Presbyterian Peacemaking
Programme
Laura Coulter has recently been appointed peacemaking programme
officer with the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. She has a
background in community development, conflict resolution and
mediation work. The peacemaking programme, funded for 3 years,
will focus on developing an introductory course on peacemaking
as an integral part of Christian discipleship. Laura will
also provide support to those within the Church, including
existing local peace agents both at presbytery and congregational
level, to respond to challenges and opportunities in contributing
to good relations. It is hoped to appoint a full-time peacemaking
officer soon who will develop the youth-focused programme.
Based at Presbyterian Church House, Belfast, Laura can be
contacted on 028 - 90322284 ext 403 or e-mail: lcoulter@presbyterianireland.org
Kerry: Pax Christi link,
World Religion Day
Kerry Diocesan Justice, Peace & Creation Committee was
delighted that it has been recognised as a Partner organisation
by Pax Christi International (PCI) at the November meeting
of its Executive (in Antwerp, Belgium). This followed a visit
from Fr Paul Lansu from PCI Brussels in August. Since then,
JPC has been actively involved in 2 PCI campaigns 1) Day of
Prayer for the great lakes region of Africa (Nov) which it
promoted across all the parishes & secondary schools in
the diocese & 2) Messages of hope for Bethlehem at Christmas
time an event promoted again through the schools .It looks
forward to ongoing linking with PCI. Ph. 066-7137484.
World Religion Day: 8pm Sun 5 February,
St Brendan’s Pastoral Centre, Tralee. This
is an opportunity to celebrate with an hour of readings, music,
pictures, & prayer from the major world faiths. Organised
by the Kerry Diocesan Justice Peace & Creation Committee,
Tralee Inter-Faith Group & the Tralee Bahá’í
Community. Note: Useful website for info on World Religions
is http://www.diversiton.com
MAW power to your elbow
23rd – 25th February sees the visit of Tony Kempster
and Christine Titmus of the Movement for the Abolition of
War (MAW) in Britain to Northern Ireland where they will be
undertaking a variety of engagements in Derry and Belfast,
at the invitation of INNATE; both visitors are accomplished
in other fields as well as peace. The MAW website has a wealth
of information at http://www.abolishwar.org.uk
with various background materials including a list of songs
about war and injustice suitable for education and campaigning.
One open event in Belfast during the visit is
a session co-sponsored by the Irish School of Ecumenics (ISE)
on “The ‘war on terror’ and the Christian
Just War tradition” which takes place on Friday 24th
February from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. at ISE; all welcome but
places must be booked to Caroline Clarke, ISE, phone 028 –
90 77 00 87 or e-mail reconsec@tcd.ie
from whom further details are also available. Details in general
from INNATE.
So long, Partners
The Partners in Transformation Project co-sponsored by the
Irish School of Ecumenics and Mediation Northern Ireland drew
to a close in November 2005 with a celebration of the relationships
strengthened, resources developed and insights gained through
the project. The project had worked primarily with those in
leadership roles within the main denominations in an effort
to nurture, support and encourage the Irish churches in developing
their own capacity for peacebuilding and to be agents of transformation
in society. The project was initially co-led by Rev Doug Baker
and Dr Cecelia Clegg. Dr Geraldine Smyth OP, succeeded Cecelia
in September 2004 and continues as a Senior Lecturer in Ecumenical
Studies with the ISE. Doug has taken up a new post with the
Presbyterian Church USA, as Regional Liaison for Ireland and
the UK. Some aspects of the project's work are being picked
up by remaining staff of the ISE and MNI, while other aspects
now rightly pass to the churches themselves and to some of
the agencies working in the churches sector with whom Partners
collaborated on particular ventures. Both Doug and Geraldine's
new roles also allow some limited time for continuing involvement
in particular areas of work initiated during the project.
As part of its final phase, a 69 page report was produced
on the work of the project, what has been learned along the
way, and opportunities, hard questions and challenges that
remain for the churches. This report will be available soon
on the ISE website at www.tcd.ie/ise/projects/pitp.
Questions remaining for the churches
and those who work with the churches include:
Who will address the persistent ambivalence
this project has encountered about the centrality of peacebuilding
in the Gospel and, therefore, in the churches' life and
ministry?
Can real progress be made without addressing
the inadequate understanding of reconciliation that seems
to prevail amongst general church membership on this island?
What difference does our being 'in Christ'
make in terms of how we relate to others?
Who can actually effect leverage for change
in the churches toward becoming communities that are intentionally
contributing to peacebuilding in wider society?
Do clergy always have to be in charge of
initiatives or projects?
Are the churches open to change?
Peace and Neutrality
Alliance (PANA)
PANA is holding a public meeting to mark the 3rd anniversary
of the global demonstrations against the invasion of Iraq;
it’s on Wednesday 15th February at 7.00 pm at ATGWU
Hall, Mid Abbey Street, Dublin, chaired by Des Bonass and
with Tariq Ali as keynote speaker. PANA is holding a Conference
on the Future of Europe in Liberty Hall, Dublin from 10.00
am – 4.00 pm on Saturday 18th February; speakers include
Susan George, Brian Denny, Frank Slijper, Jack O’Connor;
David Norris and Catherine Murphy will chair. Other activities
are planned including involvement in the global march against
the war in Iraq which assembles in Parnell square at 2pm on
Saturday 18th March.. PANA, Dalkey Business Centre, 17 Castle
Street, Dalkey, Co Dublin, ph 01 – 2351512 / 2808247
/ 2894315, e-mail pana@eircom.net
and web http://www.pana.ie
Mediation NI –
Job, courses, staff
Mediation Northern Ireland (MNI) are currently hiring a Development
Officer (Local Governance) who will assist in the development
of mediation, and associated disciplines, with district councils
and other local authorities in Northern Ireland; experience
required includes 3 years community relations work, experience
of facilitating meditative processes with diverse groups,
and training skills. Closing date is 10th February and it’s
a fixed term contract to mid-2008; details from Personnel
Officer at MNI or e-mail personnel@mediationnorthernireland.org
Additional open access training dates from MNI
include Handling Life’s Conflicts on 6th and 13th April,
and Foundation Training in Mediation on 11th, 12th, 18th,
15th May and 1st and 8th June; details on request. Meanwhile,
regarding staffing, Sean O Baoill has left the full-time staff
but will continue involvement, and Jude Cumiskey from TADA
has replaced Elaine McKeown as Development Officer for the
Mediation Service. MNI, 83 University Street, Belfast BT7
1HP, phone 9043 8614 and e-mail info@mediationnorthernireland.org
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 19th March - 30th September daily
from 11 a.m. - 4.00 p.m. Admission is €7 adults, children
and Friends free, €3 concessions (the Centre is only
open during October to March by appointment). As well as courses
on growing and soil fertility and rotation, there are courses
on ecological housing, sustainable energy, relearning lost
skills, and a conscientious lifestyle. Some courses are run
in Co Clare especially for people in the south of the country.
Course fees in Leitrim are typically €80 for a day. Educational
tours for groups can be booked on request. An informative
50 page booklet is produced on 'Courses and Activities 2006'
which is available free on request; or you can visit their
well-designed website at http://www.theorganiccentre.ie
which includes an order form which can be downloaded. You
can support the work in The Organic Centre by becoming a friend,
annual individual membership €30.
The Organic Centre organizes Community Food Projects in conjunction
with the HSE in the Northwest and Peace and Environment Projects
funded by Peace II Programme Cross-Border Consortium. More
information available from the project Coordinator Hans Wieland
at the centre.
Contact: The Organic Centre, Rossinver, Co Leitrim. Tel: 071
- 98 54338, fax 071 - 98 54343, and e-mail organiccentre@eircom.net
SCI/VSI/IVS Afica, Asia,
Latin America Programme 2006
The programme enables people to gain an insight and understanding
of different development issues facing people and countries
of Africa, Asia and Latin America by participating in voluntary
work projects, of practical benefit to local communities.
The projects are organised by local voluntary work organisations
and involve teams of local and international volunteers helping:
Some of the 2006 Projects can be viewed at http://camps.sciint.org
There is a series of Information Workshops around the country
during February 2006 where further details and application
forms will be available. Dublin: Thursday, 2nd Feb at 7.30pm in the
Irish Film Institute, 6 Eustace St., Temple Bar, Dublin 2.
Dublin: Sat. 11th Feb at 11.00am in the Irish
Film Institute (see above) Limerick: Tuesday, 14th February @ 7.00pm
in the Limerick Youth Centre, Lr. Glentworth St., Limerick
Tullamore: Wed 15th February at 8.00pm in
the Bridge House Hotel, Tullamore, Co. Offaly Cork: Sat 18th February at 11.00 am (venue
to be agreed) Galway: Wed. 22nd February at 7.30pm in the
GAF Youth Cafe, Eglington St./Francis St., Galway Belfast: Thurs. 16th Feb. at 5.45 pm in the
IVS offices There is a comprehensive and obligatory preparation
and orientation programme for participants in March and April.
If you are over 21 and have voluntary work experiences under
your belt then get in contact with VSI or IVS during January
for more details. l
- Voluntary Service International, 30 Mountjoy Square, Dublin
1, ph 01-8551011 Email: deved.vsi@iol.ie
web: http://www.vsi.ie
- International Voluntary Service, 34 Shaftesbury Square,
Belfast BT2 7DB, ph 028 – 90238147, e-mail colin@ivsni.org
and web http://www.ivsni.org
Also, both VSI and IVS are looking for projects
in Ireland which can be included in their 2006 programme which
would benefit from a team of international volunteers
(they come recommended – Ed).
Troubled Youth?
“Troubled Youth Young people, violence and disorder
in Northern Ireland” is a new report by Ulf Hansson
for the Institute for Conflict Research, Belfast, looking
at a whole variety of issues on the topic. 110 pages, A5,
ISBN 0-9541898-8-4 and priced at £5, also available
in pdf format at http://www.conflictresearch.org.uk
ICR, Unit 14 North City Business centre, 2 Duncairn Gardens,
Belfast BT15 2GG, phone 028 – 90742682.
Death of Una O’Higgins
O’Malley
We much regret to record the death of Una O’Higgins
O’Malley, prominent reconciliation and peace activist
in Dublin who was a founder member of, and leading figure
in, Glencree Centre for Reconciliation. She died on 18th December,
aged 78. He autobiography “From Pardon and Protest:
Memoirs from the Margins” (published by Arlen House)
records just some of her background and involvements. May
she rest in peace.
International Women’s
Day for Peace and Disarmament
This is on 24th May in 2006 and as usual there is an excellent
resource booklet produced by the Women Peacemakers Program
of IFOR (International Fellowship of Reconciliation) and International
Peace Bureau (IPB); it has the theme ‘Women resisting
violence’ and looks primarily at Eastern Europe, but
also with an international directory of women’s peace
groups. Individual copies are €5 from IFOR, Women Peacemakers
Program, Spoorstraat 38, 1815 BK Alkmaar, Netherlands, e-mail
wpp@ifor.org It will
be downloadable from the website at http://www.ifor.org/WPP/
FEASTA course in Belfast
Starting on Tuesday 21 February, Nicola Creighton from the
FEASTA Education Group will facilitate the 10 evenings (from
7.00 – 9.00 pm) of presentation and discussion, which
will explore the issues of Money, Growth, Climate Change,
Energy, Food, Land-use and Democracy and the root causes of
unsustainability.. Hosted at the Gibson Institute for Land,
Food and Environment, School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s
University Belfast, the 10 sessions will use Feasta’s
'Community Learning Toolkit’, a CD ROM containing readings,
videos and audio recordings that enable a community of learners
to explore the issues further. Cost (includes a CD ROM and
FEASTA Book): £50. Concession price of £35 available
to: - Staff and volunteers from, Community groups, NGOs, Voluntary
and Civil Society organisations. Concession price of £20
available to: - FEASTA members, Students, OAPs and Unwaged.
To register contact the Course Facilitator,
Nicola Creighton, mailto:n.creighton@qub.ac.uk
ph 028 90971401.
Cheques should be made out to “Feasta” and mailed
to Dr Nicola Creighton, Feasta “Toolkit for Sustainability”,
c/o the Gibson Institute, 3 Lennoxvale, Malone Road, Belfast
BT9 5BY. For more information on the work of FEASTA see http://www.feasta.org
Pax Christi International
Route for Peace
The Pax Christi European Route for Peace is from 31st July
to 8th August this year, organised by the Franciscans in Vézelay,
France; there’ll be 5 days of walking together and 3
days celebration at Vézelay. Young people (18-c.35)
from all over Europe are invited to participate (cost €200/students
€150, not including transport). Contact: Pax Christi
France, Fleur Borgeat, 5 rue Morère, 75014 Paris, or
e-mail paxchristi_jeunes@yahoo.fr
and web http://www.paxchristi.cef.fr
Corrymeela seeks….
A Volunteer Support Worker to be based in Ballycastle, to
support the Volunteer Coordinator including promoting volunteering
in the wider community. assist in increasing the number and
range of volunteers working within the Corrymeela Community
and support the planning and management of the summer programme.
Closing date 20th February, more info from Anne McDonagh at
028 - 9050 8071. e-mail annemcdonagh@corrymeela.org
Jim Wallis calls in
to Belfast
Zero28, CCCI, and the Corrymeela Community are co-hosting
two events in Belfast with Jim Wallis, leader of the Sojourners
Community in Washington, DC. He is a speaker, author, activist,
and international commentator on ethics and public life. Jim
is visiting the UK and Ireland to launch a new edition of
his book 'God's Politics', a searing critique of the Religious
Right, and call for Christian social engagement that champions
the poor, builds peace, and develops reconciliation across
cultures, rather than being known for intolerance and narrow
interpretations of morality. Thursday 16th February sees two
events at Roast café, Elmwood Avenue, Belfast; 1-2pm:
God's Politics: A Dialogue with Students and others led by
Jim Wallis and 6.30-8.30pm: Belfast launch of 'God's Politics:
Why the Religious Right Gets It Wrong, and Why the Left Doesn't
Get It'. Please RSVP to info@zero28.org
by Friday 10th February to help us plan. We will also be hosting
an event with Jim in Dublin on Friday 17th February - please
email us if you would like more information.
Pace e Bene materials
A successful workshop was held by INNATE in early January
with Brendan McKeague on ‘A spirituality of active nonviolence’.
INNATE has three related manuals which can be borrowed: 1)
“From Violence to Wholeness – a ten part process
in the spirituality and practice of active nonviolence”
by Ken Butigan, 2) “Engage – Exploring
Nonviolent Living”, by Laura Slattery, Ken Butigan,
Veronica Pelicaric and Ken Preston-Pile, a study program fo
learning, practising and experimenting with the power of creative
nonviolence to transform our lives and our world, and 3)
“Franciscan nonviolence – stories, reflections,
principles, practices and resources” by ken Butigam
Mary Litell OSF, and Louie Vitale OFM. See also www.peaceebene.org
and www.EngageNonviolence.org
INNATE has an e-mailable list of resources it holds on nonviolence;
please enquire if interested.
Belfast networking group
of INNATE meets next on Monday, 13th February at 7.00 pm in
7 University Avenue, Belfast; other dates in early 2006 are
13th March and 10th April (same time, same place). Anyone
interested welcome.
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