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United Reformed Church |
NewsletterVol. 7 no. 3 |
Just Peace with LoveKeynote Address by Revd John Johansen-Berg |
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In Zimbabwe there is not a war but there is certainly not peace. In Israel and Palestine we see injustice, conflict and killing, preventing peace. What about India? It attained independence sixty years ago and prides itself on being a democracy. Surely it is a nation at peace within itself, though there may be ongoing tensions in relation to its neighbour, Pakistan. Look more closely and you will see in India a situation which undermines true peace. Local press reports by a noted scientist and journalist, Devinder Sharma, explained that India, which had a self-sustaining agriculture for generations, is now plunged into a crisis. The change came with a promised green revolution. International economic agencies, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Trade Organization (WTO) commended a change to cash crops. The Indian Government agreed to the change and also began to set up Special Economic Zones (SEZ) for industry. The effect on the rural community has been devastating. Farmers can no longer rely on self-seeding, using the seeds from one crop for the next sowing; instead they have to buy expensive patented seeds. They can no longer use fertilizer collected on the farm; they have to buy costly special fertilizer. The resulting debts for farmers led many to commit suicide, first in the Punjab, then in Maharashtra; the deaths ran into hundreds. The Times in London gave a focus to this story on July 3, 2006, when it reported that distressed farmers in Vidarbha, the north–east region of Maharashtra, were killing themselves as cotton prices fell and onerous loans increased. The report added that some estimates put the number of dead since 2001 at close to 10,000. Clearly peacemaking includes action on situations such as this. Part of my response has been to suggest the formation in March 2006 of VIA (Village India Aid) as a project of the Community for Reconciliation. Our aim is to fund some supportive projects such as a Water Harvesting Project in four villages and, more especially, to work for systemic change by representations to Governments and international economic agencies. Clearly India needs to develop economically but it can be done with a balance between agriculture and industry, localisation and globalisation, traditional and modern methods. |
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When Jesus came down from the hills to the plain, he was faced with a large number of people, many of whom had come seeking healing and help. He healed many of various physical and mental ailments but he also challenged them by his teaching. “Love your enemies; do good to those who hate you…Give to everyone who asks for something, and when someone takes what is yours, do not ask for it back. Do for others just what you want them to do for you….. Give to others, and God will give to you. … The measure you use for others is the one that God will use for you.” (Luke 6.) Peacemaking is practical and responds to crisis. The challenge expressed by Moses still remains for Jew, Christian, Muslim and other people of goodwill: “Today I am giving you a choice between good and evil, between life and death….choose life….” (Deut. 30.) For the sake of future generations it is imperative that we make the right choice. John Johansen-Berg is founder and currently International Director of the Community for Reconciliation (www.cfrbarnesclose.co.uk. He is Chair of the Fellowship of Reconciliation and of the Living Spirituality Network of CTBI and is a patron of the URCPF. He led two Pilgrimages of Reconciliation to the Holy Land and is the author of Prayers of the Way and Prayers for Pilgrims. |
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Letter to the Editor |
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It might not be suitable to quote from for your Newsletter. So may I entrust it to you to circulate to anyone in the Peace Fellowship who might find it interesting and of value.* |
Juliet C Brittain, Regent Square U.R.C. |
Conference ReportPeace History: encouragement and warnings | |
The Conference was held in The Imperial War Museum on 13th-14th April. Peter van den Dungen from Bradford University spoke about Bertha von Suttner, who was convinced that peace had to be imposed “from the top down”. Alfred Nobel donated money to her peace meetings and bequeathed the Peace Prize, which Bertha herself won in 1906. Verdiana Grossi from Geneva University discussed Hodgson Pratt, whose work involved self-determination in India, the Co-operative Movement and Working Men’s clubs in the UK, the League for Peace and Freedom and the International Peace Bureau. He also contributed important ideas about peace and justice. Abdul Ghaffar Khan, a Muslim follower of Gandhi, was celebrated by Shirin Shah of the Bradford Peace Museum. Khan was attacked as anti-Muslim, though he held strongly that non-violence accorded with the highest values of Islam. His spiritual identification with Gandhi helped him to eradicate anger from his heart and to use anger control as a power to move the world. He attended the Muslim League Conference at Aggra and the Congress of India. Joseph Fahay from Manhattan College, New York, gave a talk on Civilian Resistance to the First World War in the US. This came from, among others, the historic Peace Churches, Roman Catholics, atheists and communists. The administration responded with Acts against Espionage and Sedition, concentration camps and a loyalty oath. The League of Nations and the Briand-Kellogg Pact were presented by Terry Charman from the Imperial War Museum. The former was set up immediately after the Great War and resolved several disputes between the Wars. |
Kate Hudson's talk on the World Government Movement began with the optimism of a new world created out of the ruins of the old. Eventually it had 15,000 members but it vanished with the coming of the Cold War, the Korean War and NATO. We should be encouraged by the open minds of its founders but be aware of the reality of engaging with political balance, Western assumptions and liberation struggles. Guido Grunewald from the German section of War Resistors International presented a history of conscientious objection. From its beginnings with Tolstoy and Dutch Christian anarchism it experienced both successes and setbacks, achieving international recognition with the Universal Charter, the Council of Europe, the UN Human Rights Commission and the European Parliament. Clive Barrett from the Peace Museum in Bradford gave an illustrated history of art working for peace. Lessons drawn from the talks included the need for fair and reasonable foreign policy, transcending difference, role models, visionaries and hard work, peace museums, history books, mass movements, leaders with organisation and energy, conscientious background, people educated in peace and non-violence, funding and reform for the UN for conventions on cultural diversity and global conscientiousness. We must never grow weary as our grief is magnified. Children must be our teachers. We need to look at our local peace heroes and heroines. How about a make do and mend Trident? Art is an energy source and there is energy in the women's movement. |
TV review — Edwardians in Colour (BBC4) |
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Convinced that universal peace was possible only through communication, understanding and co-operation between peoples, he funded travelling scholarships for young people and in 1909 began his ‘Archives of the Planet’. This was a photographic record of ordinary people all over the world, sadly cut short by his financial ruin in the crash of 1929. He sent out photographers using the recently invented “autochrome” colour process, |
If you have a chance to see repeats of the BBC4 programmes (eventually perhaps on BBC2), I warmly recommend them. Otherwise, put “Albert Kahn” banker into Google and prepare to be amazed and moved. T.C. |
In the NewsContact the newsletter editor if you would like more details on any item |
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Dates for your Diary: |
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10 - 13 Jul: Conference of the Modern Churchpeople’s Union: Violence — a stubborn pandemic. Contact conference@modchurchunion.org, 0161 633 3132. 10 - 15 Jul: International Women’s Peace Conference. The purpose is to empower peacemakers by teaching peace skills, such as mediation, negotiation and communication. For more information, visit: www.womenspeaceconference.org 20 - 22 Jul: Called to be Peacemakers. Conference; National Justice & Peace Network. Hayes Conference Centre - Swanwick, Derbyshire; 020 7901 4864, Administrator on www.justice-and-peace.org.uk. 6 Aug: Hiroshima Day. 9 Aug: Nagasaki Day. 8 Sep: Empowerment Nonviolence Training Programme 2007. Turning the Tide, Friends House, 173 Euston Road , London NW1 2BJ . 020 7663 1064/1061. stevew@quaker.org.uk, www.turning-the-tide.org 21 Sep: International Day of (Prayer for) Peace. 12 Oct: MANA concert in St James's Church Piccadilly London W1; The MANA Chamber Orchestra |
21-28 Oct: One World Week All Together Now. One World Week, PO Box 2555 , Reading , RG1 4XW 0118 939 4933. 24 Oct: United Nations Day. 24-30 Oct: Disarmament Week 11 Nov: Remembrance Day. First Sunday after is Remembrance Sunday. 29 Nov: International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. www.un.org/depts/dhl/palestinian/ 1 Dec: Prisoners for Peace Day. 2 Dec: International Day for the Abolition of Slavery. 10 Dec: Human Rights Day. If you wish to raise any issue, please address your comment or question to Andrew Jack c/o the Church and Society office. |
Your contribution to the newsletter is needed! Letters, book reviews, devotional pieces, poems, reports, cartoons, all are welcome. Also please let us know of any peace actions, vigils, correspondence with MPs etc you have been involved in. Deadline for the next issue: |
Letters and other material for the newsletter can be sent to the editor (Tony Compton):
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United Reformed Church Peace Fellowship — part of Church and Society. |
Revd. Kate Compston Ms Gabrielle Cox Revd John Johansen-Berg Revd. Dr. Fred Kaan Revd. John Reardon Revd. Roberta Rominger |
Convenor and Secretary: Mr Andrew Jack Treasurer: Ms Wendy Cooper NCPO representative: Revd. Hazel Barkham Revd Sîan Collins Mrs Anne Lewitt Mrs Anne Parker Revd Diana Townsend |
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Opinions expressed in articles in this Newsletter do not necessarily reflect the official policy of the United Reformed Church or its constituent parts. |