SeaGreen Singers

Commemorating the Peacemakers

15th November
Friends Meeting House, 43 St Giles, Oxford, OX1 3LW
Day conference with FoR, Oxford Quakers, Movement for the Abolition of War and Ruskin College.

There are plenty of events around the world marking 100 years since the start of “The Great War”. Our programme aims to offer an alternative history and focus on those who tried to prevent the war, and those who resisted it, both before it started and during it. We will learn about the peace, labour and women’s movements leading up to the war and what they were doing in 1914. We will try to relate their struggles to those of peace-makers today and what lessons we have learnt about peace-making for 2014.

The day will start with a key-note speaker followed by a panel discussion, with representatives of organisations that have pursued peace-making over the last century.
The afternoon will continue with workshops on music, film, education materials, and the day will end with a free concert.

Programme for the day
From 10am: Registration and sign up for afternoon workshops
Morning session 10.30am – 12.30pm: Keynote speaker, panel speakers, discussion and questions
Chair: Jane Dawson: Head of Quaker Advocacy and Public Relations
Keynote speaker : John Gittings on the arguments against war in 1914, and why they did not prevail.

Panellists:
Katherine Connelly, feminist historian on hidden stories of women who organised against the war.
Tracy Walsh, Academic Coordinator, Ruskin College, on how socialists in the labour movement resisted the drive to war.
Emma Anthony, Quaker and staff at Fellowship of Reconciliation, on FoR’s past and current work for peace.

1.30pm – 4.30pm: Workshops
1st: 1.30pm – 2.45pm
2nd: 3.15pm – 4.30pm

Choose 1 workshop for each session:
(i) Music: sing peace songs.
(ii) Film & talk: conscientious objection and the ethics of recruitment
(iii) Education: educating ourselves to prevent war.
(iv) Films: recent DVDs on how to abolish war.

Free Concert, 7.30pm – 9.30pm
Sea Green Singers – songs of justice and peace
Ciaran Walsh: story-teller, recounting the Christmas Truce.
Men’s group singing songs about the pity of war
East Oxford Community Choir: excerpts from ‘The Armed Man, a Mass for Peace’, by Karl Jenkins.
Poetry readings about war and peace
The venue is wheelchair accessible.

Songs:
We've Sung a Thousand Songs of Peace
Blood and Gold
Foolish Notion
We Will Remember: Testimony
Both Sides
We are not just against the fighting, we are for peace
Bringing peace - Salaam

Download Song Words: 1-page Word doc; 2-page doc