International Peace Bureau visit to Dublin and Afri Hedge School
The first ever International Peace Bureau/IPB Council meeting takes place in Dublin from 16th – 18th November; both Afri and Irish CND are national members of IPB (in addition to over 270 members in different countries, IPB also has a couple of dozen international members). For IPB http://www.ipb.org IPB’s Sean MacBride Peace Prize, traditionally sponsored by Irish CND, is being awarded to two women activists involved in the Arab Spring, Lina Ben Mhenni of Tunisia and Nawal El Sadaawi of Egypt.
The Programme for Afri’s Hedge School in Dublin on Saturday 17th November, “Disarmament, Development, Democracy: Joining the Dots” includes sessions on Climate, resources and war, Non Violent struggles for Democracy, and the Role of Women in the Arab Spring, plus in the evening a performance of ‘The Cambria’ with Donal O’Kelly and Sorcha Fox. Main conference fee is €12, unwaged €7. See the website for further details or contact Afri, 134 Phibsborough Road, Dublin 7, ph 01 – 882 7563, e-mail admin@afri.ie.
- This is further information on IPB and Afri’s Hedge School; some info already appeared in NN 203.
Two activists arrested at Shannon / Shannon and war booklet
On Sunday 7th October 2012, the 11th anniversary of the US led invasion of Afghanistan, Margaretta D’Arcy and Niall Farrell entered Shannon airport at about 4 pm, and placed banners saying ‘US Military Out of Shannon’ close to the runway. There was no reaction from airport security until a peace activist, for reasons of safety, phoned the airport and told them of the protest on the main runway. The peace activists were in the area for about 15 minutes prior to this, even though this part of the runway area is monitored by CCTV cameras. They were subsequently arrested but were released after about three hours questioning, and they were told that a file is being sent to the DPP. Over two million armed US troops have transited through Shannon airport. Peace activists have tried repeatedly by various means to get the Gardai and other involved authorities to prevent this use of Shannon airport for the criminal activities involved (military aggression, illegal detentions and torture). See information and video on Shannonwatch website.
- The 32-page booklet, “Shannon Airport, War and Renditions”, with detailed analysis written by John Lannon of Shannonwatch and produced in cooperation with PANA/The Peace and Neutrality Alliance and IAWM/Irish Anti-War Movement is available as a PDF on the Shannonwatch website or www.pana.ie or see also http://irishantiwar.org. It outlines four key areas in which the Irish authorities are deficient. The first is the application of aviation law in relation to the transportation of munitions of war and other explosive substances. The second is suspected breaches of international and European human rights law, as well as domestic Irish law, in relation to known and suspected involvement in rendition. The third is possible breaches of international humanitarian law, and the fourth is policy and practice relating to the concept of Irish neutrality.Paper copies of the booklet are €3.
Hanna’s House: Women Delivering Peace & Security Conference
While you may or may not be too late to book by the time you read this, Hanna’s House are running a major conference on Monday 5th November at Croke Park Conference Centre, Dublin on “Women Delivering Peace & Security”, an All-Ireland Conference on North-South Co-operation & Implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325. Speakers include Professor Christine Chinkin, Claire Hackett, Fiona Buckley, Deputy Chief Constable Judith Gillespie, Sean Barrett TD, and Professor Monica McWilliams. Registration is from 9.30am, the conference runs from 10.30 am to 5 pm. If available, tickets are €25. Hanna’s House position is “recommending that UNSCR 1325 becomes part of the fabric of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement and its institutions......Hanna’s House are calling on both governments along with the NI Assembly to consider the development of co-operative or shared action plans that work in tandem to reflect the needs of women in each of these jurisdictions.” See http://www.hannashouse.net/.
INCORE: Masters, Global Peace Forum
A Masters programme in Peace and Conflict Studies has been running on the Magee Campus of the University of Ulster for 25 years with over 500 graduates to date. In September 2012 INCORE began a new updated programme, now an MSc. in Applied Peace and Conflict Studies; the 2012 programme has over 20 students and also includes a new stream focusing on children and conflict run in partnership with Belfast NGO Early Years. Further details see the website.
The Rotary Club of Londonderry is partnering with INCORE to host the 2013 Rotary Global Peace Forum in Derry-Londonderry. Registration for the May 2013 Forum were opened on International Day of Peace 2012. The Forum aims to contribute to reconciliation, learning and assist those committed to peacemaking and peacebuilding throughout the world. See the website. For INCORE in general – which now produces an e-mail newsletter – see http://www.incore.ulster.ac.uk/.
Irish CND and PANA to host nuclear disarmament meeting
Irish CND/Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and PANA/Peace And Neutrality Alliance will co-sponsor a public meeting on nuclear disarmament, in conjunction with PANA's AGM in December. The keynote speaker will be Dr Kate Hudson, General Secretary of CND in Britain. The meeting will take place at 2.30 pm in the Ireland Institute, 27 Pearse Street, Dublin 2, on Saturday 1st December. With civil society interest in the abolition of nuclear weapons growing worldwide this is an opportunity to hear from a very well known international campaigner. For Irish CND see the website and e-mail irishcnd@gmail.com and for PANA see the website and e-mail info@pana.ie.
- The PANA AGM, which takes place at the same venue from 11.30 am – 1pm is also open to the public.
EUphemistic Nobel Peace Prize
The Nobel Peace Prize award to the European Union has surprised many people, not least those involved in peace activities. Mairead Corrigan Maguire had this to say: “I believe the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to the European Union does not meet the criteria of Alfred Nobel’s vision and spirit, and his vision of a demilitarised peaceful world..... In many ways the European Union has done much in the past sixty years for peace and reconciliation amongst nations, but it has sadly done little for the demilitarisation of Europe......(it) supports the growing militarisation of Europe by its support for US/NATO.... supports arms sales from European States (UK, Germany, etc.,) to countries all around the world....... I cannot support this decision to give the peace prize to EU and appeal to the Swedish Foundation Authority to hold the Nobel Committee accountable for giving, yet again, a political award instead of supporting people taking courageous, and often dangerous stands to help move the human family away from military international relations to one based on peaceful resolution of conflict. I believe that the reform of the Nobel Peace Committee is now necessary...... perhaps it is time too for the NPP Committee to be comprised of people experienced in the field of Peacemaking and International Law.” See http://www.peacepeople.com. See also under ‘News’ section of IPB website.
Nonviolence in Political Theory
Iain Atack, Assistant Professor in the International Peace Studies programme of the Irish School of Ecumenics, has a new book out – “Nonviolence in Political Theory”, Edinburgh University Press, 202 pages, in various formats including paperback ISBN 978 0 7486 3378 4. This quite comprehensive study includes consideration of the theory and practice of nonviolent political action, issues to do with violence and the state, and pacifism and nonviolence. Paperback UK£19.99, http://www.euppublishing.com.
Glencree
News from Glencree (in the Autumn edition of their Newsletter, online) includes reports on their partnership with Concern in working in Haiti, work with Corrymeela on a Bridges project bringing young people together from North and South to explore identity, and visits from Nepal and Palestine. There is also a tribute to Wilhelm Verwoerd who joined the Glencree staff in 2001 and worked extensively with former combatants as well as victims; he is now returning to South Africa. Glencree Centre for Reconciliation, Glencree, Co Wicklow, e-mail info@glencree.ie and ph 01 2766085.
FOE NI: ‘Who pulls the strings?’
Friends of the Earth Northern Ireland will be hosting a major event at Stormont on Thursday 8th November 2012 as part of their ‘Who Pulls the Strings’ campaign on party funding transparency. The event will be called ‘Cut the Strings’ and will develop the theme of politicians as the puppets of big business. Everyone is welcome to attend. To find out more about the event, and RSVP click here. To read about the campaign click here. To take action click here, or you can call Niall Bakewell on 028 9089 7592 or email niall.bakewell@foe.co.uk to register your interest and request more information.
Tools for Solidarity: Sewing the seeds of development…
Tools for Solidarity in Belfast are holding an Open Day, with special speaker Jane Madete on Wednesday 21st November from 12pm to 3pm at The Tools for Solidarity Workshop. This is an opportunity to meet Jane Madete, manager of the Mwanza Sewing and Training Centre (MSTC) in Tanzania, established by Tools for Solidarity with the local partner Small Industries Development Organisation (SIDO). The presentation of the MSTC Project is at 2pm, refreshments will be served. RVSP to tools.belfast@virgin.net or ph 028 9074 7473. Unit 1B1, Edenderry Industrial Estate, Crumlin Road, Belfast BT14 7EE, www.toolsforsolidarity.com
Women Peacemakers Program (WPP)
Since the middle of October the Women Peacemakers Program has become an independent foundation working out of The Hague; it previously operated as a project of IFOR/International Fellowship of Reconciliation www.ifor.org. WPP aims to support the empowerment of gender-sensitive women and men for the transformation of conflict through active nonviolence. WPP is now at Laan van Meerdervoort 70, ,NL-2517 AN. The Hague, and the current website which will be within a few months at www.womenpeacemakersprogram.org.
IFOR/International Fellowship of Reconciliation
IFOR, the International Fellowship of Reconciliation, has a new website at http://ifor-mir.org and information there includes the Annual Report for 2011, which can be downloaded with its general reports and information from members and affiliates, and information on the start of preparations for celebrating IFOR’s centenary in 2014, as well as other news and information.
Common threads: A creative summit on debt cancellation
This takes place on Saturday 1st December from 11 am to 4.30 pm at the F2 Centre, Fatima, Dublin 8. The event is intended for community groups, campaigners against cuts, charges and debt, local and global NGOs, and people active in the arts who want to apply their skills to the struggle for social justice. Taking place a week before the budget it is intended as an opportunity for participants to share their experiences of austerity and resistance, provide accessible information on the Irish debt crisis, an overview of what people are doing elsewhere, plus music, magic, theatre, food and all-round inspiration. It is organised by Debt Justice Action which has organised the campaign ‘Anglo: Not Our Debt’. If you want to attend please e-mail info@notourdebt.ie. See also hwww.notourdebt.ie
Cymdeithas y Cymod - Carmarthen
Cymdeithas y Cymod’s Carmarthen cell is very active especially in the anti-drones campaign and is working in various ways to draw the public’s attention to the increasing militarisation of Wales – e.g. drones flying from Aberporth, Cardiganishire to the Epynt mountain military range. Sadly the Welsh Government is in favour of new nuclear power plants and Trident and there is constant letter writing on these issues and demonstrations outside the Assembly in Cardiff Bay. Cymdeithas y Cymod is the Fellowship of Reconciliation in Wales, see hwww.cymdeithasycymod.org.uk
Questions on Cork toxic dump
Friends of the Irish Environment (FIE) have raised major questions about the clean up, or lack of it, regarding Haulbowline Island in Cork Harbour. The proposed clean up relates to the 9 hectare East Tip and not to the 12 hectare site of the former Irish Steel plant itself, which, as Tony Lowes of FIE pointed out was strange not to be included, particularly when a 2002 report pointed to major toxic residues there. For FIE see hwww.friendsoftheirishenvironment.net
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