Model of the London 2012 Olympic site Photo: RachelH_ / flickr CC
Olympic Truce
Meeting for Sufferings had a surprise addition to its agenda
The Olympics made a surprising appearance on the Meeting for Sufferings agenda, in response to a concern raised by Luton and Leighton Area Meeting. Friends in the area have expressed support for the ‘Olympic Truce’, a proposal that involves the cessation of military hostilities during the games. Supporters of the Olympic Truce argue that it is about more than a temporary absence of war. They see it as a chance to establish contacts between communities in conflict and create windows of opportunity for dialogue and reconciliation.
Quaker Peace & Social Witness (QPSW) reported that the UK government has nominally given its backing to the Olympic Truce but given no details about how they would put it into practice.
QPSW’s Helen Drewery said that ministers could be challenged about whether they would put it into practice in Afghanistan. MfS agreed that ‘Friends could write to MPs welcoming the truce and suggesting more effective implementation’.
