The last days were rather uneventful if it would not have been for Edinburgh’s Peace and Justice Centre. A couple of older Quakers run this resource situated in the lower part of St.Johns church in Edinburgh. Committed to non-violence, their mission is to change the world. Their favourite groups are Scottish CND and Trident Ploughshares, as far as I know.
Anyway, as I am on the computer course our final project is to build a website for a client. As I did not want to be too embarrassed, choosing something political but non-controversial, the Peace and Justice Centre asked me if I could do so when I tried booking the room for Indymedia.
First, I expected to battle alone through this project, but amazingly many people showed interest and now we work with quite a big team, and totally to all expectations, it goes quite well.
Only I am the total chaos-head, but the rest of the team is great.
Hilary is the perfect project manager. She has a lot to do to keep me on track. No wonder she gets big rings under her eyes, she is really working hard. Anne is already weeks before the schedule, managing 2 projects the same time. Quiet and reliable and hard-working, never ever saying anything bad. Steven as usual is brilliantly working away. Given the same tasks, he actually produces results whilst I am still evaluating what to do next, coming up with ideas Hilary has already distributed some days ago. He is great and chirpy and always in a good mood.
Will add more links about the experience with Peace and Justice later, it is getting quite late now.
Before I forget just wanting to drop a link here to Gwen’s Blog. Gwen is the girlfriend of Alastair, who happened to have a big fall-out with me on the question of “women-only-groups”. It totally split the anarcho scene here in Scotland, but I think although it might seem as it hindered the widespread unified distribution of the anarchist ideology in Scotland, the community could not have grown in a healthy and tolerant and empowering or encouraging way as in the state it was then.
HOPEFULLY, THIS IS NOW A WARNING EXPERIENCE TO EVERYBODY: THAT THE MAIN PRINCIPLE IS TO TRY TO BE TOLERANT TOWARDS EACH OTHER;
Sometimes it is really really hard to know when to be tolerant, when to try to change or influence a decision and when it does not matter.
I find it really really hard, particular with Indymedia, as my heart and lots of time and work lies into this project.