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Nine Points To Remember For Those Who Work For Peace And Justice - By Christopher Titmuss.

  1. Keep in mind your essential truths. Such as the trust and belief in constructive engagement rather than destructive engagement, the human right to live, not to be attacked, maimed or killed; compassion rather than hate; truth and justice rather than support for what is illegal. Remember that all suffer in conflict, physically, emotionally or both, soldiers or civilians, innocent or guilty, babies or the elderly.

  2. Remember to keep the spirits up so that empowerment takes priority and not despair. Remember to love others and delight in good humour. There is still much to celebrate about life.

  3. Remember that all media reports of conflict are a version of events. Journalists often say, half-jokingly, 'never let the truth stand in the way of a good story.' It is the suffering and its skilful resolution that matters. Don't become addicted to news but be clear about what disturbs you.

  4. Try not get caught up in any blame, anger, and hate towards those who take an utterly different view. There is far too much negativity in the world already, Negativity can become the first step to violence and war or condoning it.

  5. Remember that all significant movements for major change started with small groups of thoughtful people meeting together to campaign. Stay committed.

  6. We must walk our talk and talk our walk as much as possible in our own lives, family friends, community and organisations.

  7. We believe in peace, reconciliation, the power of compassion and the profound significance of realising that everybody on earth is inter-connected. Let us bear witness to the rights of people, see people not their labels, such as the national or regional identity of various people.

  8. Remember to mindfully breathe in and out under pressure Don't give others power by being afraid of them.

  9. Keep in regular contact with like-minded people. We give strength to each other.


Buddhist author and Totnes Peace Group activist, Christopher Titmuss has written a book, TRANSFORMING OUR TERROR, that was published in New York and the the UK last summer.

Following in the wake of acts of terror on September 11, 2001, the UK and US publishers invited the author to explore a spiritual approach to making sense of senseless situations.

The book examines grief, despair, rage, violence and war - adopting a spiritual perspective. The author points to skilful ways to transform desire for vengeance, practices to cope with personal terror and to make sense of pain and death. He offers a variety of practical exercises to transform intense suffering as well as inquiring into such areas as stereotypes, power, personal and international conflict.

Price £9.99. Published by Godsfield Press, UK.