AGAINST a dark background of seemingly never-ending human conflict and violence across the globe, Stroud’s first Global Peace Party held on Sunday, September 18 – an event spanning noon in Bank Gardens to the Old Town Hall in the evening – sought to complement International Peace Day on the September 21.

The event showed yet again why our town is at the leading edge of enlightened innovative thinking, and why increasing numbers of the country’s most eminent progressive activists are moving to the area.

Given that 97 per cent of conflict and violence takes place within our communities, schools, homes, it follows that we should be focusing on and promoting peace whenever and where ever we can.

The Global Peace Party included some great music from across the musical spectrum, and there were also some inspiring speakers, most particularly Symon Hill from the Peace Pledge Union who spoke about the importance of building alliances across borders to make clear that ‘violence cannot end violence, and that militarism is an assault on human dignity’.

The songs sung by Stroud Song – with an excellent introduction from Jo McAndrews about how important it is to practise peace in our daily lives, and that peace is a practice – were filled with beautiful harmonies, adding to the uplifting ambience.

However, walking through Stroud on that day I saw no sign of anyone making a specific effort to mark International Peace Day – was anything happening in our local schools to focus on this vital day, I wondered.

The more we focus on International Peace Day and events surrounding it, and encourage our communities to pay attention to it, the more it will enhance our own collective well-being.

We look forward to more of this kind of event in future years, and would encourage everyone in Stroud and beyond to support such initiatives as much as possible.

Skeena Rathor, district councillor, and Dr Richard House The Politics Kitchen Stroud