National Chernobyl Week 2011 – 25 Years on
Tuesday, 26th April 2011 will mark the 25th Anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster. In recognition of this anniversary, Chernobyl Children International will once again roll out National Chernobyl Week (Monday 18th April – Sunday 24th April) to commemorate and honour the children and adults who live with the social, economic and medical deprivation as a result of the disaster which happened 25 years ago. As this is the European Year of Volunteering we hope you will join us in our efforts to continue giving hope to all those who need our help and programme interventions 25 years on.
We are seeking a network of volunteers nationwide to sell €2 charity, pens and fridge magnets (50 items per box) in towns, cities and villages during National Chernobyl Week. Each CCI branded box can be delivered direct to your door. If you or your network of friends and family have any free time please sign up to help us raise more funds to continue our work. Please call Paula Kilcommons on 021- 4312999 or email: pkilcommons@chernobyl-ireland.com For further information please visit our website: http://www.chernobyl-international.com
Free Bradley Manning public meeting
A public meeting on the theme Free Bradley Manning! Demilitarise Shannon Airport! End the war! will take place on Friday 8th April at 8pm in Wynn’s Hotel, Lower Abbey Street, Dublin1. The speakers are Harry Browne
Journalism Lecturer D.I.T. Author, Political Commentator; Ciaron O’Reilly, Giuseppe Conlon House, London, Pitstop Ploughshares, Frank Cordaro, Des Moines Catholic Worker (U.S.A.), B52 Plowshares. Music by Joe Black and Steve Jacobs (U.S.). More information Afri 01 882 7563, Mairtin 086 103 5091, or e-mail ciaronx@yahoo.com Supported by Afri, 134 Phibsborough Road, Dublin 7. Free entry, donations to cover costs appreciated.
INNATE organised a leafleting and delivery of a letter in support of Bradley Manning at the USA Consulate, Stranmillis, Belfast, on 20th March, photos on the INNATE photo site.
Dorothy Day, Berrigans, and Catholic Worker relevance for Ireland
What has the radical legacy of Dorothy Day, the Berrigan Brothers, the U.S. Catholic Worker got to offer Ireland in its present state? is the title of a seminar on Saturday 9th April from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. at "Le Chéile" - Donnycarney Community Centre, beside Donnycarney Church, Clancarthy Road, Collins Avenue East, Dublin 5. Catholic Worker Seminar with Frank Cordaro of U.S. Catholic Worker, nonviolent anti-war activist, theologian (see youtube here with music by Steve Jacobs (see here), and participation from well known activists, and an introduction by Ciaron O’Reilly. This seminar will be of interest to both faith based activists and also non faith based activists interested in Dorothy Day, the Berrigans, Catholic Worker and the politics surrounding the last 7 days of the life of Jesus. Donations to defray costs would be appreciated but not essential. Make cheques payable to "Ciaron O'Reilly". RSVP asap and more information Mairtin MacMaolain ph. 086 1035 091, e-mail: dublincatholicworker@gmail.com
Community Relations Week / Shared Society
Community Relations Week is an annual showcase for many projects and organisations beavering away in this field in Northern Ireland, and this year it runs from Monday 23rd May to Saturday 28th May, slightly later than last year when around 150 events were organised across all parts of Northern Ireland and beyond as part of the Week. These included a wide variety of talks, discussions, exhibitions, launches, schools and children’s events, and events featuring history, cultures, art, music, drama and food. They reflect progress in projects already underway as well as ideas and plans for future action. Most of these events are open to the public. Full information will be on the CRC website at http://www.nicrc.org.uk in due course and printed copies of the programme will also be available; the deadline for entries has been extended to 15th April.
CRC has issued its own ideas on a ‘shared future’ following the consultation on Cohesion, Sharing and Integration (CSI) in the North. Copies of the publication “Towards a Shared Society?” (102 pages) are available free of charge from the CRC, ph. 029 90227500, or e-mail info@nicrc.org.uk It can also be downloaded from the CRC website
CJP call for protection of women in war
On International Women’s Day, 8th March, the Council for Justice and Peace of the Irish Episcopal Conference made an appeal for renewed efforts by the new Government and the international community to protect women from sexual violence in war:
“We call on the new Government to make the protection of women from sexual violence in war a priority issue.
The work of agencies such as Trócaire in the area of gender equality needs to be adequately supported. It is vital that we meet our target of 0.7% of our national income on Overseas Development Assistance by 2015.
The new Government should give sustained financial, political and moral support to ‘UN Women – the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women’, which was established in February 2011.
Our commitment to protecting women from sexual violence needs to be enshrined in a National Action Plan for Ireland on UN Security Council Resolution 1325, to promote the full implementation of this resolution, with robust provisions for monitoring and evaluation.”
Bishop Raymond Field, Chair of the Council for Justice and Peace, in marking International Women's Day, stated: "Sadly, although great progress has been made in recent years in recognising gender-based violence in armed conflict as a war crime, little has been achieved in terms of the protection of women or bringing the perpetrators to justice. For women in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the situation remains as dangerous today as in 2008." See here.
Shannonwatch evidence by the barrowload
In response to repeated requests for information linking aircraft at Shannon Airport to human rights abuse and war crimes, Shannonwatch on 18th March provided the Gardai with evidence and supporting material to help them investigate violations of international and national law at the airport. While some of this information is already in the public domain, Shannonwatch have also made available details of 20 specific aircraft recorded at Shannon which have been linked to renditions and covert munitions transportation from their own detailed records.
At the press conference that preceded the presentation of evidence, Ray Murphy of Amnesty International Ireland said there substantial evidence to suggest that Ireland has played a role in the rendition circuit but that to date the Gardai have been either unwilling or unable to conduct searches and inspections. Speaking at the press conference the former United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in Iraq, Denis Halliday, emphasised the humanitarian disasters that are a direct result of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. “Those who were complicit in these wars, including the Irish Government, must be held to account” he said. “It is vital that the new Irish Government prohibits the transit of belligerent U.S. troops through Shannon airport immediately, and focuses Irish foreign policy on genuine humanitarian support for victims of violence and natural disasters." For more details, including a photo of the two barrows used to transport the evidence, see http://www.shannonwatch.org
Rossport
Rossport Solidarity Camp are calling for people to come up and join the protests particularly as on 29th March Shell began to start work on their highly controversial on-shore pipeline at Aughoose in Erris, Co. Mayo. Shell are attempting to build the fences around their planned tunnelling compound and this is a crucial time to stop the work. Accommodation & food provided, donations welcome. E-mail or text 085 1141170 for details. A variety of events are currently organised including a Direct Action training 9-10th April, all welcome, intended for people who want to take part in safe and effective protests, aimed at beginners, covering your legal rights and different methods of protesting, please try to arrive by the evening of Friday 8th if possible. May Day May Day! Rossport Solidarity Camp Summer Gathering takes place 30th April -2nd May, weekend of workshops and actions. More info: http://www.rossportsolidaritycamp.org and http://www.shelltosea.com
CGE: Global education across Europe
The report on a recently organised Centre for Global Education seminar titled “Global Education across Europe” includes detailed inputs and outcomes for those interested. The workshop introduced the major development education/global education actors, co-ordination and support structures and policy debates at a European level as well as typical patterns of these structures and debates within EU member states. It discussed the different understandings of, approaches to and delimitations of the concept(s) of DE/GE, and highlighted aspects of good practice DE. For a copy of the report, please contact the Information Officer at the CGE Belfast office: info@centreforglobaleducation.com, ph 028 9024 1879. See also http://www.centreforglobaleducation.com
The economics of happiness, in Nenagh
Cultivate, in association with Grow It Yourself Ireland, Slow Food Tipperary, Green Works and Tipperary Claiming the Future and the Cloughjordan Ecovillage present The Economics of Happiness on Wednesday 20th April 2011 from 8 – 10 pm at Nenagh Arts Centre, Co Tipperary, entry €6. Both hard-hitting and inspiring, ‘The Economics of Happiness’ is a new documentary about the worldwide movement for economic localisation. This film demonstrates that millions of people across the world are already engaged in building a better world and that small scale initiatives are happening on a large scale. The film will be followed by a panel discussion facilitated by Davie Philip from Cultivate and the Ecovillage and featuring broadcaster and environmentalist Duncan Stewart, author Fr. Sean McDonagh, Charles Stanley-Smith from Tipperary Claiming the Future, Sarah Fleming from GIY Ireland and Peter Ward of Slow Food Tipperary.
- From Cultivate e-newsletter which you can sign up to at http://cultivate.ie/ - both of which have lots of exciting events and courses coming up on green and green lifestyle issues.
Green penguins
Students and young people gathered outside Dáil Eireann on 23rd March to Rally for Environmental Justice. Many of them were dressed as penguins. The rally, organised by Young Friends of the Earth, was to demand that the new government take action on the mounting environmental crisis, which affects younger generations the most. Tara Clarke, from Young Friends of the Earth said "Ireland has a proud history of solidarity and support for developing countries. And it is the most vulnerable all over the world that stand to suffer the most from environmental destruction. Campaigning for the Environment is about justice and quality of life for all people." The demonstrators met at Dáil Eireann marched to the Department of the Environment. It was the first such march that the new government has faced since taking office, and protesters hope to influence the direction of government with an escalating campaign over the next year and beyond. See here, including photo.
WRI Handbook for Nonviolent Campaigns reprinted
The War Resisters International ‘Handbook for Nonviolent Campaigns’, English language edition, has been reprinted. 156 pages, A5, ISBN 978-0-903517-21-8. This includes a wide variety of essential information for organising with material on an introduction to nonviolence, gender and nonviolence, tasks and tools, nonviolent campaigns, effective organising, stories and strategies, and exercises etc. Contact the WRI office or buy online (only £5 plus postage) at http://wri-irg.org/shop/shop-uk.htm
INNATE networking group meets next on Wednesday 20th April at 7pm in Corrymeela House, 8 Upper Crescent, Belfast.
Love and congratulations to INNATE members Stefania Gualberti and Marco Boeri on the birth of their twins, Elia and Emma.
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