Snakes in Belfast

A conflict resolution lesson

Tutor: Kori Blaisdale

Students: Ewa Higwater (Poland), Sukhrob, Anatoly (Russia), Denny

There are snakes in Belfast. All the tourists coming to Belfast should be warned. Well, of course it is not true. It was just another lesson with Kori. Today is Saint Patrick’s Day. Apparently St. Patrick drove snakes out of Ireland. Based on this legend, the task of the lesson was to rid Belfast of snakes with or without the help of St. Patrick. There is a fee for his services… Everyone in the class got its own role and was to participate in a discussion. The meeting took place in a town hall of Belfast.    We were supposed to reach a consensus (agreement) on what we are going to do. The roles given were; a politician, a school teacher, a doctor, an animal activist and a biologist. Kori took on a role of an environmental activist.

‘Kill them all’…..said the doctor we don’t have any antidote for their poison!’

‘I'm outraged!!!’, answered Kori angrily, ‘you want to wipe out the whole species?’ I acted as a politician, who needs to be polite to everyone (so he can be elected again) and who needs money for the Belfast schools. So my idea was to set up a conservation area and keep the snakes there. Of course it would be opened to public for a small fee…)))

‘It would be better to let them be free as they can act as natural pest controllers’, said the teacher, and a few people agreed with him….

‘Right now we are a relatively rat free city’…..was Koris response…. I tried to elaborate more on the Conservation Area idea, but ….

Kori was adding the fuel to the flame…’how are you going to feed them? Are you planning to roll up your sleeves and go out and catch all the rats?!’

‘True’, I thought, ‘but we could employ some people to feed and take care of the snakes. They could catch the rodents using cunning traps….’ hmmm….creating jobs for the unemployed….YES!!.... that would earn me more votes in the next election!’

Ewa (the biologist), being the right person in the right time and place came up with a great idea….’we as scientists will develop a snake repellent, so people wouldn't get bitten and snakes could stay free…’

The outcome of the meeting was;

1.       Develop a snake repellent

2.       Set up a conservation area

3.       Control the snake population by controlling their breeding

So we wouldn't need St. Patrick’s services at the end of the day. That’s great, we, as the city of Belfast wouldn't have to pay him any fee and can use the money otherwise….)))