Iraq/Shannon: Jail for anti-war activist, blockade 
Fintan Lane (PRO of the Irish Anti-War Movement) began a 60-day prison sentence on 26th November for his refusal to pay a €750 fine for protesting at Shannon Airport in a peaceful mass trespass in October 2002. He is in Limerick Prison and is in good form. Letters can be sent to him at Limerick Prison, Mulgrave Street, Limerick. For support etc contact Cork Anti-War Campaign; phone 087 1258325 or e-mail clonakiltyagainstthewar@eircom.net While others have been in prison on remand, Fintan Lane is the first anti-war activist to go to jail over the Iraq war and/or the role of Shannon airport in keeping US forces supplied with soldiers and equipment. Various other cases are pending in the Republic and the North. Pit Stop Ploughshares (5 were involved in a February 2003 Action) point out that "92,000 U.S. troops, weapons, & cruise missile components have passed through the civilian Shannon airport this year. Aer Rianta have made 11 million Euro in blood money, the Pit Stop Ploughshares have been charged with 2 million Euro 'criminal damage.'" www.geocities.com/pwdyson/pitnews

Meanwhile the Irish Anti-War Movement peaceful mass blockade planned for the airport will assemble at 2pm in Shannon town centre on Saturday, 6th December; it aims to disrupt normal business at the airport in protest at the refuelling of US warplanes. See www.irishantiwar.org which includes non-violence guidelines for the event. General phone contacts for the IAWM are 087-7955013, 087-6329511, 01-8746012 and 085-7380789.

Changes at Glencree 
After ten years at the helm as CEO of Glencree during which time Glencree has developed enormously, Ian White is moving on to private consultancy although he will retain an involvement in Glencree programmes. His successor will be Peter Humphreys who has most recently been director of research with the Institute of Public Administration. The Centre is run by minimum staff and maximum volunteers and these hale from around the Globe including Canada, USA, Poland, South Africa, Germany, Sweden and Israel and two new volunteers, one from Palestine and one from Israel are expected in January.

It has been a busy year for the various programmes of which the following is only a partial summary:

• In 2003 the Glencree Women's Programme ran a number of successful training programmes with participants from North and South. The aim of these programmes are to help community groups develop strategies for resolving conflict on a local or national scale by exploring the special role which women might play.
• Participants in the Schools Peace Studies Programme come from all parts of the country, including Donegal, Monaghan, Cavan, Kilkenny, Dublin, Kildare, Wicklow, Louth, Wexford, Carlow, Westmeath, Meath, Laois, Cork, Waterford, Limerick, Mayo, Galway, Leitrim, Sligo, Antrim and Down. In 2002 over 1500 participants took part in the Programme and in 2003, it looks if those figures will be surpassed. The Peace Education resource pack is currently under redevelopment and will take a more international perspective and link into established curricular areas more readily.
• LIVE (Let's Involve the Victims' Experience), in addition to 5 weekend meetings held at Glencree, held 2 weekend meetings in Belfast and a LIVE Convention, 'After the Conflict ~ Opportunities in Diversity'. The Format for this year's Convention consisted of a variety of panel discussions on topics ranging from Youth Issues, The Churches and Diversity and Political Responses to Diversity.
• The Ex-Combatants Programme has been going strong this year but experienced some difficulties due to the withdrawal of Loyalist groupings from Cross-Community work but involvement is now restarting. · Changes in physical structure include the OPW (Office of Public Works) being on site at the moment creating six new twin bedded rooms en suite in the Bridge Building. It is hoped that the Centre Building will be transformed into office space over the coming months for all the staff and volunteers to work together.
• The Bridge Visitor Centre Gallery and Coffee Shop continues to thrive and is open 11 - 6 Tuesday - Sunday (open Public Holiday Mondays); the current exhibition, to 5th January, is 'I belong to the Border' by Constance Short.

Those who want to support Glencree's work can become a Friend: the subscription is €40/UK£25/US$40 (unwaged 50% reduction); further details are available about Glencree at www.glencree-cfr.ie Glencree Centre for Reconciliation, Glencree, Co Wicklow, ph 01 - 282 9711, e-mail info@glencree-cfr.ie 

Peace and Reconciliation Group, Derry/Londonderry 
The Peace and Reconciliation Group (PRG) was set up over 25 years ago to address practical ways to work towards understanding and reconciliation in the context of the conflict in Northern Ireland. Throughout its history, PRG has used a variety of diverse programmes to allow people to build bridges between communities that have been polarised. The PRG offers a range of quality training programmes to all segments of the community, public and private; this is tailored to meet the needs of individual client groups, and training packages are offered both on an off-site. Please contact the office for specific dates or if you would be interested in PRG staff bringing training to your group or organisation.

Upcoming courses include: 

1. Introduction to Conflict Resolution & Mediation Skills; OCN level: 2, Credits: 1, 7 evening sessions, 7.30pm - 9.30pm, no start date yet set. 
2. Intermediate Conflict Resolution & Mediation Skills; OCN level: 3, Credits: 2, 6 sessions, 10.00am - 4.30pm, Start Date: Wednesday 14th January. 
3. Advanced Conflict Resolution & Mediation Skills, OCN level: 3, Credits: 3, 10 sessions, 10.00am - 4.30pm, Start Date: Thursday 15th January. 
4. Citizenship - Social, Civic & Political Educational Workshop, OCN level: 2, Credits: 2, 5 x 6-hour sessions or 10 x 3-hour sessions, No Start Date Available 
5. Exploring Diversity - Facilitating Community Relations Work, OCN level: 3, credits: 4, 10 sessions, 10.00am - 4.30pm, Start Date: Monday 19th January. Contact; PRG, 18/20 Bishop Street, Derry BT48 6PW, phone 028-7136 9206, e-mail info@peaceprg.co.uk or or see the website at www.peaceprg.co.uk 

Friends of the Earth NI 
The European Commission is investigating following FOE-NI's complaint made in May over 22 sewage treatment works not meeting the requirements of the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive; these are right around Northern Ireland. FOE-NI is campaigning for a fully independent Environmental Protection Agency. Another current campaign is on leaky and illegal land fill sites. FOE has also cooperated with the Ulster Farmers' Union on 'Gate to Plate' awards aimed at cutting 'food miles' and encouraging quality local food. FOE-NI has local groups in Bannside (meeting Coleraine), Omagh, Craigavon, Lisburn, Downpatrick, Belfast, Fermanagh and Larne. Further details from; FOE, 7 Donegall Street Place, Belfast BT1 2FN. Phone 028 - 90 23 34 88 or e-mail for-ni@foe.co.uk or web www.foe.co.uk/northern_ireland 

Organic Centre, Rossinver, Co 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, farming and sustainable living. 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 April - 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. There is also a Co. Clare special this coming year. Course fees in Leitrim are typically €70 for a day. Educational tours for different purposes are arranged on request. An informative 52 page booklet is produced on 'Courses and Activities 2004' 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 €30. The Organic Centre, Rossinver, Co Leitrim, phone 071 - 98 54338, fax 071 - 98 54343, and e-mail organiccentre@eircom.net 

West Papua Exhibition 
Take a break from that frantic consumerism or activism (or both!) if you're in Dublin and visit West Papua: Land of the Morning Star Photo Display at the ILAC Library, ILAC Centre, Henry Street, Dublin 1 until 23rd December. West Papua is the western half of the island of New Guinea; it is remarkable in its linguistic and cultural diversity, with some 240 tribes and languages. However, these peoples and their lands are under threat. West Papua Action works for West Papua self-determination and human rights; membership, including a quarterly newsletter, is just €10 (€5 concession) to 134 Phibsborough Road, Dublin 7. Phone 01 - 860 3431 or e-mail wpaction@iol.ie 

Scottish Centre for Nonviolence 
There are different models for promoting nonviolence and Scotland has had a Centre for Nonviolence for some years now. Its work includes providing mediators, university level courses, training workshops (the 5 core ones are an introduction to nonviolence, dealing creatively with conflict, nonviolence for activists, prejudice and cultural awareness, and training for trainers), tailor-made training, and work on building a culture of peace, international civilian peace teams, alternative defence, and sectarianism and racism (i.e. conflict within Scotland). Further information about particular areas on request and/or visit the website at www.nonviolence-scotland.org.uk  Membership £5 - 25 individuals, other rates available. The Scottish Centre for Nonviolence, The Annexe, Kirk Street, Dunblane FK15 0AJ. Ph 01786 - 824730 and e-mail nonviolence@callnetuk.com 

Peace and Justice e-mails to Bethlehem 
For the fourth consecutive year Christmas celebrations will take place in a climate of fear for all peoples in the Holy Land. This climate of fear results from the continuing violence - occupation, suicide bombings and military operations - violence which causes great suffering for the local population and greatly reduces any prospects for a just and peaceful solution of the conflict. The building of a fence or wall of separation is deepening further the climate of hatred.

Pax Christi International, the International Fellowship of Reconciliation (IFOR), Church and Peace and the Presidency of the Conference of European Justice and Peace Commissions are supporting an initiative of partners in Bethlehem -- the Arab Educational Institute (AEI), the Centre for Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation (CCRR) and Wi'am Center - inviting all its members to e-mail wishes and prayers for peace.

All individual members and all member organisations and partners are invited to e-mail Christmas wishes and prayers for peace to the partners in Bethlehem. Please do this before 25 December. English is the preferred language, however non-native English speakers may also send wishes and prayers in their mother tongue. All messages should be sent to christmas-message@paxchristi.net Some of these messages will go directly to Bethlehem and at the same time be put on the website of Pax Christi International www.paxchristi.net It might be that a student of the AEI will respond to your message by sending his or her own wish and prayer.