As the dust has settled on a busy week in Belfast, it is clear that the city has played host to a number of very special gatherings. As the US:NI Investment Conference considered future economic opportunities for Northern Ireland, a unique summit marking the anniversary of devolution brought together organisations and individuals with one common goal; peacebuilding.
Peacebuilders from across the world came to Belfast to share their perspectives, practice and experience of the challenges of peacebuilding at the Springboard-managed "Global Peacebuilders Conference," over the 6th and 7th of May. Clearly some of the international delegates brought more than just luggage and passports with them, as Belfast was treated some of the best weather it has seen for some time. Fortunately, this uncharacteristically good weather would not be squandered as many delegates were taken on an enlightening and thought provoking tour of the city's Falls and Shankill roads and heard presentations by groups from two sites of peacebuilding on the 6th.
The turnout at the summit at the Europa Hotel Belfast on the 7th was unprecedented, with delegates making the journey from across Belfast and the island as a whole, the UK, Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia and Pacific, and North America to attend and establish new partnerships for their peacebuilding work. As local MLAs were taking time to sell Northern Ireland as a real opportunity for business investment, peacebuilding delegates took part in a full day's programme at the Europa Hotel Belfast. This included keynote speeches, a Question Time-style panel, workshops and a high energy closing celebration led by The Motion Project - a multi-cultural music collective based in Northern Ireland.
First impressions of feedback on the summit have been very positive and hugely constructive for the future, and there are already a large number of excellent opportunities to develop and build on the comments given by delegates for any future peacebuilder gatherings.
To view the full programme of activities that took place between 6-7 May 2008 as part of the conference, as well as read about the various speakers, workshop facilitators and other contributors that took part, visit www.globalpeacebuilders.org/english/conference.html
