Roots of Reconciliation: Humanising Enemies (Code RR07)

Limited number of places now available

Presenters: 

Wilhelm Verwoerd, Alistair Little and Don Browne

Wilhelm Verwoerd
Former researcher on the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission; former lecturer in Philosophy, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa; programme co-ordinator of the Survivors and Former Combatants Programme at Glencree (since mid-2002).

Alistair Little
Former loyalist political prisoner; experienced reconciliation worker in Northern Ireland, Ireland, the Balkans, South Africa.

Don Browne
Former republican political prisoner; experienced yoga teacher and Reiki master; leading participant within the Glencree Sustainable Peace Network since early 2004.

Contact details for Wilhelm Verwoerd:  E-mail:  xcomb@glencree.ie

Summary

This five day, residential course draws on presenters’ and participants’ personal experience as well as extensive Glencree reconciliation practice on the islands of Ireland and Britain to reflect on the humanization of enemies after violent political conflict.  Bringing together practitioners and theoreticians this participatory, experiential learning course explores themes such as (de)humanizing language; fundamental human needs; faces of fear, mercy, forgiveness; reconciling the human and the “non-human”. 

Background and Sub-themes

When asked to explain what we really mean by “peace” or “reconciliation” in the various programmes run by the Glencree Centre for Reconciliation, we usually talk about the challenge of humanizing relationships between former political enemies - within and between communities on the islands of Ireland and Britain.

The challenge of humanization also lies at the root of reconciliation in other contexts, as highlighted by the value attached to ubuntu in the South African reconciliation process.  “Ubuntu” is often translated as “a person is a person through other people” -expressing a profound awareness that each person’s humanity is constituted through relationships with other people.

However, we rarely get a chance to express fully what we mean by “humanization”; we often are too busy to reflect deeply on various dimensions of this complex challenge.

The five day, residential course on Roots of Reconciliation – in the historical setting of the Glencree Centre, surrounded by beautiful Wicklow hills - provides a unique opportunity for much needed in depth reflection on the following themes arising from our personal experience and reconciliation practice on the islands of Ireland and Britain and in South Africa:

• (De)humanizing language:
• Destructive distancing through explicit and subtle ways in which some language associated with intense conflict dehumanizes “us” and “them”;
• Healthy distancing through honest description of difference and legitimate criticism in the search for truth and justice;
• The promise and pitfalls of bridging, inclusive, connecting language;
• The art of appropriate language.

• Fleshing out humanization:
• Identifying shared, fundamental human needs;
• Acknowledging infinitely diverse ways of satisfying these needs;
• Distinguishing between destructive and healthy processes of satisfaction;
• Multiple poverties and conflict.

• Faces of fear, mercy and forgiveness:
• Roles of different types of fear in causing and perpetuating conflict;
• Ways of transforming fear (and anger);
• Meanings of mercy and forgiveness, as illustrated by the South African Truth and Reconciliation process;
• Root of mercy and forgiveness: seeing the human face of the enemy.

• Reconciling the human and the “non-human”:
• Reflections on the Glencree Sustainable Peace Network
• value of wilderness and nature based activities in bringing divided people together,
• healing our fractured relationship with the larger community of Life as a neglected root of enduring peace,
• placing tensions between Northern and Southern Ireland in context of global North-South divides;
• Deep ecology: broadening and deepening the human Self as a route to reconciliation.

Participants

The course is aimed primarily at

• practitioners in the fields of peace and reconciliation, who recognize the need for careful reflection on and capturing of what we are learning ;
• advanced students and theoreticians in peace and reconciliation studies, who are interested in shared reflection with practitioners, in the setting of a hands-on centre with more than 30 years of experience in promoting peace and reconciliation.

Numbers will be restricted to a maximum of 20 and we will try to ensure a good mix of practitioners and those from more academic backgrounds.

Approach

The course will combine accessible reflection and experiential learning, drawing on personal experience, life stories and lessons learnt from reconciliation work in South Africa and the various programmes at Glencree.
 
While the overall guiding theme will be Humanizing Enemies, the daily programme will be structured to reflect the importance of cultivating at least three interconnected relationships within a deeply rooted conception of reconciliation:
 

• relationships between “us” and “them” – through daily sessions on the various sub-themes mentioned before, using large and small group work;
• relationship of each person with him/herself  - through (optional) yoga, meditation, and solitary nature walks;
• relationships between humans and the larger earth community – through guided nature based activities, plus small and large group discussion sessions.

To deepen the experiential learning on offer participants will be invited to become involved in the practical running of a living reconciliation centre such as Glencree.  Participants (and presenters) will be joined with our team of international volunteers for short, daily sessions of cleaning, washing dishes etc.

To get maximum benefit from the retreat-like space provided by Glencree and its peaceful surroundings, participants are strongly encouraged to stay at the Centre for the duration of the course.
 
Duration and Dates

The course will commence on Sunday, August 19th, at 17h00, and finish at 14h00 on Friday, August 24th.

Cost

€500 (including all course materials and instruction, room hire, accommodation and food).

Inquiries and Bookings

All bookings should be made via Nicky Butler at info@glencree.ie or +353 1 2829711.   

Click here for registration form.