Community Relations Council

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JUST WORDS OR RACIST AND SECTARIAN TAUNTS???

The One Small Step Campaign believes that the future of Northern Ireland is a shared one with all people being treated with trust, understanding and respect. 

In an ad which will be shown on TV from 31 January people will be encouraged to play their own part in securing a better shared future by consciously taking small steps to break down the barriers of misunderstanding, hatred and distrust that is holding Northern Ireland back.  The voice-over for the ad is provided by Kenneth Branagh.

“The One Small Step Campaign believes that only the by people taking steps, on their own and together, can secure lasting peace and a truly stable society and they hope that in the coming months and beyond, individuals and organisations will consciously do what they can do to take Northern Ireland a step forward”.

“They hope that people will decide what small steps are appropriate for them and take action.  For example, someone who has rarely interacted with members of 'the other community' could do something as small as reading a little bit about another tradition or reading a newspaper from 'the other side'.  This would be a significant step relevant to them individually”.

“Someone else may decide they are in a position to go a bit further and could perhaps go to a religious service of another tradition to broaden their knowledge, or engage in some kind of community relations work.  Everyone can and should do something which will make a difference in the context of a collective effort”.

Small steps that the One Small Step Campaign suggests one can take include:

Individually:

• Read a newspaper from 'the other side' for a day or week
• Listen to an Irish language programme / pipe band programme
• Learn some Irish / Ulster Scots
• Buy a book by an Irish  or British poet and read it
• Watch a Gaelic game on TV
• Watch a cricket match
• Buy a Gaelic or cricket rulebook
• Go onto the Internet and search for information on the Hibernians / Orange Order etc
• Find out what certain symbols and religious icons mean
• Go onto the Internet and search for information on political parties other than the one you support
• Talk to your children or grandchildren about Education for Mutual Understanding (EMU) in schools
• Attend a community relations course
• Find out more about your own cultural background

In one's own community:

• Encourage organisations to which you belong to organise events with people they normally avoid or don't know
• Discuss your own beliefs and experiences with someone you normally don't talk to about these things and consider how they differ from one another
• Read a book or paper from another tradition and find a safe space to discuss perceptions
• Talk to a member of the Orders from your own tradition to see if you can understand what they are and what they believe
• Find out about the celebrations of another religious tradition
• Find out about those from a minority ethnic community who live near you
• Organise a night of cultural activities or cultural theme nights
• Organise a mixed five-a-side football match
• Attend a harvest festival service

For further information

One Small Step Campaign Website: http://www.onesmallstepcampaign.org

NICVA Website: http://www.nicva.org