Ashburton West Street Peace Group

23/09/2026

What a great group and needed now more than ever ...

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Refugees ARE welcome in Devon

23/09/2026

There has been all sorts of press coverage of Saturday's Silent Walking Vigil for Peace. It was lovely to see so many of our little peace vigil there: Steve and Jennie of course, but also Ruth & Toby and Lorna & John. I'll pop the articles here as they appear.

MORE than 600 people joined a four-hour silent peace procession through London’s Whitehall on Saturday.The Quaker-led Silent Walking Vigil for Peace began with a meeting for worship in Victoria Embankment Gardens before participants walked quietly through Whitehall, ending with a further meet...

29/07/2026

We are welcoming a return visit from the inclusive 'Script in Hand Theatre group', to share stories of resilience and hope from young people in Gaza.
We'd be delighted if you can come to listen, support and share a little simple food after the performance.
Script in Hand Theatre Company is a small community-focused performing arts group based in Plymouth that specializes in script-in-hand productions, where actors perform with visible scripts rather than memorizing lines. This approach lowers barriers to participation, allowing volunteers of all ages and experience levels to join without the pressure of learning extensive dialogue by heart. The company stages plays, musicals, and readings emphasizing inclusivity, accessibility, and enjoyment over polished perfection. By removing the need for memorization, they make theatre-making open to people who might otherwise feel excluded from traditional stage productions.

25/07/2026

Call for international intervention in the West Bank signed by many Israeli human rights groups

B'Tselem בצלם
Machsom Watch מחסום ווטש
Physicians for Human Rights Israel
Yesh Din ييش دين יש דין

Adalah; Akevot; Bimkom; Breaking the Silence; B’Tselem; Emek Shaveh; Gisha; HaMoked; Haqel; Human Rights Defenders Fund; Ir Amim; Leap; MachsomWatch; Parents Against Child Detention; Peace Now; Physicians for Human Rights Israel; Rabbis for Human Rights; UCPIP; Yesh Din; Zazim

Urgent call to the international community to take immediate action to stop Israel's violence and prevent pogroms by settler militias and the Israeli army across the West Bank.

In recent days, violence by settler militias, enabled and supported by the Israeli army, has escalated across the West Bank, including the torching and destruction of Palestinian property, and the forced expulsion of families and communities. These attacks have been met with silence and inaction from much of the international community, allowing the violence to continue and intensify.

Today's event in the village of Tell (Area B) when a settlers' "tour" in the village ended with the killing of at least 4 Palestinians and 1 settler and several people injured is leading to escalated violence in the area with settlers, ministers, and Knesset members calling for further revenge attacks which already started across the West Bank. Experience shows that these events can escalate quickly into mass pogroms when met with silence.

We call the international community to act now. Immediate pressure must be placed on Israel to stop further attacks, prevent pogroms and further killings, and ensure the protection of Palestinians, in accordance with Israel's obligations under international law.

Adalah; Akevot; Bimkom; Breaking the Silence; B’Tselem; Emek Shaveh; Gisha; HaMoked; Haqel; Human Rights Defenders Fund; Ir Amim; Leap; MachsomWatch; Parents Against Child Detention; Peace Now; Physicians for Human Rights Israel; Rabbis for Human Rights; UCPIP; Yesh Din; Zazim

15/07/2026

issues aren't black or white, Sindyanna of Galilee Fair Trade was founded and is still managed by Yaara's sister Hadas Lahav, so we know them pretty well. Their raison d'etre is and always has been to promote Arab-Jewish coexistence by, among other things, empowering Palestinian women and supporting Palestinian farmers. And the quality of their products is second to none, as testified by heaps and heaps of medals and international prizes. Take a look at this unique enterprise and decide for yourself whether they should be boycotted for operating within Israel, or on the contrary supported to in their modest way continue making peace every day as they have been doing for decades. Especially now.
Their delicious olive oils and other fabulous products are sold in the UK by the one and only Ottolenghi in his online shop.

12/07/2026

DEFEND THE BMA's DECISION TO REJECT THE IHRA DEFINITION

The BMA became one of the first major public institutions to reject the IHRA definition of antisemitism, at its recent annual meeting. This is a really important victory as the IHRA definition is one of the main tools used to silence and target critics of Israel and Zionism and the genocide in Palestine.

Not surprisingly the Zionists a upset and are sending the BMA lots of letters of complaint, trying to pressurise the BMA to reverse the policy, which was passed by a large majority in a democratic debate.
Lets show the BMA some love and support by writing to them in huge numbers, thanking and congratulating them for their principled stand. Lets show them the public is behind them!

👉🏼 Click on the Action Network link and send emails to the BMA leadership team - the letter is all done for you, simply add your name, and email address and click send.

The BMA Council is meeting on 16 July (this Thursday) where this will be discussed. So please take this action straight away, and share widely!

🙏 With thanks and Free Palestine! 🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸

https://actionnetwork.org/letters/thank-you-and-congratulations-to-the-bma?source=direct_link&

THIS IS FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO SIGN, SO PLEASE SIGN AND SHARE WIDELY! LETS GET HUNDRED OF LETTERS OF SUPPORT TO THE BMA

https://actionnetwork.org/letters/thank-you-and-congratulations-to-the-bma?source=direct_link&

23/06/2026

With Steve Day's initial prompting local Quakers are part of the group that is organising this national walking vigil. We plan to travel up and back to London on the day. Do join us if you are able and talk to Steve or I about it at the weekly vigil:

Silent Walking Vigil for Peace - Saturday 19 September 2026 12.00– 4.00pm, Central London Showing solidarity and care for everyone impacted by violence, conflict and war. A rallying call for Quakers in Britain - a “loud silence” witnessing for peace. Register for updates & tell us you hope to ...

23/06/2026

https://justpeacecoalition.com/

Time to Act: A Just Peace for all who call the Holy Land home. A shared commitment for justice, peace, and human dignity Your browser does not support iframes. Please visit https://embraceme.good.do/timetoact/commit-to-a-just-peace/ Across Palestine and Israel, communities are living through devasta...

15/06/2026

Going to Ian Wellens' book launch at First Draft Books in Bovey 9 July 7:30-9. Ian is a friend of Ashburton West Street Peace Group, and a leading member of our sister group at Bovey. Looking forward to reading his new book, A History of Palestine in Five Fruits.
Pip Hayes Harris Toby Chadwick Ruth Chadwick First Draft Books

28/04/2026

Please join us on Monday 11th May for a community film screening of ‘The Voice of Hind Rajab’.

📅 Monday 11th May
⏰ Doors open at 7pm (bring cash for book stall, tea and cakes, film starts at 7.30pm
📍St John’s Church, Bridgetown, Totnes, TQ9 5AB.

The highly acclaimed 2025 docudrama film written and directed by Kaouther Ben Hania. On January 29, 2024. Red Crescent volunteers receive an emergency call. A 5-year-old girl is trapped in a car under fire in Gaza, pleading for rescue. While trying to keep her on the line, they do everything they can to get an ambulance to her. Her name was Hind Rajab.

🎟️ Tickets are available at :
https://tinyurl.com/may-film-night