Oh what a lovely war-resistance!

You are invited to a musical evening of historic opposition to war.

7pm, Monday 29 February.St Augustine’s Church, Mattison Rd, N4 1BG.(Take tube to Manor House or Turnpike Lane. Buses 29, 141, & 341 stop at Mattison Rd.)Donations at the door towards expenses.

Discover the stories of people courageous enough to resist the First World War’s recruitment campaigns and conscription. 100 years ago who opposed the war and why did they do it? What kind of politics, what kind of patriotism, what kinds of faith did they have? Clive Barrett, Chair of the Peace Museum, Bradford, gives an illustrated presentation on the conscientious objectors of the First World War, including some local Haringey stories, interspersed with examples of the music that inspired them. Come and sing along to songs of courage and conscience, with the help of a choir led by Sue Gilmurray. Here's the event poster.

Two forthcoming events

11am to 3.30pm, Sat 30 Jan 2016, Guiseppe Conlon House: Ash Wednesday preparation and reflection gathering We are meeting to explore the history of this annual witness against nuclear war preparations, talk about the actions that will take place and plan for Ash Wednesday 10 February 2016.  All welcome, bring lunch to share.

6:30pm to 8:30pm, Thurs 4 Feb 2016, Guiseppe Conlon House: Talk by Yuichi Kamoshita and Sarasa Aihara will speak as part of 'The Wind from Okinawa' Speaking Tour about non-violent resistance to US militarism in Okinawa.

All are welcome to join this free public event. Yuichi Kamoshita and Sarasa Aihara are core members of the protest group against the new U.S. military base in Henoko, Okinawa, Japan. Daily protests, which normally attract over 200 people, are currently taking place outside 'Camp Schwab' with activists sitting in the road, forcibly being removed by riot police and being arrested for trying to stop the construction of the new airbase, which plans to landfill 160 hectares of Oura Bay.

A breathtakingly beautiful bay is a critical feeding ground for the Dugong (a type of manatee), sea turtles and home to a unique Porites cylindric coral community, enriched by fresh water plankton which lead into the bay from jungle rivers.

There are currently 32 U.S. bases on Okinawa, with the island extensively being used as a training ground for some 26,000 Marines, the total population of Okinawa is 1.4 million. The 24 Osprey helicopters take-off and landings are an acute disruption for local residents with a long track record of accidents which are covered-up by the U.S military.

Come and hear these young committed peace activists from Okinawa who are very much influenced by their Buddhist faith, as well as the history which shaped the current generation of Japan.

Connected events and further info:

• Thursday 4th February, 12-2pm: Vigil at new US Embassy, Nine Elms.

• Friday 5th February, 10am-12.30pm: Vigil at Japanese Embassy, Piccadilly.

• More info: 1 | 2.

• Organised by VCNV in association with nipponzanmyohoji.

Transform Now Plowshares Speaking Tour

This January, Paul Magno and Sr. Megan Rice from Transform Now Plowshares will be travelling and speaking in Europe to call attention to the nuclear arms race and to articulate the action they took in 2012 and why it remains important to continue such nonviolent resistance.

On Thursday 7th January at 6.30 pm they will be speaking at Giuseppe Conlon House.

Further UK dates:

• Edinburgh: Friday 8th January, 5.30 to 7.30 pm @ Edinburgh Peace and Justice Centre, 5 Upper Bow EH1 2JN. Contact: Brain Larkin 07584492257

• Birmingham: Saturday 23rd January, 1 to 4 pm @ St John and Martin Catholic Church Hall, George St, Balsall Heath, Birmingham B12 9RG. Contact: Fr. Martin Newell 07985728464

The Transform Now Plowshares is an effort by people of faith to transform nuclear weapons into real, life-giving alternatives, to build true peace.

Inspired by the prophets Micah and Isaiah, Jesus and Gandhi, the Transform Now Plowshares began a symbolic conversion of the Y-12 Highly-Enriched Uranium Manufacturing Facility in Oak Ridge TN on July 28, 2012. Consequently they faced trial and conviction for property damage and were sentenced in February of 2014 to 3 and 5 year sentences. An unprecedented appellate court ruling invalidated their sabotage conviction and they were released from prison this past May.