Midlands: Prayer vigil outside Israeli-owned Elbit drone factory

photo by Tim Fox

During the Drones Week of Action, Students of Queen's Foundation, Birmingham organised a vigil of Witness and Remembrance at the Israeli owned Elbit factory in Shenstone, near Lichfield. The factory manufactures the engines for drones that are used to kill and maim people and destroy infrastructure in war zones. They were joined by members of Pax Christi, Midlands Friends of Sabeel, Drones Campaign Network and the local community.

During the vigil, participants prayed for repentance from violence and hatred, war and the preparations for war, the manufacture of weapons of war and the use of armed drones. They voiced their opposition to armed drones and remembered, at this harvest time, that we reap what we sow. The Lords Prayer was said and the reading from the Isaiah reminded everyone that, 'He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war any longer' (Isaiah 2:3-5). A reading that is particularly appropriate outside a factory that now only makes weapons of war - in a reverse of the Bible reading.

Tim, one of the vigil organisers, said: "We wanted to witness to our rejection of weaponised drones, but also to remember, by name, some of the victims of the drones.. During our act of remembrance we read aloud the names and ages of thirty mothers, children and students killed by Israeli drones in Palestine. This was extremely moving. We also remembered John Hull, and ended a period of silence by reading one of his favourite poems, that speaks of final rest. We then laid flowers on the ground or by the cross in memory of the victims, and John. "

Professor John Hull, who died recently aged 80, was an influential and extremely talented religious education writer, editor, researcher and Honorary Professor of Practical Theology at The Queen's Foundation. John was passionate about justice and worked tirelessly against war and the weapons of war. He attended the Shenstone factory vigils over the years and was instrumental in encouraging students from The Foundation to take part in and organise peace vigils.