Category - peacemaking

We won't forget you, Harry Patch

Symon Hill — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:07:59 +0000

This is the first November since the death of the “last Tommy”, Harry Patch. But Patch regarded Remembrance Day as "just show business". We can honour his memory by recognising that it's time to change the way that we remember.

Reimagining Remembrance

Kate Guthrie — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 09:46:47 +0000

Remembrance Day needs to be re-imagined to make it more inclusive, more truthful and more meaningful for future generations, says this report. This would include an honest acknowledgement that some did “die in vain”, an end to “selective remembrance”, a positive stress on peacemaking, and making Armistice Day a bank holiday. The report follows the death of the 'last Tommy', Harry Patch from World War 1, who sadly described current patterns of Remembrance Day as “just show business”. Remembrance has been ‘cheapened’ by a failure to back up words with action, particularly when it comes to successive Government’s care for war veterans, but also the lack of resources put into peacebuilding. The report traces the development of Britain’s remembrance tradition and makes a series of proposals about how Remembrance Day might be updated and made more accessible. It also includes reflection on the meaning and practice of 'memory', not least from a Christian theological standpoint.

Kate Guthrie

Writing peace out of the script

Simon Barrow — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:31:01 +0100

What are the opportunities and constraints involved in highlighting non-violent interventions in situations of conflict for the general media? Civil society organizations, academic institutions, faith groups and peace workers are regularly involved in conflict transformation work, and in direct interventions to challenge violence and injustice. While the role of the military is regularly profiled and even celebrated, the contribution of those who act without weapons or contracts is usually overlooked. In part, this is because the nature of peace work is often sensitive and requires a degree of ‘under the radar’ operation. But it also happens because of lack of wider understanding and knowledge of non-violent interventions, and because such interventions do not fit the dominant ‘news narrative’ around conflict. This becomes particularly evident in times of crisis. Here we present a short case study of working with the wider media response to the 2005-6 ‘Iraq hostage crisis’ (as it became known), involving four members of a short-term Christian Peacemaker Teams delegation in Baghdad.

Simon Barrow

Looking at what truly makes for a just peace

Timothy Seidel — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 10:06:57 +0100

Peace in its deepest, thickest, most holistic and most biblical form always challenges the status quo which maintains the structures of violence that benefit the powerful and privileged, says Timothy Seidel.

Time for a bishop to the 'unarmed forces'

Press Office — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 15:59:14 +0100

Following the announcement by the Church of England of a new bishop to the armed forces, the think-tank Ekklesia is suggesting that it is time there was also a bishop to the 'unarmed forces'.

‘Become a shining light’ Kenyan peace activist tells London youth

agency reporter — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 08:05:24 +0100

A Kenyan youth activist from Africa’s biggest slum spoke to over 200 young people in Hendon, North London at the weekend, calling on them to ‘become a shining light’ for their generation.

Christian Peacemaker Teams seeks more recruits from the UK

staff writers — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 10:13:45 +0100

Christian Peacemaker Teams, an international agency that seeks to 'get in the way' of war and oppression in conflict zones across the world, is seeking more volunteers from Britain, Ireland and mainland Europe.

Global action week seeks peace with justice in Israel-Palestine

agency reporter — Thu, 28 May 2009 08:25:40 +0100

A wide range of events will form the World Week for Peace in Palestine Israel, 4-10 June. Churches and related organizations in over 20 countries are taking part. The week is about prayer, education and action to end to the 60-year conflict.

War resisters and peacemakers are still harassed, WCC study shows

agency reporter — Thu, 14 May 2009 09:00:58 +0100

In spite of a global trend to better recognize the right to conscientious objection – which is marked with an International Day on 15 May – those who refuse military service are often discriminated against, persecuted, punished and imprisoned says a new study

Mennonites back peacemakers in India's troubled Orissa state

agency reporter — Thu, 07 May 2009 09:47:01 +0100

In the wake of widespread violence against Christians in India's Orissa state, the North American relief, development and peace agency Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) is helping to provide training to peacemakers in the region.