Sunday 4 August 2013

Wales Peace 'Institute' Where now?

The intention was to create a broadly supported organisation to establish the Academi as a self-standing project within the World War-1 centenary commemoration in 2014 - Minutes of the key meetings are on buttons above (Minutes 14 October;13 November 2012)  - but there was dispute over the title and ownership.

Unfortunately the Conference publicity was CND-orientated and the conference attendees were largely from the religious and pacifist sectors. The election of a management board to carry the project forward (Conference call, below) proved impractical - a Steering Committee was nominated to publicise the proposal more widely and has arranged a meeting (below) at the National Eisteddfod in Denbigh and two others.  A report of the Conference is here .


Steering Committee nominated at 23rd March 2013 Conference

1. John Cox  (Chair):  CND Cymru
2. Jon Plumpton:  CND Cymru 
3. Rev. Guto Prys ap Gwynfor: President Cymdeithas y Cymod/Fellowship of Reconciliation.
4. Robin Gwyndaf: Vice President Cymdeithas y Cymod/FoR
5. Arfon Rhys: Secretary of Cymdeithas y Cymod/FoR
6.Jane Harries (secretary) works for Cymdeithas y Cymod/FoR
7. Kay Holder: language tutor 
8. Mustafa Megrahi* (Treasurer): consultant on radioactivity etc. (formerly at Libyan Nuclear Research Center)
9. Jill Evans MEP / ASE for Wales.  

* also uses the names Mustafa Elmegrahi / Mustafa Segair / Mustafa El Segair Megrahi
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Gwener, 9 Awst 2013, Y Stiwdio, 2.00 pm
Siaradwr:   Robin Gwyndaf:  ‘Heddwch ar  Waith , ac Arweiniad Cymru i’r Byd’   *
Croeso cynnes iawn i gyfarfod hanesyddol  ac un o rai pwysicaf yr wythnos.  Cyfle i wybod mwy am y bwriad i sefydlu academi fydd o’r pwys mwyaf i bawb sy’n dyheu am heddwch a chyfiawnder.                                                                        
  *    ‘Peace in action and the leading role of Wales in the world.’

A very warm welcome to a historical and one of the most important meetings of the week.  An opportunity to hear more about the plans to establish an academy / institute of the greatest importance to all who desire to see peace and justice.
  An opportunity also during the second half of the meeting for the audience to contribute, in the company of members of the Steering Group: Guto Prys ap Gwynfor; Jill Evans; Jane Harries; Kay Holder; Arfon Rhys.

Establishing an Academi is apparently deferred, so off the agenda for the 2014 Centenary. The Steering Committee decided to register a Charity, but cannot do that without an income exceeding £5000pa. Their request to Cynefin y Werin for £5000, misrepresenting the requirement, has been blocked on concerns over conflict of interest.  Achieving broad-based support remains a challenge.

Monday 14 January 2013

Academi Heddwch Cymru

Henry Richard

launching 

conference 

at Y Morlan,

  Aberystwyth 

SY23 2HH

Sat., 23rd March: 

10am –4.30pm

Chaired by

Dr Mererid Hopwood, Univ of Wales Trinity St David

Stephen Thomas, Cynefin y Werin

Addresses by
Jill Evans MEP
 promoter of an Academi Heddwch since 2008

Dr Robin Gwyndaf, Cymdeithas y Cymod
Author of Rhyfel a Heddwch a Sancteiddrwydd Bywyd
(War and Peace and the Sanctity of Life)

Professor Jenny Pearce
Professor of Latin American Politics and Director of the International Centre for Participation Studies (ICPS) Department of Peace Studies University of Bradford

Our main aim is to establish a Welsh Academi Heddwch (Peace Academy)


The objectives of the conference are:
  • To inform and inspire delegates regarding the role of an Academi Heddwch in promoting and creating a culture of peace in Wales;
  • To adopt the establishment of an Academi Heddwch as a lasting achievement of marking the centenary of World War I in Wales;
  • To provide information about where we have got to so far in preparing the ground for setting up an Academi;To map out the structure and role of an Academi in Wales;
  • To elect a management board to take the Academi project forward, able to raise funding and formally establish the Academi. 

    contact cynefinywerin@gmail.com or <ejharries@hotmail.com> 

    Cefnogir gan Cynefin y Werin - Supported by Cynefin y Werin 
    For  pre-conference papers and updates on the conference see cynefinywerin.com