Matter of the Heart

How do we move head knowledge about peace down to the heart? How do we make a real difference in people's lives and attitudes and not merely constantly talk about what should be done?
We tried something new at BRiCC (Building Relationships in City Centre; www.briccjos.com) on Wednesday. Many people have no idea about the Troubles in Northern Ireland and how similar the divisions in Belfast are to the results of the Crisis in Jos.  There are no go areas for members of each community; children are taught in segregated schools and learn hatred and fear; both communities exercise their cultural/religious "rights" in a way guaranteed to antagonise the other side; underemployed and angry young men are frequently on the verge of boiling over; the "religious" conflict is more about territory, economics and opportunity than differences of faith. 
Northern Ireland has had "peace" since 1998 but the divisions seem as deep as ever.  Real peace won't be achieved in either place until heart attitudes change and children are taught there is more that unites us as humans than divides.

BRiCC invited members of the police, Neighbourhood Watch Vigilante groups, peace NGOs and other community leaders to attend a morning workshop.  About twenty-seven people turned up.  We talked about how peace can only be made complete by a change of heart, watched documentaries on the state of Belfast filmed 15 years after the peace agreement, then broke into small groups to discuss how to apply the lessons learned from Northern Ireland to the situation in Jos.  There were good discussions, important points were raised, but the test will be in the practical implementation. Next week we look at Rwanda.