Hands Up for Peace

 

Dear all Woodcrafters!!

It’s Neela here, DF from Camden District. This is just to let you know about an exciting new peace protest called Hands Up For Peace. Being a peace organisation I think that the Woodcraft Folk may be able to play an important part in the campaign.

The Hands Up For Peace Campaign was started by me (18) and Rowenna Davis (the student who ran the poster campaign before Johannesburg called The Messenger Campaign, 17). The idea is now spreading through our college, and other schools in the local area, and a few schools in Ireland!! The campaign is being run and funded entirely by school pupils. Our local Stop The War Coalition group is also supporting the campaign.

The basic idea is that in 5 weeks time we will be creating a huge art instillation in Parliament Square (big green patch in front of the houses of Parliament and Big Ben) to represent young people against the war in Iraq. Thousands of hands will be raised under a 25m banner ‘Hands Up For Peace’.

Each hand will have been made by a young person (card, felt tips, glitter, sticky back plastic etc) and will have a name, age and message to Blair/Bush/The world on it. We will attach all received hands to sticks and spend a night ‘planting’ the hands ready for the city rush-hour and lots of press (hopefully!). The sight will be fantastic, creative and probably very chilling. It’s essential that the protests against this war are continuous.

Camden District is making hands on our next group night. The Venturers have already produced some brilliant handprints, and they really enjoyed the activity. It also got the Venturers debating the issues surrounding the war and the UN’s involvement. It would be fantastic to get hands from around the UK, and I can strongly suggest it making a fun group craft night!!

WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Make hands with your Woodcraft Folk group:

  1. Draw around your hand on a piece of card and cut it out.
  2. Write your name, age and a message for peace on your hand decorating it however you want.
  3. Send your hand and all your friend’s hands to:

Hands Up For Peace,
16 Rutland Park Gardens,
London,
NW2 4RG

I hope other people will share my excitement and enthusiasm about the idea!! Please contact handsupforpeace@hotmail.com for further details or visit the Hands up for Peace web site.

Lots of love, hope and blue skies

Neela