VFP SOUTHAMPTON

Veterans for Peace Southampton is slowly coming together and has formed some useful links with other organizations along the South Coast.

Late May saw a flurry of last minute invitations to take part in various events which VFP members attended.

Saturday May 28th We were invited by CND Dorset to assist with a leaflet outreach and information tent opposing the renewal of the Trident submarine based missile system. It went well.

Sunday May 29th VFP were invited to a ‘Chalk and Talk’ in Boscombe Gardens, Bournemouth on the subject of anti Militarism and the Military Industrial Complex. This invitation was issued by Dorset Peoples Assembly a local offshoot of The Peoples Assembly in London. Again it went well with a lively open discussion and some superb pavement artistry by Stewart MacArthur

Monday May 30th We were invited to host an evening of film and discussion by the Wessex Radical Film Collective and Autonomy Films of Bridport featuring ‘Action Man Battlefield Casualty’ and news items by RealNews. This was held at ‘The Firkin Shed’ in Bournemouth.

Thanks to our fabulous host Paul who gave up his day off to open the pub uniquely to us to host the event.

Forthcoming events in which VFP have been invited to participate :-

July 1st 2016 09.30 Bournemouth War Memorial. Peace Vigil and floral tributes for all victims of all sides both Military and Civilian during the Battle of the Some in 1916 this day 100 years ago.

August 13th 2016 Cliff top Picnic and Kite flying event inspired by ‘Fly Kites not Drones’ generally seen as an antidote to Bournemouth Air Show which has been Militarised in the extreme. This event is the weekend before the main Air Show to minimise any risk of confrontations /upset.

Veterans for Peace now have associations with several organizations in our region who share our common values and goals.

Dorset CND

Dorset Peoples Assembly

Dorset General Membership Branch of The Industrial Workers of the World who voted unanimously at their last branch meeting to support the work of VFP.

Stewart MacArthur – Street and Pavement Artist.

Autonomy Films Bridport.

Individuals too numerous to mention to whom many thanks.

Photographs from ‘Chalk and Talk’ 29/5/2016. Bournemouth.