Mairead Corrigan Maguire

Mairead Corrigan Maguire was not actively involved with the Northern Ireland peace movement until she came face-to-face with violence in 1976.  On August 10th, Danny Lennon and John Chillingworth of the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA), were driving through Belfast, with a rifle in their car.  The IRA wanted to form a united Ireland through physical force that would be outside of United Kingdom control.

 

British troops, claiming that the rifle had been pointed at them, opened fire on the car instantly killing Lennon and seriously wounding Chillingworth. The car veered onto the sidewalk striking Mairead’s sister Anne and three of her children. While Anne survived, her three children died.  Another peace activist, Betty Williams, also witnessed the crash and assembled 200 women to march for an end to the violence.  When the marchers passed by Maguire’s home she quickly joined in.

 

Shortly after the march, Community of Peace People was founded by Maguire and Williams. Based on their shared belief that reconciliation was possible through the gradual integration of schools, residential areas and athletic clubs. Community of Peace People organized summer camps for Catholics and Protestants youths in an effort to create friendships in a secure and tolerant environment. The organization also published a biweekly paper, Peace by Peace, and provided families of prisoners’ bus service to and from Belfast’s jails.

 

In 1976, Maguire and Betty Williams were awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace for their contributions to the resolution of the problems in Northern Ireland.  Since winning the award, Mairead Corrigan Magurie co-founded the Committee on Administration of Justice, a human rights organization that has been actively involved in the attempt to free political prisoners world-wide, from Nobel Peace Prize winners Burma’s Aung San Suu Kyi to China’s Liu Xiaobo of China.

Mairead Corrigan Maguire was not actively involved with the Northern Ireland peace movement until she came face-to-face with violence in 1976.  On August 10th, Danny Lennon and John Chillingworth of the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA), were driving through Belfast, with a rifle in their car.  The IRA wanted to form a united Ireland through physical force that would be outside of United Kingdom control.

 

British troops, claiming that the rifle had been pointed at them, opened fire on the car instantly killing Lennon and seriously wounding Chillingworth. The car veered onto the sidewalk striking Mairead’s sister Anne and three of her children. While Anne survived, her three children died.  Another peace activist, Betty Williams, also witnessed the crash and assembled 200 women to march for an end to the violence.  When the marchers passed by Maguire’s home she quickly joined in.

 

Shortly after the march, Community of Peace People was founded by Maguire and Williams. Based on their shared belief that reconciliation was possible through the gradual integration of schools, residential areas and athletic clubs. Community of Peace People organized summer camps for Catholics and Protestants youths in an effort to create friendships in a secure and tolerant environment. The organization also published a biweekly paper, Peace by Peace, and provided families of prisoners’ bus service to and from Belfast’s jails.

 

In 1976, Maguire and Betty Williams were awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace for their contributions to the resolution of the problems in Northern Ireland.  Since winning the award, Mairead Corrigan Magurie co-founded the Committee on Administration of Justice, a human rights organization that has been actively involved in the attempt to free political prisoners world-wide, from Nobel Peace Prize winners Burma’s Aung San Suu Kyi to China’s Liu Xiaobo of China.

I would like to thank President Kim Dae-jung, and President Gorbachev, for their invitation to attend this Summit.  I am very happy to be here, and to remember the spirit of the historic May 18th Gwangju Democratic Movement, which gave hope to many people around the world, struggling where they live, to build nonviolent societies based on equality, human rights and international laws.

 

The Northern Irish people, and the Peace Process they have entered into, have many lessons for others.   Like us, other countries are now in political transition and seeking "conflict resolution and peace building".  However we would want to stress that while they should note well the things that worked for us, they too must find their own solutions to their own unique and complex situations.

 

One of the consequences of 80 years of the Partition of Ireland has been the cutting off   of people from each other in the North and South of the country, resulting in lack of communication, trust, and a fear of the 'other' as being different.  Also in the North of Ireland, the   two main communities, separated by religion, political allegiances,  national identities, and for the most part living physically apart, suspicion and lack of trust are deep, and it is this trust which must be built by both communities whose identities are changing and future together still evolving.

 

The most recent 'troubles' started in Northern Ireland in 1969, the root of the conflict being social, economic, political, historical, religious.  Tragically instead of solving our problems through the democratic process, violence erupted and continued for almost 30 years.  The Good Friday Agreement, signed on 10th April, l998, set out a framework of political initiatives which addresses many of the contentious issues,  and a framework of co-operation and partnerships, which opened up the possibilities of better relations between the two communities in the North, the two parts of Ireland, and between Ireland and Britain.      The implementation of the Good Friday Agreement continues.  However, the current situation of direct rule from London is unacceptable and it is to be hoped that there will be a devolved government and power sharing executive soon.

 

It has to be acknowledged that, though we have come a long way, we have  a great deal further to go, but we know now that the 'armed struggle' is over, the long outstanding political injustices and inequalities are being tackled,  and given goodwill and a generosity of spirit and forgiveness, peace is possible.  

 

This Peace Process has been long and arduous but one of its most important lessons is this:  Those involved in conflict resolution, must never give up hope.

 

Another most important lesson for all of us is that violence, whether it is state violence or the violence of opposition, never brings long-lasting benefit but always brings long-lasting suffering and misery.  One of the most important lessons to come out of Northern Ireland is that violence, militarism, and para-militarism, do not solve deep ethnic/political problems.  They can only be solved through nonviolence, all-inclusive dialogue, and a will by people and politicians, to forgive and move forward to build a just and shared future together.

 

To break a vicious cycle of violence, it takes courageous civil and political Leadership and people willing to take risks for peace.   Being willing to take the first step, to walk the extra mile, (as has happened on this peninsula) and especially to see the humanity of the other, to see their point of view, and recognize they too are afraid, and have grievances to be addressed, helps to humanize the people and situation.  Often this means that it is sometimes necessary to enter into principled compromise.   Diversity is a fact of life, and it is important we respect difference and create institutions that allow for representation and equal treatment of all sectors of our diverse societies.  

 

One of the causes of the conflict in Northern Ireland was the fact that we had majority rule for fifty years, with a minority community's basic civil rights denied. We now know that majoritarianism in divided societies is not true democracy, and it is necessary, in order to ensure justice and equality, to create all inclusive political institutions that uphold minority rights.     Also creating good practices, such as preferential voting (proportional representation) which allows for win/win situations, and avoiding divisive methods like referendums of yes/no, resulting in win/ lose scenarios which lead to dangerous polarization of communities.

 

There are many examples in the World today, where conflict resolution has worked and much can be learned.  I hope that in time, as we heal ourselves and our country, Northern Ireland will give hope to others in a far worse situation than we have experienced.    We are aware of the many problems faced by the human family.   We do care that poverty, environmental crisis, nuclear weapons and war, are  putting at risk, our lives and the lives of our children everywhere. What then can we do when faced, as we all are, with such challenges?    I believe we are each called to help build non-killing, nonviolent societies, at both a local and international level.   We need to reclaim our basic value, that human life is sacred,and we should not be killing or hurting each other, but solving our problems in a more civilized way.   Also recognition that the earth is our home and we need to take care of it, and pass it onto our children as their rightful heritage.  This is the United Nations Decade for a Culture of Peace and Nonviolence for the Children of the World (2001-2010) which I know is supported by the South Korean government.   We can each help in building this culture, starting in our homes, schools, universities, communities, at every level of society to teach nonviolence as a way of life, a way of solving conflicts, and as a political science that works, and this will bring about a new culture of compassion and nonviolence for humanity.  

 

I believe that part of this Nonviolent Movement is the need to rid the world of violence, nuclear weapons, and war.   As the human family we must reject war and invasions, and I would like here to appeal to the USA that there be no war of aggression against Iran, but that the problem of nuclear weapons proliferation everywhere be solved through dialogue and negotiations.    Unless we are cultivating an ethos of death and decay, what use are nuclear weapons, anywhere in the world?  It is my firm belief that all Governments, starting with the USA and including Britain should begin decommissioning of nuclear arsenals.  I hope that Israel and North Korea will abolish their nuclear weapons and join the human family in building, friendship, trust and peace amongst all the peoples and Governments.   Last April, I went to Israel to support  Mordechai Vanunu, still held in Israel for revealing 20 years ago that they had a nuclear weapons programme.  We can all take inspiration from him in his courageous act of truth telling and personal sacrifice in trying to save the world from nuclear holocaust.  I appeal to the Israel Government, to let Vanunu go as he wishes to leave Israel and, as he has no secrets, is no threat to Israeli National security. I also appeal to the Israeli Government to lead the movement in the Middle East to disarm all weapons of mass destruction, before the madness of the escalating nuclear weapons race increases, and becomes unstoppable.   I also appeal to the United States to lift the sanctions against our North Korean brothers and sisters, and our Palestinian brothers and sisters, and for economical assistance, to help the North Korean Government, and newly elected Palestinian government, to provide food, health care, and education, for their people. 

 

While governments can make a difference, in the final analysis it is the individual - that  is each one of us - that will bring the dream of a nonviolent world to reality.  We, the people must think and act nonviolently.  We must not get stuck in the past as to do so will destroy the imagination and creativity which is so necessary to build a new future together.  All peoples and nations have suffered, and great sacrifices have been made.  We have all hurt each other, but isn't it time we begin, whilst not forgetting, at least to forgive one another?  One of our great Irish poets, William Butler Yeats, once wrote "too long a sacrifice can make a stone of the heart". How much we need not to allow ourselves to harden our hearts against one another, or other nations, but to be prepared to forgive.  A character in the play of another famous Irish writer, Sean O'Casey, cries out "Take away our hearts of stone and give us hearts of flesh".  As a young girl I learned those words as a real prayer  'Oh take away our hearts of stone and give us hearts of love'. To change our world we need a spiritual and a political evolution.  The political steps are often very obvious:  uphold human rights, and international laws, demand our governments meet their obligations under these laws, support and reform United Nations, etc.,  However, all the legislation, resolutions, and fine talk will be of no use, if we do not as men and women evolve and become transformed, so that we, the human family, achieve a more enlightened and humane way of living together, and solving conflicts.   Celebrating what is good in all our cultures and traditions, and rejecting the old ways of violence, militarism, nuclear weapons and war, seems like a dream, but as we dream so shall we become.   Let us therefore dare to dream together of a different world, and work together to make it come true.     

 

Thank you and peace and happiness to the Korean people. 

I would like to thank President Kim Dae-jung, and President Gorbachev, for their invitation to attend this Summit.  I am very happy to be here, and to remember the spirit of the historic May 18th Gwangju Democratic Movement, which gave hope to many people around the world, struggling where they live, to build nonviolent societies based on equality, human rights and international laws.

 

The Northern Irish people, and the Peace Process they have entered into, have many lessons for others.   Like us, other countries are now in political transition and seeking "conflict resolution and peace building".  However we would want to stress that while they should note well the things that worked for us, they too must find their own solutions to their own unique and complex situations.

 

One of the consequences of 80 years of the Partition of Ireland has been the cutting off   of people from each other in the North and South of the country, resulting in lack of communication, trust, and a fear of the 'other' as being different.  Also in the North of Ireland, the   two main communities, separated by religion, political allegiances,  national identities, and for the most part living physically apart, suspicion and lack of trust are deep, and it is this trust which must be built by both communities whose identities are changing and future together still evolving.

 

The most recent 'troubles' started in Northern Ireland in 1969, the root of the conflict being social, economic, political, historical, religious.  Tragically instead of solving our problems through the democratic process, violence erupted and continued for almost 30 years.  The Good Friday Agreement, signed on 10th April, l998, set out a framework of political initiatives which addresses many of the contentious issues,  and a framework of co-operation and partnerships, which opened up the possibilities of better relations between the two communities in the North, the two parts of Ireland, and between Ireland and Britain.      The implementation of the Good Friday Agreement continues.  However, the current situation of direct rule from London is unacceptable and it is to be hoped that there will be a devolved government and power sharing executive soon.

 

It has to be acknowledged that, though we have come a long way, we have  a great deal further to go, but we know now that the 'armed struggle' is over, the long outstanding political injustices and inequalities are being tackled,  and given goodwill and a generosity of spirit and forgiveness, peace is possible.  

 

This Peace Process has been long and arduous but one of its most important lessons is this:  Those involved in conflict resolution, must never give up hope.

 

Another most important lesson for all of us is that violence, whether it is state violence or the violence of opposition, never brings long-lasting benefit but always brings long-lasting suffering and misery.  One of the most important lessons to come out of Northern Ireland is that violence, militarism, and para-militarism, do not solve deep ethnic/political problems.  They can only be solved through nonviolence, all-inclusive dialogue, and a will by people and politicians, to forgive and move forward to build a just and shared future together.

 

To break a vicious cycle of violence, it takes courageous civil and political Leadership and people willing to take risks for peace.   Being willing to take the first step, to walk the extra mile, (as has happened on this peninsula) and especially to see the humanity of the other, to see their point of view, and recognize they too are afraid, and have grievances to be addressed, helps to humanize the people and situation.  Often this means that it is sometimes necessary to enter into principled compromise.   Diversity is a fact of life, and it is important we respect difference and create institutions that allow for representation and equal treatment of all sectors of our diverse societies.  

 

One of the causes of the conflict in Northern Ireland was the fact that we had majority rule for fifty years, with a minority community's basic civil rights denied. We now know that majoritarianism in divided societies is not true democracy, and it is necessary, in order to ensure justice and equality, to create all inclusive political institutions that uphold minority rights.     Also creating good practices, such as preferential voting (proportional representation) which allows for win/win situations, and avoiding divisive methods like referendums of yes/no, resulting in win/ lose scenarios which lead to dangerous polarization of communities.

 

There are many examples in the World today, where conflict resolution has worked and much can be learned.  I hope that in time, as we heal ourselves and our country, Northern Ireland will give hope to others in a far worse situation than we have experienced.    We are aware of the many problems faced by the human family.   We do care that poverty, environmental crisis, nuclear weapons and war, are  putting at risk, our lives and the lives of our children everywhere. What then can we do when faced, as we all are, with such challenges?    I believe we are each called to help build non-killing, nonviolent societies, at both a local and international level.   We need to reclaim our basic value, that human life is sacred,and we should not be killing or hurting each other, but solving our problems in a more civilized way.   Also recognition that the earth is our home and we need to take care of it, and pass it onto our children as their rightful heritage.  This is the United Nations Decade for a Culture of Peace and Nonviolence for the Children of the World (2001-2010) which I know is supported by the South Korean government.   We can each help in building this culture, starting in our homes, schools, universities, communities, at every level of society to teach nonviolence as a way of life, a way of solving conflicts, and as a political science that works, and this will bring about a new culture of compassion and nonviolence for humanity.  

 

I believe that part of this Nonviolent Movement is the need to rid the world of violence, nuclear weapons, and war.   As the human family we must reject war and invasions, and I would like here to appeal to the USA that there be no war of aggression against Iran, but that the problem of nuclear weapons proliferation everywhere be solved through dialogue and negotiations.    Unless we are cultivating an ethos of death and decay, what use are nuclear weapons, anywhere in the world?  It is my firm belief that all Governments, starting with the USA and including Britain should begin decommissioning of nuclear arsenals.  I hope that Israel and North Korea will abolish their nuclear weapons and join the human family in building, friendship, trust and peace amongst all the peoples and Governments.   Last April, I went to Israel to support  Mordechai Vanunu, still held in Israel for revealing 20 years ago that they had a nuclear weapons programme.  We can all take inspiration from him in his courageous act of truth telling and personal sacrifice in trying to save the world from nuclear holocaust.  I appeal to the Israel Government, to let Vanunu go as he wishes to leave Israel and, as he has no secrets, is no threat to Israeli National security. I also appeal to the Israeli Government to lead the movement in the Middle East to disarm all weapons of mass destruction, before the madness of the escalating nuclear weapons race increases, and becomes unstoppable.   I also appeal to the United States to lift the sanctions against our North Korean brothers and sisters, and our Palestinian brothers and sisters, and for economical assistance, to help the North Korean Government, and newly elected Palestinian government, to provide food, health care, and education, for their people. 

 

While governments can make a difference, in the final analysis it is the individual - that  is each one of us - that will bring the dream of a nonviolent world to reality.  We, the people must think and act nonviolently.  We must not get stuck in the past as to do so will destroy the imagination and creativity which is so necessary to build a new future together.  All peoples and nations have suffered, and great sacrifices have been made.  We have all hurt each other, but isn't it time we begin, whilst not forgetting, at least to forgive one another?  One of our great Irish poets, William Butler Yeats, once wrote "too long a sacrifice can make a stone of the heart". How much we need not to allow ourselves to harden our hearts against one another, or other nations, but to be prepared to forgive.  A character in the play of another famous Irish writer, Sean O'Casey, cries out "Take away our hearts of stone and give us hearts of flesh".  As a young girl I learned those words as a real prayer  'Oh take away our hearts of stone and give us hearts of love'. To change our world we need a spiritual and a political evolution.  The political steps are often very obvious:  uphold human rights, and international laws, demand our governments meet their obligations under these laws, support and reform United Nations, etc.,  However, all the legislation, resolutions, and fine talk will be of no use, if we do not as men and women evolve and become transformed, so that we, the human family, achieve a more enlightened and humane way of living together, and solving conflicts.   Celebrating what is good in all our cultures and traditions, and rejecting the old ways of violence, militarism, nuclear weapons and war, seems like a dream, but as we dream so shall we become.   Let us therefore dare to dream together of a different world, and work together to make it come true.     

 

Thank you and peace and happiness to the Korean people.