AVP – Alternatives to Violence Project
AVP (Alternatives to Violence Project) continues to progress in Ireland. Based on demand, workshops in 2002 took place in Wheatfield, the Midlands, and Mountjoy prisons, Coolemine and Kilcranny House (community courses). Forthcoming workshops for 2003 are being planned for Limerick, Wheatfield, Castlerea, Mountjoy and Kilcranny House (Coleraine). While each workshop is based on a series of seven sessions which include gatherings, exercises and games (‘light & livelies’), no workshop is the same because of the shared experiences and insights. Everyone, including the facilitators, volunteer to participate in a Basic workshop which explores violence and non-violence and introduces Transforming Power.

Lots of communications skills are learnt, such as how to truly listen, express feelings and seek to resolve conflicts non-violently. Those who choose to go on to a Second Level Workshop choose the main topic and then delve more deeply into issues that block or get in the way of living a full and dignified life. Monthly meetings of facilitators take place to deal with the practical issues of planning workshops. Most recently, a Code of Ethics has been prepared. Robert Campbell continues as Coordinator. Should you wish to participate in a workshop or to learn more about AVP, please contact Robert¹s email robert.campbell@oceanfree.net or phone 01 – 455 0352. The newly appointed Chairperson is Grainne Carty, Treasurer is Eileen Diver and Secretary is Elma McMahon.

lAVP hopes to be more visible in Northern Ireland in the near future with new apprentice facilitators coming on stream and plans shortly to be drawn up. You can contact AVP in Belfast at 028 – 90 24 92 93 or e-mail avpbelfast@hotmail.com 

Monitor the situation
Over the past year Mediation Northern Ireland (formerly Mediation Network) have been using volunteer monitors in an attempt to ease conflict at one of the Belfast interfaces on days and nights of heightened tension. They now want to expand the pool of volunteers (who will receive full training). An information and recruitment evening for those interested in volunteering will be held on 21st May 2003. To register your interest for this event, please contact Maire Patton on 90 438614 or email maire@mediationnorthernireland.org  Mediation Northern Ireland, 10 Upper Crescent, Belfast BT7 1NT, ph 028 – 9043 8614, e-mail info@mediationnorthernireland.org  and web www.mediationnorthernireland.org 

International Volunteer Projects 2003 /
New IVS address
The International Volunteer Projects 2003 booklet is now available from IVS/International Voluntary Service in the North and VSI/Voluntary Service International in the Republic (the respective sections of SCI/Service Civil International). This details short term opportunities (varies but typically a fortnight) in almost fifty countries, with very varied kinds of work (including anti-racist, third world solidarity, peace, working with people with disabilities, work with children, ecological work, women’s/gender projects, socially disadvantaged, arts and culture, or ideology and spirituality). Volunteers must be over 18 and bring enthusiasm and flexibility; certain projects may have language specifications. The respective editions of the booklet are available from;

lVSI, 30 Mountjoy Square, Dublin 1, phone 01 – 8551011, e-mail vsi@iol.ie
web http://homepages.iol.ie/~vsi priced at €4 including postage.

lIVS has moved (almost) across the road from its former address and is now at 34 Shaftesbury Square, Belfast BT2 7DB, ph 028 – 90 23 81 47 (phone the same), e-mail placements@ivsni.co.uk and they suggest sending a large s.a.e with 54p postage for a copy.

The war on Iraq
Various court cases are still pending, and groups still working, on issues arising from the Iraq war. Six people are due in court in Belfast on 15th May arising from arrests made during the ‘Jam War, Make Peace’ action at the die-in beside the City Hall, Belfast, on Tuesday 8th April. Two further Catholic Worker activists were involved in an action at Shannon Airport on Good Friday, 18th April; Jenny Hannon of Dublin and Martin McGowan of Sligo were detained by airport security and police after making their way into the airfield; they had constructed a shrine to the Iraqis slain in the recent U.S. military assault, conducted the Catholic Office of the Dead and began to plant a bed of potatoes. Financial support for Catholic Worker actions & activists can be made out to ‘Peace and Reconciliation’, c/o Ploughshares, 134 Phibsborough Road, Dublin 7. The Foyle Ethical Investment Campaign continued to do its energetic thing including transforming various Derry symbols on 7th/8th April. Ann Patterson and Mairead Maguire have received what might be considered conditional discharges for the action they were involved with at the UN in New York (see NN108) but Mairead Maguire faces another charge.

• For contacts, see last Nonviolent News (NN 108).
• See also Billy King column Go...

INCORE: Evaluation of Conflict Resolution Interventions
The second part of “The Evaluation of Conflict Resolution Interventions” – “Emerging Practice and Theory”, written by Cheyanne Church and Julie Shouldice, has been published by INCORE. This explores both the challenges that have been encountered by those undertaking conflict resolution evaluation (CRE), and some emerging considerations for improving practice and theoretical approaches. This report is available on-line at http://www.incore.ulst.ac.uk/home/publication/research/index.html  For paper copies of the report (A5, 54 pages), please contact incore@incore.ulst.ac.uk  INCORE, University of Ulster, Magee Campus, Derry/Londonderry BT48 7JA ph 028 7137 5500 fax 028 7137 5510. www.incore.ulst.ac.uk 

Globalisation & Genocide in West Papua
The Human Right Symposium - Thursday 22nd May 19.30 – 22.00, Main Hall, Cultivate, Temple Bar, 15-19 Essex Street West, Dublin 8 as part of the Annual Convergence Festival, co-hosted by Amnesty International, Frontline, Trócaire, West Papua Action, and Sustainable Ireland Cooperative. In the "information age", few people know about West Papua, where gold, copper and gas are being extracted, the rainforest is being cut down and the people are facing a genocide at the hands of the Indonesian military, the same military who brutally suppressed the people of East Timor. What are the roles of corporations, governments, the corporate media, human rights defenders, and 'ordinary people' in situations such as West Papua? Speakers are: George Monbiot (Chair), Guardian columnist and author, John Rumbiak, West Papua's leading human rights defender, and Carmel Budiardjo, Founder of Tapol, the Indonesia Human Rights Campaign.Booking: 01 8603431 / 674 6415 or wpaction@iol.ie - €5.00. West Papua Action, 134 Phibsborough Road, Dublin 7. ph (direct) 01 860 3431 Mobile 087 2969742 Fax. 01 882 7576. Email wpaction@iol.ie  http://westpapuaaction.buz.org 

Convergence/Sustainable Living Festival, Dublin,
16th – 25th May
An amazingly wide variety of exciting events, political, cultural and other, take place during the 4th Annual Convergence Festival, organised by the Sustainable Ireland Cooperative based at Cultivate: the Sustainable Living Centre, St Michael and St John’s, 15 – 19 Essex Street West, Old City Temple Bar, Dublin 8. Details can be found at www.sustainable.ie  and ph 01 – 674 6415 for booking information.

War is Terror is War – Afri Famine Walk/Peace Walk
The (ten mile) Famine Walk/Peace Walk organised by Afri (Action from Ireland) takes place from Doolough to Louisburgh, Co Mayo this year on Saturday 31st May beginning at 2pm (shuttle buses from Louisburgh from 1pm). Organised in association with Louisburgh Community Project (ph. 098 66218). Walk leaders are Brendan Forde ofm who has worked for 30 years in Latin America, Kathy Kelly of Voices in the Wilderness, Nuria Mustafa, an Iraqi exile living in Ireland, and Pat O’Brien, priest, poet and anti-war activist. There will also be contributions from local musicians and school children. On Friday 30th May at 8pm there is the opening of an exhibition of photographs depicting the effect of the famine on the area; in the Granuaile Centre, Louisburgh. On Saturday evening there is a céili in the Derrylahan, Louisburgh from 9 – 11.30 pm. Contact; Afri, 134 Phibsborough Road, Phibsborough, Dublin 7, ph 01 – 882 7581 / 882 7563, e-mail afri@iol.ie and website www.afri.buz.org 

Meeting on US Peace Movement, Belfast
It has been hard to tell where the US peace movement has been since 9/11, partly because censorship in the USA itself has meant news in the mainstream media has been scarce. Monday 12th May at 7.30 pm in Belfast sees an opportunity to get up to date as long time activist Joanne Sheehan reflects on the USA peace movement now, US foreign policy and opposition to it since September 11th, and growing US global dominance. She works with War Resisters League in New England where she is an organizer and nonviolence trainer; she has been involved with War Resisters International for 20 years and is presently Chair. The meeting is open, sponsored by INNATE, and takes place at 7 University Avenue, Belfast (opposite Christian Science church at back of Queen’s); queries to INNATE at 028 - 90 64 71 06.

Training: Nonviolence in the Context of War & Armed Conflict
The Kurve Wustrow 2003 International English-language Training on "Nonviolence in the context of War and Armed Conflict" takes place from 18th October to 2nd November, in Germany. Peace and human rights activists, people working with refugees or war affected populations all over the world, bear witness that it is possible to work on armed conflicts and against large-scale human rights violations with nonviolent means. They also experience that only long-term commitment can heal wounds, bring about reconciliation or even settle the dispute. Good will and commitment are indispensable for this work, but in themselves not sufficient. The training covers principles of nonviolence, nonviolent direct action and nonviolent conflict intervention, understanding and transforming conflicts, political analysis, strategy, reconciliation work in war torn societies, observing/reporting human rights violations, human rights organizing, dealing with stress, fear and traumatic experience. The fee is €700 but talk to them if lack of money is a problem. The trainers are Jill Sternberg, Stella Tamang and Hagen Berndt, and the course is endorsed by IFOR/International Fellowship of Reconciliation. Applications need to be made not later than 15th June. Further details from; KURVE Wustrow, Kirchstr. 14, D-29462 Wustrow, Germany, +49 - (0) 5843 - 9871-37 e-mail: info@kurvewustrow.org 

Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI)
This ecumenical programme, managed by Quakers in partnership with Churches Together in Britain and Ireland, aims to accompany Palestinians and Israelis in their nonviolent actions and concerted advocacy efforts to end the occupation. EAPPI is appealing for financial help and can also use volunteers. Address; QPSW (Quaker Peace and Social Witness), Friends House, 173 Euston Road, London NW1 2BJ. Appeal queries to +44 (0)20 7663 1047, e-mail lizc@quaker.org.uk 

Next INNATE Belfast Networking Meeting; Monday 19th May at 7 University Avenue – anyone interested welcome.