ëPeacenikí initiative will fund peacemakers to enter hotspots including Iraq
-03/04/06
ëPeacenikí initiative will fund peacemakers to enter hotspots including Iraq
-03/04/06
A new business venture launches today (Monday) to fund the trips of peacemakers to conflict zones around the world, including Iraq.
The venture comes in the form of a new Internet Service Provider (ISP) ñ Peacenik.co.uk – set up to raise money for groups like Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) of which released Iraq hostage Norman Kember is a member.
The initiative comes from the thinktank Ekklesia which works in partnership with a number of peace groups in the UK, including Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT). It is being launched in conjunction with Premier Radio who are to run a ten week radio advertising campaign to promote the venture.
Jonathan Bartley, Ekklesiaís director said; ìthe peace movement is notoriously under-resourced. Whilst there are university departments set up to study military strategy, government departments dedicated to supporting military solutions, and whole industries geared up to the development of weapons, there is relatively very little to develop and support nonviolent initiatives. The venture is to help give peace a chanceî.
ìAlthough it did not often come up in the recent reporting about the release of the Christian Peacemakers in Iraq, such peacemakers have shown how they can work alongside Muslims, and facilitate reconciliation between religious factions in Iraq in a way that the US and UK military are simply unable to do. As Iraq has looked as if it may descend into civil war they have provided a ray of hope in an otherwise dark situation. Although many would seek to write them off those committed to non-violence deserve a proper chance to show what they can do.î
Welcoming the initiative Tim Nafziger of Christian Peacemaker Teams in the UK said; ìThe Peacenik fund could be a important source of support for Christian Peacemaker Team members who need help to cover travel costs to CPT projects around the world.î
The ISP will be run on a not-for-profit basis. The proceeds will be put into a fund to which peace groups are invited to make applications, regardless of their religious beliefs. This will leave the way open for, amongst others, Muslim Peacemaker Teams, which Christian peacemakers have helped to establish in Iraq, to apply for funding. Those of no faith will also be invited to seek funding.
The thinktank Ekklesia has already donated £1,000 to get the fund going, but hopes that it will generate significant resources for the peace movement. The thintank already has a track record of generating significant funding using the internet. Last year the thinktank raised £130,000 for development work through its own web site.
The money raised by the Internet Service Provider (ISP) Peacenik.co.uk is expected to fund a range of projects including peacemaking trips to conflict zones, training for Christian peacemakers, and research into non-violent alternatives to conflict.
ëPeacenikí initiative will fund peacemakers to enter hotspots including Iraq
-03/04/06
A new business venture launches today (Monday) to fund the trips of peacemakers to conflict zones around the world, including Iraq.
The venture comes in the form of a new Internet Service Provider (ISP) ñ Peacenik.co.uk – set up to raise money for groups like Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) of which released Iraq hostage Norman Kember is a member.
The initiative comes from the thinktank Ekklesia which works in partnership with a number of peace groups in the UK, including Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT). It is being launched in conjunction with Premier Radio who are to run a ten week radio advertising campaign to promote the venture.
Jonathan Bartley, Ekklesiaís director said; ìthe peace movement is notoriously under-resourced. Whilst there are university departments set up to study military strategy, government departments dedicated to supporting military solutions, and whole industries geared up to the development of weapons, there is relatively very little to develop and support nonviolent initiatives. The venture is to help give peace a chanceî.
ìAlthough it did not often come up in the recent reporting about the release of the Christian Peacemakers in Iraq, such peacemakers have shown how they can work alongside Muslims, and facilitate reconciliation between religious factions in Iraq in a way that the US and UK military are simply unable to do. As Iraq has looked as if it may descend into civil war they have provided a ray of hope in an otherwise dark situation. Although many would seek to write them off those committed to non-violence deserve a proper chance to show what they can do.î
Welcoming the initiative Tim Nafziger of Christian Peacemaker Teams in the UK said; ìThe Peacenik fund could be a important source of support for Christian Peacemaker Team members who need help to cover travel costs to CPT projects around the world.î
The ISP will be run on a not-for-profit basis. The proceeds will be put into a fund to which peace groups are invited to make applications, regardless of their religious beliefs. This will leave the way open for, amongst others, Muslim Peacemaker Teams, which Christian peacemakers have helped to establish in Iraq, to apply for funding. Those of no faith will also be invited to seek funding.
The thinktank Ekklesia has already donated £1,000 to get the fund going, but hopes that it will generate significant resources for the peace movement. The thintank already has a track record of generating significant funding using the internet. Last year the thinktank raised £130,000 for development work through its own web site.
The money raised by the Internet Service Provider (ISP) Peacenik.co.uk is expected to fund a range of projects including peacemaking trips to conflict zones, training for Christian peacemakers, and research into non-violent alternatives to conflict.