Blogs

It’s great news for Derry and a great challenge to peace-building: how do you do culture in a divided city?

Culture is inextricably linked to values and history. A people’s values can only be understood and explained in their narrative about themselves. The anthropologist Clifford Geertz described culture as simply “the ensemble of stories we tell ourselves about ourselves”. In divided societies the stories not only differ from each other, they come into conflict with each other.

A few years ago, I was co-ordinating a dialogue programme between leaders of the Christian and Muslim faiths in Belfast on the question of the meaning of Forgiveness in the sacred texts of each faith.

I had become aware that certain publicly voiced stereotypes were prescribing to each sentiments that the faithful of each faith would both deny with their words and defy with their actions.

So, for four Wednesdays, we gathered. I was keen to make it a warm space of welcome, and wondered how to do it.

Just back from the IPC staff day which brought together staff from all partner organisations in the consortium to reflect, brainstorm and plan.  There was a resounding consensus that the consortium approach to peace building and nurturing the development of communities was a unique added value of IPC's work. 

...for the first World Cup to take place on the continent of Africa but also for the two religious communities in Armagh to come together in partnership to further reconciliation and peace-building.

In recent weeks as part of ongoing outreach work I have been engaging with a number of community groups particularly from protestant and loyalist areas. My understanding of many of these groups has been helped and informed through arranged face to face meetings and honest conversations with those involved at a local level. The provision of information or services to groups in different areas who might otherwise be neglected is the key to this activity and something that IPC can offer by developing tailored programmes of activity.

Tidying up yesterday, I came across a newspaper article I had cut out and stuffed into the back of a book (ok, Look magazine – it’s literature of sorts!) It was taken from the Belfast Telegraph and was an article on the potential re-use of the Red Hand of Ulster as a symbol of unity for the city. 

“The period known as the Troubles is the one experience that defines us deeply and yet there has been little in the way of an intelligent and courageous artistic response that will not elicit apprehension, condemnation and controversy.”
 

Last week I went to see Marie Jones' new play - Rock Doves.  The story plays out the lives of four characters living in contemporaneous, post-conflict Belfast - all with different experiences and perspectives of the Troubles - and all living like 'rock doves' (pigeons), marginalised from society. 

Just had my last meeting of the IPC coordinators and I can only say that after twelve years working within the sector, this is the biggest innovation in peace building that I've come across. It has huge potential for growth, development and impact, both a local and an international level. Not that the idea of working in partnership is anything new but the learning that has come about by working closely with other peace building organisations has been immense. I just hope everyone else shares my views.

At IPCs recent Prejudice and Pride Conference, Speaker Bernadette McAliskey referred to herself as a "Disturber of the Peace". This term raises questions about whos peace is being disturbed, or why some people feel the peace needs to be disturbed. A copy of Bernadettes article was published in The Irish News on 30th March 2010 and a summary is attached. Comments welcome

The 30th and 31st March 2010 saw the Irish Peace Centres hold the 'Prejudice and Pride' conference in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The conference explored the themes of the 'Roots of Prejudice', 'Experience of Prejudice' and 'Challenging Prejudice'.