Description
Object description
British civilian organiser with Gulf Peace Team in GB, Iraq and Jordan, 10/1990-3/1991
Content description
REEL 1 Aspects of period in GB, 1930-1990: attitude to pacifism; activities with League of Nations League during 1930s and Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament during 1980s; military service during Second World War. Aspects of period as civilian organiser with Gulf Peace Team in GB, 10/1990-11/1990: role in formation of Gulf Peace Team in GB, 10/1990; aims of Gulf Peace Team; decision to boycott Iraq following invasion of Kuwait, 2/8/1990; publicity and response to Gulf Peace Team; reasons for ending boycott on Iraq; description of policy statement, membership and recruitment methods; seeking advice from veterans who fought in desert during Second World War; funding; selection of advance party of seven people; journey to Baghdad, Iraq via Amman, Jordan, 11/1990. Recollections of period as civilian organiser with Gulf Peace Team in Iraq and Jordan, 11/1990-3/1991: arrival at World Peace and Friendship camp outside Baghdad, Iraq; first contacts with Iraqis including government official Adnan Dawood Salman.
REEL 2 Continues: relations with Iraqi officials; first unsuccessful proposal for peace camp and subsequent agreement on suitable site; problem of attracting enough volunteers for camp; story of thirty volunteers setting up Al Judayyidah Peace Camp on Iraq/Saudi Arabia border, 24/12/1990; media coverage including planting of Peace Tree and religious service; New Year's Eve party in Al Judayyidah Peace Camp, 31/12/1990; reading out appeal to all military commanders at press conference; description of Al Judayyidah Peace Camp, organisation and living conditions; attitude to mixed sex tents.
REEL 3 Continues: relations between sexes and different nationalities; use of English as common language; opinion of Iraqi guards; health situation and medical facilities; question of restricted movement outside camp; communications with outside world; reaction to bombing of Baghdad, Iraq on outbreak of air and ground war, 16/1/1991; changes in Al Judayyidah Peace Camp following start of war; cultural evening organised by Peggie Preston; morale in camp and attitude to returning home; protesting over evacuation of Al Judayyidah Peace Camp, 27/1/1991; unsuccessful attempt to move camp nearer to border; journey to and arrival at Al Rasheed Hotel in Baghdad, Iraq; conditions in Al Rasheed Hotel, Baghdad, Iraq; bomb damage and air raid shelters; Iraqi organised visits to see bomb damage and visit to milk factory wrongly identified as producing chemical weapons; reaction to bombing of civilian air raid shelter in Baghdad, Iraq.
REEL 4 Continues: assessment of success of Al Judayyidah Peace Camp; attitude of Iraqis to peace campaigners; role and status within Gulf Peace Team; journey from Baghdad, Iraq to Amman, Jordan, end 1/1991; reunion with Gulf Peace Team group in Amman, Jordan; opinion of accommodation in hotel; arrangements for return to GB; reasons for wanting to stay on in Jordan; attitude to Gulf Peace Team involvement with Palestinian issue; meetings with high ranking Jordanians; medical teams; role in sorting out finances; reaction to news of ceasefire; relations between Jordan and Iraq; work of Gulf Peace Team with Kurds; lifestyle in Islamic countries; role of Gulf Peace Team in rebuilding of hospital.
REEL 5 Continues: description of peace walks from Jordan; relations with Israelis; nature of work in Jordan; opinion of success of Al Judayyidah Peace Camp; return to GB, 3/1991. Aspects of period as civilian organiser with Gulf Peace Team in GB, 1991: size of Gulf Peace Team financial debt and problem of repayment; opinion of financial management of Gulf Peace Team and question of lifestyle of members; problem of individual payment for flights and expenses restricting Gulf Peace Team membership; arrival back in GB and readjustment to normal life; further activities with peace movement; involvement in case of soldier Vic Williams.
REEL 6 Continues: further comments on involvement with Vic Williams case including attending vigils; reason for conditional support for Vic Williams; attitude to conscientious objectors during Second World War; belief in use of non-violent action; reflections on period in Al Judayyidah Peace Camp, 12/1990-1/1991.
