My Observations on Corrymeela

Corrymeela was an interesting stop. I had already heard a little bit about it from people at Intercomm, so I had an idea what to expect; or rather I knew to keep an open mind on what to expect. Exactly what I was told is that they take a religions look at peace making and that one day a group paramilitary can be in there and the next a Sunday afternoon knitting club. They appeal to all different groups like that. When some other people in our group saw the "kitting club" like group that we walked past right upon arriving there were some strange looks and "Where are we?" was heard in our crowd.

The best thing about it was to see the different type of peace making going on, along side the political and third-sector efforts we are seeing in Belfast. Then to hear their political views, or lack there of, in some cases.

The second day we were in such a rush. I wish we took a second venture to the Northern coast, even if just for tourist reasons to do all the great things there, instead of doing all the best stuff in one day.

Notes: Corrymeela

Discussion of Corrymeela Center for Peace
Talk by Roni Miller, Center Director

About
Around 41 years
150 community members + friends and associates
Began by Presbyterian minister
Peace and Reconciliation Center

Need developed
1966 - UVF shooting people
1969 - Troubles started
- Belfast and Derry Marches
Early 70's - War zone violence
- Here is a safe place for people to come and tell their stories
Tangent - 40' Peace Wall by Hazelwood Primary
- Normally people come for 4-6+ days
- Corrymeela = "hill of harmony" or "Meeting place at turn of road"

Who comes here
Community groups have weekly meetings, come here from time to time
- Works with 'grassroots' schools, community groups, churches
- May bring 2 different ones here are same time
- Everyone over 18 in NI has heard of Corrymeela
- Challenge now is to stay relevant
- BBC does reality show staged meetings of victom and and attacker, here it just happens

Funding
- 1.4 million pounds to keep running
- 25% Trusts / Foundations
- 25% Government funding
- 25% Donations
- 25% Varied group contributionsh

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

Intercomm Interface Meeting Notes

At Intercomm today, we sat in on a meeting about work going on in North Belfast interfaces. These are my notes from that meeting.

Predominant Topic:
Meetings and the Clash of Meetings

Topics:
- One sided news coverage
- Moving construction start date on school renovations
- Organizing residents
- Taking away the barrier at the end of street Tigers Bay/New Lodge area

Incidents:
- 40 kids going and attacking others with metal bars (Kids = 10 to 15yrs)
- Two kids in Water Works throwing stones at gay man's house

Next Meeting 1PM Wednesday, June 6th

Rathlin Island

For the holiday Monday Leandra, Rob and I took an UlsterBus tour. It went to Rathlin Island and back through Ballycastle. This is the smallest inhabited island in Ireland. There seemed to be limited access to electricity, and while there are cars on the island, gasoline only comes in once a week. We took a hike up to the light house, though we could not go inside.

Once the visitor center was open, I got more information on the island. It is interesting that it is the home of the story "The Children of Lir". Lir was a Irish chieftain whose wife died after giving him a daughter and three sons. Lir married his wife's half sister who was jealous of her husband's love for his children and turned them into four swans. They were destined to spend nine-hundred years this way, but at the coming of Christianity the spell was broken. I had heard variations of this story when very very young, could not believe I was actually there.

After we left the Island --on the ferry that felt like it would tip over before it made it to shore-- we got a short while in Ballycastle. This really cute town is not home to much but is famious for good fish and chips and we also found a "one pound store". Leandra and Rob loved their fish and chips. I decided to spring for cheese on my chips, I can hardly describe what they gave me and how strange it was to anyone who was not there. The chips simply had a handful of shredded cheddar put on top, not melted.

The tour was good and a great day. Though good planning would have been a better substitute, as Ulsterbus is rather expensive and for the long ride the bus and it's patrons did not smell great.

Belfast Center

Our weekend plans to go to Dublin did not work out. It is just as well, since it will be there next weekend and I wanted to go around Belfast more.

In the news I found that Sinn Fein, which was expecting to at least double their seats actually lost seats. Fianna Fail did very well. I still have not been able to find if Joanne, who I was canvassing for was elected. With this loss, it might be better we did not stay over at their event.

In Belfast City Hall there is a festival this weekend. There are booths from all different countries. The food is amazing. And as a cultural observation, it seemed to bring out a more diverse crowd; I hear many people speaking with foreign accents.