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Peace and Social Justice Workshops should be booked individually

 9.15 10.45am: Workshop 1 - Gaza, Arms and Upholding International Humanitarian Law

Join Bushra Khalidi and Martin Butcher for a timely workshop on Gaza. With lived experience and lnternational Law insight, they’ll explore how UK arms sales, military support and the militarisation of aid undermine the humanitarian principles that ensure our human rights are upheld in conflict - and what we can do to take action. We will hopefully hear from Oxfam’s humanitarian staff working in Gaza.

Bushra Khalidi is Oxfam’s Policy Lead in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and Martin Butcher is Oxfam’s Peace, Conflict and International Law Policy Advisor.  https://www.oxfam.org.uk/get-involved/campaign-with-oxfam/

11.00-12.30: Workshop 2 - Drone Wars: Out of Sight, Out of Mind, Out of Control

The government insists that funding new drones, AI weapons and other military technology is needed to keep us safe in a dangerous world. But will developing and deploying more high-tech weaponry really lead to peace?  This workshop will give an overview of recent developments around drone warfare – including the operation of US drones from RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire - the development of AI weapons and the militarisation of space, and argue that far from keeping us safe, these weapons simply make war more likely.

Chris Cole is Director of Drone Wars UK and a long-time peace activist. www.dronewars.net

 13.00-14.30: Workshop 3 - Just Peace with Robin Cockroft and Meg of RYSE, Radical Youth Space for Education

Martin Luther King said: 'Peace is not simply the absence of conflict but the existence of justice for all people'

Join Meg and Robin from the RYSE to ask: what makes a peace truly just? The workshop will take participants through a series of exercises to explore this topic, including starting right here with the Stroud High Street, as well as bringing marginalised voices from across the world. We will end with some historic and present examples of communities who are at the forefront of the global struggle for a truly just peace - including how we can join them!
Meg (23) is Education Coordinator at the RYSE and heads their work on Internationalist Solidarity.                                                       Robin Cockcroft (30) is the 'old man of the RYSE' and loves creating intergenerational learning spaces for the whole community.        Find out more about The RYSE on their website: www.theryse.org/about

14.45-16.15: Workshop 4 -  Rethinking Security

This workshop will unpack the past and present UK government approaches to so-called 'national security’ and why these undermine our human and ecological security. We will then explore what sustainable security looks like and how we can challenge understandings and practices of security, sharing some of our network’s successful actions and research findings. Unpacking 'security' can help seasoned peace campaigners reflect on the interconnectedness of some global and national issues and introduce newer campaigners to the need to tackle broad themes of peace and security as well as specific issues.
Joanna Frew, Rethinking Security Outreach Coordinator, www.rethinkingsecurity.org.uk 
 

16.30-18.00: Workshop 5 - Reclaiming Our Narratives

Practical techniques to counter identity-based disinformation through Positive Identity Expansion. You'll discover ways to build long-term community resilience by developing inclusive, alternative stories rather than direct confrontation. This workshop offers a glimpse into powerful cutting edge tools, with an in-depth online course available for those ready to dive deeper into creating lasting positive change.

Bruce White  - anthropologist and founder/director of the Organization for Identity and Cultural Development (OICD). https://oicd.net/

Dates

Location

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The Exchange
Brick Row, Stroud, Gloucestershire GL5 1DF

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