ABOUT US
The Fellowship of Reconciliation Belgium (FOR Belgium) is a movement working for Nonviolence formed by based teams which meet in order to enquire, spring and struggle for lasting peace with other organizations. It was created in response of the horrors of World War I. Indeed, in Christmas 1923, a Protestant pastor organized an act of kindness for reconciliation with the local Catholics. This event was the original birth of MIR Belgium which was implanted in the country in the sixties. People working for MIR Belgium are convinced that a world without violence is possible. They deal with peace education and enquiries in order to implement peace and justice, as well as the cessation of mankind and its environment's exploitation. They act together towards Nonviolence by spreading this message of peace and justice. WHAT WE DO - PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST
After five years of war and occupation in Iraq, the occupying military power have certainly no succeeded in providing peace and calm. That is why, FOR Belgium recalls the illegality of this war which started in 2003. It supports a rapid reconstruction of Iraq and people protection in the country, linked to a more active role of the United Nations. According the FOR Belgium, the American and the British troops have to withdraw from Iraq. Nuclear murmurs: More than 20 years ago, Morchedai Vanunu, an Israelis nuclear technician revealed important facts: Israel is in possession of the atomic bomb. Moreover, he also had pictures to prove it. The 30th of September 1986, he was kidnapped and sent to Israel by ship. He spent more than the third of his life in jail (exactly 18 years) and from now on, he is not allowed to go near any airport, port or embassy. Indeed, he was accused of spying and betrayal towards his country because of his involvement in the cause of pacifism. On behalf of Peace, he spent too many years in prison and nowadays, he still suffers from the consequences of his act. In order to help Morchedai Vanunu, FOR Belgium highlights that it is very important to talk about him within the European medias by getting interviews with him as well as putting pressure on the European governments to release him from his restrictions. To show our solidarity, we continue sending and signing petitions and we also call the government to take a stand on this issue in order to make things change. Besides, regarding problems in Israel, FOR Belgium promotes the urgent establishment of a weapon-free zone throughout the Middle-East including the dismantlement of the Israelis nuclear arsenal. Likewise, the Israelis military occupation must subject to international economic sanctions. The colonization and annexion of Palestinian areas by Israel must be enrolled back immediately. In 2006, FOR Belgium organized a trip to Israel to obtain information and create diplomatic relationships. The movement strongly believes that bringing peace back in Israel would resolve a big part of the current worldwide conflicts. Regarding the Palestinian issue, FOR Belgium calls the Belgian government to recognize the state of Palestine since it recognizes the state of Israel for more than half a century - which is unfortunately not the case of Palestine -. Indeed, if he Belgian government wants to get a consistent, regular, respectful and fair Foreign Policy, it immediately must recognize Palestine and to compel from Israel the recognition of Palestine as well. It must also urge on the end of the colonization and annexion of the occupied territories.
|
NEW GOALS"Hope Fellowship" : Building peace should start by Youth initiatives. That is why, three young friends who felt very concerned by the Palestinian issue after having been in the country decided to create an association called "Hope Fellowship" with the view to helping Palestinian people. Hope Fellowship is an association which supports students by calling for subventions in the form of financial help for these students. A local committee points out and escorts youth who deserves to be supported. This measure looks like a sponsoring and encourages young peope to advocate peace and exclude violence from their life. In the early nineties, FOR Belgium placed importance on campaign with the view to demilitarization and against the implementation of missiles and weapons business in Europe. Nowadays, the movement continues promoting the disarmament. On the the famous examples is the petition signed by FOR Belgium in a context of banning uranium weapons and armour. This petition aims at banning the use of depleted uranium in weapons and insists on the fact that those weapons should be prohibited. On Thursday the 22nd of March 2008, the bill called "loi qui interdit les armes à uranium appauvri" was adopted by the Belgian Parliament, again with unanimous vote from accross political spectrum, making Belgium the first country in the world to ban ammunitions and armour that contain depleted uranium as well as any other industrially manufactured uranium. This decision is the culmination of more than three years hard work. The vote represents a growing awareness of the issue among European countries. Belgium will soon be followed by other states in implementing domestic bans. CONTACT USFOR Belgium (MIR-IRG) |
     |
|
||
