Irish Lessons

I would like to start out with this heartfelt post by Irish blogger Joe, who from Dublin publishes the blog "Inside the Ocean".

The post i'm refering to is called "Democracy", here you have it:

The last weekend we could see how the people from Montenegro gained their freedom. I think that would be a good question to all the people who believe that this is democracy : When will the UK allow for a referendum in Northern Ireland or Scotland or Wales? When will Spain or France allow for a referendum in Catalonia or in the Basque region? Or for instance, France in Corsica? Anyway congratulations to the people of Monenegro. A good lesson of democracy that som EU states should learn.

Why do I mentioned that I wanted to start out with Joe's post?

Well, this note published at BBC is making the rounds in the internet, and I thought this Dubliner's demand for answers was a good way to show just how commited to self determination the Irish are, wether is their own or that of any other nation in a similar situation, in this case, the Catalonyans.

Anyway, here it goes:

NI lessons for Catalan region

A Northern Ireland academic is to help set up a new peace institute in Spain's Catalan region.

Professor Gillian Robinson of the University of Ulster will use her expertise in conflict resolution to guide the Catalonian initiative.

She is director of INCORE, the UU's peace and conflict research centre.

Professor Robinson was invited by the Catalonian Ministry of Institutional Relations and Participation to share her expertise in the field.

The academic is to advise on a programme to develop a public policy of peace creation.

This includes a proposal to establish the International Catalan Institute for Peace.

'Supporting the government'

Northern Ireland had considerable expertise in both academic study and research into peace and conflict issues, said Professor Robinson.

"Policy makers and practitioners in Northern Ireland are also actively involved in many networks across Europe and beyond that seek to share best practice in relation to peace building," she said.

"We congratulate the Catalan government on its vision and commitment to the establishment of the proposed centre and we at INCORE look forward to supporting the government in its development and future work."

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