Photos from Peace Vigil for Syria + Peace Walk on Wed 22 Jan

Many thanks to everyone who joined or supported yesterday’s peace vigil for Syria in Trafalgar Square, in which 15-20 people took part.

Photos here (courtesy of Peter Marshall):
http://www.demotix.com/news/3705065/syria-peace-justice-hold-peace-vigil-syria-trafalgar-square

And here:
https://picasaweb.google.com/vd2012.pics/PeaceVigilForSyria#

Please note that some of us will carry out a peace walk for Syria along the south bank of the River Thames on Wednesday (22 January) – the first day of the “Geneva 2” conference – from Tower Bridge to Westminster Bridge, London.

We will gather in the vicinity of City Hall (on the Tower Bridge side) from 11am and set off at 12noon.

All peace-lovers are welcome to join us.

Mobile contact numbers: 07466 838 320  or  07506 234 091

In peace and solidarity,
Dan

Syria Peace & Justice – A London-based grassroots group working for peace, justice and human rights in Syria
https://syriapeaceandjustice.wordpress.com

E-mail: syriapeaceandjustice [at] gmail.com
Twitter: @syriaPJ
Facebook: Syria Peace & Justice

Peace vigil for Syria – Saturday 18 January 2014

2:30-4:30pm, Outside the National Gallery, north terrace of Trafalgar Square, London
(Nearest tube: Charing Cross)

Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/199398640255176

Ahead of the planned ‘Geneva II’ peace talks in Switzerland (due to take
place 22-24 January), Syria Peace & Justice will hold a peace vigil
to call for immediate humanitarian ceasefires to enable aid to reach
besieged communities in Syria, the immediate release of all political
prisoners and other arbitrarily detained persons, and an inclusive
Syrian-led peace process that includes strong representation from Syrian women,
Syrian civil society organisations and various moderate Syrian opposition groups.*

All peace-loving people who share the above aims are most welcome to join us.

A peace action may also be organised for Wednesday, 22 January 2013. Let us know if you want to be kept informed about that.

*The talks as currently proposed, whose agenda is being set by major
foreign powers like the US and Russia, are unsatisfactory. On the Syrian
side, only the government and a single opposition delegation – from the
Turkey-based Syrian National Coalition – have been invited. Not quite the
inclusive, Syrian-led peace process we are calling for!

In peace and solidarity,
Dan

Mob: 07506 234 091

Syria Peace & Justice – A London-based grassroots group working for peace, justice and human rights in Syria
https://syriapeaceandjustice.wordpress.com

 E-mail: syriapeaceandjustice [at] gmail.com
Twitter: @syriapj
Facebook: Syria Peace & Justice

International solidarity hunger strike for starving civilians under siege in Syria:
https://www.facebook.com/qusaihungerstrike

First meeting of the year

Happy New Year to all of our followers!

Syria Peace and Justice will hold its first group meeting of 2014 on Wednesday, 15th January, from 6.30 to 9.30pm at the the London Action Resource Centre, 62 Fieldgate Street (corner of Parfett Street), Whitechapel, London E1 1ES
Map: http://tinyurl.com/k3qajlh.

The agenda for the meeting is likely to include the following:

– Reflection upon the group’s activities since it’s formation in October 2013, including the London Peace Pilgrimage for Syria in December;
– Report back from group delegation’s meeting with Turkish embassy representative just before Christmas;
– Discussion of how we might develop the group and its activities over the coming year;
– Firm up plans for a peace vigil or other action in London in the week of the ‘Geneva II’ Syria peace talks (22 Jan).

Any comments or additional suggestions are welcome.

In advance of the meeting, you might want to have a look at the two articles linked to below. The first laments the lack of solidarity from the US peace movement with Syrian civil society activists, which I think applies equally to us in the UK, while the second provides some additional context as regards civil society activists in Syria being persecuted by the government and al Qaeda-affiliated opposition groups alike. The authors of both articles are professional women of Syrian descent.

http://forusa.org/blogs/mohja-kahf/lack-us-peace-movement-solidarity-syrian-uprising-no-good-guys-excuse/12622

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/hind-kabawat/two-evils-in-the-syrian-r_b_4532837.html

Please also be aware that there is currently an international ‘hunger strike’ taking place in solidarity with Moadamiya and other besieged Syrian towns, which I encourage you to participate in, whether for 24 hours or longer. The action is set to continue until 22nd January.

More details here: https://www.facebook.com/qusaihungerstrike

In peace,
Dan

Syria Peace & Justice – A London-based grassroots group working for peace, justice and human rights in Syria
https://syriapeaceandjustice.wordpress.com
E-mail: syriapeaceandjustice [at] gmail.com
Twitter: @syriapj