From Peace Institute to Palestine Solidarity

IssueNovember 2010
News by Kelvin Mason

On 28 September the Petitions Committee of the Welsh Assembly Government posted its official decision on the ambition for a Peace Institute (Academi Heddwch) in Wales. “The committee agreed to: undertake further work on a rapporteur/informal group basis to consider how a peace institute in Wales could be established; how they would be funded and the work which they could undertake.” On behalf of the project’s instigators, the civil society forum Cynefin Y Werin, Dr John Cox of CND Cymru is contacting the Committee Chair to enquire as to how the decision might be implemented.

In Aberystwyth, the Secretary of the local branch of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Elizabeth Morley, has proposed to the Town Council that Aberystwyth twin with a town in Palestine. Elizabeth Morley’s letter read: “During the last twelve months we were struck by the encouragement and support that the people of Aberystwyth have expressed for our campaign. What came through even more importantly was people’s eagerness to share their knowledge about the region, and the empathy the majority had with the Palestinians.”

Aberystwyth Town Council discussed the proposal and the historical basis for twinning - that is a long-term friendship between municipal groups. Councillor Allan Williams proposed a meeting with the local PSC group as a way forward. Meanwhile, the PSC group is staging a charity concert in Aberystwyth on 29 November to raise funds for Medical Aid to Palestine. The concert starts at 7pm in the Morlan Centre and will feature Dafydd Iwan, Sue Jones Davies, Abdul Wahab Jouani and Côr Gobaith.

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