Issue: 2496

Police have intervened across the country to prevent screenings of the new campaigning film On the Verge about the Brighton-based anti-arms trade group “Smash EDO”. Police action succeeded in preventing the film's premiere on 17 March.

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I had a sort of New Year resolution not to write about the “Defence Systems & Equipment International Exhibition” (DSEI) arms fair for a while and focus on other issues.

I have changed my mind for two reasons.

Over the last few years, and especially in the past six months, something special's been happening, is happening.

When my son was coming up to school age, a friend introduced me to John Holt's book Teach Your Own, which I liked very much.

Play therapy has a role to play in preventing children from growing up violent.

“If you went beyond this point they would have shot you” Barbara tells us as we walk past lampposts painted with military looking red and white stripes.

The Scottish Parliament is now led by a Scottish Nationalist Party administration opposed to Trident. The result has been renewed optimism about making progress with anti­Trident campaigning, particularly by working through the Scottish Parliament. However success will only be achieved if pressure is maintained on both Westminster and Holyrood by further campaigns of direct action and lobbying, as well as an increase in trade union involvement. Four Scottish based peace activists explain.

On 19 March, the British prime minister launched the much–delayed National Security Strategy (NSS) – to little enthusiasm.

Our demonstration in November 07 was able to use the slogan: People and Parliament Against Trident.

British public support for the war on Afghanistan has risen over the past two years, as Afghan political leaders call for negotiations with the Taliban.

Gordon Brown has gone back on the promise he made on 8 October last year that troop numbers in Iraq would be cut to 2,500 this spring.

As Peace News went to press, the official death toll in Lhasa rose to 22 - generally assumed to be a massive under-estimate - and solidarity demonstrations were taking place around the world.

Two days apart in late February, two groups protesting against plans to expand Heathrow took their protest aloft, first at Heathrow and then the House of Commons.

On 8 March, Aldermaston Women's Peace Camp (AWPC) read in The Independent that we were packing up our camp for the last time; famous people were mourning our loss and messages of support were flooding in.