Armistice 100: Peace, Live Rap Music and Politics

100 years after the war that was meant to end all wars, what do peace activist do? How? why? and what do they achieve? The 20th century has been the bloodiest yet in the history of mankind, what is in store for the 21st century? More wars or some peace at last? Politicians and artists will give their views. This will be a lively and entertaining evening intended for the younger generations. Live music and Films.

PEACE ACTIVISM TODAY

Lowkey One of the UK’s most potent and electrifying rappers, Lowkey is a towering figure of the scene who renews the old tradition of conscious hip-hop activism for the war on terror generation. Fusing politically charged lyrics and deft dissection of topics such as race, war, global poverty and politics with anthemic choruses and unrelentingly energetic performance, Lowkey commands a keen and growing legion of followers – still treading new ground and generating fresh hysteria 14 years after releasing his first mixtape. Youtube video of a Lowkey title

Lindsey German, co founder of Stop the War will talk about their work and its impact. (Stop the War was founded in September 2001 in the weeks following 9/11, when George W. Bush announced the "war on terror". Stop the War has since been dedicated to preventing and ending the wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and elsewhere.) www.stopwar.org.uk

Darren Cullen, artist and activist (born 1983 in Leeds, UK) is an artist and political cartoonist whose artwork satirises topics ranging from the insidious nature of advertising, to the culpability of the Santa lie and armed forces recruitment propaganda. He has made a number of films some will shown. spellingmistakescostlives.com

Symon Hill is a British Socialist, Pacifist, queer Christian, activist, and journalist. He became co-ordinator of the Peace Pledge Union in 2016. He was one of a group of Christian pacifists, supported by the former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, who were arrested at the DSEI arms fair in London in 2013. www.ppu.org.uk

Ben Turner and the Rap Club, teenagers from Croydon Oasis academy will perform songs written by them about their reaction to violence and their aspiration for peace. Ben Turner is a musician and music teacher. He has dedicated his life and work at providing a structure to help teenagers express themselves.

Ibtehal Hussain will talk on behalf of Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) is a UK-based organisation working to end the international arms trade. www.caat.org.uk

Ben Griffin will be represented but not present in person. Ben Griffin is an ex- service man now the national coordinator for Veterans For Peace UK. Initially made up of US military veterans of World War II, theKorean War, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, and other conflicts. VFP has since spread overseas and has a very active offshoot in the United Kingdom.The group works to promote alternatives to war. The organization has opposed the military policies of the United States, NATO and Israel, and has opposed military actions and threats to Russia, Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, Libya and Syria. www.veteransforpeace.org There will be a Veterans for Peace film.

There will be other participants and above all, the audience will be invited to ask questions to these very different activists.

This event is part of a two week long series of events between 1st and 15th November at Sands Films Studio.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/sands-films-cinema-and-events-3135066918