Dear friends,

Today (Monday 13 April) is the Global Day of Action on Military Spending where peace campaigners around the world unite to protest the amount that is spent every year on war and preparations for war. In the UK our military budget is £38 billion – this while vital public services are subject to drastic cuts.
http://demilitarize.org.uk/

Our General RE scheme of work has a lesson plan to help students reflect critically on the issue of military spending.

We also have a new workshop, Peace, Faith,and Politics: Nuclear Weapons which encourages young people to think about nuclear weapons as an issue in the next month’s General Election.

 

School Workshops
We are currently taking bookings for our popular peace education workshops for this summer term. Details of what we offer are on our website – remember that we work with schools all over England and Wales.

I will be in the North West/North Wales area during the week beginning 22 June and in the North East/Yorkshire during the week beginning 6 July – if you are in these areas and are interested in booking some of our workshops please do get in touch.

 

Over the Top – A forum theatre performance

At Meadow Springs Academy battle lines are drawn between peace activist parent and pro military head.

Over the Top focuses on the dilemma created when two contrasting points of view over the role of the military in our schools clash and come to a head-on confrontation. This production promotes discussion and exchange of ideas – the show itself is there to prompt this debate. Details here

 

Upcoming Events
Climate Changes Everything: vigil of hope and solidarity – Friday 1 May, London

General Election – Thursday 7 May: Read our election briefing (pdf) here 

International Conscientious Objectors’ Day – Friday 15 May: Use our Should Christians fight in war resource from our General RE syllabus

There are more stories of conscientious objection in the First World War section of our website.

Feast of Bl Franz Jägerstätter – Thursday 21 May: Workshop resource

Yesterday (12 April) the Pope spoke about the Armenian genocide of 1915. Our friends at Facing History have a professional development workshop on 23 April exploring why the Armenian genocide is important and why we should teach it in Key Stage 3 history. Details here

Pax Christi AGM – Saturday 6 June: With guest speaker Ziad Hilal SJ. Fr Ziad works for Jesuit Refugee Service in Homs, Syria

In peace

Matt
Schools and Youth Outreach Worker

How does your faith influence your vote?

In 2016 the UK will decide the future of its nuclear weapons. This means the 2015 General Election will elect the parliament which will make that decision.

This peace education workshop encourages young voters to think critically about what their faith has to say about the issue of nuclear weapons and how it might influence their engagement with politics and the election.

 

Download the full resource

Download the workshop sheet

Download the leader’s pack 

Dear Friends

 

With a successful Peace Sunday celebrated on 18 January and continuing high demand for Pax Christi talks, workshops, and resources, it has been a busy start to the year in the Pax Christi office. Here’s what is coming up over the next weeks and months.

 

Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday is fast approaching and we have our annual service of repentance and resistance to nuclear war preparations at the Ministry of Defence. Full details here

As part of this event we are inviting educators to join the service and reflect on it together. We would gather an hour beforehand (at 2pm) and meet after the vigil to reflect on our experiences over a cup of tea. Details here

 

Over the Top: A dramatic response to militarisation in Education
Join us for this peace education workshop on 24 March – details and registration on the Peace Education Network website

School Workshops
We are available for school visits across England and Wales. Details of some of the things we offer are on our website

I am booked to be in Yorkshire and the North East during the week of 6 July – contact me if you are in a school around those parts and would like to take advantage of this opportunity. education@paxchristi.org.uk/0208 203 4883

 

Members’ News
The latest edition of JustPeace, our members’ newsletter, is available and includes a useful Campaigners’ Calendar for 2015

 

Flame II
We are looking forward to taking part in Flame II on Saturday 7 March at Wembley Arena.

We still have a couple of tickets to be part of the Pax Christi group at this event. Let me know if you are interested education@paxchristi.org.uk/0208 203 4883

 

Fly Kites Not Drones
On 21^st March, Afghan New Year, the Drones Campaign Network is encouraging people to Fly Kites Not Drones

 

Global Day of Action on Military Spending
13 April is the Global Day of Action on Military Spending. We have a lesson on military spending as part of our General RE scheme of work.

 

In peace
Matt

The Peace Education Network presents…

Over The Top: A dramatic response to militarisation in education

This touring show was commissioned by Central England Quakers in response to the increasing influence of military values in everyday life, especially in our schools (ex-Education Minister Michael Gove’s professed wish to see a ‘military ethos’ in all schools). As has been demonstrated recently by Gove’s successor, Nicky Morgan, this policy is still being pursued and if anything, is being ‘upped’.

Over the Top focuses on the dilemma created when two contrasting points of view over the role of the military in our schools clash and come to a head-on confrontation.

Tuesday 24 March, 5pm, Friends Meeting House, Euston, London

Please pre-book.  Entrance free, donations welcome.
Contact Matt to secure your free place or fill in this online registration form

Matt Jeziorski, Pax Christi’s schools and youth outreach worker, is giving a talk in Macclesfield on Wednesday 21 January. Blessed are the Peacemakers will develop the thought that our call to be peaceful is related to a recognition that  everybody is a child of God. Living kindly and avoiding harm to those near us is not enough. Beyond personal peace, we are called by the Gospel to ask questions about the world in which we live and take non violent action against injustice.

The talk begins at 8pm at St Alban’s Parish Centre, Hall Street, Macclesfield SK11 8DJ. All are welcome