Intercomm Interviews: John Loughran

First of a series of interviews with Interomm staff.
John Loughran - Developing Leadership Initiative Project Manager
Wednesday, May 30, 2007 at 2 PM

Background
Queens University from 1992-95, currently getting a masters in Irish Politics
Design Comunity Programs

Look at government at how fills needs of and tries to fill what is missing
Asking new questions
1995 / 1996 Political and Institutional change short of what is expected
View that previous state lacked legitimacy
Policing roll in society
NIO and GB government vs. Pattent to NI back 5 years
Attitude change from "yeah, ok" to less trusting "what do you really mean?"
People disappointed, recognize family losses
Looking at conflict differently

Economy
Skills not there
Increased cost of living
Can no longer buy houses
Influx of money is not going to the right places

GB holds power in NI

Good Friday Agreement
About institutions
Ended argument between GB and S. Ireland (not N. Ireland)
George Mitcheal wrote based on papers from parties with out them talking to each other
Recommended Read - George Kennan

Prices of Peace
The two groups needed to be made equal, which meant gains for the Catholics and "loss" for Protestants. Now more people for peace are Catholic
Private sector does not come to NI because tax is twice as high
Bill Clinton created many jobs, but most of this money leaves the country
Most people in the conflict were killed in one square mile of this building (Intercomm); majority of them with in 9 feet of their front door. As consequence, the worse things get, the more people cling to their homes and neighborhoods, afraid to leave.

Violence in a new era
Young want to "defend community"
For most the context has changed, just not for them
Peace the absence of war or absence of violence?
If war, the Good Friday Agreement worked, made all Paramilitary criminals, problem: Catholics view state as enemy
Don't need guns for violence

1930's / 40's - Trickle down emigration to Brittan, discriminated
NI are neither Irish nor British
post 1936 - Labor act, free education, health care, family money, terrible effect on NI because Unionists not want to give anything to Catholics
Want them to emigrate

Emergency legislation recently passed gives police power to confiscate journalist papers

George Galliway - Politician
Allen Dulls - Conflict Resolution

Conflict resolution is 0-sum

Here don't talk about suspected informers, division in parties

Irish have become European