North West NJPN E-Bulletin of May 2024

Stef Benstead

The NW NJPN E Bulletin for May 2024 leads with the current conflict in the Holy Land as the situation appears to be worsening with no immediate end in sight. CAFOD staff in Gaza report "new kind of horror" as Israel attacks Rafah. A joint Rafah statement was issued on 7 May by a wide range of non-governmental organisations - including CAFOD - urging a ceasefire.

Heather Kiernan has sent details of 'Beautiful Resistance', an illustrated talk by Nick Bilbrough, the founder of the educational charity Hands Up Project, who will share the stories behind two short plays from Gaza. This is a hybrid event - in person in Edinburgh but also on Zoom so people anywhere can sign up and participate. Nick's talk accompanies a touring exhibition of art and poetry by the children of Gaza, co-curated by Heather and Iliyana Nedkova, supported by the Scottish Palestinian Forum and Justice and Peace Scotland. A diary entry from one young girl on pages 3-4 of the newsletter provides an eye-witness account of the harsh reality of daily life there. Also highly recommended is a new film from 'The Balfour Project, Gaza: A Story of Love and War', by Jewish broadcaster Mike Joseph from Wales and Palestinian journalist Sami Abu Salim who share their personal histories and ask: Is co-existence possible in Gaza?

We are fast approaching the 76th anniversary of the Nakba on 15 May. Pax Christi invites people to light a candle and offer a prayer for peace and reconciliation. We reprint a speech given in solidarity with the Palestinian people from Jewish writer and blogger Robert Cohen at a rally organised by Lancaster Friends of Palestine in 2021. The Catholic Network reports on a new opinion poll from CAFOD which reveals that only 5% of those questioned were aware that Sudan is currently experiencing the world's largest humanitarian crisis. CAFOD is running a Special Appeal for Sudan.

The General Election isn't far away. The latest issue of 'Vocation for Justice' from the Columban Justice, Peace and Ecology Team contains information to help us prepare well, with a link for ordering extra copies for your parish, and there are also links to briefing papers put together by CAFOD on a range of topics to raise with candidates. The NJPN national conference 19-21 July takes the theme, 'Just Politics.'

Please consider supporting a crowd-funding appeal to publish Stef Benstead's new book for Church Action on Poverty Just Worship - details on page 10.

Jon Kuhrt, CEO of Hope into Action, has worked with people affected by homelessness for 30 years. In his Grace and Truth blog Jon looks back on the life and political career of Frank Field who died recently.

There are many interesting and varied events happening across the North West over the next couple of months - details in the text and on the diary page.

The e-bulletin for the North West, linked to the National Justice and Peace Network (NJPN), is produced jointly within the dioceses of Lancaster, Liverpool, Salford, Shrewsbury and Wrexham.

Newsletter at: https://jpshrewsbury.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/nw-njpn-justice-and-peace-e-bulletin-may-2024.pdf

Or see: www.justice-and-peace.org.uk/njpn-north-west/nw-njpn-e-bulletin-may-2024/