Despite the terrible start in Gaza and other endemic conflicts, governments committed to shared security are set to reach an historic milestone on nuclear free zones this year, says Jonathan Frerichs

With Israel threatening to escalate its military action in Gaza, Patrick Kelly, Catholic Archbishop of Liverpool and vice president of the Bishops' Conference has called for an alternative to more violence.

Peace is a way of life, says the Rev Dr Geiko Müller-Fahrenholz, and it is the mission of the churches to bring up new generations of Christians to live out God's peace in all aspects of their lives.

While all aid workers including U.N. staff, on the orders of the Sri Lankan authorities, withdrew from the Vanni region which is held by Tamil rebels, the pastors decided to stay.

Trauma and bitterness are among the challenges Sri Lankan churches must face in promoting peace and reconciliation as the island nation is in the middle of an intense war, a World Council of Churches delegation has learnt.

A Catholic priest who lives and ministers in London began a short prison sentence last week, after he refused to pay a fine following a peace protest which was ruled to have broken public order restrictions.