AVPorating violence
at a personal level
AVP, the Alternatives to Violence Project, recently held its
AGM in Mountjoy Prison, Dublin, where the work of the last
year was reviewed. In addition to courses/workshops in the
community, workshops took place in five different prisons
in the Republic during 2004, and the possibility is being
examined of taking the work into schools. The officers were
re-elected as follows: Grainne Carty, chair; Elma McMahon,
secretary; Eileen Diver, treasurer. AVP welcomes invitations
to organise workshops and while there have been no workshops
over the last year in Northern Ireland, AVP is happy to look
at workshops anywhere on the island. AVP has a three workshop
model (Basic, Second Level, and third level or Training For
Facilitators), each of which is run over a weekend or equivalent
time; the programme is deliberately a mixture of games and
more serious exercises and role play which explore violence
and non-violence at a personal level and look at the concept
of Transforming Power.. You can find out more by phoning 01
- 455 0352 or e-mail campbellrobert@eircom.net
Pitstop stop for Ploughshares
Five
A mistrial was declared on 14th March in the trial at the
Four Courts in Dublin of the Pitstop Ploughshares five (see
NN 127, 126) and a retrial announced for 24th October this
year. The judge called a halt after a week (though saying
that in the interests of justice he could not reveal his reasons).
See details at their website http://www.WarOnTrial.com
and on http://www.indymedia.ie
(use the search facility on latter).
New Centre director
for Corrymeela
The newly appointed Centre Director for Corrymeela, Ballycastle,
is Ronnie Millar, originally from Antrim and most recently
working in the USA; he is likely to take up the post at the
start of July. Meanwhile the Corrymeela magazine Connections
currently features an interview with Ray Davey, founder of
Corrymeela, on his 90th birthday (his war diaries are to be
published in the autumn). Connections is free to Friends of
Corrymeela who pay a minimum subscription of £24 waged,
£12 unwaged (US$40 / 20). Corrymeela is also looking
for long-term volunteers for work at Ballycastle from September,
particularly people from Ireland. Corrymeela, 8 Upper Crescent,
Belfast BT7 1NT, e-mail belfast@corrymeela.org
and website http://www.corrymeela.org
Getting the skids on
at Ringaskiddy
There is a Public Meeting and an Action Training Workshop
on the proposed Ringaskiddy incinerator during April. The
meeting 'Beyond incineration - Strategies for a Sustainable
Future' takes place at The Tig Fili, McCurtain Street, Cork
City, on Tuesday 19th April, 7.30-10pm with speakers from
Ringaskiddy Residents, Cork Environmental Alliance and Grassroots
Cork; it will be followed by themed discussions on what can
we do to stop Indaver's incinerators. The Training for Action
will take place at Tig Fili, MacCurtain Street, Saturday 23rd
April 10am - 5pm and Sunday 24th April 10am - 2pm. It is using
the proposed incinerator at Ringaskiddy as a focus but methods,
tactics and strategies developed should be applicable in any
situation in which a community wishes to take charge of its
own destiny. The workshop will be facilitated by Joanne Sheehan,
american anti-war and community activist. Donations will be
taken to cover expenses. It is co-organised by Grassroots
Cork and the Worker's Solidarity Movement. Queries to John
at 085 7027828.
Getting your gab packed
for International Volunteer Projects
The 2005 edition of the invaluable International Volunteer
Projects book is now available from Service Civil International
sections VSI (Voluntary Service International) in the Republic
and IVS (International Voluntary Service) in the North. This
details 500 short term opportunities, typically for 2 to 3
weeks, in around fifty countries with varied kinds of work,
so varied that there should be something for everyone this
summer.
- VSI are holding an 'International Volunteer Projects Info
Day' on Saturday 9th April 2005, at the Irish Film Institute,
6 Eustace Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2; the book will be available
and people can talk to experienced volunteers. The International
Volunteer Projects Book is available at €4 from newsagents
and bookshops in the Republic, or directly from VSI at 30
Mountjoy Square, Dublin 1, phone 01 - 8551011, call in or
send a postal order / cheque for €4. The VSI website
is at http://www.vsi.ie with
a link to the online version at http://camps.sciint.org
- IVS have the book available for postage (47p) within Northern
Ireland and their website at http://www.ivsni.org
also has a link to the international SCI directory. IVS,
34 Shaftesbury Square, Belfast BT2 7DB, phone 028 - 90238147.
Meanwhile the IVS AGM takes place on Tuesday 12th April from
6 pm (refreshments) and 6.30pm speakers (Duncan Morrow of
the Community Relations Council and Katie Hanlon of Ballynafeigh
Community Development Association) - phone if you wish to
attend.
Verging on Convergence
The amazink Convergence
Festival, No.7, is almost upon us again, taking place
from April 20th to 24th 2005
at the Cultivate Centre for Sustainable Living and Learning,
15-19 Essex Street West, Old City Temple Bar,
Dublin 8. The theme this quarter is Building Healthy Community
- Inspiring Culture, Redefining Progress. "Think Slow
Food, optimum nutrition, green building, renewable energy,
recycling, fair trade towns, eco-tourism, urban renewal, kids'
creativity, art, photography, documentaries and Earth Day
and you're only beginning to touch on the exciting array of
topics explored in the packed programme." Most of the
events happen in the Cultivate Sustainable Living Centre on
Essex Street West, which is home to the festival organisers
Sustainable Ireland. Cultivate is open Monday to Saturday,
year-round, so if you want to find out more information on
any aspects of sustainability, pick up a festival brochure,
volunteer or book tickets for any event, feel free to call
in or phone on 01-6746415. Or check out the website above
which includes information on fees.
CCP's got a great big
convoy
Sunday 10th April will see the 25th and largest ever send-off
of humanitarian aid from Irish soil to Chernobyl-affected
areas, since the Chernobyl Children's Project International
was established. Consisting of 15 articulated trucks and 13
ambulances carrying €2.5 million worth of aid, this Convoy
will deliver this aid to various orphanages, hospitals and
homes throughout Belarus. The day's events on April 10 will
get underway at 12 noon at the Laple Factory Grounds just
outside Carlow town. There is a full programme of events lined
up, including Irish dancers, a marching band and up and coming
Irish band New Colour Soul. Adi Roche will launch the Convoy
as it departs for Rosslare harbour before sailing on to Pembroke.
All are welcome to the departure. For further information
contact: Georgina Butler, Chernobyl Children's Project International,
Phone 021-4312999, Mobil 086 2453820. See also the website
(you can make secure donations via the website, or donate
via bank transfer or cheque). Postal address; CCPI, Ballycurreeen
Industrial Estate, Kinsale Road, Cork.
Securing fairness in
a land of plenty
Kerry Diocesan Justice, Peace and Creation Committee and CORI
Justice Commission present a seminar on Securing Fairness
and Wellbeing in a Land of Plenty on Tuesday 26th April from
8.00 - 10.00 pm at St John's Pastoral Centre, Castle Street,
Tralee. Admission is free, all welcome. Speakers are Fr Sean
Healy and Sr Brigid Reynolds of CORI Justice Commission. It
will address a range of issues, including both exclusion and
lack of increased happiness with growing incomes. Queries
to Sylvia Thompson at 06671-37484.
Amnesty NI
Amnesty International NI reports massive support for its campaign
to Control Arms, calling on governments to agree a global
Arms Trade Treaty to bring the trade in weapons under control
- the current situation fuels conflict, poverty and human
rights abuse. Meanwhile Saturday 16th April from 10am-2pm
sees a training for those willing to speak in schools on behalf
of Amnesty - new speakers welcome. AI-NI has been continuing
its work of promoting human rights and a Bill of Rights in
Northern Ireland. And membership has been growing with currently
13 local groups (Armagh, Belfast, Craigavon, East Antrim,
Fermanagh, Foyle, Mid Down, Mid Ulster, Newry and Mourne,
North Down, Omagh, Queen's University and the AI-NI office).
Subscriptions are £30 family, £24 individual,
£7.50 student/under22/claimant/senior citizen. Amnesty
International, 397 Ormeau Road, Belfast BT7 3GP, web http://www.amnesty.org.uk/ni
and phone 028 - 90643000.
FEASTA roadshow
FEASTA, the Foundation for the Economics of Sustainability,
will be appearing at a few forthcoming events; 1) The Eco-Day
on Saturday 9th April at the County Hall, Marine Road, Dun
Laoghaire, 2) Small Woodlands at Work on Saturday 16th April,
Moss Road, Clonbullogue, Edenderry, Co Offaly, and 3) The
weekend only (23rd-24th April) of the Convergence Festival
in Dublin. Meanwhile their latest e-bulletin has Tanaiste
Mary Harney's incredible comments on the second FEASTA Review,
'Growth: The Celtic Cancer'. You can receive the bulletin
directly by logging on to the website at http://www.feasta.org
FEASTA, 10a Lower Camden Street, Dublin 2, e-mail feasta@anu.ie
Northern arms trade conference
Saturday 21st May (10 am - 4pm) sees an arms trade conference
taking place in Belfast sponsored by INNATE and the Peace
People, open to all interested and taking place at Frederick
Street Friends Meeting House. Speakers include Peter Doran
(Foyle Ethical Investment Campaign) and Patrick Corrigan (Amnesty
International), plus others, and it is an opportunity to network
and get up to date with the arms trade and arms production
around the country, north, north-west and south, and opposition
to it. Contact; phone 028 - 9029 3623, mobile 0771 511 0517,
email: antiarmstradeday@ntlworld.com
Fee for the day will be £5, unwaged £3, including
a light lunch. Further details in the next edition of Nonviolent
News.
Culture and Conflict:
social challenges for tomorrow's Europe
Tuesday 19th and Wednesday 20th April sees a conference on
this title taking place at the Radisson Roe Hotel, Limavady
(Co Derry), hosted by the Northern Ireland Centre for European
Co-operation (NICEC) based at the University of Ulster (its
first international conference). Keynote speaker is Maurice
Hayes. Case studies include the Basque Country, the Balkans
and Cyprus as well as cultural and social regeneration of
urban and rural areas. It is too late for initial bookings
but queries can be made to Tanya Kelly by e-mail at nicec@ulster.ac.uk
or by phone at 028 - 7137 5408. NICEC, Northland Road, Londonderry
BT48 7JH.
IFOR on gender &
nonviolence, Bertha van Suttner
IFOR has two new publications in its Patterns series; 1) Just
Words: Quotations on Gender, Nonviolence and Peace (72-pages,
€ 7.50 / US$ 10 per copy) is a handy collection of inspiring
quotations, from traditional proverbs to Nobel Peace Prize
Laureates, on women, men, war and peace. 2) The Life of Bertha
von Suttner and Her Legacy for Women Peacemakers Today (36-pages,
€ 5 / US$ 5 per copy) explores the life of the first
woman to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize and the heritage
she left for peacemakers today. International Fellowship of
Reconciliation, Spoorstraat 38, 1815 BK Alkmaar, Netherlands,
phone +31 72 512 3014, fax +31 72 515 1102 and website http://www.ifor.org
Nonviolence youth camp, Palestine
Holy Land Trust and Quaker International Affairs Representatives
are very pleased to invite you to the first "Summer Activists'
Camp" to be held in Palestine this summer. The Summer
Camp will offer ten days of training in strategic nonviolence
and organizing skills to Palestinian and International college-age
youth, the working language will be English. It will take
place in a rural area outside of Bethlehem from 14-24 July.
The goal is to empower young people to organize nonviolently
on issues relevant to their communities (internationals will
pay travel and $250). Details at http://www.holylandtrust.org/pnr_sc1.htm
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