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U of G Marks Peace Week
Former Iraq hostage, Holocaust survivor, anti-war activist to speak
A Canadian who was held hostage in Iraq for four months and a Holocaust survivor will share their stories during the University's Peace Week activities Nov. 6 to 10.
Peace by Piece Week is an initiative of staff and students, with representation from a number of on-campus organizations, whose goal is to create community dialogue and understanding of issues of peacemaking.
James Loney, a 42-year-old community worker from Toronto who was held hostage in Iraq last year, will speak Nov. 10 at noon in Peter Clark Hall. He was in Iraq representing the humanitarian group Christian Peacemaker Teams when he was abducted at gunpoint Nov. 26, 2005, along with three of his colleagues.
The kidnappers threatened to kill the four hostages unless the United States released all Iraqi detainees by Dec. 8. The hostages later appeared in a video dated Jan. 21 that was released by the kidnappers Jan. 28 to again demand the release of Iraqi prisoners. In March 2006, the tortured body of one of Loney's colleagues was found in Baghdad. Later that month, Loney and his other two colleagues were rescued by a special team of coalition troops that included Canadian forces. He returned home to Toronto March 26.
On Nov. 6, a multi-faith peace celebration focusing on teachings from many of the world's religions begins at 6 p.m. in Room 553 of the University Centre.
On Nov. 7, a meditation for peace will take place at 1 p.m. in Room 533 of the University Centre. At 7 p.m., the film Uganda Rising will be screened, with an introduction by GuluWalk founder Adrian Bradbury. The location is to be announced.
John Dear, an anti-war activist and priest, will speak on “The Wisdom of Non-violence” Nov. 9 at noon in Peter Clark Hall. Dear is the author of some 20 books on non-violence, including Living Peace and Peace Behind Bars: A Journal From Jail. In the course of his civil disobedience against war, Dear has been arrested more than 75 times. He was incarcerated for eight months for participating in a Plowshares Movement disarmament action. As a result, he lost his voting rights, is prohibited from travelling to certain countries and is subjected to intense scrutiny at airports.
Also on Nov. 9, a a Hate Crimes Vigil sponsored by residence life staff and campus collaborators, begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Bullring.
On Nov. 10, a Peace Fair featuring information displays runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the University Centre courtyard.
U of G's annual Remembrance Day ceremony is Nov. 10 at 10:30 a.m. in War Memorial Hall. The service will be broadcast on TV monitors in Centre Six.
The week will also include a presentation by a Holocaust survivor, sponsored by the campus Jewish Students' Organization as part of Holocaust Awareness Week. As details are finalized, they will be published on the Peace Week website at www.uoguelph.ca/~peace.