Dear friends,

Here we look back at the Stroud Peace Fair and forward to some things happening this weekend and next year....

CAAT took a stall at the Stroud Peace Fair - Saturday 18th October

“We’re bored by Arms Fairs.” So wrote the organisers of the Stroud Peace Fair in their prospectus announcing the “antidote to arms fairs”.

We agree. Arms fairs are truly despicable and should be abolished, while Peace Fairs are to be encouraged!

• This great event was organised by a wonderful group including Three Counties CAAT (yes, the very one that made sure the arms fair wasn’t welcome at the Three Counties Showground in Malvern), Gloucestershire Quakers, and the hosts, St Laurence Church - Stroud Centre for Peace and the Arts.
• As well as those mentioned above, there was a long list of other peace and allied charitable organisations coming together for the day. These include: Amnesty UK, Global Justice Gloucestershire, Pax Christi, Oxford CND, Greenpeace, Oxfam, Rethinking Security, Stroud Ceasefire Coalition, Peace Pledge Union, and many, many more.
• Over 1100 people came to the peace fair and to the talks and music in the church on the previous evening.
• There was a range of workshops organised throughout the day and, catering for all ages, there was young people’s kite-making, music, story-telling, and refreshments including home made cakes.

At 12 noon, Judie Boom (a CAAT supporter from her cradle) presented a live (and free) very funny comedy show; read about her here - just copy this link: linktr.ee/JudieBoom - Judie even had a bucket to collect contributions for CAAT.

Catching on….
CAAT was so happy to be able to support and attend this event and we hope that Peace Fairs will become regular occurrences all over the country. Congratulations go to Mike Davis, Martin Large and all the organisers for a job very well done.

Coming up:
If you’re near Kings Lynn this weekend, there’s a Peace Rally outside the Minster, starting at midday on Saturday, 1st November. A number of groups will be involved, including: CND; Stop the War; Hope not Hate; Trades Council and others. The contact is Peter Smith: [email protected] : 07896 301922.

In London on Remembrance Sunday, 9th November, you are invited to join the Alternative Remembrance Ceremony in Tavistock Square, W1. The Peace Pledge Union is holding its annual White Poppy ceremony in sad remembrance of all victims of war, both military and civilian. There will be a two-minute silence, the laying of poppies in their memory and speeches delivered calling for an end to war, so there should be no more such victims.

CAAT is planning to join our other friends for the Festival of Peace Builders at St Mary’s Church in Warwick on Saturday, 9th May next year. More details will come nearer the time.

Thank you all again so much for your support in so many ways!

Charles and all the team at CAAT

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