https://k8s-accounts-01.ulster.ac.uk/repo24/files/original/5558034315f2d6705c321c13090383d4.pdf ecc7e802a6a6891d85727ed758f89a6c PDF Text Text UP Standing storybook_Layout 1 04/12/2013 11:08 Page 19 Living Non Violently Rob Fairmichael I’m a Protestant from the south of Ireland, married to a Catholic also from the south of Ireland, but we’ve lived in Belfast since 1975. I went to boarding school in the Border region of Northern Ireland and that was an interesting experience because it was a good introduction to the Protestant community in the North. In school there was a British army cadet force which I was a member of for a couple of years. We were watching a British army training film on hand to hand combat. One side were the British and one side were the Russians, one side were doing all the winning and one side were doing all the dying, but there was no blood and guts. I think it was something about that lack of balance and surreal nature that made me think this is ridiculous. I think part of my reaction could have been because of Christian teaching, in terms of “loving your enemy,” and I suppose coming from the south I was a bit removed from it – I didn’t identify with British institutions like the Army and so I looked at it maybe in a different way. So I handed back my uniform and said “that’s it, no” The school very . much saw the cadet force as part of the institution and when I started speaking out against that kind of approach at one stage the Principal told me to “shut up or get out” – that was a testing experience for a 16 year old to have. It was 1969 and that was the start of my involvement in nonviolence and peace activities. The Troubles in Northern Ireland were a challenge for anyone believing in nonviolence. At times it seemed that all sides (republicans, loyalists, state, and those in alliance with these three) each supported whatever violence they could get away with. After involvement with ‘Dawn’ peace magazine from 1974 and Bishopscourt Peace 19 �UP Standing storybook_Layout 1 04/12/2013 11:08 Page 20 Camp from 1983-6, an Irish Network for Nonviolent Action Training and Education (INNATE) was born in 1987 which I became coordinator of in a voluntary capacity. The hope was to provide a support mechanism for those involved and committed to nonviolence and nonviolence training. One fairly early and important piece of work which we did was in pioneering monitoring/observing work in Northern Ireland which, along with other developments, has played an important role in preventing escalation in contentious situations and continues to be used, more on a local and interface level. I would like to think that in the four decades since I have tried to practise nonviolence my beliefs have deepened, expanded, and matured; they have certainly developed but I am aware that I do not have all the answers, and I haven’t even come across all the questions. But I have certainly become aware of the range and depth of nonviolence and aware of many or at least some of the possibilities. My work in nonviolence training is about helping others to explore these possibilities. My work with INNATE in general is about helping the peace and reconciliation sector, and allied sectors, to develop, and become a force for transformation in Ireland and more widely. We all have possibilities to act nonviolently, even in the most difficult circumstances; the task is to persuade people they have choices, explore the nonviolent choices that exist, and prepare people for them. That, and the awareness of it, did not exist when the Troubles developed. 20 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Up Standing - Stories of courage from Northern Ireland (collection) Description An account of the resource A collection of 16 personal stories, published in book format and DVD, related to the Northern Ireland conflict. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource The Corrymeela Community in partnership with Facing History and Ourselves. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available The Corrymeela Community Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1 May 2013 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Document Language A language of the resource English Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Northern Ireland | 1968-2013 Relation A related resource Pettis, Sean. (ed.) (2013). Up Standing: Stories of Courage from Northern Ireland. 36. Belfast: The Corrymeela Press. URL Non DC - URL of Organisation / Project http://www.storiesofcourage.net/ Subject The topic of the resource "‘UP Standing - Stories of courage from Northern Ireland’ features diverse accounts from people who stood up to violence, discrimination or prejudice in Northern Ireland. It provides a window into often untold stories of courage that individuals have shown in the context of a divided and often violent society." (Up Standing; 2013; back cover) Availability Online Non DC - Availabilty Status (deposited, delayed, external, cain) deposited Organisation ID Non DC - ID for the Organisation that relates to this entry 25 Stories Collected Non DC - Number of stories recorded as part of the project. 16 Stories Deposited Non DC - Number of stories deposited with Accounts of the Conflict. 9 Collection Permission Form Non DC - Collection permission form signed and returned. Yes (signed 13 November 2014) Delayed Access Non DC - Yes/No on request for delayed access. No Publication A book, article, monograph etc. Author Author of the publication Rob Fairmichael Date Type Publication, Submission, Completion date etc. 2013; Publication Publication Title Full title of publication, as it appears on item. 'Living Non Violently', chapter, in, Pettis, Sean. (ed.) (2013). Up Standing: Stories of Courage from Northern Ireland. Belfast: The Corrymeela Press. Also available at: <a href="http://www.storiesofcourage.net/" target="_blank">http://www.storiesofcourage.net/</a> Publisher Location Place of publication: city / town Belfast Publisher The Corrymeela Press Publication Type Report, Book, Manual etc. Book Chapter Publication Status Published, in Press, Unpublished, etc. Published Number of Pages 2 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Living Non Violently, by Rob Fairmichael (story text) Description An account of the resource One of 16 personal accounts that were published in the book: 'Up Standing: Stories of courage from Northern Ireland'. (2013). Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource The Corrymeela Community in partnership with Facing History and Ourselves. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available The Corrymeela Press Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2013 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF version of book chapter Language A language of the resource English Availability Online Non DC - Availabilty Status (deposited, delayed, external, cain) deposited Catalogue ID Non DC - ID for the Catalogue entry that relates to this entry 2139 Corrymeela Community Up Standing