Fighting wars with words (From Haringey Independent)

Fighting wars with words

6:43pm Thursday 9th November 2006

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Charlie Irvine is an optimist who believes conflict between people can have benefits. NEETA DUTTA talks to him ahead of the publication of his book Cash in on Conflict

South African-born Charlie Irvine has lived in England for 13 years, eight of those in Muswell Hill, but both his accent and his approach to life are still distinctly of his native country.

Forthright and honest, he has used his experience in the field of consultancy work and his role as chairman of international charity Peace Direct to write a book, Cash in on Conflict, about the best way to exploit the differences between people for the better.

Charlie, 43, of Crawley Gardens, said: "People are so scared of facing up to things sometimes, to have a debate or say how they feel. But I've always said what I think, and I'm not scared of taking the p***, like I'm just a dumb South African and this is what I think' and that works. Differences are what make us, and we shouldn't be afraid of them."

While the initial aim of his book was to make the most of the conflicts that arise at work, he found that the relationships between family members and partners could also benefit.

He added: "It's like I might do or say something to offend you, but if you don't tell me, then I will never know and then suddenly we're not friends. All it would have taken was an honest discussion. At Christmas especially, people just bottle things up, they don't want any sort of conflict and that doesn't help at all."

The constant cheerfulness and can do' attitude of the book, which took a mere three months to write and sells itself as being an easy-to-understand practical read, could perhaps grate on some, but his enthusiasm is genuine.

He said: "I think us Africans, we do seem to have a relentless optimism. I look at the world from the perspective that anything can be done."

This attitude may stem from a childhood where anti-apartheid protests were part of daily life, and standing up for what he believed in was integral to the way he was raised.

When he was 11, he attended one of the first multi-racial schools in the country. It was one of nine different schools, not to mention the 13 different homes, he was sent to as his family travelled around the country. Such a changing environment may have contributed to his ability to adapt to situations and see both sides of any argument.

As an adult he mediated between Nelson Mandela's African National Congress party and the military. Surprisingly, he found that mediation more manageable than working in English offices.

He said: "I could see the guns and so I knew what I was dealing with. But in England it was in the boardroom, and the weapons were words. Nobody would say what they meant. The tools were cynicism and sarcasm and, to be honest, I found that harder to deal with."

He is adamant that nothing depresses him, but added: "Actually, cynicism. When people are determined to be down and just wear their cynicism like it is a badge of honour, like it is something to be proud of. What a sad life."

He founded his consultancy company Questions of Difference (QoD) in 1996, and clients include Lloyds of London, eBay, Sky and the Royal Bank of Scotland.

But it is the charity work he has funded from some of the profits that he is most proud of.

He charges no fee for work done in Northern Ireland, where his bishop father is from, where he helps young Protestants and Catholics resolve their differences.

He is also chairman of Peace Direct, which won the best new charity of the year in 2005, and is heavily involved in its activities across the world. The charity focuses on supporting grassroots peacemakers who are struggling to make a difference in areas of conflict. There are currently 19 active projects, including in places such as Sudan and Kenya.

He said: "One day I'm having a meeting with the CEO of Lloyds, and the next I'm in Ethiopia, and then the next having a quiet drink in my local, the Victoria Stag.

"And all those situations need the ability to handle conflict, in different ways."

Cash in on Conflict is published next month.

ndutta@london.newsquest.co.uk

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