One of the earlier entries on this blog was about the Conscientious Objectors day events around the world. Last week, I notice, was the fourth year that the UN has marked "UN Peacekeepers’ Day". It reports that:
"More peacekeepers died in the service of the UN in 2005 than in any other year in the last decade. While performing their official duties in difficult and dangerous circumstances, 124 peacekeepers from 46 countries lost their lives to violence, disease and accidents. A
further 32 have fallen in the line of duty so far in 2006."
and
"There are currently more than 72,000 “blue helmets” and 15,000 civilians serving around the world in the Organization’s ever more multidimensional and complex peacekeeping operations."
Quakers will vary in levels of support for military action. Nearly all will have opposed the Iraq invasion and occupation, but many will also be sympathetic to the military playing a peace-keeping role.
Meanwhile, notice has come through of the second Forum for Non-Violence , to be held in London over 21-23 July, with QPSW's Turning the Tide as one of the promoting organisations. The aims of the forum as long and wordy, but in brief:
1) To promote the ethic and practise of active non-violence as the only valid methodology of social and political action for the present time
2) To promote the relationship between individuals and groups working in the field of non-violence and
3) Establish permanent contact with those groups and individuals with the interest of jointly developing and organising activities of the forum.
This year's forum - entitled "UK Forum for non-violence - Dialogue for Action" and is advertised as ...
"A weekend of presentations, workshops, film showings, interchange among groups and individuals, etc., all related to the theme of non-violence: an opportunity for people working in the field of non-violence to hear each other's aims and activities and to create closer ties for the future. Cost £25/£20."
