Weary and wary of war
While the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, was giving the USA military carte blanche to use Irish airports, no questions asked, and the UK's Tony Blair was backing George W Bush to the hilt, the forces of peace were also mobilising in Ireland to raise a voice of sanity in a dangerously overheated situation. In the Republic, two coalitions of NGOs have come together and others have been active in the North. The public manifestations have tended to be vigils and leafletting. NB This does not purport to be a comprehensive account of activities.

The NGO Peace Alliance
consists of AFrI, East Timor Ireland Solidarity Campaign, Cuba Awareness Group, El Salvador Awareness, One World Centre - Belfast, Little Sisters of the Assumption - Justice Desk, Irish El Salvador Support Committee, Chile Desk, Near FM, Anti-racism Campaign, and Anti-war League. Their statement calls for no retaliation and all legitimate means to be utilised to investigate and bring to justice those responsible - and for the Irish government to call for restraint and take other action. For further information contact Declan McKenna 087 - 6785842 / 8436448 or Joe Murray at 087 - 4106735.

Around 28 NGOs from a broad spectrum
of human rights, aid and other non-governmental organisations have also issued a statement. They include (with contact phone numbers, all codes 01/Dublin unless otherwise stated); Actionaid Ireland, 878 7911; AFrI, 496 8595; African Refugee Network, 473 4523; Amnesty International Irish Section, 677 6361; Banúlacht, 872 6592; Christian Aid Ireland, 496 6184; Concern Worldwide, 417 7700; Comhlámh, 478 3490; Earthwatch, 478 5100; Foyle Ethical Investment Campaign, 028/048 - 7126 8846; Frontline Defenders, 217 0339; GOAL, 280 9779; Irish Council for Civil Liberties, 878 3136; Irish Refugee Council, 873 0042; Irish Centre for Human Rights, 091 - 750 464; ICOS/Irish Commission for Overseas Students, 660 5233; Irish Commission for Justice and Peace, 288 5021; Irish Missionary Union, 496 5433; LASC, Latin America Solidarity Centre, 676 0435; Medical Missionaries of Mary, 497 7894; National Women's Council of Ireland, 661 5268; Oxfam Ireland, 672 7662, Pavee Point, 878 0255; Pax Christi, 496 5293; Tibet Support Group, 260 4604; Trócaire, 288 5385; United African Association, 065 - 684 1368; Volunteer Missionary Movement, 837 6565. Their statement expresses shock, and sympathy with the victims, and calls for restraint and the avoidance of a descent into a spiral of violence; any response must be conducted within the framework of international law. "Thousands of innocent people have died in the United States. We must make sure than even more innocent lives are not lost.", the statement concludes.

In the North,
INNATE organised a Belfast-centred meeting which set up a 'Justice not Terror Coalition' with working groups on lobbying governments, on putting peaceful views across to the public, and on media. Contact 90 64 71 06 for details.

In the Midlands,
a group has met in Tullamore, Co Offaly in peaceful opposition to war and Ireland's involvement; the main objective is setting up a campaign/movement for peace in the Midlands area. They hope to organise a big event with speakers and music and possible ceremony to remember all killed on 11th september. The group meets next at 8pm on Tuesday 9th October at The Bridge House, Tullamore. Contact Pearse 0506 - 43883.

Primary school peace education resources
The Churches' Peace Education programme is currently offering a range of resources free to primary schools in Northern Ireland (they can be purchased by others outside this sector - please enquire). The colourful classroom resources are designed to assist teachers implementing a programme for personal development. The latest pack is for Year 3 children and is called ‘Let's Be Friends’; this programme attempts to provide children with necessary skills to make good friendship choices, maintain friendships and deal with everyday inter-personal issues. Through the use of circle time and role play children are encouraged to employ assertive body language when dealing with conflict; they are asked to consider how their own words and actions can affect others and are invited with their teacher to establish a "No Put Downs" rule for the classroom. Contact Elaine Hall at 028 - 90 66 29 92 for further details. The Resource Centre at the Churches' Peace Education Programme is open weekday mornings and has a range of peace education materials for primary and secondary schools. CPEP, 48 Elmwood Avenue, Belfast BT9 6AZ, phone 028 - 90 66 29 92.

Housmans Peace Diary 2002
Having your finger on the pulse of peace, human rights and ecological groups at home and abroad is always necessary but particularly so in a time of crisis. We may happen to be in a BIG crisis now but there are lots of little crises affecting individuals, groups and countries...and plain ordinary business to be done. The World Peace Directory (featuring 2000 groups) included in Housmans Peace Diary provides an essential tool for the activist, plus 2 pages to a week diary section. One diary costs UK£6.95 anywhere in the world and there are discounts for multiple copies (5 - 9 copies UK£5.56 each). Co-published with New Society Publishers in the USA. Orders; Housmans, 5 Caledonian Road, London N1 9DX (cheques in UK£ payable to 'Housmans' or you can make a credit card payment).

Life in the Faslane
Meanwhile, just across the Irish sea, the October blockade at Faslane Trident base on the Clyde near Glasgow takes place from 7 am on Monday 22nd October. Earlier this year one thousand people sat on the roads and 385 people were arrested; in a subsequent opinion poll 51% of Scottish people supported this nonviolent action to get rid of nuclear weapons. Attenders are asked to be prepared and go as part of a group. Contact 0141 - 423 1222, Scottish CND, 15 Barrland Street, Glasgow G41 1QH,