All age conference: Peace & Social Witness

Over a 100 people with an age range of 0 to 80 years old, met at Swanwicks Conference Centre from the 3rd to 6th of August 2010 for days of all-age deep exploration of “What is Peace”.  Through Base Groups, shared activities and presentations, the conference quickly became a community of Friends searching profound questions together. Carefully guided by key-note and experiential presentations from David Gee, Rajagopal PV and Sam Walton, Friends were given opportunities to consider what is peace for us in words, and in action. For many attending, a particularly memorable workshop and  presentation from Rajagopal of Ekta Parishad in India assisted everyone in understanding what methods of nonviolent training are used there.

The reasons for the need for nonviolent direct action were also described in graphic detail as stories of land confiscation and dispossession in India, as part of globalization, disturbed everyone. Listening to the children’s understanding of what they heard and experienced at the conference is continuing, as Friends report back to their Local and Area Quaker Meetings on the event and on what Friends need to take action on.

The discussion of “What is Peace” will also thread through forthcoming events marking 350 years of the Declaration from Friends to Charles II. See is www.quaker.org.uk/350 for more details.