London to Unite in Fight Against Violence for 'Week of Peace'

|PIC1|Christians across all 33 boroughs of London are set to unite in the 'Week of Peace' hoping to facilitate a reduction in violence across the country's capital city.

In the past year youth knife, gang and gun culture has hit the headlines far too regularly with deaths of young teenagers in London becoming a regular occurrence.

Last week history was made as some of the youngest children were convicted with a manslaughter charge at the Old Bailey, after pelting Ernest Norton with stones leading to his death.

As these shocking stories hit the headlines each week, organisers of the event are asking "What can Londoners do about combating this yob culture?"

"Get Involved" says Pastor Nims Obunge, founder of The Peace Alliance and the annual London Week Of Peace.

He explains that "Peace is everybody's business" and that "we as a community must encourage and engage with youth in order to make a stand against violence".

In just 7 years, the Week of Peace has grown from its humble beginnings as a one borough local initiative in Haringey to become a high profile week of events involving all 33 of the capital's boroughs that attempt to reduce violence in London.

The week of peace was launched in Haringey in September 2001 as a response to local community safety concerns. Thousands of local residents welcomed the initiative participating in a peace walk, peace concert, prayer walks around crime hotspots.

Celebrated in Haringey again in 2002 and 2003, the events attracted thousands of local people from diverse backgrounds to a range of activities such as school peace assemblies, sports events, faith and community based action.

In 2004, the London Week of Peace was launched in Southwark and was celebrated in six London Boroughs.

In 2005, it had spread to fifteen other boroughs such as Hackney, Southwark, Camden and Barnet and included key central events. Then in 2006, all the 32 boroughs and the City of London took part in the celebration across the capita.

During the 2007 London Week of Peace, which is supported by the Prime Minister, the Mayor of London and leading government ministers and officials, Londoners of all ages are set to hold more than 150 events across boroughs within their communities.

Initiatives will vary greatly with school assemblies, poetry events and youth discussions all set to take place.

Organisers have also scheduled a youth talent quest which will culminate in a one day "extravaganza" and celebration of London's most talented youngsters in Trafalgar Square.

"Year-long fundraising schemes have allowed youth to build a community pot which over the years has funded youth ideas, projects, events and projects encouraging youngsters in an attempt to restore a sense of community and involving all communities in a concerted effort towards community safety," a Week of Peace release has stated.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has offered his full support to the event, saying: "I am delighted to give my support to the London Week of Peace which aims to bring the people of our capital city together to help create stronger and safer communities.

"It provides a chance to celebrate the work done by so many individuals and voluntary groups for the good of others, but it is also a unique opportunity to develop new ways of working together to improve the lives of those living in London."

The event is also providing individual boroughs with tools to arm them with knowledge and the information that they need to set up their own schemes.

The London Week of Peace will take place across London from 9 to 16 September 2007.

For more information about the weeks activities please visit: www.weekofpeace.org.uk