Abingdon Peace Group June newsletter

Our June meeting will be on Zoom only, on Tuesday 17th at 8pm: “From Tanks to Tearfund – one man’s journey towards peace”.

Nuclear and Anti-nuclear News:
Join us for Hiroshima Day Lantern floating 6th August 7pm
As last year, we will gather in St Ethelwolds House around 7pm for an exhibition and refreshments, then hold a brief ceremony round the
Peace Pole in St Ethelwolds Garden before carrying our lit lanterns
and candles in procession to the river to float . All welcome!

The Elders speak out at Hiroshima in call for nuclear disarmament:
https://theelders.org/news/no-more-hiroshimas-elders-call-urgent-nuclear-dialogue-conflict-risks-rise

Britain is exploring return of air-delivered nuclear weapons!
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/britain-expected-to-arm-fighter-jets-with-nuclear-weapons/

Rene Gill of Oxford CND, who died last month, was a lifelong campaigner for nuclear disarmament.
Her obituary, written by her son Tom Gill, was well worth reading in the Guardian: https://
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/14/irene-gill-obituary?CMP=share_btn_url

Signs of Hope:
International Conscientious Objectors Day is marked on May 15 every year. We celebrated in Bonn Square, Oxford this year with songs, speeches, poetry and reflections.
Symon Hill spoke movingly about the growing numbers of young people currently in jail all over the world for refusing to fight, from Ukrainian pacifists to Israeli
refuseniks. Annette Bygott told us about over 1,200 COs executed in Hitler’s Germany: most were Jehovah’s Witnesses, but Hermann Stohr was a protestant and had been secretary of IFOR. Sue Smith read out the names of many of Oxfordshire CO’s in WW1 while Oxford Seagreen Singers and Didcot Red Kites sang.

Anne Dodd welcomes the election of Pope Leo as a “Pope of Peace”:
Pope Leo X1V was elected at the beginning of May. His first words as he stepped onto the balcony of St Peters in Rome for the first time was to say “ Peace be with you” to the thousands of people below in St Peters Square. The greeting was also heard by the millions watching online. The second time he appeared on the balcony he appealed for peace in the world, naming Gaza and Ukraine. He continued, “ In today`s dramatic scenario of a third world war in pieces, as Pope Francis repeatedly stated, I too turn to the great men of the world, repeating the ever-timely appeal, “Never again war!”
In all he has said since, in fact, Pope Leo has continued the peace- building legacy of Pope Francis and the urgent need to build bridges not walls . It was Pope Francis who denounced as immoral not only the use but the mere possession of nuclear weapons. Even when he was in hospital just before he died, he continued to plead for the non-violent resolution of conflict. Let`s hope that the influence and voice of the multi-lingual American-Peruvian Pope Leo will continue to be strong in the urgent need for peace in our present world.

The imprisoned Israelis refusing military service in Gaza. Do watch this moving video of an 18-year-old “refusenik” whose father is a military recruiter for the IDF. Full of warmth, dignity and bravery. https://youtu.be/sbFXEbKmzHA?si=m6LlXrk6ZppyC0Y4 The comments on YouTube are uplifting too..

Would you take part in a vigil for Palestine in Abingdon? New member Sam is thinking of organising one in the market place and collecting for MAP – Medical Aid for Palestinians.
Meanwhile do send all you can to https://www.map.org.uk/

Dates for your Diary:
Every Monday except Bank Holidays: Vigil for Peacemakers at the War Memorial, 8.15-8.45am
Tuesday 17th June 8pm on-line. David Couzens “From Tanks to Tearfund” (see above).
Wednesday 6th August 7pm: Hiroshima Day Lantern Floating - ceremony at the Peace Pole in St Ethelwold’s garden, procession to the river. (See above)
Sunday 5th October 12noon – 2pm Rally at USAF Croughton. Organised by Oxfordshire Peace Campaign, of which Abingdon Peace Group is a member. National speakers. Minibus from Oxford.

Abingdon Peace Group has no party political affiliations. It is run by a small “Forward Planning Group”. Do you have ideas and thoughts to share? We welcome your input. We are still looking for someone to produce a regular newsletter, could this be you? Contact us on [email protected] , 07786 055195 or (01235) 526265.

In Peace,