LONDON - 12 March 2008 - 210 words
Quakers
mark Iraq anniversary
In February 2003, Quakers joined more than a million people in
demonstrating against UK government plans to go to war with Iraq.
Quakers said that the war would be dangerous, immoral and unaccountable,
and proposed alternative ways of approaching the problem.
Five years on, over a million people are dead and some four million
have been displaced from their homes. The war continues and violence
has failed to bring peace.
Now, as then, Quakers' experience is that violence generates the
conditions for further violence.
Kat Barton of Quaker Peace & Social
Witness said: "The experience of Iraq has demonstrated that
using war as a method of improving security is ineffective and
causes extreme suffering. We feel strengthened in our commitment
to work for peace."
Quakers will mark the anniversary with renewed determination to
seek a peaceful end to the conflict. On 19 March - the eve of
the fifth anniversary of the start of the Iraq war - Quakers will
join the 'Christian Peace Witness for Iraq' initiative in remembering
the suffering of the Iraqi people, in praying for forgiveness
and healing and in committing to action for peace and justice
for the people of Iraq and neighbouring countries.
"Our peace testimony underpins all our work," said Kat
Barton. "It leads Quakers to work together at the local,
national and international levels to transform the structures
and cultures that lead to violence. For example, we work in regions
of conflict such as Northern Uganda where we work to reintegrate
child soldiers back into their communities; and we work locally
to stop violence in schools, and we campaign nationally for disarmament."
For more information see: www.quaker.org.uk
© Independent Catholic News 2008
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