Nonviolence News #58

Back to previous issue	Vote Early, Vote Often As Northern Ireland approaches 'political agreement' and an impending referendum on the result, North and South, and further elections in the North, a Preferendum Social Survey published by the de Borda Institute gives a new meaning to the old slogan 'Vote early, vote often' - in this case, you're welcome to vote early, the voting often comes from exercising your vote across a wide range of choices to arrive at the voters' most preferred option. For the first time the preferendum method was tried out using a professional market research organisation and this pamphlet gives the results. Edited by Peter Emerson, this detailed 28 page (A4) pamphlet is available at 2.50pounds sterling+ 50p post and packing from; The de Borda Institute, 36 Ballysillan Road, Belfast BT14 7QQ. Meanwhile also hot off the press is "Beyond the Tyranny of the Majority - Voting methodologies in decision-making and electoral systems", a 128-page book, available from the same address at œ7.50 + 50p postage and packing. Full publication list on request.	Read this issue's editorial	Forward to next issue
		Warning! Food Biohazard! On 27th March protesters in Belfast took action against genetically engineered foods, targeted at the giant Unilever food producer who are now openly using genetically engineered ingredients in their 'Beanfeast' foods (their other brands include Batchelors, Flora, Ragu, Stork, Chicken Tonight, Vesta, Colman's, Boursin, I can't believe it's not butter!, and Oxo). The protesters are calling for major retailers to follow the lead of Iceland stores who have guaranteed not to use any genetically engineered ingredients in their own-brand foods from 1st May '98. The protest took place at Tesco's in Belfast city centre involving members of Friends of the Earth and Queen's University Green Action. Once manipulated genetic organisms enter the natural environment they cannot be recalled; this is a one-way experiment with the unwilling public used as pawns in big-business profit-crazed experiments. For more information on genetics activism in Northern Ireland contact; Andy Orr/Declan Allison at Friends of the Earth, 40 Wellington Park, Belfast BT9 6DN. Ph 01232 - 664311. Email; andrewo@foe.co.uk and declana@foe.co.uk In the Republic you can contact Quentin Gargan of Genetics Concern!, Room 13, 24-26 Dame Street, Dublin 2. Ph 01 - 6705606, Email gecampaign@geocities.com
	Wilpf-Full Behaviour An Irish section of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) recently re-started and meets in Dublin every month. Membership is not limited to residents of the Republic. WILPF has sections in over 40 countries and grew out of a meeting in The Hague in 1915 of women from both sides of opponents in World War I who protested against the continuing bloodshed and explored ways to change society and end the war. The Irish section holds regular cross-border exchanges and seminars with groups from the North and from Britain. It is active on issues such as the Amsterdam Treaty and its implications for Irish neutrality. Info; WILPF Hon Sec, c/o Apt. 5, Verschoyle House, Verschoyle Court, Dublin 2. E mail gloriafrankel@ti.net.ie
		IVS/VSI Summer Programme International Voluntary Service and Voluntary Service International, respectively the Northern and Southern sections of SCI/Service Civil International, have produced their International Workcamps Programme for summer 1998 including 400 short term opportunities throughout E & W Europe and N America covering areas such as environmental, alternative communities, political/solidarity, disability, youth and children etc. IVS Northern Ireland is also seeking young people for other programmes such as European Voluntary Service (18-25) and its international youth programme (16-18). You can call or write to the IVS office, 122 Great Victoria Street, Belfast BT2 7BG, phone 01232 - 238147; the workcamps programme is 3 pounds sterling (cheques payable to IVS NI). In the Republic you can contact/send 3 Irish punts to VSI at 30 Mountjoy Square, Dublin 1, phone Dublin/01 - 8551011.
	May 24; International Women's Day For Peace And Disarmament Once more Shelley Anderson, Program officer for the IFOR (International Fellowship of Reconciliation) has produced an excellent publication as a resource for this day. 32 pages, A4, it covers women's work for peace and change around the world (including a feature on the NI Women's Coalition) plus a contacts list. This pack, and the '96 and '97 ones, are available at œ3.50 from IFOR's Women Peacemakers Program, Spoorstraat 38, 1815 BK Alkmaar, The Netherlands (or contact INNATE to see a copy).
		Mediation Network NI The Mediation Network for Northern Ireland has produced a new introductory leaflet [enclosed for most people receiving this as a mailing] including its sectors of work, programme and training curriculum. They have also recently produced a leaflet on their Churches Project including details on the offered one-day workshops on 'Handling conflict in the Church'. Available on request from; Mediation Network for Northern Ireland, 128A Great Victoria Street, Belfast BT2 7BG. Ph 01232 - 438614; Fax 314430; Email info@mediation-network.org.uk and its Web site is at www.mediation-network.org.uk
	Peace To The City: Belfast Belfast is one of seven cities chosen to be highlighted in a World Council of Churches 'Peace to the City' campaign as part of its Programme to Overcome Violence. The other cities are Boston, Colombo, Durban, Kingston, Rio de Janeiro and Suva. The idea is to help people explore ideas and creative initiatives aimed at overcoming the violence that exists in a particular city. So - you can share stories of your peace-building efforts and look at stories from other cities, or your own, which may be valuable for yourself. There is an interactive web site including space for you to add your work and ideas - http://www.wcc-coe.org.pov And Belfast also has its own site at: http://www.mediation-network.org.uk with regular updates, profiles and suggestions. The Mediation Network for Northern Ireland (MNNI) is the local partner and the coordinator for this work is Doug Baker, MNNI's Churches Project development officer. Further information about the Programme to Overcome Violence or the Peace to the City Campaign from; Doug Baker, MNNI, 128a Great Victoria Street, Belfast BT2 7BG. Ph Belfast/01232 - 438614, Fax 314430, E mail info@mediation-network.org.uk
		Nonviolence Straining You've heard of 'training for trainers' and all that kind of crack, well, INNATE might inflict puns on you but cliches, never (What was that INNATE seminar called a few years ago, Back to Basics? - Ed.). Anyhow, INNATE hopes to run a DIY weekend workshop and clinic for those involved and/or interested in nonviolence training to take place either 23/24 May or 13/14 June in Belfast. The idea is to push back our boundaries (hence the 'straining'). Initial facilitation by Rob Fairmichael. It would help planning to hear if you might be interested, to INNATE address or phone/fax Belfast/01232 - 647106, indicating preferred date. Watch this space.
	International Training Nonviolence in the context of war or armed conflict. INNATE has info on a training by KURVE Wustrow in Germany, 13-28 June, but the initial closing date has passed so if you're interested get out your finger and your negotiation skills...
		Meath Peace Group You're just too late to attend Meath Peace Group's talk on A Bill of Rights, but the report on this will be available in due course. Reports on the last two talks are now available; 'The emergent Irish State - did we turn our backs on the North?' and 'Nationalism and Republicanism - a vision for the future?'. A full list of reports is available on request. Meath Peace Group, Parsonstown, Batterstown, Co Meath. Contact Julitta Clancy at 01 - 8259438, fax 01 - 8259125.
	Cornerstnoe need Treasurer Cornerstone Community, a Christian ecumenical community situated on the Springfield Road in Belfast, involved in cross-community and ecumenical work, needs a voluntary treasurer, someone with book-keeping and possibly fund-raising skills. Contact; Tom Hannon, 445 Springfield Road, Belfast BT12 7DL. Phone 01232 - 321649; Fax 327323 E mail cornerstone@dnet,co.uk
		Research on student volunteers in peace & reconciliation field Patricia Mallon is conducting research for NUS/USI on organisations who have used student volunteers in the peace and reconciliation field. Contact her at Belfast/01232-321327 or pmallon@rugbyrd.u-net.com
	Job Vacancy IFOR is looking for a coordinator (1-year contract) for the Decade for a Culture of Nonviolence; details from INNATE. The job is based in Alkmaar, Netherlands.

Nonviolent News is produced ten or eleven times a year by INNATE, an Irish Network for Nonviolent Action Training and Education, 16 Ravensdene Park, Belfast BT6 0DA, Phone/Fax 01232 - 647106; your news welcome.
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