I’ll Triennial thing once
Over three hundred visitors are expected for the War Resisters International/WRI Triennial conference which takes place at DCU/Dublin City University from 3rd - 9th August this year with a wide range of themes and with Ireland, North and South, as a major focus. The overall title is 'Stories and Strategies - Resistance and Social Change'; theme groups include ones on Economics, Militarisation and Globalisation; Violence in Society and Nonviolent Social Empowerment; Addressing Ethnic, Community and Intra-State Violence; Roles of Gender and Racism in War and Militarisation; Conscientious Objectors, Veterans, and Anti-Militarism; Strategies for Open Borders - Asylum and Migration; An Exploration and Introduction to Nonviolence; Dealing with the Past; International 'Peace Operations' - what they are and what they could be. Plenary groups and workshops will add much more variety and there will be a full cultural programme (including DIY!). An SCI/VSI/IVS workcamp will help to run the show (see VSI/IVS item below). The complete residential package is 350 Euros or there is a daily rate of 40 Euros. Fuller details are available from the WRI Triennial Office, 84 Templeville Drive, Templeogue, Dublin 6W.

Meanwhile, The Host-Age Has Arrived
Hosts are sought for WRI Triennial visitors who want to take part in the Home Stay Programme before or after (31st July - 3rd August and 10th - 13th August). The idea is for it to be a two-way exchange; visitors get to meet activists in Ireland (North, South, East, West) and hosts can use visitors for meetings or informal gatherings. Fuller details are available from INNATE (who are handling the Home Stay Programme).

ICCL Annual Lecture
The Irish Council for Civil Liberties Second Annual Lecture (only open to members) will take place on Friday 24th May from 7.00 pm in TCD, Dublin on the topic 'Human Rights - Linking National and International frameworks'. Subscriptions to ICCL are 31.74 Euros for individuals, 57.14 for Couples/Double, and 6.35 for Unwaged. Application forms available from ICCL, Dominick Court, 40-41 Lower Dominick Street , Dublin 1, ph. 01 - 8783136, fax 8783109, e-mail iccl@iol.ie You can also visit the website at http://www.iccl.ie/

Camping it up this summer with IVS and VSI
IVS/International Voluntary Service in Northern Ireland, and VSI/Voluntary Service International in the Republic now have their 2002 International Workcamps Brochure available detailing over 400 volunteering opportunities in 40 different countries throughout East and West Europe, North Africa and North America. Participation is open to anyone over 18; volunteers pay a registration fee and travel but food and accommodation are provided during the 2 - 4 week projects. The brochure is available from IVS at £3 (add postage) or from VSI at 4 Euros. IVS, 122 Great Victoria Street, Belfast BT2 7BG, phone 028 - 90 23 81 47, fax 90 24 43 56, e-mail placements@ivsni.co.uk VSI, 30 Mountjoy Square, Dublin 1, phone 01 - 855 1011, fax 855 1012, e-mail vsi@iol.ie

For the love of IFOR
The International Fellowship of Reconciliation (IFOR) is seeking an International Coordinator to work in its secretariat in Alkmaar, Netherlands, starting in September (Interim Coordinator, Susan Ross finishes in July). IFOR is a membership-based, multi-faith organisation of people committed to active nonviolence with branches, groups or affiliates in over 40 countries (in Ireland, INNATE and the Peace People are affiliates). The post has various responsibilities and candidates are sought who have experience working in nonprofit administration and with geographically dispersed groups, and expertise in financial administration, personnel management and program development. English is required, French or German is desirable; salary up to 31,000 Euro. Deadline is 15th May. For complete job description contact Dorie Wilsnack at d.wilsnack@ifor.org or contact IFOR, Spoorstraat 38, 1815 BK Alkmaar, Netherlands. Website www.ifor.org

ISE; Ecumenics, Peace, Reconciliation studies
The Irish School of Ecumenics/ISE, a postgraduate academic institute within Trinity College Dublin, offers MPhil degrees in Ecumenical Studies (Dublin), International Peace Studies (Dublin), and Reconciliation Studies (Belfast). Research Degrees (MLitt and PhD) are available in any of the 3 areas of study (e-mail ressec@tcd.ie ) and a postgraduate evening Diploma in Conflict and Dispute Resolution Studies (Dublin) is also available. ISE is based at campuses in Dublin and Belfast.

• Ecumenical Studies covers the different strands of the modern ecumenical movement, and the e-mail address is ecumsec@tcd.ie
• International Peace Studies provides an understanding of the problems of conflict and its resolution, and covers wider questions of peace and war in the context of social sciences; the e-mail address is peacesec@tcd.ie
• Reconciliation Studies (new last year) looks at developing a fuller, more complex and more systematic understanding of theoretical and practical approaches to reconciliation; e-mail reconsec@tcd.ie
• Conflict and Dispute Resolution studies is an evening Diploma programme aimed at setting standards of best practice including alternative dispute resolution for resolving workplace disputes; e-mail cdrssec@tcd.ie

Dublin based programmes: Irish School of Ecumenics (TCD), Bea House, Milltown Park, Dublin 6, phone 01 - 260 1144, fax 260 1158.

Belfast based programmes; Irish School of Ecumenics, 48 Elmwood Avenue, Belfast BT9 6AZ, ph/fax 028 - 9038 2750. Or visit website at http://www.tcd.ie/ise

AI - NI; St Patrick was a foreigner, 
he came from decent people
The Mid Down group of Amnesty International (AI) carried 'Respect for Refugees' banners in the St Patrick's Day Parade in Downpatrick; "You could say that Saint Patrick himself was a 'blow in' from further afield, and he experienced many hardships upon first coming to Ireland. But he grew to love the place and the people grew to love him - that's worth remembering when refugees are often treated very harshly' said Enda Macklin of the AI Mid Down Group. Other local AI groups in Northern Ireland are in Belfast, Foyle, Mid Ulster, Newry, North Atlantic (coast that is! - Ed), Queen's University, and there is also a Lawyers Group; efforts are ongoing to set up a new group in North Down. Details from the AI - NI office, 80a Stranmillis Road, Belfast BT9 5AD, phone 028 - 9066 6216, e-mail enquiriesni@amnesty.org.uk

AI in the Republic is based at 48 Fleet Street, Dublin 2, phone 01 - 677 6361, e-mail amnesty@iol.ie and website www.amnesty.ie

Steeple learning curve on green issues
'Eco-Congregation' is a new and innovative programme developed to help churches care for creation; it aims to help churches express their wonder, concern and care for God's creation in both practical and spiritual ways. The project is a result of a partnership between Going for Green and the Environmental Issues Network of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI). See also NN92. One example of where it has taken off is in Derry where it was launched last October; as a result, Holy Family Parish in Derry City agreed to participate and a parish environmental group was set up with the aims:

1. to raise awareness in the community about local and global environmental issues affecting our children and future generations, and
2. to initiate practical initiatives designed to protect and improve our environment; a home composting project has been launched with 30 families participating. 

The Foyle Council and Derry City Council are supporting the project. Contact; Oliver McCrossan, c/o Foyle Basin Council, 10 Clarendon Street, Derry, phone 028 - 7137 7970.

Feasta Feasta Feasta / Sustainable Ireland Festival
Feasta, the Foundation for the Economics of Sustainability, have a conference on Wednesday 10th April from 10.00 a.m. on 'Re-Building Local Economies' in central Dublin. This is part of the 'Convergence Festival - Exploring Culture for a Better World' organised by the Sustainable Ireland Cooperative which takes place from 6th - 14th April. Speakers at the Feasta conference include Alistair McIntosh, Richard Douthwaite and Helena Norberg-Hodge. Conference fee is 50 Euros (Feasta members 25). Feasta is at 159 Lower Rathmines Road, Dublin 2, ph. 01 - 491 2773, fax 491 2203, and e-mail feasta@anu.ie The website is at http://www.feasta.org

Meanwhile the programme (of 60 or so events) for the Convergence Festival is on the Sustainable Ireland website at www.sustainable.ie or you can e-mail sustainable.ireland@anu.ie or phone 01 - 4912327.

Earthwatch / FOE Ireland
Earthwatch magazine has continued its excellent comprehensive coverage under the new editorship of Gus Worth and company. Where else would you get critical analysis of the plastic bag tax in the Republic, a look at suicide attacks on nuclear power plants, Richard Douthwaite on Ireland's renewable energy targets, and the fact that the Republic (with fluoridated water) has a 40% elevated rate of a particular bone cancer compared to Northern Ireland (unfluoridated). 'Earthwatch, the Irish Environmental Magazine' is published by Friends of the Earth Ireland, 7 Upper Camden Street, Dublin 2, ph. 01 - 478 5100, fax 476 2042, e-mail foeeire@iol.ie and web www.iol.ie/~foeeire

Individual copies of the magazine are 2 Euros or it is sent to subscribers; FOE-I membership is 25 Euros individual, 30 E household, 15 E unwaged or enquire. There are local groups in Carlow, Clare, Clonmel, UCC, Dublin, Drogheda, Dundalk, Galway, South Kerry, Kilkenny, Leitrim, Mullingar, Sligo, Waterford and West Mayo.

You-topias; 'Utopias, visions and realities'
This is the title of the special feature in the current issue of Peace News, the quarterly international magazine 'for nonviolent revolution' which includes 22 pages on utopian ideas and actions. It includes a useful timeline and reading list and, among the articles, an interview by Lauren Kelly wth Jenny James, a founder of the Atlantis community, and anallysis by Uri Davis of the Kibbbutz movement, and an article on the English Diggers of 1649. Each issue of Peace News is now online shortly after publication but in simple text without images. UK subscriptions are £10 for 4 issues, European rate is 25 Euros (if not paying in UK£, check payment methods). Peace News, 5 Caledonian Road, London NI 9DY Website http://peacenews.info

AVP/Alternatives to Violence Project, Belfast
A reminder that there will be a Basic (first level) course in Belfast 10th - 12th May and a Belfast taster two-hour session (to which anyone is welcome if they want to find out more about AVP) on Saturday 13th April. AVP is an individual-oriented training programme helping people discover nonviolent solutions within themselves. Further information from Mark at 028 - 90 24 92 93. It is hoped to have an AVP second level course in Belfast before the summer break to enable any interested Northerners to do the third level/facilitators' course in the autumn.