ICCL: Know Your rights on protest
In late January the Irish Council for Civil Liberties launched the 8th instalment in its ‘Know Your Rights’ series, a guide for protesters. Doireann Ansbro, ICCL’s Senior Research and Policy Officer, compiled the guide with input from protesters, law enforcement officials and legal professionals working in the area of protest rights. She said: “The right to protest has always been a fundamental part of ensuring positive change in Ireland. With the range of challenges we face today from climate change to the housing crisis, protesters are as active as ever and their voices as important. It’s vital that both protest groups and public order police understand what the right to protest involves.” This follows a consultation in 2019 with people involved in campaigning on a wide variety of issues about which she said “During our national consultation with protesters in 2019, there was a real thirst for information about protesters’ rights, for example, when gardaí can legitimately restrict a protest, or what to do if arrested for protesting. This booklet aims to answer some of those questions.”
The launch was followed by a private training session for protest leaders. This clearly written guide covers rights in planning a protest, rights during one, and rights afterwards, and runs to 40 pages; it includes a comprehensive contacts section. You can find the guide at: www.iccl.ie
ICCL’s survey of political party attitudes to eight human rights issues, coming up to the general election in the Republic, can be found at www.iccl.ieOn concerns regarding facial recognition technology see www.iccl.ie/news
Organic Centre Rossinver
The Organic Centre nestled in the heart of rural Rossinver, looks towards the year ahead. 2020 will be the 25th anniversary of the birth of the centre, a milestone for the Rossinver based educational charity that specialises in promoting all things organic, sustainable living and biodiversity. The Organic Centre was founded in 1995 by local organic growers, farmers and supporters, and was the brainchild of Rod Alston. Developed on a 19-acre green field site at the foot of limestone hills beside Lough Melvin, the centre became a pioneering organisation, at the forefront of organic growing, and action for climate change. From the beginning there was 6 weekend courses which took place in 1997. Now in 2020 the centre looks forward to over 85 courses ranging from growing to renewable energy as well as 16 free events including Biodiversity Day, Sustainable Food Day Apple Day and a celebration for its 25 year anniversary. Check out the Organic Centres catalogue www.theorganiccentre.ie for its listings. Keep an eye on their website and social media channels for more information on courses, events, Grass Roof café and a new Zero Waste Shop. www.theorganiccentre.ie
Afri Féile Bríde - Rekindling; Revitalising; Re-wilding; Restoring
Afri’s Féile Bríde takes place at Solas Bhríde Centre Kildare Town on Saturday 7th February. “Féile Bríde 2020 will be a response to Greta Thunberg’s call to action. This will be the first year of the decade of real change. We must rekindle the flame; revitalize our energies; re-wild whenever and wherever possible and restore our awesome planet to its former glory. We must in the words of poet Brendan Kennelly ‘begin again,’ because ‘something that will not acknowledge conclusion / insists that we forever begin.’” Musicians will include Cormac Breatnach, Steve Cooney, Emer Lynam and Roger Whelan and speakers will be Clare O’Grady Walshe, Mary Reynolds, Nellie McLoughlin, Shivam O’Brien, and Michael Long. Registration will begin at 9.35 for a 10.00 am start and the programme will run to 4.30pm. Organised in partnership with St. Patrick’s Missionary Society Kiltegan and Cairde Bríde. Feíle Bríde is a part of a week-long series of events taking place in Kildare organised by the Brigidine Sisters and Cairde Bríde. Further details and booking on the Afri website www.afri.ie Afri is at 8 Cabra Road, Phibsborough, Dublin 7, D07 T1W2, ph 01 83 84 204. The attendance fee is €20 and €13 concessions, including lunch.
Meanwhile a 12 minute film looking back on Afri’s work and programme in 2019 is available at www.youtube.com [Most of this info appeared in the January news supplement]
CAJ Annual report, NI Government plans, Sectarianism key facts
The Committee on the Administration of Justice’s annual report can be found at caj.org.uk detailing the huge amount of work done in the last year at a turbulent time for human rights in Northern Ireland. Analysis of the ‘New Decade, New Approach’ agreement which led to the restoration of government at Stormont appears at caj.org.uk A report by the Equality Coalition, on “Sectarianism: The key facts” written by Robbie McVeigh is a framework report on tackling institutional sectarianism in Northern Ireland and will be launched in an open event at Stormont on 17th February at lunchtime; see caj.org.uk
CRC 30
The Community Relations Council in Northern Ireland will be going 30 years in 2020 and will be highlighting the significant work undertaken by the groups and organisations that have been supported to build peace in local communities; if you have a story to tell or an example to highlight, you can get in touch at info@nicrc.org.uk To sign up to receive monthly information from CRC go to www.community-relations.org.uk
Nonviolent Communication intensive training, October
Focused on learning skills in effective communication, inner peace, and making relationships thrive (personal and professional), this 9-day residential retreat will be about learning together how to speak from the heart, practice deep, non-judgmental listening, and build self-empowerment from the inside out. The venue is the Emmaus Centre, Swords, Co Dublin and its runs from 23rd October to 1st November. Facilitators are Dian Killian (U.S.), Donal Gannon (Ireland), Shona Cameron (U.K.), and John Kinyon (U.S.) – all are Certified Trainers with the Center for Nonviolent Communication. Further details at workcollaboratively.com/ireland-iit-2020
Embracing Human Rights: Conflict Textiles’ Journey, Limavady
This exhibition marks 12 years of Conflict Textiles exhibitions and associated activities in a variety of local and international venues; it focuses on conflict and human rights abuses, explored through the tactile medium of textiles, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The exhibition spans a three-month period, beginning with a small selection of textiles and memorabilia in the Ritter Gallery from 9th January, 2020. The full exhibition, occupying all the RVACC exhibition galleries, commences with the official launch at 2pm on Saturday 7th March, and extends to 11th April 2020. Roe Valley Arts and Cultural Centre, Limavady. See cain.ulster.ac.uk for more info.
Adi Roche of CCI invited to accept ‘Chernobyl’ series award
Adi Roche, founder and volunteer CEO of Chernobyl Children International (CCI), was invited by those involved in producing HBO and Sky’s mini-series ‘Chernobyl’ to accept the ‘Best New Drama’ award on their behalf at the UK National Television Awards ceremony in London on 29th January. This was in recognition of the work which she has been doing with the victims of the deadly Chernobyl nuclear accident over the past 30 years. To date 26,500 children have visited Ireland on Rest and Recuperation breaks and €107 million has been given in aid. www.chernobyl-international.com
CGE: Development education and gender
The Centre for Global Education is organising a seminar on ‘Development Education and Gender’; this will debate the content of Issue 29 of the Centre’s journal “Policy and Practice: A Development Education Review”, and will be held on Tuesday, 10 March, 11am – 1.00pm in the School of Education, Maynooth University. Details of the seminar and how to register are available at /www.centreforglobaleducation.com You can also sign up for their monthly E-Bulletin at www.centreforglobaleducation.com The current issue quotes an Oxfam report stating that “Taxing an additional 0.5% of the wealth of the richest 1% over the next 10 years is equal to investments needed to create 117 million jobs in education, health and elderly care and other sectors, and to close care deficits”.
AVP Poetry book
AVP/Alternatives to Violence Project have launched a poetry book and the profit of the sale will go to AVP. It is a collection of poems about travels, religion, family and life, written by Padraic Murray, an AVP director, and illustrated with calligraphies by Vincent Daniau. The book costs €15 and can be ordered directly to Padraic at padraicmartinmurray@gmail.com To avoid postage they will make the book available for collection during various meetings and events. Meanwhile in a boost for registered facilitators there is now an online library of manuals. AVP is a training programme enabling participants to deal with potentially violent situations in new and creative ways; workshops are non-residential, run by trained facilitators and experiential. avpireland.ie
Climate groups demand halt to Cork fracked gas projects
A coalition of international climate activist groups released a letter on 20th December demanding the Port of Cork cancel its arrangement with NextDecade to build fracked gas infrastructure in the Cork harbour. The lifespan of a project like Cork LNG is at least 30 years, which would increase Ireland’s dependence on fossil fuels and slow the development of renewable energy projects. The fracked gas would originate in the United States, where fracking has been linked to an array of health problems and water contamination; recent research shows that this gas is 40% more damaging to the climate than coal. The Cork facility is one of two currently proposed highly controversial LNG import terminals in Ireland. Info from Shale Gas Bulletin Ireland info.sgbi@gmail.com
Cappabue National School on climate change
A good little rap video on climate heating, ‘One Small Change’, by Cappabue National School in Co Cork can be seen at https://www.youtube.com [Thanks to Annie King for this info]
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