INCORE Summer School
UNU/INCORE (United Nations University/Centre for International Conflict Resolution) will hold its annual International Summer School from 10 - 15 June 2002 in Derry/Londonderry. This offers a structured learning opportunity based on the latest research and concepts of conflict resolution and is designed for senior level participants from all backgrounds - practitioner, policy maker and academic. Courses on offer are: Dealing with the Past; Managing Peace Processes; and Religion and Conflict. There will also be a series of Policy Panels exploring approaches to conflict. A pre-course Introduction to Northern Ireland programme will run 9 - 10 June. Visit INCORE's website at www.incore.ulst.ac.uk for further information and how to register; or e-mail school@incore.ulst.ac.uk 19th April is the deadline and fees are UK£340 for individuals. Ph. 028 - 71 37 55 00; INCORE, Aberfoyle House, Northland Road, Derry/Londonderry BT48 7JA.

Buddhist peace pilgrimage
Welcome back to the small group of Buddhist monks and nuns who are doing a Peace Pilgrimage in Norn Iron starting in Belfast on 14th March and arriving in L'Derry on 21st March; they offer their prayers for a lasting peace and ask for support and participation. The proposed schedule is; 14th March Belfast-Lisburn, 15th Lisburn - Lurgan, 16th Lurgan - Armagh, 17th Armagh - Emain Macha (including visit to both Armagh cathedrals this St Patrick's Day), 18th Emain Macha - Aughnacloy, 19th Aughnacloy - Omagh, 20th Omagh - Strabane, 21st Strabane - L'Derry. They may still need offers of accommodation in Lurgan and Strabane. Nipponzan Myohoji, Milton Keynes Peace Pagoda, Willen, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, MK15 0BA, phone/fax 01908 663652.

UK Civilian Peace Service - Request for info in Norn Iron
A recent report from Tim Wallis and Mareike Junge of Peaceworkers UK examines the potential for a civilian peace service (CPS) to be involved in conflict handling and prevention work. The Belfast-based Public Order Research Project (PORP) is involved and is seeking information on anyone currently providing training in this field so details can be added to the database. Further information appears in the e-mail and web editions of NN. Contact; Dominic Bryan, c/o Institute of Irish Studies, Queen's University Belfast, 8 Fitzwilliam Street, Belfast BT9 6AW, d.bryan@qub.ac.uk (028 90273232) or Neil Jarman deputy@conflictresearch.org.uk (028 90742682) or Michael Hamilton mj.hamilton@ulst.ac.uk (028 90648675) or see http://www.conflictresearch.org.uk/publications/porp.html A draft copy of the Peaceworkers UK report is available at www.peaceworkers.fsnet.co.uk

+ A more detailed piece on this appears as an appendix to Nonviolent News, More...

Meanwhile the report from the Nonviolent Peaceforce Feasibility Study, a comprehensive study of third party nonviolent intervention internationally, is available at www.nonviolentpeaceforce.org

Mediation Network NI trainings
A Handling Conflict course has just started, the next Foundation Training in Mediation, a basic or entry level course, is at Lough Neagh Discovery Centre on 17th, 18th, 25th April and 2nd, 9th, 16th May, running each day 9.30 - 4.30. Cost £120 (£20 deposit). Further info from John Adams at MNNI, 10 Upper Crescent, Belfast BT7 1NT, ph 028 - 9043 8614, e-mail info@mediation-network.org.uk

Chernobyl Children’s Project
'Black Wind/White Land - Living with Chernobyl' is a major exhibition exploring the issues that have arisen as a result of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster of 1986; the European premiere of the exhibition will run in the Civic Offices, Wood Quay, Dublin from 22nd April - 17th May. The Chernobyl Children's Project (CCP) works to alleviate the suffering caused by the catastrophe and on 7th April its 19th convoy will leave Ireland with around 14 trucks and 19 ambulances bringing medical supplies and humanitarian aid. To date CCP has sent over 24 million Euros worth of aid and brought 8,500 children to Ireland; scientific research shows that children returning after a summer in Ireland show a 30-50% reduction in radiation levels in their bodies. Contact; CCP, 2 Camden Place, Camden Quay, Cork. Ph. 021 - 4506411, fax 4551544, e-mail adiroche@adiccp.org or visit website www.chernobyl-ireland.com Donations, no matter how small, welcome to Chernobyl Children's Project Ltd, TSB Bank, 1 Lapps Quay, Cork, A/c 00-07-01 36410021

Corrymeela; 'Entertaining Strangers' for Sunday
The theme for Corrymeela Sunday this year is 'Entertaining Strangers'; churches and groups of all Christian traditions are invited to join in exploring the biblical theme of the stranger. Normally held on or close to St Patrick's Day (this year a Sunday), a Corrymeela Sunday service or event can be held at any time that suits; a limited number of Corrymeela speakers are available but a special pack is available on request including stories, readings, background, liturgies, prayers and suggested songs. Enquiries also welcome about Corrymeela's 'Creating Community' resource and 'Different Tracks' manual. Subscriptions to become a 'Friend of Corrymeela' are UK£24 or £12 unwaged and Friends receive 'Corrymeela Connections' magazine three times a year. Corrymeela has office bases in Belfast and Reading, England, and centres at Ballycastle and Knocklayd. Corrymeela, 8 Upper Crescent, Belfast BT7 1NT, phone 028 - 9050 8080, fax 9050 8070, e-mail belfast@corrymeela.org and website www.corrymeela.org. The Reading office number is 0118 926 1062.

Refueling Peace
This is a new campaign to monitor and stop US military refueling in Ireland. It aims, as global citizens, to openly, accountably, safely and peacefully disrupt these US military refuelling operations which are mainly at Shannon Airport. Further information at http://refuelingpeace.org, or e-mail info@refuelingpeace.org or contact Eoin Dubsky c/o DCU Green Society, Clubs and Societies Office, DCU, Dublin 9, ph. 087 - 6941060.

Participation in the Practice of Rights
The report of an exciting and innovative conference, title as above, was launched recently. The conference brought together human rights activists, anti-poverty campaigners, trade unionists, community development groups, from north and south of the island, to discuss how the most marginalised in society can take part in the decisions that affect their lives and effectively exercise their right to human dignity. The 5 organising groups (CAJ/Committee on the Administration of Justice, Combat Poverty Agency, Irish Council for Civil Liberties. NI Voluntary Trust and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions) are looking at ideas to bring the work forward but the main idea is to build on what is already there rather than create new structures. More info, or to order the report (200 pages A5, UK£6 or 10 Euros, plus postage); Maggie Beirne, CAJ, 45/47 Donegall Street, Belfast BT1 2BR, ph. 028 - 90961122.

Making the Rights Responses
The NI Human Rights Commission is still accepting responses to their Consultation document but make it a s a p. NIHRC, Temple Court, 39 North Street, Belfast BT1 1NA, ph. 028 - 9024 3987.

PBI orientation for Colombia, Mexico, Indonesia
PBI/Peace Brigades International, UK section, is holding an orientation weekend from 9 - 12 May for those who would like to work as observers for the protection of human rights defenders; PBI is committed to non-violent resolution of conflicts. People over 25 years old are required for the above countries - you have to speak the language of the country you go to. The weekend will be in Buckinghamshire. Details; PBI UK, 1b Waterlow Road, London N19 5NJ, e-mail pbiuk@gn.apc.org and web site www.peacebrigades.org

Church and Peace conference
Church and Peace in Britain and Ireland and the Anglican Pacifist Fellowship are holding a joint conference 14 - 16 June in Shallowford, Staffordshire, England with the title "Peacemaking - armed only with God's love"; the programme runs from tea-time Friday to Sunday after lunch and includes theological reflection, Christian Peacemaker Teams, nonviolent intervention and civilian intervention. Details and bookings: Jenny Nicholson, Flat 1, 43 Benslow Lane, Hitchin SG4 9RE. Ph 01462 632 726.

There'll be a Basic (first level) course in Belfast 10th - 12th May and a Belfast taster 2-hour session for enquirers (what's it about?) on Saturday 13th April. Further info from Mark at 028 - 90 24 92 93 or e-mail quaker.house@ntlworld.com AVP runs community and prison workshops to help individuals discover nonviolent solutions within themselves. A number of workshops are coming up in the Republic; about these enquire to Robert Campbell at 01 - 455 0252.

International Women’s Peace Service, Palestine
There is a need for 16 women to spend 3 months a year for 3 years in a Palestinian village to support local efforts towards nonviolent peacemaking and record, report and respond to human rights abuses. It is a 3 year project to set up and run an International Women's House in Haris, Salfit, Palestine from August 2002; applicants need to have been to Palestine, involved in nonviolent direct action and over 21. Information and applications packs from; Josephine Jaffray, ph +44 - 1539-732583, e-mail josephine@jaffray.fslife.co.uk, or Angie Zelter at +44 - 1263 - 512049. e-mail reforest@gn.apc.org

WRI Triennial home stay programme
Hosts are wanted North and South, and east and west, for the War Resisters International Triennial conference; further info will be coming your way next month but dates for the home stay programme will be 31st July - 3rd August (when the conference starts) and 10th - 13th August (or by personal arrangement). Queries to Rob at INNATE.

INNATE networking meetings
Anyone interested is welcome to attend the Belfast networking meetings of INNATE. Forthcoming meetings are all the 3rd Monday of the month apart from the first one listed; Wednesday 20th March, Monday 15th April, Monday 20th May, Monday 17th June. All at Quaker House, 7 University Avenue, Belfast at 8pm. Queries to INNATE.