Civilian protection requires simple, straightforward dialogue and negotiation with the people who can control whether other people are safe or not. It also works, say Tim Wallis of Nonviolent Peaceforce. As soon as we bring guns, tanks and air support into the picture, we are talking about something which more often than not does not work, and often makes things worse.

A special Mass for all those who have died or been injured in recent weeks in Iraq was held at Westminster Cathedral, in London, yesterday evening.

In these final days of the year, Christians who follow the church calendar remember that children were massacred by Herod 2000 years ago, says Gene Stoltzfus. The story has much to teach us about the inherent conflict between the Gospel and empire.