Nonviolent News 106: Billy King

Organic Centre, Leitrim
Located at Rossinver, 8 miles from Manorhamilton, and established in 1995, the Organic Centre aims to provide training, information and demonstrations of organic gardening, growing and farming. It has a wide variety of different kinds of garden, a wetland sewage disposal system, and a shop with seasonal plants, vegetables, tools and seeds. The Centre is open from 1st May - 30th September daily from 11 a.m. - 4.00 p.m. (closes Friday 3pm); admission is €5 adults, children free, €3 concessions (the Centre is only open during October to April by appointment). As well as courses on growing and soil fertility and rotation, it runs ones on ecological housing, sustainable energy, relearning lost skills, and a conscientious/sustainable lifestyle. Some courses are run in Dublin (Dundrum) for people who find it difficult to get to Leitrim. Course fees in Leitrim are typically €70 for a day. Educational tours for different purposes are arranged on request. An informative 48-page booklet is produced on "Courses and Activities 2003" which is available free on request; or you can visit their well-designed website at www.theorganiccentre.ie which includes an order form which can be downloaded. You can support the work by becoming a friend, annual individual membership €25. The Organic Centre, Rossinver, Co Leitrim, phone 071 - 98 54338, fax 071 98 54343, and e-mail organiccentre@eircom.net

Mediation, Restorative Justice; INCORE Summer School
There are a couple of useful new additions to the INCORE website; their guide to internet resources on mediation is at http://www.incore.ulst.ac/cds/themes/mediation.htm and on restorative justice at http://www.incore.ulst.ac.uk/cds/themes/restorativejustice.htm INCORE itself is at Aberfoyle House, Northland Road, Derry/Londonderry BT48 7JA, ph. 028 - 7137 5500, websbite www.incore.ulst.ac.uk Meanwhile the UNU/INCORE Summer School runs from 9 - 14 June, an intensive week of training, networking and discussion in the field of conflict resolution, and it aims to bridge the gap between policy, practice and research. Three courses are available this year;

1. Managing peace processes with Prof Mari Fitzduff;
2. Second Track Diplomacy and Conflict Transformation with Prof Robert Ricigliano and Sue Williams;
3. Evaluation and impact assessment of peacebuilding projects with Judith Large and Cheyanne Church.

An 'Introduction to Northern Ireland Programme' is also available, from 8 - 9 June, as an introduction to conflict resolution practices, history and politics. Further info from INCORE or on the website at http://ww.incore.ulst.ac.uk/news/events/ss/index.html

Don't (l)ignite Ballymoney
Lignite is a very polluting fuel and strip mining for it is a disaster. And yet the Ballymoney/Stranocum area of north Antrim is the proposed site of a combined lignite open cast mine and power plant development which would cover 5,500 acres. About 80 farms would disappear as well as churches and schools being affected. Mining could last for 30 years and could go to a depth of 140 metres. A local action group is asking people to object to the Planning Service, and for lobbying to be done. Objections in writing (Reference D/2002/0599) can go to: the Planning Service, Special Studies Unit, 2nd Floor, Bedford House, 16 - 22 Bedford Street, Belfast BT2 7FD. Grounds for objection include pollution, destruction of existing mature and historic landscape, increase in traffic, increase in carbon dioxide, as well as visual intrusion to the beautiful north Antrim area. You can contact the local 'Just Say No' group working against the lignite mining - 'No to lignite mining, No to environmental destruction'; c/o John Leitch, The Orchard, Livery Road, Stranocum, BT53 8PL, phone 028 - 20 74 17 19.

Tools not bombs
Tools for Solidarity collects old, unwanted hand tools and sewing machines, repairs them and ships them out to skilled tradespeople in Africa. It campaigns for a re-distribution of power and resources both within our country and between the two parts of the world, north and south. It seeks to question the root causes of war (4 million died in Congo in last 5 years) as well as the Middle East. For TFS, 'solidarity' is practical and goes beyond talk and theory. At present it is working with a Ugandan organisation to supply kits of tools to disabled groups; the next shipment (400 carpentry and building tools) will be going mid-March to a training school for hearing impaired children in Sierra Leone which was ransacked during the civil war and left empty. TFS is run entirely by volunteers, both local and international; the TFS workshop is open for volunteers/visitors the first Sunday afternoon of every month. Contact: TFS, Unit 1B1, Edenderry Industrial Estate, 326 Crumlin Road, Belfast BT14 7EE, ph 028 - 9074 7473.

Remembering and Commemoration
A spring semester programme on Remembering and Commemoration has already begun, organised jointly by the Institute of Irish Studies at QUB and Healing Through Remembering. Seminars are held in the Institute of Irish Studies at 8 Fitzwilliam street, Belfast at 4.00 pm with forthcoming dates 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th March, 3rd April, and 1st, 8th and 15th May, and members of the public are invited. Topics include Michael Longley's poetry, "Confronting the Past: the Roles of History and history Education in the Process of reconciliation", "Geographies of Conflict Commemoration", "Music and Memories" etc. Details from 028 - 9027 3386 or contact Healing Through Remembering (see NN 101), info@healingthroughremembering.org

One Small Step campaign
The longest journey begins with a single step - and that step belongs to me; this is part of the message from the new One Small Step Campaign asking individuals to commit themselves to backing peace building in Northern Ireland and specifically the goals behind the Programme for Government. The principles involved include equality and mutual respect, taking an active role in daily life to ensure society is inclusive, peaceful, just and fair, and working towards reconciliation, tolerance, mutual trust and human rights for all. Backed by a raft of community and business figures it believes that small acts (e.g. avoiding sectarian jokes, listening and valuing everyone) can build a powerful sense of community. One Small Step campaign, Glendinning House, 6 Murray street, Belfast BT1 6DN, ph 028 - 9023 0533, e-mail info@onesmallstepcampaign.org and website www.onesmallstepcampaign.org

Conflict and Community: Corrymeela Sunday
The theme for Corrymeela Sunday this year is 'Conflict and Community', exploring the gospel call to transform conflicts into creative opportunities and build inclusive communities, welcoming the stranger. A Corrymeela Sunday pack is available on request including readings and reflections, songs, prayers, suggested order or service, and information about Corrymeela (which is a dispersed Christian community of people from all Christian traditions committed to peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland and throughout the world). It is also downloadable from http://corrymeela.org/Belfast_/corrymeela_Sunday_2003.html You can also become a 'Friend of Corrymeela' for £24 or £12 unwaged. Contact; Corrymeela Community, 8 Upper Crescent, Belfast BT7 1NT. ?Meanwhile the current leader of the Corrymeela Community, Rev Trevor Williams, who has been at the helm for ten years, takes up a new post as a minister in north Belfast at the end of May; a new leader will be elected in due course.

Parading at Navan
The next Meath Peace Group public talk will take place on Monday 7th April at 8pm in St Columban's College, Dalgan Park, Navan, Co. Meath and will focus on Parades and Parading Disputes with particular reference to the recent Quigley Report. Speakers so far confirmed are: Professor Brice Dickson, Chief Commissioner, NI Human Rights Commission and Austen Morgan, barrister at law. Other speakers to be be announced. For information contact meathpeace@hotmail.com or telephone Julitta Clancy at 01-8259438.

Shannon protesters update...
As protests regarding Shannon continue, here's a quick round-up of those arrested for damage to US planes. On 13th February, Eoin Dubsky was given 6-months suspended and fined €1,000 for 'criminal damage' (sic) to a US Hercules jet last September, a judgement which he is appealing; campaign donations can be made to Eoin Dubsky, Whitewalls, Ballymoney, Gorey, Co. Wexford. Mary Kelly is out on bail. Most of the 5 Catholic Worker activists from 3rd February action are still in Limerick prison; support letters to Deirdre Clancy, Nuin Dunlop, Karen Fallon, Damien Moran, can continue to go to the Shannon Peace House, 19 Inis Ealga, Shannon, Co Clare, ph 061 - 365871, shannonpeacecamp@hotmail.com Ciaron O'Reilly is out on bail and can be contacted at 087 - 918 4552.

War plans, Dublin, Belfast and elsewhere….. ?

In Dublin:
The three groupings involved in organising the demonstration in Dublin on 15th February which was attended by 100,000 people - or more (Irish Anti-War Movement, PANA/Peace And Neutrality Alliance, and NGO Peace Alliance) have agreed a common plan for the outbreak of the Iraq war. There will be a protest at the USA Embassy in Dublin and elsewhere around the country at 6 pm the day war breaks out; there will be a ten minute stoppage at noon the following day; and a protest march in Dublin and other centres the following Saturday. ?

In Belfast:
There will be a demonstration at the USA Consulate, Queen Street, at 4 pm the day war breaks out if that happens before noon local time, otherwise the following day, and a rally at the Art College 3 pm the following Saturday. ?

Everywhere this pattern will be mirrored to some extent, and there will be lots happening locally - so look out (because plans will develop further) or simply DIY. Meanwhile there will be various demonstrations on the war to mark International Women's Day on Saturday 8th March, and other protests.

WRI calls for blockade of bases on 5th/6th April
The War Resisters International (WRI) has called for nonviolent actions at military bases on 5th and 6th April under the slogan 'Reclaim the bases'. They point out that while most of the troops which will be used in the war are already in the Middle east, the military infrastructure of the US, UK and other countries involved in the war will continue to play an important support role. Possibilities include citizens' inspections for weapons of mass destruction, nonviolent blockades of bases, recruitment offices and weapons manufacturers, vigils/demos etc. For compilation of actions see Iraq Crisis Page on WRI website at http://wri-irg.org

Human rights observers wanted!!!!
PBI/Peace Brigades International UK section, a human rights organisation working for the transformation of conflict, is organising its next orientation weekend for prospective volunteers wanting to work as International Human rights Observers in Colombia, Mexico, Guatemala and Indonesia. You must be over 25 years and speak the local language; deployment is for 12 months. The orientation weekend will take place from 8th - 11th May at a venue near London. It will explore issues such as the role of a non-partisan human rights organisation implementing nonviolent alternatives in conflict areas, PBI's mandate, principles etc. For further information, please see website or send (in UK) an A4 SAE (57p) to; PBI UK, 1b Waterlow Road, London N19 5NJ. Phone 020 - 7281 53 70, e-mail pbiuk@gn.apc.org and website www.peacebrigades.org/britain

Wanted….
[Ed note: We're happy to carry 'movement' requests in the e-mail and web editions]
Wanted - a speaker from Northern Ireland to update the Fabian group on the peace process; they meet Sunday afternoons at Guildford Cathedral, England. Will someone be in England any of the following dates: 18 May, 5 October, late November or 25 January 2002? If so please contact Denise Moll, 21 Fleetwood Court, Madeira Road, west Byfleet, Surrey KT14 6BE, ph/fax 01932 - 343614, e-mail
dmollnewleaf@waitrose.com