Notes: Community Relations Council

Community Relations Council
Wednesday, June 6, 2007 at 2PM (20 minutes late)

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Into Lecture

Work Created by groups like Corrrymela, nut had to spend half of time rasing money
This group takes that financial burden off the peace groups

Double society, difference only given away by signals
Segregations run deep and is cultural
Into sports

Building bridges
Mainstream community relations by making public sector
5% of children go to integrated schools, this initiative is started by parents, not state
Promote shared future


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Work Context Lecture by Duncan Murrow, Chief Executive

The questions of NI is, "To be or not to be?" Not anything not part of anything, should it be, very contested society, can not take for granted.
This contest has been worked out through violence

How does the future look? Abused working with those who have abused them. Not an easy step. All feel they have been hurt worse, none want to make first step.

1492 on Colonial Period began and problems solved by exporting them
Same time as plantation of Ulster, same age as US, different outcomes

1588 - Fall of Spanish Armada
British concern that Ireland could be used by Spain, as strategic point
Fighting between Irish tribes, Spain and Britain, Irish tried to get help from rest of Catholic Europe (France, Spain, Rome)
To deal with this threat, Brits had north (biggest threat) colonized by who could trust (Protestants), Mainly Scottish
Division remained over time. Catholics want out of oppressive division of NI
Protestants feel if not existing, they will become the minority

Economics + Politics + Religion -> Power

Different ideas of threats, defense, loyalties

Reconciliation
Have to now form a new relationship when all know is current not working unbalance

1920 1921 - NI established as intern solution, then SI given Independence

Initially Unionists have 65% of vote, now 55%. With this got 100% of government
Unionists feel it is legitimate, Republicans do not
Catholics feel robed, organize own army
Protestants do not have army, but organize police
Special Powers Act (like National Security)
Cycle of violence
Things that happen in "our" community effect us more deeply than what happen to people our there

Agreed cause: "Them"
Identify with us and them, Asking to make an agreement is also asking to change

Progress
Britain and Ireland always sought to contain the NI conflicts
1993 - Ireland and GB agree on structure of NI, to share power
Good for US, and EU, hard for NI
This year have partnership between DUP and Sinn Fein, parties that most violently represented communities.

Community Relations Co
1. Fund groups on ground
2. Think how would you try to promote a "shared future"
* Plans from division to peace
* Policy ideas, regenerations, district councils,
* connect action at ground to higher level
3. Get people together who have done practical work and who have done research

Reconciliation - Easy to say, but need to demonstrate, grow experiences


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Funded Work Lecture

If activities involve things from both communities, than it is cross community work, and should be funded. No, needs to be more than that. Tesco does that everyday.
Its about relationships, and safe space
Peace does not happen all together, there are a number of them
Programs here
1) 37 organizations, regional based, about developing a network, Mediation type to interface work.
2) 300-400 applications from local community groups for projects
* Large variety, Community relation issues w/ Hospital Staff to Church or Ireland links with other churches to get mix of kids to do volunteer service work in summer
3) Work with Victim / Survivor Community
* Victims often the ones holding back agreement
* Can not tell someone who lost so much to move on, because the rest of society needs to move on.
* For these victims, the start in 1690 might as well have been yesterday

Money Comes in through Government, International fund for Ireland, European Fund
5 million goes out to organizations / programs
Not a government agency, but connected to government

No one is arguing against Shared Future, argue over what it means