Get faith to faith with the Peace Council
Nearly forty members, trustees or guests of the Peace Council visit Northern Ireland from 16th – 20th June. The Peace Council is an international interfaith body committed to peacemaking including practical projects in different parts of the world; information is available on their website at www.peacecouncil.org During the visit they will be meeting a wide variety of different groups, many in private sessions for members, but the following events are open:

·         Belfast; ‘Peace-building – a Quaker and Buddhist perspective’, Friends Meeting House, Frederick Street, 7.30 pm Monday 16th June, all welcome.

·         Newry; Community discussion on ‘Northern Ireland’s divided society – the need for a shared vision’, Newry Arts Centre, Weds 18th June, 2.00 – 3.30 pm, ph 41738997 for details.

·         Larne; Interdenominational service with Peace Councillor input, Drumalis, 2.30 pm, Weds 18th June, ph 28267823 for details.

·         Omagh; Peace councillors speak at Tara Counselling Centre, 11 Holmview Terrace at 11 am, all welcome, details 8225 0024.

·         Belfast; ‘Come to the quiet’, Buddhist, Muslim and Christian voices speak on prayer, St.Clements, 11 am – 4 pm, Weds 18th June, suggested donation £20, concessions available, book by 16th June, ph 90776500.

·         Belfast; Inter-Faith Celebration, St Anne’s Cathedral, Thursday 19th June 8pm, with contributions from a number of different faiths. The visit is organised in cooperation with a wide variety of different groups and local councils. For details in general, contact Peace People, 224 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 6GE, ph 90 663465 or mobile 0773 614 7713, e-mail info@peacepeople.com

Spin in to the Resource/Info space at Giro’s, Belfast
Giro’s new Info-shop Resource Space is now open four days a week with lots of different resources, the info-shop has material on anarchism, environmentalism, gender, queer issues, peace activism, prisoner support, DIY culture etc. It also has materials for creating props, art materials and costumes. It’s also a place to meet to dream and scheme. It’s open Wednesday 12 – 8 pm and Thursday – Saturday 12 – 4 pm. Giros is an entirely volunteer run collective with other activities including the Belfast Musicians Collective, Giros café, concerts, dark room etc. There is a need for volunteers to run the Space, donations of books, videos, leaflets etc, and free stuff for the Free Shop. Infoshop/Resource Space, Giros, 1-5 Donegall Lane, Belfast BT1 2LZ, phone 028 – 90315629 (direct) / 90244640 (Giros upstairs), and e-mail infoshopbelfast@yahoo.com

CAJ a look at this
CAJ/Committee on the Administration of Justice reports a busy period in its work for the passage of a Bill of Rights, with Canadian Supreme Court Justice Beverly McLachlin talking to an audience of politicians and community activists about the tensions (or lack of them, in fact!) between elected politicians and judges in the implementation of the Canadian Charter of Rights. A major event was organised at the Wellington Park Hotel to discuss whether the equality mainstreaming duty (section 75 of the NI Act) is working, and how could it be made to have a greater impact in ensuring effective equality. On policing, the organisation has had a range of meetings with senior PSNI officers, with the Ombudsman, with the Oversight Commissioner, and is following closely the creation of the new District Policing Partnerships. Concerns around plastic bullets, new decisions regarding the deployment of CS spray, and human rights training are of particular concern, and some of the key findings about the work of all these new institutions will be issued in a circular in the near future. Our fourth priority area is criminal justice which requires a careful monitoring of all the recent exposes around allegations of collusion, and a longer-term approach as to the best way to devolve criminal justice. Subs to CAJ are £17or £5 unwaged, or £12 to receive the informative monthly Just News bulletin only. For further info: CAJ, 45/47 Donegall Street, Belfast BT1 2BR, ph 028 – 90961122, web www.caj.org.uk   

Catch the LIVE event at Glencree: ‘After the Conflict….’
The LIVE programme (Let’s Involve the Victims Experience) is hosting their international convention at Glencree the last weekend of June. The Theme is “After the Conflict: The opportunities in Diversity”, with speakers and workshops representative from different areas of society including political representatives, church and youth, and covering areas such as victims issues and international conflict. It runs from the evening of Friday 26th to Sunday lunch time. This event is free of charge but accommodation is strictly limited. Contact ASAP: Hilary Doyle or Jacinta DePaor by e-mail at LIVE@glencree-cfr.ie or phone 01 – 282 9711; LIVE Programme, Glencree Centre for Reconciliation, Glencree, Co Wicklow.

Demonstrate at Shannon
There is a national demonstration at Shannon Airport on Saturday 21st June; march to Shannon terminal, assembling Shannon town centre at 2 pm. On arrival there will be a couple of speakers, an open mike, and music, ending around 6 pm. Aer Rianta has admitted that over 50,000 US troops passed through Shannon airport in the first four months of this year. Irish government complicity with the US killing machine continues and the illegal occupation of Iraq is being actively assisted. The anti-war movement needs to refocus on this complicity and, in practical terms, that means highlighting the abuse of Shannon airport. Organised by Cork Anti-War Movement, phone 087 – 1258325.

I pardon you, he said dramatically
The President of the USA recently pardoned five Catholic Worker activists in Ireland who faces charges of criminal damage against a US war plane at Shannon airport… his was reported in some of the Republic’s media (23rd/24th May) but deserves wider attention. The ‘President’ was Martin Sheen, best known currently for his role as President in the West Wing series, and the event for the ‘Pitstop Ploughshares’ Five took place at the Yanks Bar, Borrisokane, Co Tipperary. Support still needed; contact 086 1512013, e-mail pitstopploughshares@hotmail.com or visit www.ploughsharesireland.org

Take part in a four ‘states’, under 25 residential
Ten young people from 19 – 25 years old from Israel, Palestine, Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland will have the opportunity to spend 6 days together on an EUMED programme organised by Community Dialogue NI and the Van Leer Jerusalem Institute. The dates are 31st August – 5th September this year and it will provide an opportunity to engage in facilitated discussions, conflict resolution workshops, and social and cultural activities and visits. All in price of £35. Places limited, for further information contact Margaret Geelan by e-mail before 4th July; geelanfamily@hotmail.com  

Get to grips with alternatives to violence at a personal level
It is hoped to run an open Basic (first level) Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP) course the last weekend of June in Belfast, depending on numbers; Friday evening 27th – Sunday afternoon 29th June. For details contact ASAP by e-mail to avpbelfast@hotmail.com or phone 028 – 90249293 or 0771 – 5110517. 

Green (verb) things

1. The ‘officially’ useful ‘Environment Bulletin’ in the Republic is a good checklist of official environmental matters, and sometimes also voluntary groups, as in its websites guide in the April 2003 issue. See www.environ.ie (use search for ‘Environment Bulletin’) or you can request inclusion on the mailing list to Doreen Kirwan/Kay Lee, Environmental Awareness Section, Department of the Environment and Local Government, Custom House, Dublin 1, ph 01 – 888 2486, e-mail editor@environ.irlgov.ie
2. Conservation Volunteers Northern Ireland run an extensive training programme for those interested in practical ways to improve their environment. Typical fees are £35 a day, some concessions. Contact Sharon Austin, Conservation Volunteers Northern Ireland, Dendron Lodge, Clandeboye Estate, Bangor, Co Down BT19 1RN, ph 028 – 91 852 817, e-mail s.Austin@btcv.org.uk The website is at www.cvni.org.uk  

Get your Monitor Tool-Kit out
“A Monitor’s Tool-Kit – A practice and skills development programme” was put together by Eldred de Klerk for the Community Development Centre, North Belfast in 2001 but not distributed due to the latter’s closure. It includes material on assumptions, roles and functions, community conflict, negotiating and mediating under stress etc. Available by e-mail, 76 pages in Rich Text Format. Contact: Neil Jarman, Institute for Conflict Research, Unit 14, North City Business Centre, 2 Duncairn Gardens, Belfast BT15 2GG, e-mail deputy@conflictresearch.org.uk or ph 028 – 9074 2682. ICR website is at www.conflictresearch.org.uk  

See the Belfast evaluation of Iraq wars actions
A four-page report is now available from an evaluation meeting in Belfast of actions in opposition to the Iraq war. The evaluation was held jointly by the Justice Not Terror Coalition and Giro’s. The report is available free on demand, preferably by e-mail, or exchange with like reports from elsewhere. Contact: JNTC, e-mail jntc@post.com or phone 028 – 9064 7106 or 9024 9293.

Be a WRI admin/finance worker
The War Resisters International seeks a part-time (2.5 days per week) for central London office. A commitment to pacifism essential. £18,492 pro rata. Deadline for applications 13 June, start 1 July 03. ph. 020 7278 4040, http://wri-irg.org More information at http://www.wri-irg.org/news/2003/adminjob.htm  

Amaze your family and friends this summer
The Northern Ireland peace process might often seem to be going around in circles, so an appropriate monument to it is the hedge Peacemaze at Castlewellan Forest Park, Castlewellan, Co Down, 32 miles south of Belfast. It is officially the largest hedge maze in the world (6,000 yew trees, over 3 kms of path) and was planted to mark the route to peace taken by the people of Northern Ireland following the Good Friday Agreement of 1998. Don’t hedge your bets, yew can check it out in person (suitable for adults and children) or on the web at www.peacemaze.com