Policy Areas - Peace and War

Churches delegation concerned about South Ossetia after visit problems

agency reporter — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 11:54:19 +0100

A pastoral delegation sent by the World Council of Churches to Georgia and Russia in the wake of the bitter conflict there has not been able to get safe passage to visit South Ossetia from the Georgian side of the ceasefire line.

Global churches act on communal violence in India

agency reporter — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 09:15:51 +0100

The World Council of Churches and the Lutheran World Federation have called on the Prime Minister of India requesting his intervention to end the violence in the state of Orissa. They are also backing Christian prayer and solidarity.

Peacebuilding message needs to spread to world community, says UN

Agencies — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 10:11:15 +0100

The United Nations Peacebuilding fund has been hailed for its creative work in preventing or reversing conflict. But the practice of active peacebuilding needs to be much more widely understood and backed, says a new report.

Indian government pressed for action on horrific Orissa violence

staff writers — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 09:58:51 +0100

Following a series of horrific attacks in Orissa, Indian church and human rights organisations have been keeping up pressure on the government for decisive action against militants, and are asking for world attention to the crisis.

World churches' delegation visits Russia and Georgia

agency reporter — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 11:00:00 +0100

A pastoral delegation from the World Council of Churches is visiting Russia and Georgia today. Participants will listen to churches in both countries, encourage efforts for peace and visit displaced people and church aid programmes.

Russia accused on cluster bomb use in Georgian republic

staff writers — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 10:48:17 +0100

Despite the official end of Russian military operations in Georgia, campaigners say Russia has been dropping cluster bombs on civilians in the Georgian republic - killing, wounding and spreading dangerous unexploded bomblets.

Mennonite summer camps foster practical peacemaking skills

agency reporter — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 11:36:26 +0100

The North American Mennonite relief and development agency MCC is supporting summer 'peace camps' which bring young black people together to find out more about being creative peacemakers in their neighbourhood and aas leaders.

Peace calls after wave of attacks in the Philippines

staff writers — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 10:45:23 +0100

Christian and Muslim groups are urging a peaceful resolution following attacks allegedly by groups linked to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Mindanao in the Philippines, and retaliation by government troops.

Russian and Georgian Orthodox leaders seek understanding amid conflict

Ecumenical News International — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 10:29:07 +0100

Patriarch Ilia of Georgia and Russian Orthodox Church Patriarch Aleksei II are doing all they can to ensure that the conflict between their nations does not become "a people's war, a holy war", echoing earlier nationalistic fervour.

Christian officer in the Philippines promotes love of Muslims

Ecumenical News International — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 23:32:14 +0100

A Filipino army officer, who fought against Muslim secessionist rebels in southern Philippines, says he realised that somehow the cycle of violence must end, so he helped pioneer Project I.S.L.A.M., or I Sincerely Love All Muslims.

Investigative journalist wins world Christian peace award

agency reporter — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 01:01:33 +0100

The World Association for Christian Communication has announced that journalist Amy Goodman, host of Democracy Now!, a daily TV/radio news show airing on over 700 stations worldwide, is to receive its Communication for Peace Award.

London vigil against the deportation of US Iraq war resisters

staff writers — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 15:38:17 +0100

Christian and other peacemakers staged a 10-hour vigil outside Canada House in London's Trafalgar Square yesterday, to call on on the Canadian government to halt the deportation of US soldiers who have fled the war in Iraq.

Muslim and Christian women work for 'peace through religion'

agency reporter — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 15:29:06 +0100

Twenty Christian and Muslim women will meet together in Gothenburg, Sweden, at the beginning of next month, as part of an ongoing practical dialogue and conflict transformation process called 'Moving towards peace through religion'.

Global churches call for negotiation over Caucasus

agency reporter — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 09:11:08 +0100

A public statement from the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Conference of European Churches (CEC) has called for prayers and assistance for those affected by the recent conflict in the Caucasus.

World Vision calls for ceasefire, protection of civilians, in Georgia conflict

agency reporter — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 11:30:37 +0100

As fierce fighting continues in Georgia's breakaway South Ossetia region, international aid agency World Vision is calling for the international community to help broker an immediate ceasefire.