Category - christian peacemaker teams

Canadian peacemaker and ex-hostage returns to Iraq

agency reporter — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:14:25 +0000

Harmeet Singh Sooden, who came to international attention when he was held hostage with other peacemakers in 2005, has joined an international human rights delegation travelling to Iraqi Kurdistan this month.

Palestinian families harassed in South Hebron

agency reporter — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:21:45 +0000

Israeli settlers in the South Hebron Hills of the West Bank have been harassing a Palestinian family walking home, then beat and robbed two peace workers who accompanied them.

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

Christian activists blockade military base on Afghan anniversary

staff writers — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 19:42:51 +0100

An international group of Christians have marked the eighth anniversary of the beginning of the war in Afghanistan by blockading a key military base while sharing holy communion, music and Bible readings.

Government urged to embrace conflict resolution not aggression

staff writers — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 07:03:39 +0100

As Cardiff was officially announced as host for the second annual Armed Forces Day celebrations in 2010, the government was urged to develop a defence policy focused on conflict resolution.

An open letter from an open prison

Martin Smedjeback — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 19:12:40 +0100

An activist from one of our partner organisations Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) writes about his life in prison, after he was jailed for breaking into an arms factory and disabling weapons.

Government challenged over agenda for Armed Forces Day

staff writers — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 14:21:54 +0100

Following the announcement that the Iraq war inquiry will be held in private, it has been suggested today that Armed Forces Day should be an opportunity to think honestly about military intervention and the alternatives.

Time to invest in unarmed forces

Press Office — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 10:40:26 +0100

Commenting on Christian Peacemaker Teams' training initiative in the UK and the government's Armed Forces Day on 27 June 2009, Simon Barrow, co-director of the religion and society think-tank Ekkle

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.

New Zealand accused of ignoring human rights violations in Israel

staff writers — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 09:11:47 +0100

The New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade has told peace campaigner Harmeet Sooden - a former kidnap victim in Iraq - that it will not act on his official complaint regarding his mistreatment by Israeli authorities.