Newsletter No 2 – 20th Sept 2022
THE COMPELLING NEED
To review the impact of the UNA Forum on ‘United for Peace and Prosperity’ that was organised in Church Stretton in 2012; learn from the findings; to enable new plans & priorities to be created. Uppermost in mind!
ISRAEL PALESTINE FOCUS
To find out what was really happening in the West Bank and on the Gaza Strip, we needed some ‘on the ground’ as a main contact. We were extremely fortunate to contact a local area man, John Howard, about to begin a long-term secondment as an Observer and based in Bethlehem.
JOHN HOWARD’S NEWSLETTERS
During 2013, John sent UNA 5 newsletters from his Observer base on the West Bank. An aggregate of 90 pieces of information were received, analysed, and positioned on a sustainable framework and regarded as accurate and quality findings.
2013 MIDDLE EAST HEADLINES
Learning from John Howard’s newsletters:
Israel: was driving out Palestinians from their land and replacing them with settlers,
Weapons: being used included Tear Gas; grenades; bullets machine guns; Molotov cocktails; rocks; Humvees; & bulldozers.
Community travel: Permits to cross the border had to agreed 10 days beforehand.
Children suffered: one family attached 36 times in a year; school bags checked; military trial for 10 teenagers
Military law: impact on lives of young people was awful. It’s responsibility of ML to protect lives/of young people.
EAPPI; John’s Observer organisation had been present in Israel Palestine – 10 years.
SOCIAL MEDIA (2013/14)
Prominent in the Middle East at the time of the Arab Spring. Less prominent in the Strettons! Two UNA ‘Social Media Networks’ were run in Housman’s for 22 locals as an SM introduction on 3 Apr ’13.
by UNA Youth. We were up and running!
In partnership with U3A, UNA also ran a monthly programmed meeting for a general audience in a packed URC church.
PROJECT LEADERSHIP
In 2014, leadership for the project was transferred gracefully from Shropshire United for Peace and Prosperity/Branch to Central Region. The region covers an area from Nottingham (North); Gloucestershire (South); Leicester and Coventry (East); Shropshire (West) with ‘second city’ Birmingham at the heart in the middle. Universities of Aston, Birmingham, and Nottingham (with youth UNAs) included.
UNA PRESIDENT
May I introduce Central Region President, William Judd. 10 years ago, as a 6th form student & Chair, North Staffs Youth UNA, Will and fellow student Dominque, presented ‘Solutions to the Middle East Challenge’ at UPP as main speakers.
After a first university degree in London and a Master’s in Paris, Will now works for a private sector business specialising in sustainable solutions. Will has also continued to support UPP and kindly agreed to be 3rd panellist on 24th October.
PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT
With John Howard’s help, we’ve become acquainted with existing Palestinian Israeli organisations: Musalaha (Reconciliation); Tent of Nations; Wi’am (Agape – love); Rabbis for Human Rights; Hand in Hand Schools; Combatants for Peace; Praying Together.
Musalaha has a British ‘arm’ and based in the English market town of Tring, Herts
Further information: Barrie Oxtoby;
UNA at barrieoxtoby@gmail.com 07962 307353