Early in May 2002 a group of women friends met for a social
gathering. The occasion was used to consider a moving peace message which had
been received via the internet from a group of North and South Korean Women
who were responding with dismay to President Bush's claims relating to his "axis
of evil" which included North Korea, as well as Iraq and Iran. The Korean
Women felt that it would seriously undermine the careful efforts to build understanding
and advance towards the co-operation and peaceful re-unification of the two
Koreas. We decided to greet and support them, and to form ourselves into the
Network of Oxford Women for Justice & Peace. Our network is growing
rapidly and involves women from all walks of life and ethnic groups, professions
and voluntary groups, such as trade unions, workers' education, local and national
peace, anti-war, and justice campaigns. We hold monthly meetings on a Saturday
afternoon at the Friends' Meeting House in St. Giles, Oxford. NOW has taken
part in national and local anti-war demonstrations beneath its distinctive banner,
sent delegations to debate Iraq and the Middle East conflict relating to Palestine
with Andrew Smith MP, and affiliated to Campaign Against the Arms Trade. Members
have collectively, and individually, written to their MPs, MEPs and other bodies,
on many different aspects of world conflict; welcomed national dignitaries,
taken part in vigils, sit-ins, die-ins, broadcast on Radio Oxford, leafletted
local lectures and meetings. Every Woman MP has received a letter from NOW with
our concerns relating to US and UK war on Iraq and the particular effects on
women and children. We have also supported and demonstrated for, our member,
Dr. Mercy Heatley, in her "No Tax for War Campaign", when she was
summonsed for withholding 7% income tax (the portion which goes to the Ministry
of Defence) which had extensive national and local media coverage. NOW is also
actively in contact with other international and national womens' peace and
justice groups.
We made a significant contribution towards Oxford's International Women's Week
(1-14 March 2003) by holding two events: Firstly, a one day Forum on War, Women
& Children, with speakers and discussion groups on Iraq, Aid for Palestine,
Young Refugees, The Arms Trade, Women's International Work for Peace; exhibits
and artefacts, on International Women's Day, in St. Columba's, Oxford City.
Secondly, an Exhibition on War, Women & Children, 1-27 March 2003, at the
Museum of Oxford, at Oxford Town Hall, containing a mix of work by professional
photographers from around the world to illustrate the experiences of children
in conflicts.
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