A Shared Society: SDLP conference 2010 by Allan LEONARD 5 November 2010 At the annual SDLP conference at the Ramada Hotel, Belfast, I attended a panel discussion — A Shared Society — chaired by Conall McDevitt MLA (South Belfast). Panellists were: Prof. Colin Harvey (Head of School of Law, Queen's University of Belfast), Dolores Kelly... Continue Reading →
What does ‘unite’ mean to you?
What does 'unite' mean to you? Culture Night Belfast by Allan LEONARD 15 October 2010 As part of Culture Night Belfast, which was supported by the Unite against Hate campaign, Moochin Photoman took some distinctive portrait photographs using a 'Through the Viewfinder' technique. I asked those who were photographed, "What does 'unite' mean to you?"... Continue Reading →
Young people discuss CSI at Stormont
Young people discuss CSI at Stormont by Allan LEONARD 27 September 2010 As part of the Cinemagic International Film & Television Festival for Young People, and in conjunction with the Unite Against Hate campaign, there was a day event at Parliament Buildings, Stormont, home of the Northern Ireland Assembly. In the Press Conference Suite the... Continue Reading →
Transformation and Ongoing Conflict in Contemporary Belfast
Transformation and Ongoing Conflict in Contemporary Belfast (BBC Radio Ulster) 31 January 2010 On 20 January, the Institute of Governance at Queen’s University Belfast hosted a workshop organised by the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of St Andrew’s: “Transformation and Ongoing Conflict in Contemporary Belfast”. These two themes — transformation and... Continue Reading →
Peace Pole: Belfast unveiling
Peace Pole: Belfast unveiling by Allan LEONARD for Shared Future News 24 October 2009 It was touch-and-go with the weather, but thankfully the rain stopped for the unveiling of Northern Ireland's first "peace pole", near the gates at Northumberland Street, west Belfast. I arrived just in time for some introductory singing by the Waterford Omagh... Continue Reading →
Your space or mine?
Your space or mine? @PLACENI by Allan LEONARD for Shared Future News 5 February 2009 Last night I attended an exhibition launch for a project called "your space or mine?", in which the organisers ask: Do current urban renewal and development models offer hope of shared and integrated futures for interface communities? What role can... Continue Reading →
Book review – Ordinary Lives
Book review: Ordinary Lives by Allan LEONARD for Shared Future News 8 January 2009 In recent years there has been an influx into Northern Ireland of new arrivals from east European countries, as well as more familiar western places of Portugal and Spain. The British Council organised the Ordinary Lives project, which explores stories of... Continue Reading →
Post-Agreement Northern Ireland: New opportunities or unresolved stalemate?
Post-Agreement Northern Ireland: New opportunities or unresolved stalemate by Allan LEONARD 17 December 2008 Does the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, or the subsequent 2007 St Andrew's Agreement, represent a means of conflict management between stalemated unionist and nationalist communities in Northern Ireland, or does the environment of peace itself provide an opportunity to pursue a... Continue Reading →
Media, identity and co-existence: Sharing learning from Lebanon and Northern Ireland
Media, identity and co-existence: Sharing learning from Lebanon and Northern Ireland by Allan LEONARD for Shared Future News 24 September 2008 Stratagem NI (Ltd) hosted an evening seminar of visiting Lebanese journalists: “Media, identity and co-existence: Sharing Learning from Lebanon and Northern Ireland”, to mark the culmination of a four-day study visit to Northern Ireland... Continue Reading →
Our future together: Alliance Party conference 2008
Our future together: Alliance Party conference 2008 By Allan LEONARD for Shared Future News 20 September 2008 As part of the annual Alliance Party Conference at the Marine Court Hotel, Bangor, the Northern Ireland Foundation hosted a fringe meeting: “Our future together: Realising a shared vision for local communities”. I prepared a folded-A3 flyer, describing... Continue Reading →