Peace by Piece

Zach Hutchinson

Our guest on this episode is a young peacemaker called Zach Hutchinson.  Zach was born just after the Good Friday Agreement was signed so his lens on life is entirely post conflict and his passion for a peacemaking type of politics led him to the Centre of Democracy & Peacebuilding.  Through its work he convenes leaders from all political hues, believing in the magic of encounter and relationship.  He has much to say to a new generation about why peace matters and why we should get curious enough to follow the threads of our own subconscious prejudices and find out what freedom lies in exploring them.

Ian Bothwell

Ian Bothwell is not a household name but is someone who has been quiet peacemaking in south Armagh for almost half a century.  At the height of the Troubles he felt a draw to defy some of the barriers and fears in his own context to move from his home in Amagh to Crossmaglen.  Ian and his wife Pauline set up a charity that brought care to people through anti-poverty work, prisoner support, youth work and personal encounter, by setting up a market stall in the town.  In this conversation Ian opens up about losses he suffered that challenged him to 'let other narratives in' and how that hasn't always been a path that has been easy or understood.

Inioluwa Olasebikan

Inioluwa Olasebikan is an incredible young Nigeria woman who now calls Belfast home.  At 18 years old Ini has overcome many challenges to become an impassioned advocate for ethnic minority communities on integration and education rights for young people seeking asylum.  In this conversation she speaks candidly about what it’s like to arrive here as a young person and to notice how our two community lens can prevail.  Ini has felt both 'othered' and welcomed in Belfast.  She’s got a brilliant voice and her challenge around how we reimagine peace deserves to be heard far and wide!

Carole Kane

Artist Carole Kane is a beautiful under the radar force for peace.  Trained as a weaver, she has a hands-on, graceful approach when it comes to community peacemaking.  As a young artist she felt moved by an appeal on the radio after the Omagh bombing, that was an ask for ideas on what to do with the carpet of flowers left in honour of the victims.  In a spur of the moment move Carol made an offer that would change her life.  In this conversation she shares from the heart about the power and potential for art to help and heal and what she has learned from being in those spaces.  We talk about the lack of focus on this aspect of our post conflict journey and how, when done sensitively, art has the potential to unlock so much. Voices like Carole’s have quiet gold to offer and can leave us feeling more peaceful, as a result of simply hearing their their stories of thoughful peacemaking.

David Porter

David Porter is someone whose passion for peace is a thread that runs throughout a career that has taken him right to the heart of church life.  His own heart for reconciliation and his expression of that within various key roles gives him a lived vantage point from which to offer challenge and insight.  He was Canon for Reconciliation at Coventy Cathedral which has always been a hub for peace, involved in some of the world’s most difficult areas of conflict. Later peace building was very much in David’s focus when he become chief of staff to the Archbishop of Canterbury.  (*important to say this conversation with David was recorded before Justin Welby resigned) But in this episode David shares how he’s faced criticism over some perceptions he’s been too sympathetic with former paramilitaries, gets honest about narratives of prejudice and racism, and spotlights the beautiful peace witnesses that have emerged from many faith communities.