Iraq on the rack; Big demos on 15th February + more
Saturday 15th February is your chance to join in with half the world is saying no to the Iraq war. lIn Dublin meet at the Garden of Remembrance, Parnell Square, at 2pm; the Dublin demo is sponsored by three groupings: 

• The IAWM/Irish Anti-War Movement  www.irishantiwar.org or phone 087-7955013, 087-6329511, 01-8746012, 087-2225742), 
• PANA/Peace And Neutrality Alliance (pana@eircom.net  and ph. 01 - 2859111, 2808247, 2844765), and the 
• NGO Peace Alliance (ngopa@eircom.net or ph. 01 - 4968595). 

In Belfast the demo will gather at the Art College, York Street, at 2pm and move off at 2.30 for a rally at the City Hall at 3pm. The rally is sponsored by the Stop the War Coalition, led by the Northern Ireland Committee of the ICTU, ph 028 - 9024 7940 (with lots of other supporters); look out for feeder marches, e.g. from Derry, West Belfast - see details locally.

Meanwhile Denis Halliday, Irish Quaker and former UN Humanitarian Coordinator on Iraq, is speaking at two Belfast meetings: 1) 7.30 pm Thurs 6th February at Conference Room, Europa Hotel, with Eamonn McCann, sponsored by IAWM (nowar_Belfast@hotmail.com or ph 077 - 4068 3767) 2) 'Iraq - the way forward', other speakers Caoimhe Butterly and Mairead Corrigan Maguire, 7.30 pm Thursday 13th February, Ashby Building, Stranmillis Road, Belfast. Hosted by Ulster Quaker Peace Committee. Details 90 24 92 93, e-mail peacecommittee@cheerful.com  

Saturday 8th February in Cornmarket, Belfast, sees an anti-war Peace Party from 12.30 - 3.30; ph. 90 68 28 32 or e-mail antiwardiary@yahoo,com 

The Irish Anti-War Movement list a number of local events taking place, e.g. Westport, Wexford; visit their website at www.irishantiwar.org for details.

Remember, look out locally!

Shannon Airport protests take off 
What a difference a few months makes…..from a few lonely monitors of Refuelling Peace to massive publicity, nonviolent actions and controversy about damage to property [see Billy King in e-mail/web edition -Ed]. To make up your mind, visit www.refuelingpeace.org  www.shannonpeacecamp.org  www.catholicworker.org  and www.plowsharesactions.org  - and remember, Shannon activists need support.

Peace Council visit 
A delegation from the Peace Council, an inter-faith peace body, is being hosted by the Peace People and other supporting groups in Northern Ireland from 15th - 22nd June. On 18th and 19th June there will be public meetings with some of the Peace Councillors. More details will follow as the itinerary is arranged. Members of the Peace Council will be visiting Derry, Down and Newry and Mourne District Councils. 

Among those visiting NI are: Sr. Joan Chittister, a social psychologist, international lecturer, and author of over twenty books on spirituality and contemporary issues; Bishop Samuel Ruiz Garcia, renowned for his advocacy efforts on behalf of indigenous peoples in Chiapas, Mexico; Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche, Tibetan monk and scholar and Chairman of the Assembly of Tibetan People's Deputies. Contact: Peace People: 028 - 9066 3465, www.peacepeople.com Details of PC at: www.peacecouncil.org 

New Releases releases schools project in Republic 
New Releases schools project is being launched on Monday 10th February at 10.30 am at the Helix, Dublin City University, Collins Avenue, Dublin 9 (it has already been launched in Northern Ireland). The project gives primary and post primary schools an issues based learning programme which aims for a greater understanding of the UN International Decade for a Culture for Peace and Nonviolence for the Children of the World. Pupils have a choice of creative mediums to submit ideas and awards will be made in different age categories. If attending, contact: Anne O'Connell, New Releases, c/o 47 St Patrick's Cottages, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14. Ph 01 - 4930713; e-mail aboconnell@eircom.net 

General enquiries to; New Releases Development Team, 224 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 6GE. Phone 028 (048 from Republic) 90 66 34 65, fax 90 68 39 47, e-mail info@peacepeople.com and web www.newreleases.tv 

IVS/VSI Africa/Asia/Latin America Exchange Programme 2003 
International Voluntary Service-NI and Voluntary Service International in the Republic are now taking applications for their Africa, Asia, Latin America Exchange Programme which allows an insight and understanding of development issues through participating in voluntary work projects of practical benefit locally, e.g. building classrooms, renovating a rural health centre etc., during a two-month stay (you need to be over 21). 

IVS and VSI run a joint comprehensive preparation programme March-May which participants must attend. The Belfast Information Evening is on Weds 12th February at 5.30pm in the IVSNI office, 122 Great Victoria Street, Belfast, ph 90 23 81 47, e-mail colin@ivsni.co.uk The information evenings in the Republic are in Cork on 8th February, Dublin 8th February, Tullamore 19th February, Galway 12th February, and Limerick (date to be confirmed); further details on times and venues from VSI, 30 Mountjoy Square, Dublin 1, ph 01 - 855 1011, fax 855 1012, e-mail vsi@iol.ie 

Community Relations Youth Work Network (CRYWN)
This Network is hosting a day training session on human rights as they apply to young people in Northern Ireland on Thursday 13th February in Belfast; it will include presentations by the Human Rights Commission and Children's Law Centre. Cost is £5 per person. CRYWN will be shortly launching its Strategic Plan which will be presented at a two-day residential which will include the AGM and general community relations training. CRYWN was established in 1994 to provide support to community relations professionals through networking and training. Contact; at PO Box 364, Belfast BT6 0WE or Sara Cook at 028 - 7136 9206 or saracook@hotmail.com 

Meath Peace Group: Acts of completion and beyond 
The next Meath Peace Group public talk will take place on Tuesday, 18th February in St. Columban's College, Dalgan Park, Navan, at 8pm. The talk, entitled "Acts of Completion and Beyond - Beginning the Reconciliation Process", will focus on the present difficulties in the peace process and will hear different perspectives on how the work of building understanding and reconciliation can be furthered. 

Speakers so far confirmed are: David Ford, MLA, Leader of the Alliance Party, Cllr. Chris McGimpsey of the UUP and Francie Molly MLA (SF); chair will be Andy Pollak, Director of the Centre for Cross-Border studies. The report on the last talk held by the group, addressed by Gregory Campbell, MLA (DUP) is now available. For copies of this and previous ones, e-mail the group at meathpeace@hotmail.com  

Reports on many talks held to date are on the group's website: www.geocities.com/meathgroup/index.html  Phone 01 - 825 9438.

World Religion Day, Kerry 
'Religions of the World: Together in Celebration - an hour of Devotional Music & Readings' from the Hindu, Jewish, Buddhist, Christian, Muslim & Bahá'í Faiths takes place on Sunday 16 February at 8pm in St Brendan's Pastoral Centre, Upper Rock St., Tralee. Organised by the Kerry Diocesan Justice & Peace Committee and members of the Tralee Bahá'í community. Everyone is welcome. For more info: Contact Rita Kelly, J & P Sec 066-9766361, Shanahill West, Keel, Castlemaine, Co.Kerry or Paul Hanrahan , Bahá'í Community 086-2843498.

In Dublin, the secretary of the Three Faiths Forum (Christian, Jewish, Muslim), Rev Desmond Sinnamon, can be contacted at 01 - 2985491 or e-mail parishoftaney@eircom.net 

In Belfast, the Northern Ireland Inter-Faith Forum can be contacted c/o Stranmillis University College, Belfast BT9 5DY, ph. 028 - 90 38 43 28, e-mail n.richardson@stran.ac.uk 

Esso "On the Run" 
When President Bush announced that the US would pull out of the Kyoto Protocol in March 2001, the mark of the fossil fuel industry was all over his policy. One company stands out in its efforts to bring about climate climb-down - for more than a decade ExxonMobil (or Esso in Europe) has been working consistently, systematically, and sometimes covertly to derail any international action the combat global warming. 

StopEsso in the UK was launched in the May 2001 and by July that same year the StopEsso campaign began in Ireland with various activities. Last year during the second StopEsso Day, Clare Green Party members and others protested at Esso stations in Limerick and Ennis. FoE groups protested north and south. 

This year StopEsso has grown in Ireland and on 22nd February 2003 people around Ireland will take part in peaceful and legal protest at Esso stations in Limerick, Cork, Dublin and beyond for Ireland's own StopEsso Day.

If you would like to join in or want to organise your own peaceful protest on 22nd February, e-mail stopesso@dublin.com  for DIY guide and materials or visit www.stopesso.org and find out how to create your own DIY banner action. Address StopEsso Ireland, 7 Upper Camden St. Dublin 2. Mediation courses Mediation Northern Ireland still has a few places left on the following two courses: 1) Foundation Training in Mediation, 10, 11, 24 February, 10, 24 March and 7 April 2003, 9:30 am to 4:30 pm at Australia House, Belfast (£360 - public/private, £240 - community/voluntary) £20 deposit. 2) Intermediate Training in Mediation, 13, 14, 28 Feb, 14, 28 March and 11 April 2003, 9:30 am to 4:30 pm at Australia House, Belfast (£360 - public/private, £240 - community/voluntary) £20 deposit. Further details; Mediation Northern Ireland, 10 Upper Crescent, Belfast BT7 1NT, phone 028 - 9043 8614, e-mail info@mediation-network.org.uk 

Housmans London refurbishment 
Housmans bookshop and Peace News office in London at 5 Caledonian Road has a special place in the hearts of many peace and radical activists from Britain and internationally (it has a huge number of connections, including being where the Peace Diary and World Peace Directory emanates from). Now in need of major refurbishment, Peace News Trustees, who are the owners, have launched a major once-off appeal to reach a target of £55,000. Contact; Peace News Trustees (Housmans Relaunch Appeal), 5 Caledonian Road, London N1 9DY, ph. 020 - 8673 0670, e-mail iandixon@btinternet.com  

PS Drop by if you're in London, it's just a couple of minutes from King's Cross.

Green Party re-forms in North 
A gathering takes place at 7pm on Wednesday 5th February in Room 210, Peter Froggat Centre, Queens University Belfast, to discuss Green representation in Northern Ireland. All welcome. 

Contact: Green Party / Comhaontas Glas, c/o 62 Haypark Avenue, Belfast BT7 3FE, phone 0771 - 427 2833.