Dear Reader,

In this issue you can find recent peace-related news and forthcoming events in and around Coventry.

Please do let us know of any peace-related news or activities happening in or near Coventry and we will be happy to add them to our website http://coventrycityofpeace.uk and include them in a future edition of this newsletter.

Philip Brown
Coventry Lord Mayor's Committee for Peace & Reconciliation
covlmpc@gmail.com

Peace News

Sadly all the news this month is about war and its consequences.

Background to Russo-Ukrainian War 2022

Both Ukraine and Crimea belonged to the Russian Empire until the Russian Revolution of 1917. After a period of turmoil, Crimea and Ukraine emerged as separate autonomous Soviet Socialist Republics within the Soviet Union. In 1944 Stalin abolished Crimea’s autonomy and it became part of Soviet Russia and in 1954 Khrushchev transferred Crimea to Ukraine. After the dissolution of the …

CAIF's Statement on Ukraine

Coventry Association for International Friendship was founded in 1962 as the Coventry Committee for International Understanding with a mission to promote international friendship and understanding and to create closer ties between the citizens of Coventry and the people of its twinned and linked towns. For some 60 years we have worked to foster international goodwill in pursuit of our city’s …

UK Government's issues over welcoming Ukrainian refugees

As Ukraine's neighbouring countries welcome hundreds of thousands of refugees and other European Union prepare to accept them, the British government, still burning with the isolationism of Brexit, has failed to take any action to open its frontiers to them. The BBC reports that, although the UK has waived visa fees, and relaxed criteria, most Ukrainians still need a visa …

Coventry's Reaction to Russian Invasion of Ukraine

Coventry Observer reports that on 23 February Coventry City Council agreed to remove the Russian Federation flag from the Council House after a request by the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain (AUGB). that Dr Mario Kosmirak, Chair of the AUGB Coventry AUGB branch, and Roman Leshchyshyn this afternoon met with city council leader Councillor George Duggins, Lord Mayor of …

Coventry Council Statement on Ukraine

The following statement, entitled "Coventry City Council statement on the developing situation in Ukraine" was first published on the council website on 24 February. “We are deeply disturbed at the events in Ukraine overnight and offer our deepest sympathy to the people of Ukraine. We condemn this unprovoked aggression and call upon President Putin to call off this assault. “Although …

Peace talks between Russian and Ukraine?

As this newsletter is being published, ITV News reports that a Ukrainian official has said that peace talks with Russia began on 27 February. Russian President Vladimir Putin previously offered talks in Belarus, but Ukraine’s president rejected this since he described Belarus as a staging ground for Putin's invasion. A Russian spokesman then said the Ukrainian side had refused negotiations, …

Forthcoming Peace-Related Events

If you know of other peace-related events please let us know.

Write to covlmpc@gmail.com

Nuclear Threat

Coventry Lord Mayor’s Committee for Peace and Reconciliation is pleased to announce two distinguished speakers: Christopher Cocksworth, Bishop of Coventry and Zarah Sultana MP for Coventry South to speak at a public meeting on the Nuclear Threat, Saturday March 5th, 10.30 am – 12.00 midday, United Reform Church, Warwick Row, Coventry. Click here for more information and to book your …

No Apologies: Conversation on International Women's Day 2022

On 8 March 2022, Maokwo will host "No Apologies", a conversation in Warwick Arts Centre between invited guests and audience members about how we can individually and collectively challenge the many expectations placed on women. How can we break down the walls society has built up over generations and enable women to live freely, without making apologies for who they …

International Women's Day Celebration of Nina Simone’s life

To mark International Women’s Day, Black Voices will celebrate the life, music, faith, and love of Nina Simone at Warwick Arts Centre on International Women's Day 2022. Based in Birmingham, Black Voices have performed in every continent before royalty and presidents, sharing the stage with Nina Simone, Ray Charles, Hugh Masekela, Wynton Marsalis and Miriam Makeba among others. About this …

Lord Mayor's Peace Lecture 2022

Coventry Lord Mayor's Committee for Peace and Reconciliation is pleased to announce that Roger Harrabin will deliver the Lord Mayor's Peace Lecture on 11 November. Roger was born in Coventry and attended Stivichall Primary School and King Henry VIII School. After studying English at Cambridge he returned to Coventry as a journalist at the Coventry Evening Telegraph. From there he …

Ruined and Rebuilt

This classic book is on sale now in hardback or paperback and would make an ideal and unique gift. On the night of 14 November 1940, Reverend Richard Howard, Provost of Coventry Cathedral, was one of four firefighters who climbed onto the roof to smother with sand the incendiary bombs that were landing not just on the Cathedral but starting …

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Website and newsletter created by Coventry Lord Mayor's Committee for Peace and Reconciliation

For their generous support, the Lord Mayor's Committee for Peace and Reconciliation expresses our thanks to the Lord Mayor's Office and Coventry City Council. We also thank Coventry Cathedral, Coventry University and Warwick University for their support and assistance.