Witness

There are many ways in which people may feel prompted to act for peace.  We have update the list of peace vigils that take place regularly in Britain, and we will shortly add guidance on other forms of 'witness'.

Action opportunities

Early Day Motions (EDMs):

Early Day Motions are a means by which MPs can raise awareness about and garner support for particular issues. They are similar to online petitions and although they do not in themselves lead to debates in the House of Commons, they are a useful way of illustrating the strength of support for particular issues amongst MPs and their constituents. EDMs are proposed by an MP or group of MPs. You can ask your MP to sign particular EDMs by writing to them or emailing them (see http://www.writetothem.com/).

Petitions

Petition to divert 10% of UK defence spending to research and development into renewable energy: http://www.gopetition.co.uk/petitions/divert-10pc-of-uk-defence-spending-to-renewable-energy.html

You might be interested in signing the following statement put together by the Friends of Skipton and Airton Meetings:
"War Is Not The Way
In several parts of the world today, armed violence is producing a rising crescendo of misery, yet time and time again, experience has shown that it is patient negotiation, not the use of weapons of war, that brings peace and justice to any community. We are deeply saddened by our own unwilling complicity in an arms trade which intensifies warfare and the oppression of subject peoples on several continents.
We ask all people everywhere, and especially the members of our own government, to withdraw from trade in the weapons of war and to halt the supply of armaments to nations and factions presently engaged in violent conflicts. In all situations and among all parties, we urge that greater resources be directed to supporting the non-violent processes of conflict resolution."
Please join us in signing this statement, invite others to sign it, send it to your political representatives and publicise it by whatever means are available to you, so that the voices of restraint and good will may be clearly heard. (initiated by members of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) of Skipton and Airton Meetings: The Ginnel, Newmarket Street, Skipton BD23 2JA; and Friends Meeting House, The Green, Airton BD23 4BA) Name & address required please. 

Ask your local council to disinvest from arms companies
Green Party Euro-MP Caroline Lucas has called for all South-East councils to adopt ethical investment policies after figures released under the Freedom of Information Act showed the region's nine local authority pension funds invested more than £82 million in arms manufacturers in 2005. Many others around Britain do the same. For information about how to persuade your council to disinvest, contact Campaign Against Arms Trade - enquiries@caat.org.uk

Conscientious objectors database
The Peace Pledge Union is building a database of every British conscientious objector of both World Wars and the post-WW2 period. Are/were you, or any friends of relatives, a CO? If so, Bill Hetherington from PPU would like to hear from you so that the stories of COs are preserved and remembered. Please contact him at archives@ppu.org.uk

At Ease needs volunteers
At Ease is a free advisory, counselling and information service for members of the armed forces and their families. It has no paid staff - all the work is done by members who are unpaid volunteers. At Ease needs more volunteers to help with routine office tasks in London on Sunday afternoons when the phone lines are open, and also volunteers outside London. Experienced At Ease speakers are also available to speak to groups on request. To find out more, visit http://www.atease.org.uk/.

Embed the military spending counter in your web site
Visit http://www.milspend.org/ to see how much the world is throwing away on war, and embed a simple version of the counter in your web site (if you have one, of course!). Instructions and code provided on the site.

Send in your 'Peace Tax Return'
You can register an objection to taxation for military purposes and ask for this proportion of tax to be diverted to peacebuilding using the innovative 'Freedom of Conscience' unofficial Tax Return prepared by Conscience - the peace tax campaign. Also available in Welsh. For more information and to download yours, visit http://www.conscienceonline.org.uk/. Conscience is also creating a list of campaigners by region who are willing to contact each other and work at local events to raise the profile of the issue. Can you help? Email info@conscienceonline.org.uk.

Become a local contact for the Campaign Against Arms Trade
Campaign Against Arms Trade depends on a network of Local Contacts to get the message out in local regions nationwide. Could you be a Local Contact? To find out more, contact Beccie d'Cunha on beccie@caat.org.uk.

Support islanders forcibly evicted to make way for US military base
Diego Garcia is an island in the Chagos archipelago known legally as the British Indian Ocean Territory. Around 3,000 islanders were forcibly evicted from the island in the 1960s to accommodate a huge US military base, which formed part of a deal enabling the UK to purchase the Polaris nuclear weapons system from the US at a reduced cost. It is an appalling story. The Chagos Refugees Group is working legally and politically to have their right of return to the island recognised. You can find out how to support them by visiting http://www.chagossupport.org.uk/ and read one of the islander's description of their situation at www.unpo.org/news_detail.php?arg=02&par=953.
 

SPEAKERS

Peace Tax Seven

Members of the Peace Tax Seven - a group of conscientious objectors who seek the right to have the military part of their taxes diverted to a peace fund - are available for speaking engagements. For more information on this, contact Simon Heywood at srheywood@ukonline.co.uk

Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel
Returning accompaniers available to speak to groups. For details, please visit the IsraelPalestine pages

Quaker workers and staff
Quaker workers and staff are also available to speak to groups. Visit the Speakers page for a list of speakers currently touring or email Helen Bradford in QPSW at helenb@quaker.org.uk to request another speaker on a specific peace or social justice theme.top of the page