A book containing reflections on the peace process and the current state of affairs in Ireland, North and South has recently been released by the Irish Peace Institute. The book contains contributions from a range of influential individuals in Ireland.

Among those represented in the work are Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, First Minister David Trimble, former US Senator George Mitchell, Nobel Laureate Seamus Heaney and community activist Baroness May Blood. 

The Irish Peace Institute is a non-profit, non-governmental organization based in the Republic of Ireland devoted to promoting the peaceful reconciliation of conflict in Ireland through programs of education, research and outreach. 

All of the proceeds from the sale of the book will go towards the development of the Irish Peace Institute's Outreach Program which works to alleviate areas where tension exists between communities helping to promote the ongoing peace process.

Copies of Pens for Peace (ISBN 187465364X) can be purchased through the institute's American distributors at Irish Books and Media (www.irishbook.com) or via the web at (www.amazon.co.uk). Books are also available directly from the Peace Institute by sending a check for $12 (US) to Pens for Peace Book Orders, Irish Peace Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland (phone: + 353 61-202768; 
Fax: + 353 61-202572; email: matthew.cannon@ul.ie; http://www.ul.ie/ipi)

The Irish Peace Institute was founded in 1984 on the initiative of Dr. Brendan O'Regan and with the co- operation of the University of Limerick, the University of Ulster and Co-operation Ireland. It is funded by the EU Peace & Reconciliation Program, private and corporate donors; incorporated as a company limited by guarantee and accorded charitable status by the Revenue Commissioners.

The mission of the Irish Peace Institute is to contribute to the process of peace-building through programs of education, research and outreach directed to the development of mutual understanding and co- operation between the people of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Pens for Peace is co-edited by Noel Flannery, an Honorary Commerce graduate with an M. Econ. Sc. from University College Dublin, and an H. Dip. Ed. from University College Cork. He was a part- time lecturer with University College Cork and the University of Limerick.

Flannery served as a Member of the Governing Body of the Limerick Institute of Technology while lecturing full- time as a member of staff. He has worked in industry in the United Kingdom and with the Revenue Commissioners in Ireland.

An activist with the Irish Peace Institute since 1993, he is Chairman of the Institute's Outreach Committee and a Member of the Board. He is a developer and property owner in Limerick.

The other co-editor is Matthew Cannon, originally from New York. He received a Bachelor of Arts from Syracuse University in International Relations/ Political Science in 1994. 

In 2001. he received a doctorate from the University of Limerick for his study of the role of local governments in the formation of the Transmanche Euroregion across the English Channel. He writes extensively on cross- border co- operation, policing and developments in the role of local government.

He helped found the University of Limerick Political & Economic Review, now known as Perspectives , and also acted as editor of the journal. He currently resides in Limerick, Ireland, where he is employed by the Irish Peace Institute.

According to Cannon and Flannery, Pens for Peace draws inspiration from the often quoted line, "The pen is mightier than the sword".

"We decided to put this adage to the test by offering a forum for authors to air their views on peace. Through debate which might arise from the contributions contained in this publication we can develop and promote understanding, and it is only through understanding one another that we can truly achieve peace," the two men indicated in the book's preface.

Cannon said he hoped the range of articles in this book would be a source for multi-cultural distilling and blending. "Diversity, rightly understood in this context, is wealth," he pointed out. " It helps us to change and grow by selling what is good in our culture and buying what is good in other cultures. We can benefit by distilling the best from each culture and by combining we get strength and synergy from each," Cannon added.

The editors said they wanted to interpose themselves as little as possible between the writers and readers. As such, they believe Pens for Peace to be a source of new ideas and a useful tool to stimulate debate. "Our purpose was to provide a snapshot of ideas and opinions on the notion of ' peace' at a specific point," they went on. More than a hundred people were approached to write essays, individuals who could provide a valuable insight into the subject of peace.