A peace wall along Bombay Street. Backyards are protected from occasional outbreaks of violence. Credit: Supermac1961

Unsteady peace has held in Ireland for fifteen years, but there are still painful reminders of the violence and discrimination that ripped across the Emerald Isle propagated by political, religious and national differences.  Thousands of lives were taken in the conflict that subsided only fifteen years ago with the Good Friday agreements.

Today the Northern Ireland border is lined with “peace walls”, built to temporarily keep the communities safe and apart. Although murals now adorn many of them, making them popular tourist attractions, they also speak of outstanding hostilities and fear.

An article by Sky News on the British government’s announcement to tear down the walls within the decade reported the reticence of the communities living on either side of the wall. One man from west Belfast said, “We need to deal with the mental barriers here before we can think about removing the physical ones.” Another man adds, “The people, rather than the politicians or paramilitaries, will decide when it’s the right time to remove walls.”

This is true both legally and socially.

According to the Good Friday Agreements, the Irish and British governments are obliged to move according to the will of the people’s majority.

The will and cooperation of the people were rallied on both sides of these walls for the passing of the Good Friday Agreement. Prior to its issuance, two referendums were held, one in Northern Ireland and one in the Republic of Ireland. At the time, a majority in Northern Ireland voted to remain as part of the United Kingdom, but a significant number of Irish expressed a desire for eventual unification on Ireland.

The multi-party agreement that engaged both government and political parties, outlines that should the majority opinion change, both governments are duty bound act in accordance to that desire.

Furthermore, the treaty asks that each governing body exercise “rigorous impartiality on behalf of all the people in the diversity of their identities and traditions.” It outlines the principles that should define the sovereign political structures:

–          full respect for, and equality of civil, political, social and cultural rights

–          freedom from discrimination for all citizens and parties

–          esteem and just and equal treatment for the identity, ethos and aspirations of both communities

Fifteen years has passed since the Good Friday Agreements, but progress has been slow. Perhaps, as the man from Belfast expressed, before political and economic integration, movement should be made to tear down the “mental walls” that have been erected from decades of suffering, starting from forming a shared aspiration that transcend the divisions north and south.

Just as the Good Friday Agreements is built upon grassroots engagement, so should continued peace building

Global Peace Foundation just recently established its first European chapter in Ireland. It promises to bring models of grassroots peacebuilding similar to the Korea United initiative for Korean reunification.

The post A Grassroots Movement for Peace in Ireland appeared first on Hyun Jin Preston Moon.

Arnold Kashembe, Country Director for Global Peace Foundation, receiving a presentation from Martin Quinn, Hon. Secretary of Tipperary Peace Convention, with Global Peace Foundation Vice President Dr. Tony Devine. PHOTO: COURTESY OF CAITRIONA KENNY PHOTOGRAPHY / THE NATIONALIST (TIPPERARY)

On July 18^th, 2013, Global Peace Foundation-Ireland was officially launched at the Irish Aid Volunteering and Information Centre in Dublin, followed by ten days of events and meetings, giving GPF’s newest chapter a running start

The launch concluded with an event  organized by the Tipperary Peace Convention at the Tipperary Excel Centre. Dignitaries of Tipperary Town, including Mayor Anna Tuohy-Halligan, the Pride of Tipperary Donna Breen, attended. GPF was given a special presentation by Martin Quinn, Hon. Secretary of the Tipperary Peace Convention.

Tipperary, was made famous by a World War II song, “It’s a Long Road to Tipperary”, but has reinvented itself to be a center of peace through organizations like the Tipperary Peace Convention, that will be presenting its 2012 annual peace prize next week to Malala Yousafzai.

Although the peace process is still ongoing, Ireland’s example of peace was highlighted at both events. Country Director, Arnold Kashembe said, “Ireland has lessons to teach the world as a result of its peace accomplishments.”

Global Peace Foundation Vice-President Dr. Tony Devine recognized the contributions of NGOs such as the Tipperary Peace Convention and Cooperation Ireland, and governments in the peace process and encouraged them to share their success stories with other conflict ridden regions. He said that GPF-Ireland can make important contribution. “GPF-Ireland is uniquely positioned to facilitate these connections internationally, as well as leverage European resources and opportunities for peace.”

The focus areas of GPF-Ireland are:

• Community Building
• Education
• Youth Empowerment
• Community Based Development.

Global Peace Foundation already has ongoing projects in Ireland like Linking Cities,  a reconciliation initiative that is building connections between Limerick, in the Republic of Ireland and Coleraine, in Northern Ireland.  As an official chapter it will build on its three pillars of partnership: interfaith cooperation, strengthening families and service.

The original story appears on: www.globalpeace.org

The post Global Peace Foundation-Ireland Launched appeared first on Hyun Jin Preston Moon.