If you were in town this weekend in Hastings, Norwich, Tavistock, Bristol, Edinburgh, Leicester, Cardiff, Coventry, Oxford, Brighton, Blackheath, Burlington, London, Southampton, Rochester, Lincoln, Littlehampton, Lewes or Bournemouth, you might have wondered why people were flying kites. That would be understandable.
Nao Roz is Afghan new year. Sadly, Afghans lives are being ruined through drone strikes and the imminent threat thereof. Many of these come from British forces (BIJ 2014).
There are any things going on to resist and remind people of drone warfare. Civil disobedience, an all-party group, a quilt. The weekend of 21st-23rd March is a time to share with Afghans by flying kites in solidarity with them, to let them know that they are in our hearts, our thoughts and our actions.
In Oxford we held an event in the town centre, in Bonn Square by the peace plaque. FoR staff and members, Quakers, Catholic workers and Oxford CND came to fly kites and were met with joyous children. We talked to people, gave them flyers about drones and the wonderful Afghan Peace Volunteers, who talked to those flying kites at RAF Waddington.
For info on the other events taking place around the country, see the Voices for Creative Nonviolence UK website.
