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A message from Ben Jager, UK representative for Combatants for Peace. He writes with a heavy heart.
Dear Friends
I am writing to you with a heavy heart, with a lot of pain in my chest and with a feeling of despair. I am seeking a way to act and this is what this email is about.
The situation in Gaza and Israel continues to follow the pointless path of violence, death, destruction; a hopeless and indefinite conflict.
I imagine that there will be a lot of pain in all of our hearts, a pain and despair that needs expression beyond having an opinion, being on a side or finding ways of justifying actions and giving reasons for actions that reason has no relation to…
So I want to act in one way that I know… I want to set up spaces in as many locations as I humanly can get to, which will be held partly by the gathered community and partly by myself and anyone else who feels called and able to help in that way.
In these spaces I would like to suggest that we follow the cycle of Joanna Macy’s “Work that Reconnects”. (Joanna is a much respected senior Buddhist activist, much loved for her work for despair and empowerment). Coming from gratitude, through owning our pain for the world, we then see with new eyes and then choose how to act and go forth.
At the centre of the event I want to suggest an offering A ‘Truth Mandala’ to express our deepest feeling of anger, despair and fear. I would offer then some time to move with whatever arises from this deep reflection on how we feel about the situation in Gaza and Israel. We then make some time to talk and decide what we can do next.
This is not direct action for or against anyone or anything. Although I am an activist who believes in direct action I am drawn to offering such a space from the place I find myself right now.
So I am asking for your support in manifesting this idea in any way you can – making a space, putting the word out, organising, co-facilitation and to attend.
If you can or cannot I would like to hear from you and even if you feel that this is not appropriate at this point in time- please say.
I would ideally like this to happen as soon as possible so that they can be in direct relation to what is happening right now
Thanks for reading and I send this from my heart with the deep hope that some change can happen soon.
In Peace
Ben Yeger
Encounters creative associate
Combatants for Peace UK representative