carew Park, Limerick, ph 087-6275579, e-mail:
arancampaigns@eircom.net
Shell to Sea: Busy times
On March 22nd about 60 local residents entered the refinery
site after being appalled by the site of brown, diesel-scented
water running off the construction site and into the Eris
region water supply, (Carrowmore lake). See http://www.indymedia.ie/article/81612
and http://www.indymedia.ie/article/81619
The next day they entered the Mayo county council offices
and demanded answers:
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/81642
24th March was the day of the Fianna Fail Ard Fheis, where
Dublin Shell to Se
Convergence - The Sustainable
Living Festival
‘Powering Down Our Communities’ is the title this
time and it runs from Tuesday 17th to Sunday the 22nd April;
the Twelfth Convergence Sustainable Living Festival focuses
on the issues of Climate Change and Peak Oil as catalysts
of sustainable development. What can we and our communities
do to respond to these challenges? See here
for details or contact Cultivate, 15-19 Essex St West, Temple
Bar, Dublin 8, ph 01 - 674 5773. You can receive regular news
by subscribing on http://www.cultivate.ie
FOE lambastes Irish
government climate programme
Friends of the Earth has described the Irish Government's
new Climate Change Strategy, published 2nd April, as lacking
credibility and "tinkering when what we need is transformation".
According to the Government's own figures, even if all the
policies and plans announced today are implemented successfully
by 2012, Ireland's climate pollution will only drop from 25%
above 1990 levels to 22% above 1990 levels. Oisin Coghlan,
Friends of the Earth Director said: "This climate
strategy lacks credibility as the Government failed to implement
so much of the last plan, published 7 years ago. The only
way to make sure Ireland meets its climate targets is to enshrine
them in law and provide for annual reductions. Friends of
the Earth will be publishing a Climate Protection Bill shortly
and asking all the political parties to support it in the
run up to the General Election".
Under Kyoto the Government committed to limit
the rise in emissions to 13% above 1990 levels. And with the
EU Ireland is now committed to reducing emissions to at least
20% below 1990 levels by 2020 and at least 60% below 1990
levels by 2050. That means reducing pollution from today's
70 million tonnes (Mt) to 45Mt in 2020 and 20Mt in 2050. In
today's Strategy the Government admits it has no policies
or plans to get down below 64 Mt. Contact: Friends of the
Earth, 9 Upper Mount Street, Dublin 2, ph 01 – 6394652,
web http://www.foe.ie
International Church
Action for Peace in Palestine and Israel
3rd – 9th June is the date this year for the Call for
Action to End 40 Years of Occupation Policies. The World Council
of Churches through its ICAPPI initiative will commemorate
40 years of the 1967 Israeli occupation of Palestinian Territories.
The WCC asks for member churches, related organisations, and
church peace movements such as Pax Christi International and
its member organisations, to consider joining ICAPPI initiatives
to be held during the Week of Action, 3 - 9 June 2007; H.B.
Michel Sabbah, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem and President
of Pax Christi International, together with all the Heads
of Churches in Jerusalem, support this Week of Action. Pax
Christi International, Rue du Vieux Marché aux Grains,
21 B-1000 Bruxelles, Belgium, ph. +32(0)2.502.55.50 http://www.paxchristi.net
See also http://www.oikoumene.org/en/home.html
INNATE networking group meets on 18th
April & 16th May at 7 pm in Corrymeela House, 8 Upper
Crescent, Belfast. All welcome.
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