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

The Climate Crisis, Conflict and Peace

The climate crisis is exacerbating existing conflicts and fuelling new ones. This is a video of Conciliation Resources' event that aimed to explore the intersection between the climate crisis, conflict and peace. In particular, it focuses on the human cost of conflicts fuelled by the climate crisis, and the positive ways that those who are affected are working to respond …

Why is reconciliation important to build peace?

In this video, produced by Conciliation Resources, three workshop participants reflect on the importance of reconciliation for their societies to overcome the legacies of violence, and the challenges faced in promoting it as a means to build peace. Further insights from the workshop, which also included international policymakers and reconciliation practitioners, can be found in a workshop report. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZ7CWerdcfI

Coventry Refugees' Stories

During Refugee Week, three people who have settled in Coventry shared the stories of their lives before arriving in the UK, why they were forced to seek sanctuary in the UK and the support they have received since they arrived here. Their stories offer messages of hope to other refugees. Nataliia Orza was self-employed in 2014 before the earlier Russian invasion …

Coventry Hiroshima Remembrance 2022

COVENTRY HIROSHIMA REMEMBRANCE 2022 is an active witness when we commemorate the enormity of the dropping of the first atomic bomb on 6th August 2022, and strengthen our on-going friendship with the people of Hiroshima and Japan, all of us seeking a world free of nuclear weapons as soon as possible. David Fish, Secretary of Coventry Lord Mayor's Committee for …

International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade - but has it been abolished?

28 August is the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition, but Sir Mo Farah's life tells a different story and demonstrates that slaves do not live in peace. The Olympic gold medallist revealed in July that he was a victim of child trafficking and slavery. He was brought to the UK from Djibouti at …

How to Promote Peace and Reconciliation in Coventry

Coventry City Council is in the process of consulting about One Coventry Plan 2022-2030 which claims to be focused on the needs and aspirations of Coventry communities and partners to improve the city and on enabling people to live their best lives in a vibrant and prosperous city. One Coventry is a way of working that enables the City to …

Forgiveness Podcasts

Forgiveness is an essential step towards reconciliation. Before reconciliation can take place, those who feel injured need to forgive those who they feel injured them. BBC Radio 4 has recently run a series of podcasts entitled: Forgiveness: Stories from the Front Line Journalist Marina Cantacuzino explores questions such as How do you survive and restore your life when something truly …

Forthcoming Peace-Related Events

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

Write to covlmpc@gmail.com

Peace4Culture panel discussion

On 18th July 2022, after they have received honorary degrees in the morning from Coventry University, H.E. Mr Miguel Moratinos and Emma Sky will be leading a panel discussion in Drapers’ Hall, Coventry about ‘Peace4Culture and how peace and the preservation of cultural and religious heritage are dependent on each other’. Azerbaijan launched Peace4Culture Global Campaign with United Nations Alliance …

International Day of Friendship 2022

30 July was proclaimed as the International Day of Friendship by the UN General Assembly with the idea that friendship between peoples, countries, cultures and individuals can inspire peace efforts and build bridges between communities. In Coventry we are fortunate to have CAIF, Coventry Association for International Friendship. Friendship is an ideal outcome following reconciliation between those who have been …

Taiko Drumming Workshop

Primary and secondary school students are invited to a free Taiko Drumming workshop run by James Barrow of Taikowest from 10.30am to 12 midday on Saturday 6th August 2022 at Coventry Cathedral. Following the workshop, a ten-minute Taiko performance will be run by the students some time between 1pm and 2pm as part of Hiroshima Day. If you would like …

Hiroshima Day 2022

The Hiroshima Remembrance Service will be held in Coventry Cathedral from 2 to 3pm on 6 August 2022, and will be preceded by Taiko Drumming from 1pm. More details to follow

International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition

Slaves do not live in peace. 28 August was established as the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition in 1997, but slavery still continues as Sir Mo Farah revealed in July 2022. Read the story here

International Day of Peace 2022

The theme for International Day of Peace 21 September 2022 is End racism. Build peace Each year the International Day of Peace is observed around the world on 21 September. The UN General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, through observing 24 hours of non-violence and cease-fire. But achieving true peace entails …

Closing date for Coventry International Young People's Peace Essay Competition

Are you aged between 15 and 24? What do you see as the greatest threat to peace? Do you have ideas what people can and should do reduce that threat? Then Coventry’s International Young People’s Peace Essay Competition is your chance to tell the world what you think. Write an essay of 500 or 1000 words (depending on your age) …

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 …

Thank you for subscribing. If you find this newsletter interesting please tell your friends to visit coventrycityofpeace.uk and subscribe!

Please follow us on Twitter @CovCityOfPeace and like our Facebook page

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.