The campaign for justice for Bloody Sunday is in its 49th year, with no end in sight. Much of the evidence that would reveal the truth about that day is embargoed by the state. Many within Northern Ireland do not support the cause of justice for Bloody Sunday because they don’t believe any injustice was done.
There has also been the notable emergence of the whole notion of environmental justice in the past 10/15 years, something reflected in the march programme of events. But what is the connection between criminal justice, social justice and now environmental justice?
This is an In Conversation Event with Jim Keys in conversation with Helen Henderson. Jim speak for about 30 mins to set the context for the possibility of us creating justice here, right now. This will then be opened out in conversation with Helen and to those in the webinar with some concluding remarks from Jim (2/3 mins). The event will be recorded with the recording posted below thereafter.
In the above context Jim invites us, regardless of where we stand on the cause of justice for bloody sunday to take a step back with him to first ask, What is Justice? Where does it come from? How do we get it? He will link his reflection to:
- the significance of Derry/Strabane becoming the first city region in the UK or Ireland to step out in the direction of Zero Waste,
- how that relates to Bloody Sunday,
- and the significance the inclusive nature of the space the annual march and programme opens up for the possibility of justice.
Jim Keys: Jim is a qualified teacher. He says he graduated to active citizenship through the work with Frontline: Culture and Education in Manchester and Derry Frontline (& The Bogside Sculptors) which he co founded with Dan Baron Cohen, Mary Gallagher and Locky Morris. This introduced him to the pedegogy of Paulo Freire and the theatre of Augusto Boal. It set him on fire as an educator. He says the other major influence on his thinking beyond family, friends, and collaborators is the writings of the social psychologist and philosopher Erich Fromm.
Jim was a longstanding member of the Bloody Sunday Weekend Committee and subsequently the Bloody Sunday March Committee whose work he continues to support. He was Executive Producer of the film SUNDAY written by Jimmy McGovern for Channel 4 Television. He is the Co-Creator with Stephen Gargan of Gaslight Media Trust of the epilogues and the JustUs Workshop Education Projects, multimedia educational tools to aid exploration to the conflict in and about ‘Northern Ireland’. These he describes as projects not so much about ‘Northern Ireland’ as projects for ‘Northern Ireland’. Education/reflection processes for us as adults (epilogues) and for our young people growing up here (JustUs).
In 2018 he was honoured by Friends of the Earth Northern Ireland as a local Nature’s Keeper for his work as part of Zero Waste North West with Derry City and Strabane District Council. Here is the short video they produced on him.
Helen Henderson: Helen has spent most of her working life in the community sector. She has a background in global education, community development and peace building. She managed the St Columb’s Park House, peace centre in Derry/Londonderry, developing programmes promoting non-violent activism, participative democracy and compassionate leadership.
Helen has just been appointed as one of the Commissioners with the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission. Previously she coordinated the Development Education work at Children in Crossfire, collaborating with educators in global justice and active citizenship. She is constantly inspired by ordinary people who make an extraordinary difference in our world.
The webinar space will be managed by Lynda O’Sullivan.