THIS EVENING Young peaceworkers at work

PEACE. It's a great idea. But what does it mean in practice, and how do you actually do it, on the the ground, in day-to-day realistic situations?

Young Peaceworkers at work is an interactive workshop presented by two young Quakers who will not only tell you, but show you and involve you too.

Rhiannon Redpath is placed with Gender Action for Peace and Security, working on the issue of women in Afghanistan.

Owen Everett is placed jointly with War Resisters' International and Forces Watch, working on countering the militarisation of young people.

They are part of the one-year popular Peaceworker scheme run by Quaker Peace and Social Witness for the last 20 years.

Hear about their experiences, share their enthusiasm. Inspiration is guaranteed!

The talk and workshop runs on Monday 26th August 2013, from 7.30-9.00pm, at the central Quaker Meeting House in Victoria Street, Edinburgh, EH1 2JL. Tickets can be bought at the venue and cost £5.

This is part of the joint Just Festival, Edinburgh Peace Initiative and Quaker lecture series.

More here.

LAST DAY Peacing it all together

HOPEFULLY you've had a chance to see the In Sight of Peace exhibition on South Africa at St John's, Edinburgh (the hall, free).

If not, so try to take a look before the Just Festival ends today (Monday 26th August).

You can pop along today, or between 10am and 2pm Monday.

Meanwhile, here are a few inspirational quotes which set the context for Ian Berry's remarkable and moving images from the apartheid era and beyond...
More about the exhibition here.

TONIGHT AT 8pm: Just together... a celebration!

TONIGHT at 8pm, we celebrate what has been another extraordinary and record-breaking Just Festival (formerly the Festival of Spirituality and Peace) with a 'wrap event' at St John's Church.

Scots pipers will welcome us in and see us out. There will be a swansong or two for Just from the amazing Africa Entsha - of course - along with dance from Ragmala, Polish music, a cameo from Creepie Stool, a reflection from Rabbi Rosen, the Just Festival volunteers bursting into song, and more...

We also look forward to hearing from festival director Katherine Newbigging and chair of the hard-working board, Raymond Baudon.  There will be refreshments in the church hall afterwards.

But don't get the idea that this is the end of Just for 2013!

We will still have a full day left, Monday 26th August. That will be your last chance to see the moving Tejas Verdes, to reflect on Living Our Values, to meet Young Peacemakers, to hear the Canto del Paradiso, to be moved by Sacred Earth, to hear Africa Entsha, to see Creepie Stool... and to answer the question (in a multi-ethnic, multicultural, multi-belief society), "More Tea Imam?"

Also, of course, you can have a final peak at the remarkable In Sight of Peace photo-exhibition: Ian Berry of Magnum offers a unique view of South Africa, past and present, in its quest to leave apartheid behind - without forgetting the torment, and while learning the lessons.

Further previews of all of those events coming up soon here on Just Festival News...

Meantime, Just Together, the official closing event - tonight, 8pm, St John's Church Edinburgh (corner of Princes Street and Lothian Road, venue 127).

It's free, but donations to our charities, Mary's Meals and Waverley Care, and to the ongoing work of Just, will be welcome.

The cost of peace

HERE'S a trailer for the touching and profound film Two-Sided Story, on the quest for reconciliation with justice in Israel and Palestine today.

It shows at 4pm, Sunday 25th August, St John's Church Hall, £6.

Israel, Palestine... Two-sided story

ON Sunday afternoon, Just Festival has a special screening of the moving, insightful and thoughtful film Two-Sided Story.

It is a narrative involving 27 Palestinians and Israelis meeting for a unique project called ‘History through the Human Eye’.

Bereaved Palestinian families, Orthodox Jews and religious Muslims, settlers, ex-soldiers and ex-security prisoners, and citizens of the Gaza strip; each holds their own historical truth and shares their own emotional baggage with each other.

As Archbishop Elias Chacour, a Palestinian and citizen of Israel who has struggled tirelessly and nonviolently for a just peace in the land has observed: a settlement in Israel-Palestine, which must offer security and recognition for all people, is not just about politics. It is about disarmed truth, and recognising in each other a wounded bother and sister, not an enemy or a threat.

Tor Ben-Mayor • Israel Palestine 2010 • 1h15m • Hebrew, Arabic/English subtitles Rated 18.

The hall at St John's Church (corner of Princes Street and Lothian Road, venue 127). Tickets are £6 and can be purchased at the cash-only box office at the venue.

Sponsored by Parents Circle - Families Forum (PCFF), which is a grassroots organization of bereaved Palestinians and Israelis. The PCFF promotes reconciliation as an alternative to hatred and revenge.

Seeds of bitterness, milk of kindness...

THE recent revelations about direct CIA involvement in the 1953 Iranian coup d'état (known in Iran as the 28 Mordad coup) bring back very personal memories for Yousef Ahadi, who heads up the operation at the Persian Tent.

The overthrow of the democratically elected government of Iran, and of Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh, took place on 19 August 1953, orchestrated by the UK (under the name 'Operation Boot') and the United States (under the name TPAJAX Project).

Yousef's mother was taking part in a protest against the dictatorship, with Yousef alongside her... the outcome of which is that he reckons the CIA owe him at least a bottle of milk!

Much more seriously, though, he explains in this interview with Just Festival News why the latest revelations need to bring about a real change of heart in the West - and in the world as a whole - away from violence and injustice, and towards a better way of living together.

The legacy of the bitterness between Iran and the West can be found in part in the tragic events which unfolded 60 years ago this month. You can also find out more about Yousef's mother's story here.

Listen to the full podcast here.

Photojournalism and conflict transformation

ONE of the highlights of Just Festival has been the 'In Sight of Peace' exhibition showing in St John's hall which bears moving witness to South Africa’s extraordinary journey from segregation and inequality towards justice, peace and reconciliation.

But what of the wider role of photojournalism in political and social contexts, and in the quest for peacemaking? Following the conversation with doyen photographer Ian Berry at 12.30-1.30pm, there will be a panel discussion (2-3pm) to dig deeper into the part photojournalism can play in processes of conflict transformation.

The panel consists of Professor Jolyon Mitchell (University of Edinburgh, centre for Theology and Public Issues), Professor Scott Appleby (Kroc Institute of International Peacebuilding, Notre Dame University, USA), Ian Berry (Magnum Photos) and chair Dr Theodora Hawksley (University of Edinburgh).

Full booking details here.

Joyce Seroke workshop

A WORKSHOP on peace and reconciliation takes place today, Tuesday 13th August, at the St John's Church Hall, Edinburgh, with the indefatigable Joyce Seroke. 

 Born in 1933 in Johannesburg, Joyce was awarded the Golden Baobab in 1996 for ‘her excellent contribution to the struggle against gender oppression and exploitation, her commitment to peace and reconciliation and the struggle for a non-racial, just and democratic society’.

 The cost is just £5. Full booking details here.

Acclaim for photo exhibition

THERE has been widespread acclaim for the remarkable  In Sight of Peace  photo exhibition, which has been showing at St John's Church Hall as part of Just Festival.

This evening the curators are holding a private viewing from 6.30pm, but other than that the photos are on show in the hall throughout the festival, with times reserved for showing in between performances and discussions in the popular venue. 

Capturing both daily life and struggle during the apartheid era, as well as the emergence of the new South Africa, the exhibition of monochrome prints is both poignant and inspiring.

"It brought back some powerful memories and also reminded me of what the phenomenon of Nelson Mandela's release from prison and emergence on the world stage really meant," one visitor told us at the press opening last week

The Magnum Photos travelling exhibition, in association with Just Festival, is sponsored by theCentre for Theology and Public Issues (CPTI) at the University of Edinburgh and the Binks Trust.

Curated by Dr Geoffrey Stevenson (pictured) and Brian Fischbacher, In Sight of Peace forms part of a project on Peacebuilding Through Media Arts, directed by Professor Jolyon Mitchell - who will also be speaking at two forthcoming Just events.

A particular tie-in with this exhibit is 'The Role of photojournalism in peacebuilding', a conversation with Ian Berry and others, from 2-3pm in the hall at St John's on 14 August (£5).

An eyewitness: building just-peace, opposing occupation

SOME twenty people gathered in the Persian Tent, Just Festival's most intimate venue, to hear a moving and informative talk by Tricia Griffin on her time on the West Bank.

Tricia (pictured, speaking) was in the region for three months under the auspices of the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI), which is coordinated globally by the World Council of Churches (WCC) and in Britain and Ireland by the Quakers (Religious Society of Friends).

EAPPI promotes nonviolent observation to assist conflict reduction. It favours a just-peace to benefit all in the region. It draws on volunteers from some 20 countries in Europe, north America and beyond.

The EAPPI programme enables people to talk to both Israelis and Palestinians, to link with peace activists, and also to understand the reality for Palestinians of life under occupation, including the seizing without compensation of land, water and the means of livelihood.

For example, the settlement of Efrat overflows its sewage onto agricultural land, making the produce there unsaleable. In other areas schools have been similarly effected.

Both the settlements and what some call a 'peace wall' and others a barrier also hinder transport and travel, disrupting the Palestinian economy very seriously.

The barrier is 708km, more than twice the length of the agreed Green Line. It is also built 85% on Palestinian land.

"People on both sides of the conflict naturally think they are right, and they have various opinions,' observed Ms Griffin. "But there is also fact to contend."

Factually, she pointed out, settlements are illegal under International Humanitarian Law,  in violation of article 49 of the 4th Geneva Convention - underlined in 2004 by the International Court of Justice.

Israeli groups working for peace and opposing the occupation often feel marginalised, and value the chance to have their voices and concerns heard. They include Rabbis for Human Rights, Breaking the Silence (Israeli veteran soldiers), Women in Black (a group of whom also meet regularly in Edinburgh) and a variety of conscientious objectors.

Villages and settlers are very close together, and there are frequent attacks on villagers. Rabbis are among those who help with care of olive groves and other tasks to support local Palestinians.

Both Jews and Arabs also work together to rebuild Palestinian homes demolished by Israeli troops.

"Peace and justice is all we ask, and to have our dignity. Our hope comes from our faith in God, our belief in nonviolence and the love of God," said one activist.

The Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel brings internationals to the West Bank to experience life under occupation. Ecumenical Accompaniers (EAs) provide protective presence to vulnerable communities, monitor and report human rights abuses and support Palestinians and Israelis working together for peace.

When they return home, EAs campaign for a just and peaceful resolution to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict through an end to the occupation, respect for international law and implementation of UN resolutions.

Global and local: Yousef's mother's story

THE world is a big place, but all of the really large events that make and shake our lives involve little people... like you and me.

That's the premise behind the very personal, engaging presentation that will take place in the Persian Tent at St John's Church this afternoon, from 4-6pm

Yousef Ahadi (pictured), owner of the Persian Rug Village in Edinburgh, shares the real-life story of his mother.

She battled for almost a century against the authoritarian regimes of Stalin, the Shah of Iran and the international forces of occupation and exploitation in the East.

Eventually she found herself a serene and peaceful resting place beside her children in Turkey. It's a story of pain, courage, love and inspiration.

Come along to talk with Yousef, to gain a new insight into Iran, the Middle East, Turkey and much more... and enjoy some wonderful tea and food in the Persian Tent while you are there.

It's open throughout Just Festival, by the way: an oasis of tranquility in the midst of a vibrant but hectic period in the life of Scotland's capital.

Hiroshima commemoration tonight

EDINBURGH Justice and Peace Centre, friends of the Just Festival, are supporting the capital's annual Hiroshima commemoration tonight (6th August).

The event, which remembers the terrible consequences of the dropping of the nuclear bomb on one of two civilian populations in 1945, take place at the Mound from 6 - 7pm.

"Bring candles, songs, poems, banners, friends... or just yourself," say the organisers.

The commermoration will be followed by a gathering at 7.15pm at the Edinburgh Peace and Justice Centre Peace Pole on the Terrace of St John's Church (corner of Princes Street and Lothian Road).

All welcome.

Eye witness accounts from the occupied West Bank

WHAT is really going on in Israel and Palestine, and especially on the West Bank? There's a chance to find out first hand from a participant-observer today (Tuesday 6th August, 2-3pm) in the Persian Tent at St John's Church. 

Tricia recently spent three months in Bethlehem monitoring human rights and experiencing life under Occupation. She was there as an international volunteer with the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI).

On the West Bank ecumenical accompaniers monitor the checkpoint, witness the conduct of Israeli soldiers outside schools and visit outlying villages to find out about the difficulties that Palestinians face living in the shadow of illegal Israeli settlements.

The presentation and discussion is free, but you can book on Eventbrite here.

Peace in the frame

THERE was a positive, thoughtful response to Ian Berry's captivating photos at the opening and press call for the acclaimed In Sight of Peace exhibition at St John's Church Hall this afternoon.

Capturing both daily life and struggle during the apartheid era, as well as the emergence of the new South Africa, the exhibition of monochrome prints is both poignant and inspiring.

"It brought back some powerful memories and also reminded me of what the phenomenon of Nelson Mandela's release from prison and emergence on the world stage really meant," one visitor told us.

The Magnum Photos travelling exhibition, in association with Just Festival, is sponsored by the Centre for Theology and Public Issues (CPTI) at the University of Edinburgh and the Binks Trust.

Curated by Dr Geoffrey Stevenson and Brian Fischbacher, In Sight of Peace forms part of a project on Peacebuilding Through Media Arts, directed by Professor Jolyon Mitchell - who will also be speaking at two forthcoming Just events.

A short podcast interview with Dr Stevenson will appear on Just Festival News shortly.

A particular tie-in with this exhibit is 'The Role of photojournalism in peacebuilding', a conversation with Ian Berry and others, from 2-3pm in the hall at St John's on 14 August (£5).

In sight of peace exhibition

Not just Edinburgh... the moral heart of Festival

EDINBURGH's annual Festival of Spirituality and Peace has been relaunched in 2013 as Just Festival, comprising 129 events across 450 performances in 28 different venues.

The relaunch happened at St John's Church in Scotland's capital on 18 June 2013. Though the events happen from 2-26 August in Edinburgh, the style, remit and scope of the Festival is far wider – global, in fact.

Among the many cultural highlights this year there will be live music from Chile's Tejas Verdes, music and dance from Afriva Entsha, topical conversations, film screenings, exhibitions, family events and Edinburgh's first Death Café (would you like that death tall, grande or venti?).

The renaming of the festival, says The List magazine, marks a shift away from emphasising the absence of conflict and towards a more active engagement with justice and compassion.

Edinburgh Spotlight comments: "It would be unfair to suggest that Edinburgh’s other festivals shy away from moral, political and social issues. However, by curating a series of events and performances which both celebrate and highlight the importance of the world’s cultural and ethical diversity, the Just Festival could perhaps be described as the festival season’s compassionate heart."

Just Festival is being supported and sponsored by the Scottish Government, the European Parliament, the University of Edinburgh, the Scottish Episcopal Church, Ekklesia, Edinburgh City Centre Churches Together (ecumenical), Edinburgh Inter Faith Association, and the main venue, St John's Church.