Who we are – dealing with difference
This is a new, beautifully illustrated and presented, pack for 9 – 14 year olds produced by Yvonne Naylor of the Transforming Sectarianism Project of the Irish School of Ecumenics (ISE). It is designed to help children and young people explore identity and belonging at both individual and community level, develop positive identity, an understanding of feelings and emotions (both own and other’s), look at differences and similarities and develop skills for dealing with conflict and difference. It is produced on thick paper in a loose leaf folder (184 pages plus worksheets). It is based on Cecelia Clegg and Joe Liechty’s book ‘Moving Beyond Sectarianism’ (Columba Press); study resources for adults and young adults on this appeared in 2001 and are still available from ISE (see NN92). “Who we are – dealing with difference” is available at £18 (plus £5 extra if posted) from ISE, 683 Antrim Road, Belfast BT15 4EG, ph 028 – 9077 5010.

Gonna study peace some more - ISE
Here’s a summary of the academic programmes at the Irish School of Ecumenics (ISE):

Ecumenical Studies Programme introduces and explores all three currents of the modern ecumenical movement - justice and peace, interreligious dialogue, and interchurch dialogue. It also seeks to reflect critically on major questions and insights of the ecumenical movement, and to lay a theological foundation for the vision of ecumenism, engagement in issues of justice and peace and interreligious dialogue; and is taught in Dublin. Email: ecumsec@tcd.ie 

• International Peace Studies Programme addresses the wider ethical and philosophical questions that arise concerning problems of peace and war in the context of social sciences with focus on ethics and international politics, conflict resolution, human rights and politics of development, and is taught in Dublin. Email: peacesec@tcd.ie
• Reconciliation Studies Programme addresses the challenge of developing a fuller, more complex, more systematic understanding of theoretical and practical approaches to reconciliation, and is taught in Belfast. Email: reconsec@tcd.ie
• Research Degree Programme: Doctor in Philosophy (Ph.D.) and Master in Literature (M.Litt.) may be undertaken in the following areas – Ecumenical Studies, International Peace Studies, and Reconciliation Studies. Email: ressec@tcd.ie
• Conflict and Dispute Resolution Studies Programme is an evening postgraduate taught Diploma programme for those who seek to enhance their knowledge and skills in mediation, conflict analysis, management and resolution. Those who complete the programme will have a deep understanding of the nature of conflict, the various conflict resolution processes available and will knowhow to apply them. The programme is taught in Dublin. Email: cdrssec@tcd.ie

Dublin address: Irish School of Ecumenics (Trinity College Dublin), Bea House, Milltown Park, Dublin 6, Republic. Tel: +353-1-260 1144 Fax: +353-1-260 1158

Belfast address: Irish School of Ecumenics (Trinity College Dublin), 683 Antrim Road, Belfast BT15 4EG. Tel: 028 9077 5010 Fax: 028 90373986. Web: www.tcd.ie/ise

Glencree Summer School – Conflict without losers
The Glencree Summer School this year runs from 15 – 17th August on the topic of “Resolving conflicts without losers: The experience of Ireland and other peace processes”. Further details from Glencree Centre for Reconciliation, Glencree, Co Wicklow, ph 01 – 2829711, fax 2766085, e-mail info@glencree-cfr.ie

Cooperation Ireland Belfast office
Cooperation Ireland in Belfast is now based at Glendinning House, 6 Murray Street, Belfast BT1 6DN, phone 028 – 9032 14 62, fax 9089 10 00, e-mail info@cooperationireland.org

Note new address and fax number. The Dublin office is at 20 Herbert Place, Dublin 2, phone 01 – 661 05 88. Cooperation Ireland works as a catalyst for North/South cooperation assisting those working to promote reconciliation, tolerance and mutual trust.

Shannon and Mary Kelly; Forgive us our trespassers
Mary Kelly, who took direct action against a US warplane at Shannon airport some days before the Catholic Worker 5, has been found guilty of the minor charge of trespass but remanded on continuing bail following disagreement among the jury about the more major charge of criminal damage (the DPP/Director of Public Prosecutions now has to decide whether there should be a further trial). The jury were unable to agree a majority 10 – 2 verdict despite a very biased summing up by the judge at Kilrush Circuit Court. The allegation was that $1.5 million worth of criminal damage was done with an axe. Her sentencing on the trespass charge will come in October. Further details; See Indymedia site at www.indymedia.ie or papers of the start of July.

Index – new network for development education
INDEX is the Irish Network for Development Education eXchange. INDEX is a new space for information sharing about development education, and is the successor to the NODE newsletter and contacts list. It is produced by Comhlámh to serve the development education sector throughout Ireland. INDEX provides...

• The INDEX Newsletter: A quarterly newsletter with articles and information on development education issues and an events calendar.
• The INDEX Contacts List: Contact information for development education organizations and groups throughout Ireland.
• The INDEX Website: A hub for development education information sharing, which will also host the contacts list and the calendar of development education events, updated monthly.

For further information, please contact index@comhlamh.org or phone 01 - 478 3490, or see the web at www.comhlamh.org/index Comhlámh is at 10 Upper Camden Street, Dublin 2, also with offices in Cork and since recently Belfast.

Debt and Development Coalition: Graft on the street
On Saturday 19th July in Dublin the Debt and Development Coalition is celebrating the first anniversary of the Irish government supporting 100% debt cancellation, with the aim to get the government to promote its debt policy more effectively and to make it one of the priorities of the Irish EU presidency in January 2004. So it is asking everyone to join in solidarity with the poorest in the world; meet 11.30 am 19th July at top of Grafton Street to collect signatures; and assemble at the same point at 2.30 pm to dance, sing and chant down to the Central Bank where representatives of different organisations will sign a large petition to the Taoiseach. Contact; Debt and Development Coalition Ireland, All Hallows, Grace Park Road, Dublin 9, ph/fax 01 – 857 1828, e-mail ddc@connect.ie  and web www.debtireland.org

Raytheon refuses to attend Derry City Council meeting
The major US arms manufacturer Raytheon has refused an invitation to discuss the work of their Derry-based Northern Ireland Software Centre at a special meeting of Derry City Council which would also have been attended by representatives of the Foyle Ethical Investment Campaign (FEIC). Derry City Council opposed the war in Iraq and it was in this context that the proposed meeting was to take place. Jim Keys of FEIC said

“…this is the company that makes the Tomahawk Cruise Missiles that rained down death in market places, hospitals and homes during that illegal war against the Iraqi people. It is the company that makes the thousands of cluster bombs that still litter Iraq awaiting new victims.”

A Raytheon spokesperson said that the “bottom line is we’ve explained many times what we do” so that there was no point in attending a meeting. Contact FEIC at feicmail@yahoo.com or phone Jim Keys at 078 036 87 90.

Human rights observers wanted!
Peace Brigades International UK section (PBI), 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 language of the country concerned. Field placement is for 12 months. The orientation weekend will take place from 25th to 28th of September in Buckinghamshire and will explore issues such as the role of a non-partisan human rights organisation implementing non violent alternatives in conflict areas, PBI's mandate, principles and detailed information on our projects. For further information please refer to our website or send us an A4 SAE (57p) to: PBI UK Section, 1b Waterlow Road, London N19 5NJ. Phone: (020) 7281 53 70, pbiuk@gn.apc.org , www.peacebrigades.org/britain 

International intervention and conflict in Macedonia….
“International intervention and conflict in Macedonia: causing problems…claiming solutions” is the title of a new 76 page publication from Afri (Action from Ireland), written by Marianne Osborn. Given the mysteries of the Balkans for many (and greater mysteries about intervention or the lack thereof) this analysis of the conflict since independence in 1991 is very welcome. Contact; Afri, 134 Phibsborough Road, Dublin 7, ph. 01 – 8827581 / 8827563, e-mail afri@iol.ie  and web www.afri.buz.org 

No dozing at P. Snooze: anti-war CD-ROM
Peace News and Undercurrents have an anti-war video and audio CD-ROM out entitled “Informed Dissent” which includes, among a wide variety of items, Noam Chomsky talking about US terrorism and related matters, various anti-war activists doing their thing, and a feature on globalisation and the media….all in all a useful and informative production, available at £6.50 (payable to Peace News) to Peace News, 5 Caledonian Road, London N1 9DY, or e-mail admin@peacenews.info 

- Meanwhile most of those receiving this issue of NN as a paper mailing will have a card to return for free sample issue of Peace News ‘for nonviolent revolution’.

Thinking together on religion and violence
OK, OK, we’re a bit behind with this one but better to mention it now than never. A useful collection of essays (over forty pages A4) on religion and violence covering Theravada Buddhism, Protestant Christianity, Islam, Judaism and other reflections appears in the World Council of Churches publication ‘Thinking Together’ No. 39 (June 2002) produced by their Office on Inter-Religious Relations which is online at www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/interreligious/index-e.html  (though you’ll have to search a bit after that).