Photo shows David & Liz (in green water proofs) handing the Cumbrian Miles to Silvia & Jon of the World March for Peace and Nonviolence (UK Base Camp Organisers)

I have just completed the most exhausting yet exhilarating week of my life. Dusty Clogs, based upon the Dusty Sneakers for Peace Programme in Canada, took off and assumed a life all of its own. You can imagine the weeks of preparation for any event with all the meetings for risk assessment, policy documents and public liability etc etc…yawn…which we had to enter into…most done for us by the local Council bless them before their officer was told not to have anything to do with something as political as Peace (True by the way he was warned off)…which left Liz and I as two grey haired pensioners to organise the whole thing ourselves.

With our computers steaming hot we produced all the mass of publicity for TV, Radio, Press, Health Journals and other magazines as well as networking all our various groups and friends from Amnesty International onwards through all the Diversity, Multicultural and Interfaith groups that we belong to…also we got U3A Walking Group involved(University of the Third Age…for oldens like us). I spent some time talking to groups from Diabetics to Amnesty, Probus and so forth) meantime our hallway was getting fuller of the signs we would use on the designated route in a central park in Carlisle…we kept it simple by printing with PowerPoint and laminating and stapling onto little stakes. We also ordered some big vinyl banners with our logos on it. We had two Logos…the World March and the Carlisle Clogs Image with permission of the local museum, who said that we were not to use the Welsh Clogs I had previously found and gained permission to use.

Then we went mad and invited the UK organisers from the UK World March Base Camp to our final day…what if no one came?

The first two days we were based in a large Garden Gazebo in the park which we put up and took down each day…to act as the lap counting house, certificate giving point, somewhere for people to sign up for future events and of course our fist aid post…but the wind all but blew it away…so we asked the park Keeper if we could fetch in our Caravan…which we stripped out and kitted out over night as our daily base…again we took it home each day.

The idea was for people to walk laps of the park which was a measured distance in kilometres which we would then convert to miles…we had six days to walk the equivalent miles for North to South of the County (68 miles)…and everyone got a Certificate of Achievement neatly rolled up with an elastic band to keep it in place.

The first day I was being interviewed by the media but the people who turned up walked 24 laps which was 21 miles. The next day people came because they had seen us on Telly…so we did 30 laps which was 26.5 miles…and on the third day we achieved our first target and completed the 68 miles…so we set a new challenge…to walk the equivalent of the 84 miles of Hadrian’s Wall…and ancient line of division between England and Scotland.

On the final day (day 6…Saturday) when we had the World March Organisers with us we stormed through both targets and walked a few extra miles for love. The World March not only passed through Cumbria but it also wiped out the ancient line of division on its way…and Silvia and Jon will take our miles to Argentina with our love to present them to the President of the World March Organisation in January.

The weather was the very worst that Cumbria has seen for years…with severe floods and high winds (you may have seen it on the news) but we battled through it all. In all 62 walkers took part over the week with ages ranging from seven to seventy six. Most of our friends came and did a lap…some stayed and did more. One dedicated soul came and walked each day. They walked a total 181 laps which gave us a total of 158.5 miles…with each person averaging 2.5 miles.

Carlisle has never had a Peace Movement event before this year’s Peace One Day. Dusty Clogs was only its second event. We have been on a steep learning curve but know it will only get better from here on in…even if we do have opposition from within the council…it is good to rattle a few cages for Peace and Nonviolence. As John Grogan from Dusty Sneakers wrote to me “Peace is contagious…let’s make Peace a Pandemic…remember to pass it on.”

…And we have a lot of new friends who we know will support Peace Events in the future…And Carlisle is now on the World Peace Map.

The first World March to circle the earth calling for the end of war and nuclear weapons, and the elimination of violence of all kinds (physical, economic, racial, religious, cultural, sexual, psychological). Join the March and help build a new, global, nonviolent consciousness!

The World March will begin in Wellington, New Zealand on October 2, 2009, the anniversary of Gandhi´s birth, declared the International Day of Nonviolence by the United Nations. It will end in the Andes Mountains (Punta de Vacas, Aconcagua, Argentina) on January 2, 2010.

The March will last 90 days, traveling through 160 countries over all six continents, celebrated by activities and events involving millions of people along and beyond its route. It will pass through all climates and seasons, from the hot summer of the tropics and deserts, to the icy cold of Siberia and Antarctica.

http://www.worldmarch.co.nz/

Since this march was first announced so many countries, regions, heads of state, parliaments, famous people and local areas have endorsed the ideals for which the march stands that scarcely a day goes by without another head of state or writer joining the ranks; probably it would be easier to say who does not endorse such a venture.

Originally the ‘marchers’ were going to come to London for half a day. But with so many areas from Orkney and Scotland to Lands End wanting to become part of this earth movement a UK office had to be opened up. Each area are organising its own events. For some this took place during festival time in the summer like Cardiff having a huge concert.

It is important that Carlisle and Cumbria are not left out of this Word Peace March. Borrowing an idea from Canada called Dusty Sneakers where “ Many schools already participate in “Dusty Sneakers” running programs where the students are encouraged to run measured laps, document those laps, and track them on a map to represent that if those laps were stretched end to end, how far we travel together. It makes fitness fun, while demonstrating the strength of community.”

For Cumbria I have suggested that we adopt a Cumbrian theme and call it Dusty Clogs for Peace where we encourage both adults and children (including School Teams please) to walk, jog or run laps which we will register and measure so that we cover the sixty miles North to South through Cumbria. In this sense we can claim that we were part of the World Peace March through Cumbria.

One good lesson is that peace only can come about through co-operation.

December 21 2008 marks the 20th Anniversary of this outrage.

We will never forget Lockerbie and those that lost their lives twenty years ago tomorrow, especially Anthony Hawkins and of course David Gould. (there was someone with the same name as me on the plane)

Today being the twentieth of December we decided to go a day early as it being the 20^th Anniversary tomorrow we thought it would be hideous there. And I think we were right in our choice as we can see their “low profile event” includes a stage, a press gallery overlooking the garden and ropes to keep the common people from encroaching upon the dignitaries…in other words a re-run of the dog’s diner they made of the 10^th anniversary. On that day the flowers laid at the wall of names before the ceremony were thrown into a council skip so that the flowers of the dignitaries could be seen alone honouring those that died. They wanted us to line up in a queue and give our flowers for them to place wherever they wanted. We came back late at night and found our flowers and moved them.

This time we wished for the flowers to be placed under Anthony’s plaque on the ground and to remain there at least until 2 pm tomorrow when the ‘low key event’ takes place. Year after year the ordinary folk like us of Lockerbie come and silently read out all the 270 names and place our floral tributes that we have made up locally under the names of those that we honour. They are never from us but from the families themselves. One of our Cards this year read “Anthony, Remembered forever. 20 years, but loved forever. From .....” David’s had similar sentiments. From the number of tributes already there it was clear that many will be staying away from the glare of the cameras and microphones of the media tomorrow. They have been coming simply in their ones and twos during the last few days and have carpeted the ground before the wall with flowers…simple expressions of a grief they will inwardly feel for the rest of their lives; a grief they share with those from 21 countries that died that night above our town, a grief they wish to express privately and with dignity.

Tomorrow the Lord Lieutenant of Dumfries and Galloway along with the American Consul and the Member of Parliament and the Member of the Scottish Parliament will all lay their carefully made up wreaths under the spotlights and the cameras. But somehow the single rose left by a thirteen year old girl on the grave of Joanne Flannigan with the simple message…”I would have loved to have met you” melts my heart the more. Had she lived Joanne would have been thirty this year…even a parent of children herself.

This is one image from the Thundergarth rememberance Room near where the cockpit ended up. There is also a special tapestry with the explanation of how and why it was made beside it… which reflects the warmth that is still felt by the residents of this town towards all those who lost their loved ones twenty years ago.

I hope you can forward this onto to anyone that you are still in touch with so that they know they will never ever be forgotten.

With our love

David & Liz    

The Jerusalem Hug 2009

First of all Blessings upon your work for Peace.

It is a firm belief among many in the Peace Movement that until there is Peace among the Children of Abraham there can be no Peace at all in the world at large. The middle East and the interests vested in it are the key to world Peace.

We live in a world dominated by separation between peoples. We separate ourselves in our language and what we call each other; foreigner, alien, immigrant and so forth. We separate ourselves in our religions with words like pagan, infidel, heathen, Golan and so forth. Even within religions we separate ourselves by having different sects which fight for domination. We separate ourselves by race with so many words for the differing colours of each other’s skins I dare not list them. We separate ourselves by culture with our different cloths, food and local customs. We physically separate ourselves from each other with frontiers, walls and lines arbitrarily drawn on paper maps as though one set of people could really own a parcel of land to the exclusion of all others.

Our world is divided in so many ways, rich from poor, the over-fed from the starving, those with full medical services from those with none. And the last few years has made this situation so much worse.

What if for one day a year all differences could be laid aside and all humans could embrace their brothers and sisters in this great human race. I believe that the Jerusalem Hug is one such occasion when we can leave all these degrees of separation to one side for a day and enjoy being one race with common purpose and love. It is a day in which we can find our connection with each other. Such events foster common bonds which is the best way forward to building first local Peace which will in turn lead to World Peace.

“Maybe I am a dreamer but I am not the only one…maybe one day you will join us and the world be as ONE.”

Last June 24th approximately 2000 people embraced the Old City of Jerusalem. They walked around the city walls, holding hands and expressing the unity of the Old City. Inhabitants of Jerusalem, Israeli and Palestinians, as well as peace activists from the entire world are standing side by side in their wish for peace and in their love for Jerusalem.

Since 2007 the Jerusalem Hug has been organized, as a collaboration between the ‘Lovers of Jerusalem’, the ‘Jerusalem Peacemakers’ and a Dutch group of light workers coming from Amsterdam.
The ‘Lovers of Jerusalem’ are a group of people from several peace movement organizations in Israel, under direction by Dvora Pearlman, established to create peace in Jerusalem.
The ‘Jerusalem Peacemakers’ consists of a group of passionate and involved Jewish and Palestinian inhabitants of Jerusalem under direction of Eliyahu McLean and Ibrahim Abu el Hawa who form an international network on inter religious bases with the aim to create peace and unity in Jerusalem. “When real peace in the holy land will be realized, then it will be possible to engineer peace in the whole world.”
In Amsterdam, the Netherlands, Rob Schrama, artist and peace activist, supports the ‘Jerusalem Hug’ together with a small team of involved and passionate fellow workers.

Together we established the ‘Jerusalem Hug Foundation’ that will be involved to get international support.

On May 21 2007 and on June 24 2008 the Big Hug of Jerusalem took place for the first and second time. Both Jerusalem Hugs were visited by more than 2000 participants, inhabitants of Jerusalem, Palestinians and Israeli, as well as peace activists from Israel and from all over the world.

On June 21 2009 a new Jerusalem Hug will be realized. The aim of the Jerusalem Hug is to promote a peaceful experience of freedom and joy to all people. The Jerusalem Hug will focus on love, respect and unity. With this attitude the participants will spread out around the walls of the Old City holding hands, singing and praying for peace and respect for all humankind.

Drumming together is an returning activity in every Jerusalem Hug, connecting the different population groups. During the first Jerusalem Hug in 2007 Palestinian and Israeli drummers from Jerusalem played together. As a result of this experience they decided to continue playing together. Several times they played together at the Damascus Gate to stimulate the rhythm of peace in the hearts of the people.

During the coming Jerusalem Hug, the Palestine and Israeli drummers will get support from internationally famous drummers. GrandMotherDrum, coming from Alaska and Cesar Zuiderwijk, drummer in the rock band ‘Golden Earring’ will invite all drummers in Jerusalem to create together a concert in the park along the north site of the wall.

The Jerusalem school kids, at least one class of Palestinians and one class of Israeli children are coming together during the Jerusalem Hug to fly their Kites for Peace above the thousands of participants. They will express that the children of Jerusalem want to live in a city were peace, freedom and tolerance are the foundation of our coexisting.

The ‘Jerusalem Hug’ stands symbol for another way to achieve peace. Everywhere the belief in a political solution of the Middle East conflict has been gone down to point zero. There ought to be found another way and that is the way of the heart. We believe that when we find peace in ourselves and when we are able to forgive, world peace will come closer.
The Jerusalem Hug gives expression to this wish for change as a concrete statement. Jerusalem stands as a symbol for peace and forgiveness in the world. Let Jerusalem be a city of connection, the heart of the world where unity and peace will be a fact. Every year, we will increase the Jerusalem Hug to a lager event, with every year more and more participants. Let the ‘Jerusalem Hug’ fill Jerusalem completely with love, so there will not be place for hatred anymore.

We request you to send a letter of recommendation to the Jerusalem Hug Foundation, a supporting letter that we can send to the funds we are approaching for financing our event. The best way to send this letter before December 24 to the “Jerusalem Hug Foundation” Krom Boomsloot 16, 1011 GW Amsterdam, The Netherlands or email it to: mail@jerusalemhug.org

We thank you for your cooperation and we hope to hold hands with you during the coming Jerusalem Hug.

Sincerely;

Rob Schrama

Check out this event: iPeace Day - 1st annual Peace celebration day

Hosted By: David Califa / www.iPeace.me
When: Sunday Dec 07, 2008
at 10:00 AM
Where GLOBAL EVENT
WHERE EVER YOU ARE
31TH OF DECEMBER 2008 10:00 local time,
Germany
Description:
David Califa / www.iPeace.me

I Have Found

As a Peace worker I struggle with the concepts

of what it is we do, what it is we represent

and how we go about our business.
But I have found some things are set in stone,

I have found the end does not justify the means
the means must always be compatible with the end.
If we want peace we must seek peaceful ways to it.
There is no room within my heart for revenge, fire or hate.

I have found that I do not permit others to commit violence on my behalf,
I am indeed prepared to die for others and for the cause of peace
but I will never ever find a cause for which I can kill.

I have found love in places they said there was none
because I went offering only friendship and myself,
and I have found rejection in the very places I expected love,
among those that said they stood for love but didn't.

I have found comfort from strangers that I didn't know,
who are moved by simple acts of forgiveness and love
when they might have expected an anger I never showed
for deeds done by those blinded by their own anger.

I have found a world ready for our message of Peace
hungry for human compassion, respect and caring;
a world ready for the change that is coming with us
and all because I refuse to hate those that hate me.

David October 2008

Background

Muslims are being victimised, intimidated and discriminated at HMP Manchester on a gross scale. We had previously addressed some issues regarding HMP Manchester including threats of violence, and it seems that after subsiding slightly, these incidents have now flourished towards institutionalised racism. All of this is seemingly being allowed to continue by the Prison service through their inaction with a renewed venom.

The following details have been provided which offer a horrific insight into the situations that muslims are facing daily at the prison :-

a. Muslims are prohibited from wearing any religious material. This includes the muslim skullcap which is recommended for all those adhering to the Hanafi madhab to wear.

b. No more than three islamic books are allowed to be in the possession of an inmate. In contrast, it is our understanding that inmates may have more than 3 books provided they are not about Islam or Muslims

c. Muslims are placed immediately into the segregation unit for basic infringements, whilst white non-muslims for the same infractions are left unpunished.

d. Staff frequently make racist and derogatory comments towards muslim inmates.

e. Mail is returned from HMP Manchester if addressed to muslim inmates with the claim that the inmate is “Unknown”, despite a prison number being provided.

f. An inmate was prohibited from wearing civilian clothes to his court appearance, even though this is expressly permitted within the prison rules. His clothes were confiscated, together with his prayer mat, and was told by staff in a derogatory manner “Ramadans over”. He was forced to attend court in prison overalls.

g. Prisoners prayer mats were confiscated on the way to court, even though these are also permitted

With correspondence from prison rights organisations being deliberately frustrated, it makes one wonder what other secrets HMP Manchester are hiding which they are not disclosing. This is surely only the tip of the iceberg.

The prison service have an obligation to be transparent and to allow muslims to practice their religion freely.  This is expressly stated as follows :-

"the prison service is committed to racial equality. Improper discrimination on the base of colour, race, nationality, ethnic or national origins, or religion is unacceptable, as is any racial abuse or insulting language or behaviour on the part of any member of staff, prisoner or visitors, neither shall be tolerated".

- PSO 2800

It is clear that HMP Manchester is in breach of these guidelines through their rules which are directly applied to muslims alone. We call on HMP Manchester to immediately cease their discriminatory treatment of muslim prisoners.


Actions Required

Please send a letter to HMP Manchester expressing your disgust at the treatment of muslims at the prison.

Please send a copy of the letter to Anne Owers of the Prison Inspectorate as well as your MP, asking why there continues to be no action taken against the islamophobic and racist behaviour of staff at HMP Manchester

Key Contacts

Governor Richard Vince
HMP Manchester
1 Southall Street
Manchester
M60 9AH

Fax: 0161 817 5601

H M Prison Service
Parliamentary, Correspondence & Briefing Unit
Room 536
Cleland
Page Street
London
SW1P 4LN

FAX: 0207 217 6403 

Anne Owers, Prison Inspectorate
Ashley House
2 Monck Street
London
SW1P 2BQ
Tel 020 7035 2876
Fax 020 7035 2860
Email: mail@ppo.gsi.gov.uk


Sample Letter

Dear <NAME>,

I am writing to you to express my disgust by the discriminatory treatment being applied to muslims within HMP Manchester. Examples of this include prohibition of relgious headwear, being forced to attend court in prison uniform, mail failing to be delivered, racist and derogatory remarks being made to muslim inmates, restrictions on religious books and many other examples that for the sake of brevity I have omitted from this letter.

The prison service have an obligation to be transparent and to allow muslims to practice their religion freely.  This is expressly stated as follows :-

"the prison service is committed to racial equality. Improper discrimination on the base of colour, race, nationality, ethnic or national origins, or religion is unacceptable, as is any racial abuse or insulting language or behaviour on the part of any member of staff, prisoner or visitors, neither shall be tolerated".

- PSO 2800

It is clear that HMP Manchester is in breach of these guidelines through their rules which are directly applied to muslims alone.

I would therefore urge you to ensure that HMP Manchester adheres to the rules of the prison service and to ensure that muslim inmates are treated fairly and with respect.

I look forward to hearing from you to see what steps HMP Manchester will now take to eradicate the Islamophobic treatment that muslim inmates suffer on a daily basis.

Regards,
--------------------

How you you like it sir/madam?

All through the ages of human history mankind has sought immortality and recognition. There was a time when this could only be sought through a contest of arms showing bravery, courage and honour. But then the arms that were used became every more destructive as mankind turned his monumental brain to inventing engines of war…till these weapons could wipe out millions in one go.

What if instead of all that effort going into the science of death mankind had developed down a different path and had instead developed the science of the living. Cancer would have been a thing of the past as would many of the illnesses and conditions that debilitate and limit life today.

Today we have that choice. We can blindly follow the leaders of this world and go on as we have for the last 4,000 years and we will end up with more graves, more fear, more bloodshed, more sorrow, more pain, more bereavement….and still our leaders rhetoric will be unchanged…we fight to preserve the peace.

Today we have another way; a way that makes sense and reduces the fear and pain of the nations. Today we can choose to tell our leaders they are wrong to pursue constant war. For today is the International Day of Peace. Today we should all write to our leaders and tell them they are wrong to pursue fighting and death.

Just close your eyes for one moment and think what we could achieve in this world if all the resources gobbled by war were instead to be put to peaceful ends…the ending of world poverty, the feeding of the nations, the cure for diseases, sight for the blind, new limbs for the disabled, clearing away the minefields and cluster debris….

Did you see it? This brave new world that could be…it starts with one person…it starts with you…it starts now.

Share the light of this wonderful day of Peace my friends. With my love