Corrymeela's London Support Group supports Corrymeela's events in London and regularly joins in meetings at St. Ethelburga's.To learn more about St. Ethelburga's Centre visit their website at
http://www.stethelburgas.org/My borough of Harrow has again been in the news this week, with another
demonstration at the Harrow Central Mosque.
Harrow is the most
religiously diverse borough in the country. Harrow's Inter-Faith Council held
many events during Inter-Faith week, and Harrow Central Mosque was one of the
many places of worship open to visitors of other faiths.
On Sunday
December 13 we were faced with another anti-Islamic demonstration, and a
counter-demonstration, both organised from outside the borough. Harrow Council
again gave a united response, from all parties and members of all religions, and
strongly deplored the demonstrations. The Inter-Faith Council supported this
stance, and the police again took effective action to ensure that worshippers
were able to vist the Mosque in their normal way.
Earlier in the month
I attended a meeting of the Abraham Fund. The Abraham Fund aims to promote peace
and understanding in Israel in its traditional 1948-67 boundaries, between the
Jews of Israel and their substantial Arab minority. Their programme has a
particular emphasis on Galilee and includes mixed theatre and circus groups,
where they aim to "live together, work together, and play together", teaching
modern Arabic to Jewish pupils, all activities aimed at changing people's
attitudes, activities which we recognise in Corrymeela. The particular reason
for the meeting was a visit from 21 Brigadiers-General in the Israeli Police
Force, who were responsible for mixed areas and were in a position to introduce
new initiatives. They were returning from a visit to Belfast and had also had
discussions with the Metropolitan Police, with the aim of sharing experiences on
policing a divided society.
Mick Oliver,
Leader,
Corrymeela London Support Group.
micksheila67@hotmail.com