Additionally, and somewhat confusingly, the voters of the Republic are also voting on the EU Amsterdam Treaty. 'Yes/No' referenda are extremely crude mechanisms for judging public opinion, the one thing in favour of it in this case being in Northern Ireland that the strength of public opinion might deflate the "No's" and subsequent attempts they may make to return to the politics of negativity and division. But division will return of its own accord - the 'marching season' and issues like the decommissioning of arms will see to that; the Good Friday agreement is not a panacea and did not deal with many issues.

While ideally there could have been a better, more inclusive process, the Good Friday agreement is certainly the best show in town, and the best show for a generation if it is a starting point and not a stopping point for dealing with important issues. In that regard it deserves a resounding YES both in Northern Ireland and the Republic.

The simultaneous referendum in the Republic on the Amsterdam Treaty is another matter. While some aspects of the Treaty can be said to increase accountability within the EU, it is another - significant - nail in the coffin of Irish military neutrality. The Amsterdam Treaty allows the EU to get on with the integration of the EU into the WEU and thus effectively with NATO. It seems incredible to think of joining a military club after its original purpose (Cold War defence) has died and with a new 'Fortress Europe' ideology. Being 'good Europeans' surely means the Republic should develop its neutrality as a positive force on a European and world stage. The Irish government had ample opportunity to add a protocol effectively defending neutrality; this it failed to do. It should not be a case of 'biting the hand that feeds you' to vote no but rather 'refusing to feed the hand that may later bite you'. A resounding NO is called for to the Amsterdam treaty. – (Editor)

PANA supports disarmament and demilitarisation and Ireland pursuing its security concerns through the OSCE and a reformed United Nations; it opposes WEU and NATO membership. Membership of PANA is 10 Irish punts waged, 2 Irish Punts unwaged, 20 Irish Punts for groups and organisations.

Meanwhile another humanitarian aid convoy went from Ireland in early April to Chernobyl contaminated areas of Belarus, Western Russia and the Ukraine. Chernobyl Children's Project, 8 Sidneyville, Bellevue Park, St Luke's, Cork. Phone 021 - 506411; Fax 551544; Website http://www.aardvark.ie/ccp/ and E-mail: adiroche@indigo.ie

As well as the Ethnic Studies Network Bulletin, INCORE has recently started producing a separate Ethnic Studies Research Digest in both paper format and included on the INCORE Website: http://www.incore.ulst.ac.uk

One very useful recent publication is Mediation in Practice, edited by Grainne Kelly, A4, 88 pages; this comes out of INCORE's 'Art of Mediation' project and looks in detail at parade-related mediation in Northern Ireland (with six local case studies) as well as some international perspectives and concerns. Mediation in Practice is available from INCORE in printed format and also available on the INCORE website at www.incore.ulst.ac.uk/publication/research/aom.html

INCORE, Aberfoyle House, Northland Road, Derry BT48 7JA. Phone 01504- 375500; Fax 375510; E-mail: lyn@incore.ulst.ac.uk

ECPCR is an association of European based individuals and organisations active in the field of peacemaking, peacebuilding and the prevention, resolution and transformation of destructive conflict. Further information and registration material soon from the conference coordinators:

Project Planning International, Montalto Estate, Spa Road, Ballynahinch, Co Down BT24 8PT. Phone 01238 - 561993; Fax 565073; E-mail 101455.1521@compuserve.com

• Pax Christi Route leaflet and booking form. Information previously appeared in Nonviolent News 57.
• Learning to ride a nonviolent cycle, INNATE workshop in Belfast, 13/14 June. Initial information appeared in Nonviolent News 58 ('Nonviolence Straining'); final details are as on pink information/booking sheet.