Children speak out against global gun culture

-28/06/06

A school class has taken the c


Children speak out against global gun culture

-28/06/06

A school class has taken the chance to tell the UK government how dangerous they really think guns are in the run up to the United Nations summit on Small Arms in New York (26 June ñ 7 July).

Activist-comedian Mark Thomas and pupils from Pilgrims Way primary school in Southwark, south London, handed in a peace petition signed by more than 4,000 children in to No 10 Downing Street ñ the Prime Ministerís residence.

The petition was organised by Christian Aidís childrenís website globalgang.org.uk, which invited 8-12-year-olds to send a message of peace to Tony Blair and George Bush.
Christian Aid is the development and advocacy agency of a range of Anglican and Protestant churches in Britain.

ìThe point of the petition is to tell the prime minister that fighting isnít the way to solve problems,í said Rebecca Rothwell, aged 10, using the kind of straight-talking which sometimes sets politiciansí teeth on edge.

Margaret, Rebeccaís mum, added: ìI hope Rebecca will never come across guns in her life, but I know that at some point she will. Since the project started Rebeccaís learned that in some countries kids are forced to use guns in wars, but sheís lucky, because she has a choice.î

Another of the group who went to Downing Street was Esther Shobande, also aged 10. ìIt was really exciting to take the petition up to the door,î she said.

Added Esther: ìI think Tony Blair should listen to me because Iím a kid. He should change the law so that you have to be 25 to buy a gun, not 18, because sometimes teenagers buy guns for bad reasons.î

Joe McDonagh, aged 11, agrees: ìThey shouldnít make guns in the first place because people just use them to show off to their friends and to kill people.î

Sophie Shirt, editor of the Global Gang site, feels the petition has already had a huge impact. ìWe often receive emails from kids saying they are concerned about fighting in the world,î she said. ìMany of them feel like thereís nothing they can do, so the petition was a chance for them to get their voices heard.î

She added: ìLots of kids are worried about being mugged for their mobiles and carry knives as a deterrent, but hopefully this petition has made them think differently.î

Along with the petition, the children created a dove sculpture which they made out of their own toy guns.

Activist and performer Mark Thomas, from the hard-hitting Channel 4 investigative show The Mark Thomas Comedy Product, thought the sculpture was ìamazingî and joined the school children as they handed in the petition.

ìThe fact is, if you are a kid growing up in London you might come into contact with gun crime or gun violence at some point,î he said.

Thomas, who is a non-believer himself, but was happy to cooperate with Christian Aidís inclusive venture, was very impressed by the kids he met: ìItís incredible what they have done. Itís important that kids understand we can make a difference if we all work together.î

A few years ago Mark Thomas upset the Church Commissioners, who have legal responsibility for the Church of Englandís assets, by doing a TV programme which criticized their involvement in military electronics and included a stunt with a replica missile system. But Christian peace groups said it got the message over well.

Thomas pointed out the incompatibility between Jesusí peacemaking message and the apparent collusion of his followers in military manufacture

Meanwhile, the pupilsí teacher at Pilgrimís Way school, Joanne Farquhar, said: ìThe kids have learned that once you hurt someone youíve hurt them ñ thereís no taking it back. Year six is now going to take the dove sculpture around all the classes in school and organise workshops.î

[Also on Ekklesia: Churches call for decisive action against small arms 27/06/06; Kids tell Bush and Blair to tackle small arms 15/06/06; Decommissioned gun sculptures raise cash for peace project 15/06/06; Christian Aid wins prestigious PR award for peace project; Tree of guns to take root at British Museum; Documentary explores ‘beating swords into ploughshares’]


Children speak out against global gun culture

-28/06/06

A school class has taken the chance to tell the UK government how dangerous they really think guns are in the run up to the United Nations summit on Small Arms in New York (26 June ñ 7 July).

Activist-comedian Mark Thomas and pupils from Pilgrims Way primary school in Southwark, south London, handed in a peace petition signed by more than 4,000 children in to No 10 Downing Street ñ the Prime Ministerís residence.

The petition was organised by Christian Aidís childrenís website globalgang.org.uk, which invited 8-12-year-olds to send a message of peace to Tony Blair and George Bush.
Christian Aid is the development and advocacy agency of a range of Anglican and Protestant churches in Britain.

ìThe point of the petition is to tell the prime minister that fighting isnít the way to solve problems,í said Rebecca Rothwell, aged 10, using the kind of straight-talking which sometimes sets politiciansí teeth on edge.

Margaret, Rebeccaís mum, added: ìI hope Rebecca will never come across guns in her life, but I know that at some point she will. Since the project started Rebeccaís learned that in some countries kids are forced to use guns in wars, but sheís lucky, because she has a choice.î

Another of the group who went to Downing Street was Esther Shobande, also aged 10. ìIt was really exciting to take the petition up to the door,î she said.

Added Esther: ìI think Tony Blair should listen to me because Iím a kid. He should change the law so that you have to be 25 to buy a gun, not 18, because sometimes teenagers buy guns for bad reasons.î

Joe McDonagh, aged 11, agrees: ìThey shouldnít make guns in the first place because people just use them to show off to their friends and to kill people.î

Sophie Shirt, editor of the Global Gang site, feels the petition has already had a huge impact. ìWe often receive emails from kids saying they are concerned about fighting in the world,î she said. ìMany of them feel like thereís nothing they can do, so the petition was a chance for them to get their voices heard.î

She added: ìLots of kids are worried about being mugged for their mobiles and carry knives as a deterrent, but hopefully this petition has made them think differently.î

Along with the petition, the children created a dove sculpture which they made out of their own toy guns.

Activist and performer Mark Thomas, from the hard-hitting Channel 4 investigative show The Mark Thomas Comedy Product, thought the sculpture was ìamazingî and joined the school children as they handed in the petition.

ìThe fact is, if you are a kid growing up in London you might come into contact with gun crime or gun violence at some point,î he said.

Thomas, who is a non-believer himself, but was happy to cooperate with Christian Aidís inclusive venture, was very impressed by the kids he met: ìItís incredible what they have done. Itís important that kids understand we can make a difference if we all work together.î

A few years ago Mark Thomas upset the Church Commissioners, who have legal responsibility for the Church of Englandís assets, by doing a TV programme which criticized their involvement in military electronics and included a stunt with a replica missile system. But Christian peace groups said it got the message over well.

Thomas pointed out the incompatibility between Jesusí peacemaking message and the apparent collusion of his followers in military manufacture

Meanwhile, the pupilsí teacher at Pilgrimís Way school, Joanne Farquhar, said: ìThe kids have learned that once you hurt someone youíve hurt them ñ thereís no taking it back. Year six is now going to take the dove sculpture around all the classes in school and organise workshops.î

[Also on Ekklesia: Churches call for decisive action against small arms 27/06/06; Kids tell Bush and Blair to tackle small arms 15/06/06; Decommissioned gun sculptures raise cash for peace project 15/06/06; Christian Aid wins prestigious PR award for peace project; Tree of guns to take root at British Museum; Documentary explores ‘beating swords into ploughshares’]