Bridport Peace Group

List of Events

Coming Events

Friends Meeting House,South Street Bridport, Sunday 27th April 7.30 pm
Film: April Captains
Story of the 1974 coup that overthrew the right-wing Portuguese dictatorship--which continued the fascist policies of long-time dictator Antonio Salazar--and of two young army captains who were involved in it.

Past Events

Women's Day

Saturday 10th March. Friends Meeting House, South Street, Bridport.

There is no charge for entry to the day.

No need to stay all day - you can attend any sessions you like, but please try to aviod coming and going in the middle of sessions.

Healthy home-cooked food, mainly vegetarian, will be available, plus a range of hot and cold drinks.

Qualified, police-checked child carers will provide activities for children of all ages free of charge in the next room for anyone who wants it, throughout the day.

Programme:

9.45am -10am. Welcome refreshments and Introduction from the Bridport
Peace and Justice Group

10am -10.45am: Women in Slavery: You thought slavery was abolished
centuries ago? Slavery still exists in the UK and worldwide for women as
well as men. This is anti-slavery year. Talk by Angelika Bernt from
Anti-Slavery International, plus questions and discussion about what we
can do to help stamp it out. Open to men and women.

10.45am -11.15am: Refreshments and chat

11.15am-12.00. Military Families Against the War: women and the families of military personnel are often the hidden victims of war. Susan Smith
and Lynda Holmes, from Military Families Against the War, explain the
effect war has had on their family life. Open to men and women.

12.00-1.30pm: Lunch provided and served by the men of Bridport Peace and
Justice Group, (free to speakers, otherwise donations please)

Plus: Dances of Universal Peace, with Deborah Green: a chance for
everyone to join in easy, co-operative dances from many countries and
cultures.

1.30pm - 3pm: Breaking down Islamophobia, Women and the veil. Forces in
our society are trying to make the veil a divisive issue. Don't let them! A women-only session to familiarise us with aspects of Islam, and a chance to talk with Islamic women about their lifestyle, what the veil really means to them, and how they have been affected since Jack Straw made his infamous comments. Hopefully there could be the chance for non-veil-wearers to try one on.

3pm - 3.30pm Break for refreshments and chat.

3.30pm - 4.30pm: How to stand up and say your piece. Women's views often go unheard because many of us find it hard to stand up and argue our case in politcal debate. In this women-only workshop, you will be coached in making your point and arguing your case, by women who know how.

4.30-5pm: Close and final refreshments and chat.

See related links for more event listings.

South Somerset Peace Group hold meetings and events in Ilminster and around and have their own (and more general) events page.

Dorset Stop the War also list local and national events.

Visit the reading room for fuller write-ups of previous events.

Local / Regional

Tuesday 18th July 2006, 7.30pm, Christian Fellowship Hall, Bridport: 'Songs of social significance' from David Rovics; The Christian Fellowship Hall is at the back of East Street Carpark in Bridport.; Tickets £8.00 Concessions £5.00; David Rovics will be fresh from playing at Tolpuddle. See David's web site for more info about him.; If you can put up a poster, please print from here (A5) or here (A6).
Saturday 1st July 2006 10am to 1pm, Art Centre South Street, Bridport: Bridport Peace & Justice Fair; The Peace & Justice Fair will coincide with the Charter Fair once again. Here's more information about it.
Sunday 23rd April, at 8pm, British Legion Hall, Victoria Grove, Bridport: Short Films; Short films by local film-makers on immigration issues with a very local bias. We are approaching speakers to discuss these issues.; See here for more details.
Saturday 25th March, 9.45am to 4pm, Friends Meeting House, South Street, Bridport: Women against War: from Bridport to the Middle East; We brought together a number of very articulate women with experience in various parts of the Middle East to speak upon these issues and the work going on in this area.; This was an all-day programme of talks, debates and workshops about how the current international situation affects women's lives and what we can do to help.; We had dancing and music to perform over lunchtime.; See the program for the day for more details.
Friday 10th March Evening at the Art Centre, South Street Bridport.: "Disturb the Peace" - Spring Concert; A music event with particular focus on bringing in youth, we had all ages from babies to grandparents.; Music with Seize the Day, Lauren Glover with Backstage and Compère Herbie Treehead.; This was a great concert and we were nine short of a full house. See what you missed at www.seizetheday.org and www.happysong.co.uk for Herbie Treehead.
Sunday 26th February, 7.30pm, British Legion Hall, Victoria Grove, Bridport: "Hearts and Minds", Vietnam Film; An archive film about Vietnam, to allow us to draw parallels between the illegal war in Iraq and Vietnam.; Winner of the Academy Award for best documentary feature of 1974, this film includes interviews, newsreels, and documentary footage about the disastrous effects of America’s involvement in the Vietnam War. The parallels with the situation today are so close and clear that the film was re-released last November.; 'The best documentary I have ever seen... maybe the best movie ever... it remains every bit as relevant today' - Michael Moore.
Sunday 11th September 2005, 7.45pm, Friends Meeting House: Film "9/11"; Come along to a film showing on 11th September at 7.45pm at the Friends Meeting House, South Street, Bridport. The film 11'09''01 SEPTEMBER 11. A FILM BY ELEVEN DIRECTORS takes it name from the 11th September terrorist attack on the twin towers in New York, offering a worldwide perspective on the event.; Get advance tickets at £5 each at Fruits of the Earth, the Book Shop and Bridport Record Centre in Bridport.
Friday 23rd September 2005, 7.30pm, at the Arts Centre on South Street.: Annual General Meeting plus Billy Bragg; Join us at our annual general meeting at 7.30pm on Friday 23rd September at the Arts Centre, Bridport, where we'd like to hear from you, let you know what we've been up to and enjoy ourselves too with the music of Billy Bragg. It's free and it's open to all.; One of the principal aims for the AGM is to debate where the peace group should be going and get some new blood involved.
Saturday 30th July 2005, 5pm to 8pm at Stoke Abbott.: Summer garden party.; Not quite the perfect afternoon of last Summer, but the food and company was good and a very pagan-looking bonfire added to the atmosphere.
Saturday 2nd July 2005, open from 10am to 1pm, Bridport Arts Centre.: Peace and Justice Fair.; Following a sucessful event last year we held our second Peace & Justice Fair for everyone who interested in helping worldwide peace, justice and the environment.; The Peace and Justice Fair shows the many ways it is possible to make a difference. This year we coincided with Bridport Charter Fair bringing more people inside to see the many different organisations that are working to make our world a better place. We also formed a human "Make Poverty History " white band in solidarity with those campaigning in Edinburgh.
Friday 22nd April 2005, 7.30pm at the United Church, East Street, Bridport.: Pre-election Hustings with all General Election Candidates; Keen that ordinary people should have their voice heard by politicians, the Peace Group collaborated with Bridport Churches Together to mount a pre-election hustings.; Candidates Oliver Letwin (Conservative), Dave Roberts (Labour), Justine McGuinness (Liberal Democrat) and Susan Greene (Green), and Mrs Linda Guest (UKIP) answered questions from the floor on present and future policies over a wide range of issues.; Scenes from the meeting were shown on national TV.; See also our "election special" web page.
Sunday 20th March 2005, 7.30pm at Friends Meeting House, South Street, Bridport.: Film "Uncovered".; Decisions leading up to the Iraq war. By a film-maker who believes "democracy is not a spectator sport."; See http://www.truthuncovered.com/interviews.php for interviews and a trailer for this film.; As far as we are aware this film had only been shown at the ICA in London, and now that other centre of the avant-guard, Bridport.; Refreshments afterwards gave a chance to chat.
Saturday 19th March 2005, 11am-12am at Bucky Doo Square, Bridport.: Vigil to mark anniversary of Iraq War.; This was the second anniversary of the start of this madness. Many came along to show their sorrow against the war and their support for peaceable paths in future.
Friday 18th March 05, 7.30pm at Friends Meeting House, South Street, Bridport.: Justine McGuinness on the Lib Dem view of "Peace, Justice and the Environment".; Your chance to put your questions to Justine McGuinness and make your own views known. This was an open meeting. Justine told us of her opposition to identity cards and to any war that was opposed by the United Nations.
Thursday, 3rd February 2005 at 7.30pm at Bridport Arts Centre: Disturb the Peace - concert with Herbie Treehead and support bands; A great evening, joining in with Herbie's birthday celebrations; and making contact with new people.; There was a superb set from Herbie himself under circumstances that showed his true professional flair; and various other local musicians including Dot.Star, Mitch Norman and Lauren Glover.; Thanks to all who helped and offered their time.
Saturday, 4th December 2004 at 7.30pm, St Mary's Church, South Street, Bridport: Malcolm Harper on "Peace, Conflict and the United Nations".; Malcolm Harper gave an open talk, based on his experience as the recently retired Director General of the United Nations Association.; Around 60 people turned up to hear a well-presented insight into the role of the United Nations and the problems it has today, contributing with many searching questions and comments.; Malcolm explained how conflict resolution is often linked to economic, social and environmental justice, in which the UN is quietly active. When it began the UN worked towards peace between sovereign states, but it's now meeting the newer challenge of conflict within countries and stateless bodies affecting world stability such as terrorists and transnational businesses. Terrorism is best met by due judicial process and communication, but it isn't our biggest problem today. The biggest current threat by far is climate change, present on both a world scale and locally here in Dorset.; There was plenty of chat and exchange of thoughts and information over (Fair Trade) coffee and tea afterwards.
Saturday, 24th July 2004: Summer garden party.; Social event and fund raiser.
Saturday, 26th June 2004, 10am to 1pm, Bridport Arts Centre: Peace and Justice Fair; For everyone interested in helping worldwide peace, justice and the environment.; We had around 20 different organisations from around the area packed in the Arts Centre and open to the public.
We invited like-minded groups to set up their stalls to tell us about how they're working locally to make the world a better place.
Friday, 27th February 2004, Bradpole: Discussion Meeting - Social Event; Forum for the like-minded with wine and nibbles.; A lot of positive comments, excellent food and a reasonable turnout at Bradpole Village Hall despite very unpromising weather. With an enlightening talk by Paul Lashmar.
Saturday 29th November 2003, St Mary's Church, Bridport: Lord Judd on "What can WE do for Justice and Peace?"; This went very well, with 80 to 100 people attending, over 20 of whom filled in contact details for future events. Many thanks to all who did and to everyone who contributed to our collection.