Victim of Northern Ireland violence brings message of hope and forgiveness
Richard Moore, a man blinded by a rubber bullet in Derry, Northern Ireland in 1972, will be sharing his inspiring story at St Ethelburga's Centre for Peace and Reconciliation in the City of London this Wednesday, 9 June at 10.30am.
Mr Moore, who was shot by a British soldier when he was just 10, went on to found Children in Crossfire to help other children across the world who are caught in conflict.
He said: "I have first hand experience of what it is like to have your whole life changed or affected by conflict. In the last 10 years Children in Crossfire has been working to improve the lives of young people right across the world. We have seen the difference that support and understanding can make,"
In 2007, Richard met the soldier responsible for the shooting. Richard said he did not want the meeting to be about "revisiting the evidence" about the circumstances of the shooting. "What I was doing was meeting a human being behind the gun that was fired at me."
"At least we agreed on the fact that I wasn't a rioter - because that was something that was very strong to me. I was a child going home from school, and it is important that the soldier accepted some bottom line as well. I felt that he and I - where we may not agree on everything - we have reached a common ground that both of us can live with."
Pat Gaffney, General Secretary of Pax Christi writes: "Come and join us for coffee, hear Richard speak of his experiences and join in discussion. Tell your friends and bring them too - all are welcome."
St Ethelburga's Centre for Peace and Reconciliation is at 78 Bishopsgate, London EC2 4AG
This event is part of Pax Christi's ICON of Peace week at St Ethelburga's. For more information call: 020 7496 161 or visit:
www.paxchristi.org.uk/events.HTML
www.childrenincrossfire.org/