Republican News · Thursday 17 January 2002

Training for victory

BY FRANCES McCOLE

Being a modern day republican is a demanding business. Apart from knowing how to put up posters, stuff envelopes, sell papers and win elections, we also need to be able to decipher media spin, go online, send e-mails, understand economics, the euro, the environment, and discuss strategies and policies.

Republicans have always understood the importance of education. We know that to achieve our political goal, we must understand our history, our ideology and offer new ways of thinking about old problems.

We also know that finding the time to read, discuss and learn is not easy for most of us. In between running from one meeting, letterbox, lamppost, picket, pub (to sell An Phoblacht of course) to another, taking time to sit back and ponder the big questions may seem like an indulgence we can't afford.

As the political momentum has picked up pace and become ever more complex, it poses a bigger challenge than ever for republicans to keep one eye on what's happening on the ground, and the other on broader shifts and developments at home and abroad.

Positively, more and more people of all ages are responding to our invitation to join Sinn Féin. This welcome expansion poses a challenge for us as an organisation to maintain our radicalism, our principles and commitment to offer a genuine alternative to the failed politics of our opponents.

The National Training and Development Unit (TDU) has developed a members' education programme, which is aimed at standardising education courses throughout the country. Having been developed by the TDU, the programmes will be delivered by local members within their own Cúige regions.

A conference for members who are undertaking to deliver the programme across the Six-County Cuige, will be held in the Frank Gillen Centre, Belfast, on 26 January. Other conferences will follow during the year around the country.

The purpose of the conference is to familiarise members with the rationale behind the content and methodology of the programme. It will also be an opportunity for them to network, talk about and discuss this work.

The conference will be opened by Mitchel McLoughlin and addressed by Tony Catney, myself and others.