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In the morning workshop session on Friday, July 9 at the Being the Change peace conference at Mount Saint Vincent University I attended “Integrating Movements: Women, Peace, Development and Environment” moderated by Lana Neil (Communications & Research Officer, Canadian Cancer Society, Nova Scotia). The workshop was conducted by long-time peace activist, development and women’s advocate Pat Kipping (long-time member of Voice of Women for Peace and former officer at the Nova Scotia Arts Council and board member and fundraiser for Oxfam Canada).
In an interactive session built around Ursula Franklin’s definition of “Peace, not as the absence of war, but as the presence of justice and the absences of fear” the group of mainly women shared the connections that made them part of the various movements. It was a remarkable and casual session where we made a web out of yarn as the participants told stories and shared history and ideas for more actions in the movement. History and personal anecdotes joined everyone together in a positive and nourishing way that will lead to more action and connections in the future.
