Thursday, 8 March 2007
Leeds Quakers say it with .... brollies
A few links showing Quakers from Leeds and beyond before and during their blockade at Faslane at the beginning of the month. It was a tough going weather-wise, I gather, with cold wet wind and rain. The umbrellas served at least two useful purposes, I imagine, and the various rainbow-coloured banners etc must have helped brighten dampened spirits. Pictures and reports ... at Indymedia, Hull Campaigns for Change and Leeds Coalition Against War
Trident vote next Wednesday
Most readers will probably know that the vote in the UK parliament on whether to replace the Trident Nuclear Weapons system with more of the nasty things is to take place next week. Much lobbying and demonstrating has been going on for the last few months and Wednesday will be no exception. So here's an un-ashamed plug for the event in London in which Quakers are going to be involved....====
Inter-Faith Vigil
on Wednesday 14th March: Trident Vote Day 5 – 6 pm in Parliament Square Central London
Faith-based communities are invited to join together in silent witness on the day of the House of Commons vote on the future of Britain’s nuclear weapons.
There will also be other events and actions taking place on the day of the vote. For more information on these, please visit: www.tridentvoteday.org.uk
The vigil is supported by: Anglican Pacifist Fellowship, Christian CND, Fellowship of Reconciliation, Pax Christi and Quaker Peace & Social Witness.
====
We are urged not to give up if the vote does go in favour of replacement, however. The tide of public opinion seems to be changing and the actual implementation of policy is a long-term issue that can be challenged every step of the way.
And don't forget to get your copy of the QPSW poster at the beginning of this blog, available to download from here and to get in hard copy from here.
Books
I went to the radical bookshop in Liverpool ' News from Nowhere' yesterday, to collect a selection of books for a stall at the conference we're running this weekend. It was a delight to find the shop in such good health, apparently, when so many others of its type around the country have not survived. I can heartily recommend a visit in person, or to their website if you can't get there. Very nice atmosphere, good selection of materials and easily accessible in the city centre.
Friday, 16 February 2007
Growing challenges, many opportunities
This last week or so has seen a range of reports that envisage a different way forward, but these are all fairly grand sweep kind of visions, beyond the capacity of the 'ordinary person' to do much about. They are important, nonetheless, and we should continue to promote these alternatives.
In ' Britain’s 21st-century defence' Paul Rogers on the openDemocracy website focuses on two crucial bits of majory military hardware spending the UK government might be making a commitment to shortly - including of course, Trident.
He concludes: "Instead of a restricted outlook that sees matter purely in terms of defence of the realm, a review could embrace a much more global perspective, recognising that entirely new security thinking will be needed to face 21st-century challenges. With worldwide socio-economic marginalisation and environmental constraints such as climate change likely to be the real global-security issues over the next decades, this key decision might just open up space for some fresh approaches to sustainable security"
Similary, Steve Schofield in Oceans of Work: Arms Conversion Revisited, a BASIC report , he writes of the UK in general and Barrow in Furness in particular - also the place where Trident subs were built and apparently hoping for orders for their replacements... "The UK can make a difference through disarmament and through an arms conversion programme that addresses the a broader security framework on peacekeeping, climate change and sustainable development. Or it can continue on its present course as a major appendage to the US miilitary. A small town in Cumbria may well symbolise those future paths to peace or to war."
Tomorrow an interfaith group, including someone from American Friends Service Committee, will be on a delegation to talk to Iranian religious and political leaders to try to develop a more fruitful dialogue than the US government seems to want at the moment.
And in "Time to Talk", a report from 'Crisis Action', we read: "The UK has an important role to play in fostering a climate of pragmatism. It is recommended that the UK government continue to give full backing to the diplomatic process whilst directly addressing the need for full and direct negotiations between Iran and the US administration. The time available should be used to build confidence on both sides and the UK has a crucial role to play in supporting that process..."
Meanwhile, whilst we get to grips with the UNICEF report that's labelled the UK the worst for child-wellbeing, and struggle to understand the killing of teenagers in south London, we are reminded that paying attention to the detail of human relationships, valuing each human for the positive potential they have, is the basis of a peaceful society.
The Fellowship of Reconciliation in England has produced a poster with QPSW simply called 'Build Peace' with snapshots of - mostly - young people holding a white board on which they have written their own thoughts about building peace. FoR say "Far too often we feel helpless or even hopeless in the face of the amount of violence and injustice in the world. Yet there are millions of people all around the world who are working to build peace locally, nationally & internationally.
All of us need encouragement and ideas to help us build peace
How do you think we should build peace…?" and they invite contributions.
Photos from the poster and others can be viewed in a slide show on FoR's website at:
http://www.for.org.uk/buildpeace
Here is just a tiny sample:
Build Peace - Share your toys
Build peace - forgiveness, not revenge
Build peace - Build community
In ' Britain’s 21st-century defence' Paul Rogers on the openDemocracy website focuses on two crucial bits of majory military hardware spending the UK government might be making a commitment to shortly - including of course, Trident.
He concludes: "Instead of a restricted outlook that sees matter purely in terms of defence of the realm, a review could embrace a much more global perspective, recognising that entirely new security thinking will be needed to face 21st-century challenges. With worldwide socio-economic marginalisation and environmental constraints such as climate change likely to be the real global-security issues over the next decades, this key decision might just open up space for some fresh approaches to sustainable security"
Similary, Steve Schofield in Oceans of Work: Arms Conversion Revisited, a BASIC report , he writes of the UK in general and Barrow in Furness in particular - also the place where Trident subs were built and apparently hoping for orders for their replacements... "The UK can make a difference through disarmament and through an arms conversion programme that addresses the a broader security framework on peacekeeping, climate change and sustainable development. Or it can continue on its present course as a major appendage to the US miilitary. A small town in Cumbria may well symbolise those future paths to peace or to war."
Tomorrow an interfaith group, including someone from American Friends Service Committee, will be on a delegation to talk to Iranian religious and political leaders to try to develop a more fruitful dialogue than the US government seems to want at the moment.
And in "Time to Talk", a report from 'Crisis Action', we read: "The UK has an important role to play in fostering a climate of pragmatism. It is recommended that the UK government continue to give full backing to the diplomatic process whilst directly addressing the need for full and direct negotiations between Iran and the US administration. The time available should be used to build confidence on both sides and the UK has a crucial role to play in supporting that process..."
Meanwhile, whilst we get to grips with the UNICEF report that's labelled the UK the worst for child-wellbeing, and struggle to understand the killing of teenagers in south London, we are reminded that paying attention to the detail of human relationships, valuing each human for the positive potential they have, is the basis of a peaceful society.
The Fellowship of Reconciliation in England has produced a poster with QPSW simply called 'Build Peace' with snapshots of - mostly - young people holding a white board on which they have written their own thoughts about building peace. FoR say "Far too often we feel helpless or even hopeless in the face of the amount of violence and injustice in the world. Yet there are millions of people all around the world who are working to build peace locally, nationally & internationally.
All of us need encouragement and ideas to help us build peace
How do you think we should build peace…?" and they invite contributions.
Photos from the poster and others can be viewed in a slide show on FoR's website at:
http://www.for.org.uk/buildpeace
Here is just a tiny sample:
Build Peace - Share your toys
Build peace - forgiveness, not revenge
Build peace - Build community
Thursday, 1 February 2007
News from Birmingham
Whilst most of the nation's press is focussing on the arrest of 9 people in Birmingham in connection with some sort of terrorist plot, The Independent carries an interesting and hopeful piece about a school in the same city:
The Jewish school where half the pupils are Muslim
The Jewish school where half the pupils are Muslim
Wednesday, 31 January 2007
Yours anxiously...
'Yours anxiously', one correspondent signed themselves in a letter expressing concerns about the apparent drift by the US towards military action against Iran. A number of journalist and commentators seem to share that anxiety...
In The Guardian today. Simon Tisdall writes:
"US officials in Baghdad and Washington are expected to unveil a secret intelligence "dossier" this week detailing evidence of Iran's alleged complicity in attacks on American troops in Iraq. The move, uncomfortably echoing Downing Street's dossier debacle in the run-up to the 2003 Iraq invasion, is one more sign that the Bush administration is building a case for war."
and on the same Guardian website, Ian Traynor and Jonathan Steele report a growing rift between Europe and the US on the issue:
"... diplomats in Brussels and those dealing with the dispute in Vienna say a fissure has opened up between the US and western Europe on three crucial aspects - the military option; how and how quickly to hit Iran with economic sanctions already decreed by the UN security council; and how to deal with Russian opposition to action against Iran through the security council.
"There's anxiety everywhere you turn," said a diplomat familiar with the work of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna. "The Europeans are very concerned the shit could hit the fan."
What to do?
Kathy Kelly, writing on Common Dreams ...:
Now another engagement looms. The Bush administration may try to wed U.S. people to yet another war, this time against Iran. If so, that would be joyful news for the controlling interests of large corporations that benefit from U.S. warfare and U.S. dominance over oil resources in this part of the world. We who claim the right to free speech, far beyond the imprisoning borders of Iraq, should join our strengths and wills to visit every congressional and senate office over the coming weeks, exercising nonviolent civil disobedience to cut funding for the wasteful, cruel, illegal and immoral U.S. addiction to war. (See www.vcnv.org to learn more about joining such a campaign.)
and Joe Volk, writing for the US Friends Committee on National Legislation:
"Peace is possible, if we work for it. Fortunately, we may have help. Some Members of Congress from both major political parties have begun to speak out against the Bush administration´s new march to war. At last count, FCNL has located four pieces of legislation introduced in the last few weeks that would require the president to obtain congressional approval before using force against Iran. (We hope but cannot assume that Congress would not vote for the use of force against Iran.) Passage of such a measure would be an important step toward preventing an expansion of the war. A second important step would be for the president to authorize direct diplomatic contacts between the U.S. and Iran and name a special envoy capable of the task.
As the bipartisan Iraq Study Group report noted, Iran could play an important role in the stabilization and rebuilding of Iraq.
...Intensive diplomacy and smart politics, not threats of war and war, are the tools to repair the damaged relations between Iran and the U.S. Peaceful prevention of a war with Iran could advance U.S. national interests and global security."
From the UK perspective, a CND briefing [pdf file] includes the following:
"CND calls for all of the nuclear weapons states to immediately undertake tangible steps towards eliminating their nuclear arsenals, as agreed by the signatories of the NPT. Such a confidence-building measure would demonstrate to Iran that the demands of the international community are not one-sided and that all countries are dedicated to the total elimination of nuclear weapons.
The international community and the IAEA must act even-handedly. It is not enough to sound the alarm on so-called rogue states while existing nuclear states defy NPT requirements and are not taken to task.
Attack or threat of attack can only increase the likelihood of nuclear proliferation, as states that feel under threat may come to the conclusion that they have a ‘deterrent’ need for nuclear weapons."
===
Let's hope another way can yet be found, otherwise we may be writing and watching anxiously for some time to come.
In The Guardian today. Simon Tisdall writes:
"US officials in Baghdad and Washington are expected to unveil a secret intelligence "dossier" this week detailing evidence of Iran's alleged complicity in attacks on American troops in Iraq. The move, uncomfortably echoing Downing Street's dossier debacle in the run-up to the 2003 Iraq invasion, is one more sign that the Bush administration is building a case for war."
and on the same Guardian website, Ian Traynor and Jonathan Steele report a growing rift between Europe and the US on the issue:
"... diplomats in Brussels and those dealing with the dispute in Vienna say a fissure has opened up between the US and western Europe on three crucial aspects - the military option; how and how quickly to hit Iran with economic sanctions already decreed by the UN security council; and how to deal with Russian opposition to action against Iran through the security council.
"There's anxiety everywhere you turn," said a diplomat familiar with the work of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna. "The Europeans are very concerned the shit could hit the fan."
What to do?
Kathy Kelly, writing on Common Dreams ...:
Now another engagement looms. The Bush administration may try to wed U.S. people to yet another war, this time against Iran. If so, that would be joyful news for the controlling interests of large corporations that benefit from U.S. warfare and U.S. dominance over oil resources in this part of the world. We who claim the right to free speech, far beyond the imprisoning borders of Iraq, should join our strengths and wills to visit every congressional and senate office over the coming weeks, exercising nonviolent civil disobedience to cut funding for the wasteful, cruel, illegal and immoral U.S. addiction to war. (See www.vcnv.org to learn more about joining such a campaign.)
and Joe Volk, writing for the US Friends Committee on National Legislation:
"Peace is possible, if we work for it. Fortunately, we may have help. Some Members of Congress from both major political parties have begun to speak out against the Bush administration´s new march to war. At last count, FCNL has located four pieces of legislation introduced in the last few weeks that would require the president to obtain congressional approval before using force against Iran. (We hope but cannot assume that Congress would not vote for the use of force against Iran.) Passage of such a measure would be an important step toward preventing an expansion of the war. A second important step would be for the president to authorize direct diplomatic contacts between the U.S. and Iran and name a special envoy capable of the task.
As the bipartisan Iraq Study Group report noted, Iran could play an important role in the stabilization and rebuilding of Iraq.
...Intensive diplomacy and smart politics, not threats of war and war, are the tools to repair the damaged relations between Iran and the U.S. Peaceful prevention of a war with Iran could advance U.S. national interests and global security."
From the UK perspective, a CND briefing [pdf file] includes the following:
"CND calls for all of the nuclear weapons states to immediately undertake tangible steps towards eliminating their nuclear arsenals, as agreed by the signatories of the NPT. Such a confidence-building measure would demonstrate to Iran that the demands of the international community are not one-sided and that all countries are dedicated to the total elimination of nuclear weapons.
The international community and the IAEA must act even-handedly. It is not enough to sound the alarm on so-called rogue states while existing nuclear states defy NPT requirements and are not taken to task.
Attack or threat of attack can only increase the likelihood of nuclear proliferation, as states that feel under threat may come to the conclusion that they have a ‘deterrent’ need for nuclear weapons."
===
Let's hope another way can yet be found, otherwise we may be writing and watching anxiously for some time to come.
Friday, 26 January 2007
Sad loss
News from the Ekklesia website:
Noted Iraqi scholar and peacemaker assassinated
-26/01/07
The Church World Service has expressed its sadness at the apparently targeted killing of noted Iraqi peace and reconciliation advocate and trauma-healing specialist Dr. Alharith Abdulhameed Hassan.
Colleagues at humanitarian agency Church World Service called his death a 'tragic loss'.
Dr. Alharith, a 56-year-old Iraqi Muslim and professor of psychiatry at the University of Baghdad, was shot while travelling to work.
..... Alharith's widow wrote: "Please, my friends remember Alharith in your prayers as a man of love, who continuously called for "love, peace, forgiveness and the power of knowledge."
Noted Iraqi scholar and peacemaker assassinated
-26/01/07
The Church World Service has expressed its sadness at the apparently targeted killing of noted Iraqi peace and reconciliation advocate and trauma-healing specialist Dr. Alharith Abdulhameed Hassan.
Colleagues at humanitarian agency Church World Service called his death a 'tragic loss'.
Dr. Alharith, a 56-year-old Iraqi Muslim and professor of psychiatry at the University of Baghdad, was shot while travelling to work.
..... Alharith's widow wrote: "Please, my friends remember Alharith in your prayers as a man of love, who continuously called for "love, peace, forgiveness and the power of knowledge."
Thursday, 25 January 2007
Global Peace march - coming soon and open to all
News from AVAAZ.org:
... "Hundreds of thousands of Americans will march to their capital city Washington DC on Saturday 27 January. It could be the rebirth of the US peace movement. People round the world - let’s join the march with our own global internet protest! Last week, our ad told decision-makers in Congress how strong world opposition is to Bush’s escalation in Iraq."
This Saturday, Avaaz supporters at the US march will carry banners and country placards announcing how many of us from each nation are joining the marching. Every signature will be counted on the banners! Let’s raise a global voice for a real plan to end this war. Let’s make those numbers big. Time is short. Join the global peace march and tell your friends today!"
... consider yourselves told!
... "Hundreds of thousands of Americans will march to their capital city Washington DC on Saturday 27 January. It could be the rebirth of the US peace movement. People round the world - let’s join the march with our own global internet protest! Last week, our ad told decision-makers in Congress how strong world opposition is to Bush’s escalation in Iraq."
This Saturday, Avaaz supporters at the US march will carry banners and country placards announcing how many of us from each nation are joining the marching. Every signature will be counted on the banners! Let’s raise a global voice for a real plan to end this war. Let’s make those numbers big. Time is short. Join the global peace march and tell your friends today!"
... consider yourselves told!
Web site updates and conference information
I've been spending a bit of time during the week trying to tidy up our main website, and in particular the calendar, news and action and links pages. Hope these are helpful - we seem to get plenty of visits still.
Also added a page advertising the conference we're putting on in March on Tackling Racism: Building Peace. This should be a very stimulating event - please register if you're planning to attend and pass the information onto others.
Also added a page advertising the conference we're putting on in March on Tackling Racism: Building Peace. This should be a very stimulating event - please register if you're planning to attend and pass the information onto others.
Wednesday, 24 January 2007
Matrix of peace building
Just come across information about a collaborative competition being co-ordinated by 'Changemakers', who say of themselves:
Changemakers is an initiative of Ashoka: Innovators for the Public that focuses on the rapidly growing world of social innovation. It provides solutions and resources needed to help everyone become a changemaker and presents compelling stories that explore the fundamental principles of successful social innovation around the world.
The competition is entitled : Entrepreneuring Peace On-the-ground innovations for managing conflict
A matrix of peace building has been set up as the entries (158 to date) have been coming in and voting for three prize winners will be possible online from 31 January to 14 February. The matrix itself makes interesting reading, with much food for thought about how peace can be built.
Changemakers is an initiative of Ashoka: Innovators for the Public that focuses on the rapidly growing world of social innovation. It provides solutions and resources needed to help everyone become a changemaker and presents compelling stories that explore the fundamental principles of successful social innovation around the world.
The competition is entitled : Entrepreneuring Peace On-the-ground innovations for managing conflict
A matrix of peace building has been set up as the entries (158 to date) have been coming in and voting for three prize winners will be possible online from 31 January to 14 February. The matrix itself makes interesting reading, with much food for thought about how peace can be built.
Wednesday, 20 December 2006
Westminster MPs to focus on conflict
The ministry for peace group reports:
"After many months of quiet effort, ministry for peace has secured enough support in Parliament to set up an official All-Party Parliamentary Group on Conflict Issues. The purpose of the APPG, as formally stated in the Parliamentary Register, is 'To encourage dialogue, on the basis of expert information and opinion from across the political spectrum, on issues relating to conflict; especially on the practical means to prevent, transform and resolve violent conflict.'"
They obviously see this as a significant achievment and I hope indeed that it might be so. Read more at: http://www.ministryforpeace.org/content/view/90/20/, including the list of MPs on the group.
"After many months of quiet effort, ministry for peace has secured enough support in Parliament to set up an official All-Party Parliamentary Group on Conflict Issues. The purpose of the APPG, as formally stated in the Parliamentary Register, is 'To encourage dialogue, on the basis of expert information and opinion from across the political spectrum, on issues relating to conflict; especially on the practical means to prevent, transform and resolve violent conflict.'"
They obviously see this as a significant achievment and I hope indeed that it might be so. Read more at: http://www.ministryforpeace.org/content/view/90/20/, including the list of MPs on the group.
New age?
This week I am attending two funerals of Quakers who have died in their mid 80s and 90s respectively, and was at another one a fortnight ago.
From my perspective (mid 40s), it's unusual to go to one funeral a year, let alone three in a month. The three Friends (Bob Oliver - Eccles, Alun Williams - Bolton, and John Hamilton - Liverpool) had all been conscientious objectors in their time and all three had continued to support peace initiatives right to the end. What also inspired me about them all was the fact that they continued to challenge with their incisive and independent thinking. Thanks to all three for their persistence.
I was also inspired to read about the GOATs (Golden Oldies Against Trident) contribution to Faslane 365. The statistics....
39 Blockading Groups
55 days of presence
408 arrests
4 prosecutions
285 days left
Has anyone seen the debate about Trident that the government is supposed to be organising?
From my perspective (mid 40s), it's unusual to go to one funeral a year, let alone three in a month. The three Friends (Bob Oliver - Eccles, Alun Williams - Bolton, and John Hamilton - Liverpool) had all been conscientious objectors in their time and all three had continued to support peace initiatives right to the end. What also inspired me about them all was the fact that they continued to challenge with their incisive and independent thinking. Thanks to all three for their persistence.
I was also inspired to read about the GOATs (Golden Oldies Against Trident) contribution to Faslane 365. The statistics....
39 Blockading Groups
55 days of presence
408 arrests
4 prosecutions
285 days left
Has anyone seen the debate about Trident that the government is supposed to be organising?
Rational fools?
A couple of nights ago Norman Kember and James Loney were interviewd by Jeremy Paxman on BBC's Newsnight programme. Norman talks about being 'rationally foolhardy' in going there in the first place, and they both talk about their wish to see restorative-style consequences, not only for their alledged kidnappers and for Saddam Hussein himself. At the moment the interview can be viewed online at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/help/3681938.stm
Friday, 24 November 2006
Wednesday, 22 November 2006
Time to call time on Trident
A new electronic petition set-up has appeared on the website for No 10 (home of UK Prime Minister, Tony Blair, for those reading from another country) in the past week or so. There's one about not replacing Trident Nuclear weapons ('We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to champion the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, by not replacing the Trident nuclear weapons system.' - and it says more as well), which is still one of the most signed. There's been some scepticism about the value of such activities - he doesn't seem to be taking too much attention at the moment, for instance. But it's an indication of a body of concern at the very least. Have you signed it yet?
Timing is everything, and most timely today is a good day to see a substantial report on the matter - Worse than Irrelevant? British Nuclear Weapons in the 21st Century - by Rebecca Johnson, Nicola Butler and Stephen Pullinger. (download the PDF file ) The document runs to 80+ pages, but it does contain a helpful Executive Summary (where would we be without them). Johnson says (in a press release) ... " It is wrong and dangerous for such an important decision to be rushed through because of superficial political rivalries. We call for the government to take the time to have a comprehensive security and defence review, involving civil society and combining the perspectives of foreign affairs, defence, non-proliferation and international law." And getting to the crux of the matter, the report concludes:
"If managed effectively, denuclearising our defence policy will make Britain more secure rather than less. [my emphasis] But the conditions for sustainable non-proliferation will not materialise by themselves, particularly if some states continue to advertise nuclear weapons as valuable assets. Instead of carrying on nuclear business as usual, Britain should seize the opportunity to show the way and help to create the conditions for the global elimination of nuclear weapons, thereby reducing nuclear dangers and influencing the future direction of the nuclear non-proliferation regime."
Timing is everything, and most timely today is a good day to see a substantial report on the matter - Worse than Irrelevant? British Nuclear Weapons in the 21st Century - by Rebecca Johnson, Nicola Butler and Stephen Pullinger. (download the PDF file ) The document runs to 80+ pages, but it does contain a helpful Executive Summary (where would we be without them). Johnson says (in a press release) ... " It is wrong and dangerous for such an important decision to be rushed through because of superficial political rivalries. We call for the government to take the time to have a comprehensive security and defence review, involving civil society and combining the perspectives of foreign affairs, defence, non-proliferation and international law." And getting to the crux of the matter, the report concludes:
"If managed effectively, denuclearising our defence policy will make Britain more secure rather than less. [my emphasis] But the conditions for sustainable non-proliferation will not materialise by themselves, particularly if some states continue to advertise nuclear weapons as valuable assets. Instead of carrying on nuclear business as usual, Britain should seize the opportunity to show the way and help to create the conditions for the global elimination of nuclear weapons, thereby reducing nuclear dangers and influencing the future direction of the nuclear non-proliferation regime."
Poppies picked (or is that 'nicked'?)
The northern Quaker contribution to the Faslane 365 blockade was held over 12-13 November and decided to mark remembrance Sunday by disguising themselves as poppies - mostly white, but a few red ones amongst them as well. About 16 were arrested over the two days. Here's a photo: of arrests happening.
I notice the rota for groups joining in the blockade (at http://www.faslane365.org/en/rota) has a few gaps in it, but it's impressive how many people have committed themselves to standing, sitting, praying, singing, knitting etc outside the nuclear weapons base in some of the most unclement weather. Mind you, it hasn't got seriously cold yet, just wet and windy. Anyone for February!? Might there be some snowdrops passing through, perhaps?
I notice the rota for groups joining in the blockade (at http://www.faslane365.org/en/rota) has a few gaps in it, but it's impressive how many people have committed themselves to standing, sitting, praying, singing, knitting etc outside the nuclear weapons base in some of the most unclement weather. Mind you, it hasn't got seriously cold yet, just wet and windy. Anyone for February!? Might there be some snowdrops passing through, perhaps?
Wednesday, 18 October 2006
Time for new approaches
A piece in the Independent highlights the dramatically changed tide of opinion that leaves Bush and Blair so isolated now.
"George Bush and Tony Blair were looking more isolated than ever last night as the ground shifted further under their strategy of remaining in Iraq "until the job is done".
The President and the Prime Minister were left clinging to the dream of establishing a lasting democracy in Iraq as their advisers urged them to look for a new, more realistic, exit strategy."
Even John Reid was yesterday quoted as recognising that UK and US foreign policy might in some way be contributing to unpeace in our land.
Jonathan Freedland, meanwhile, writing in The Guardian tries to understand what it must feel like to be a Muslim in Britain today, from his perspective as a Jew.
"Right now," he concludes "we're getting it badly wrong - bombarding Muslims with pressure and prejudice, laying one social problem after another at their door. I try to imagine how I would feel if this rainstorm of headlines substituted the word "Jew" for "Muslim": Jews creating apartheid, Jews whose strange customs and costume should be banned. I wouldn't just feel frightened. I would be looking for my passport."
Not sure whether our own government is remotely interested in the activities of Quaker peace organisations at the moment, but we do know that US Quakers are amongst those about whom data has been collected for their peace organising activities. The administration there won't be too impressed, I imagine, by the recent encounter by a representative of American Friends Service Committee with the Iranian president
Reflecting on the meeting, they write... "every dialogue is a chance to bear witness to what one believes and lives by as the truth, an opportunity to connect what we believe within our deepest selves with what we know experientially, and to risk hearing respectfully the deepest life-truths that animate others, even opponents and adversaries" .
Another US Quaker body, the Friends Committee on National Legislation, meanwhile urges diplomatic approaches to mend the non-proliferation regime rather than threatening and ratcheting up the confrontation.
Read, for instance: "Enforcement of UN Security Council Resolution1718 and the NPT, through punitive measures such as focused sanctions, is important, but only as a prelude to resuming multilateral talks and beginning direct bilateral talks between the U.S. and North Korea to achieve voluntary compliance. We do not know whether the talks will lead to a denuclearization of the Korean peninsula. However, talking offers the best hope for the people of the Korean peninsula and the region. The nuclear test explosion and possible future test explosions by North Korea constitutes a serious threat to peace, but it is not a crisis. Government leaders have ample time to talk, to negotiate, and to arrive at a deal. War is not the answer."
"George Bush and Tony Blair were looking more isolated than ever last night as the ground shifted further under their strategy of remaining in Iraq "until the job is done".
The President and the Prime Minister were left clinging to the dream of establishing a lasting democracy in Iraq as their advisers urged them to look for a new, more realistic, exit strategy."
Even John Reid was yesterday quoted as recognising that UK and US foreign policy might in some way be contributing to unpeace in our land.
Jonathan Freedland, meanwhile, writing in The Guardian tries to understand what it must feel like to be a Muslim in Britain today, from his perspective as a Jew.
"Right now," he concludes "we're getting it badly wrong - bombarding Muslims with pressure and prejudice, laying one social problem after another at their door. I try to imagine how I would feel if this rainstorm of headlines substituted the word "Jew" for "Muslim": Jews creating apartheid, Jews whose strange customs and costume should be banned. I wouldn't just feel frightened. I would be looking for my passport."
Not sure whether our own government is remotely interested in the activities of Quaker peace organisations at the moment, but we do know that US Quakers are amongst those about whom data has been collected for their peace organising activities. The administration there won't be too impressed, I imagine, by the recent encounter by a representative of American Friends Service Committee with the Iranian president
Reflecting on the meeting, they write... "every dialogue is a chance to bear witness to what one believes and lives by as the truth, an opportunity to connect what we believe within our deepest selves with what we know experientially, and to risk hearing respectfully the deepest life-truths that animate others, even opponents and adversaries" .
Another US Quaker body, the Friends Committee on National Legislation, meanwhile urges diplomatic approaches to mend the non-proliferation regime rather than threatening and ratcheting up the confrontation.
Read, for instance: "Enforcement of UN Security Council Resolution1718 and the NPT, through punitive measures such as focused sanctions, is important, but only as a prelude to resuming multilateral talks and beginning direct bilateral talks between the U.S. and North Korea to achieve voluntary compliance. We do not know whether the talks will lead to a denuclearization of the Korean peninsula. However, talking offers the best hope for the people of the Korean peninsula and the region. The nuclear test explosion and possible future test explosions by North Korea constitutes a serious threat to peace, but it is not a crisis. Government leaders have ample time to talk, to negotiate, and to arrive at a deal. War is not the answer."
Monday, 25 September 2006
Something else ... after the demo and Peace One Day
Not able to join the “Time to go” demonstration or Quaker vigils in Manchester, I had a look forward reports after the event. On Indymedia, one writer writes:
"Overall, the demonstration was a fantastic reflection of true public opinion, organised and executed without a (noticeable) hitch. I came away feeling empowered, yet knowing I can do more, and inspired to become more active. I imagine the tens of thousands of people who took the time to stand up and be counted, from all walks of life, cultures, religions and backgrounds, also feel the same as me."
Urging people to become more active is also the flavour of a powerful short video of Gill Hicks, survivor of the July 2005 bomb attacks in London, produced for Peace Direct. In it she says: “Everyone can find that power in themselves. Harness it to do some really difficult things. Find someone whose view you oppose and listen until you understand them. It’s about listening, talking, discussing, understanding.”
Other interesting items from Peace Direct include information about the work they’re supporting in Sudan, a quest to find new images for peace (doves don’t do it anymore, apparently) and their own new blog “Life on the Line” at http://www.peacedirectblog.typepad.com/
And people doing peace work on behalf of British Quakers write about their work in journal letters. If you’ve not yet seen them, find a selection here.
"Overall, the demonstration was a fantastic reflection of true public opinion, organised and executed without a (noticeable) hitch. I came away feeling empowered, yet knowing I can do more, and inspired to become more active. I imagine the tens of thousands of people who took the time to stand up and be counted, from all walks of life, cultures, religions and backgrounds, also feel the same as me."
===
Urging people to become more active is also the flavour of a powerful short video of Gill Hicks, survivor of the July 2005 bomb attacks in London, produced for Peace Direct. In it she says: “Everyone can find that power in themselves. Harness it to do some really difficult things. Find someone whose view you oppose and listen until you understand them. It’s about listening, talking, discussing, understanding.”
Other interesting items from Peace Direct include information about the work they’re supporting in Sudan, a quest to find new images for peace (doves don’t do it anymore, apparently) and their own new blog “Life on the Line” at http://www.peacedirectblog.typepad.com/
And people doing peace work on behalf of British Quakers write about their work in journal letters. If you’ve not yet seen them, find a selection here.
Tuesday, 19 September 2006
Demonstrating on Saturday - doing it the Quaker way
Even our own Bolton News seems to have noticed the big Stop the War / CND / British Muslim Initiative demo that's to take place in Manchester this Saturday. One local activist is quoted as saying it'll be the biggest demonstration in Manchester in 160 years. In the middle of the planned march route is Manchester Quaker Meeting House and from 12.00-1.00pm there will be a silent vigil for peace for any who wish to join that before the demo itself at 1.00pm. Don't know how easy it will be to get to the Meeting House at that time, with police, crowds etc in the are, so if it's important for you to be there, plan to get there earlier rather than later.
Peace one Day
What's in a day? There are plenty of special days and weeks this autumn, as I've noticed whilst updating the calendar on the NFPB website . One of the more prominent ones from our perspective is Peace one Day on 21 September, and I was pleased to see their updated website. If you do nothing else for that day, why not have a look at the list of suggested actions for that day and think about the one or two peace peaces you might do over the coming months, or even plan ahead for Peace One Day on 21 September 2007.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)