New faces in Wanda, Nature & Security, Community Lunch and Diary Dates

Following a busy week with three events where we were filled to capacity, we are wondering if Mother’s Day will reduce the numbers at our community lunch this Sunday 12 – 2.00. All Welcome as usual, including the bairns,

Mother’s Day began in America as a day for peace prompted by the Civil War, as originated by Julia Ward Howe’s Mother’s Day Proclamation in 1870

“We will not have questions answered by irrelevant agencies,
Our husbands will not come to us, reeking with carnage,
For caresses and applause.
Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn
All that we have been able to teach them of charity, mercy and patience.
We, the women of one country,
Will be too tender of those of another country
To allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs.”

Another reason that we may be a small group is that people may be in Glasgow at the weekend for Scottish CND’s poetry event which was postponed by storm Eowyn from the original date in January. You may also wish to book up for SCND’s special event on 17 May

The Soroptomists International, or at least the Scottish chapter, were in for a visit and will be using the Centre for their meetings. We hope to find some interesting ways for new collaborations with their input. Founded in 1921, Soroptimist International is a global volunteer movement with a network of just under 65,000 club members in 118 countries. Advocating for human rights and gender equality, at the heart of Soroptimist International’s advocacy is its work across seven UN Centres, where their UN representatives ensure that the voices of women and girls are heard. Their membership works on grassroots projects that help women and girls achieve their individual and collective potential, realise aspirations and have an equal voice in communities worldwide. Here in Scotland, the chapter has been focussed on the UN Sustainable Development Goals and has close ties with colleagues at UN House Scotland. They are also interested in progressing the Misogyny Bill in the Scottish Parliament

Another new and welcome group meeting at WandA is the committee of the Lothian Conservation Volunteers. We are hoping that they will keep us up to speed on volunteering opportunities as they arise.

BEYOND HUMAN RIGHTS

As a part of Secure Scotland’s exploration of the real meaning of security our next exhibition at WANDA will be Beyond Human Rights, about extending the concept of security and welfare beyond the human-centred. We are actively seeking submissions.

Theme:

As a part of Secure Scotland’s exploration of the real meaning of security our next exhibition at WandA will be Beyond Human Rights, about extending the concept of security and welfare beyond the human-centred.

In “The Age of Insecurity” Astra Taylor points out that the wreckage we are making of the climate and the ecosystems arises from an exclusive concentration on human security without regard for the rest of reality. And, of course, an exclusively human-centred approach to security is chain-sawing the branch on which we precariously perch. A huge conceptual shift is required from what she calls “species hierarchy”, from our deeply engrained and poisonous belief that we sit atop a rigidly stratified universe, and from our habit of talking about something called nature as if it were the Other.

Exhibits: We are looking for exhibits that both illustrate and advocate the essential step away of anthropocentrism. They may be verbal, visual or three-dimensional.

The exhibition will be primarily wall mounted. We have a large TV as well as white walls.

There will be an event where eg poetry or other spoken work contributions can be performed.

We are actively seeking submissions. Visit, email secretary@securescotland.scot or call Janet 07795594573 or David 07876593016

We hope that BEYOND HUMAN RIGHTS will be up and visible for attendees to our next in-house event, a face to face exploration of the rising war fever and escalating nuclear bravura in Europe and the Middle East, and the effect of the climate crisis in this context. Following events hosted by WILPF and Scottish CND in the last year, we will also try for a better understanding of the socioeconomic impact on European communities at war to better inform our actions in response. We’ll also show some short films have some updates on the TPNW and the legitimacy of International Humanitarian Law and the effects, and we hope to finalise plans for this event and post on the events page of the website by the end of April.

Are you interested in a chance to play WandA's non-competitive creative board game on Security (no rules!). Explore what security could be in cooperative communities. If so invite us along or get in touch with a few friends and we can play together - your place or at WandA!

Thank you to those who responded so far to the Fundraising Appeal, Please consider if you can join the folks who are helping with regular monthly payments, which give stability. If we had 200 individuals or groups with a standing order for £10 a month we’d be able to plan and budget for months at a time. Find details on the donate page of the website.

Words and Actions for Peace (WandA), is hosted by Secure Scotland, which receives financial support from the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust

WandA is drop-in gallery and resource base - available for public or private meetings, film and acoustic music nights

General enquiries contact@wordsandactions.scot 

Open Monday - Friday 10.00 - 16.00 

(Secure Scotland, Peace & Justice Scotland, Scottish WILPF, CAAT and others work from WandA )

Secure Scotland Media enquiries +44 (0)7795594573

or +44 (0)7876593016

Secure Scotland Project enquiries hello@securescotland.scot  

Socials : @securescotland on Substack, instagram, Youtube, X , Facebook