Peace Week

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Footballers, community groups, Police and the Council in the Lyric Square

Residents and workers from all over Hammersmith & Fulham converged on the new Lyric Square in Hammersmith for the Peace Week event, last
Wednesday 14 September. A Brazilian samba band took turns to share the stage with an African percussion group and Philippino dancers before Ros Scanlon from the Irish Centre introduced Hammersmith & Fulham council leader, Stephen Burke, who said:
"For centuries people from all over the world have co-existed side by side in our borough. Our strength is our diversity and the multicultural nature of our borough makes it a vibrant and exciting place to live and work. Those who seek to divide us will only succeed in
making us stronger."

Musicians and dancers performed as children from Brook Green School led the line in pinning leaves with messages of peace on a specially installed peace tree. Guests and residents also wrote peace pledges in a
book, which will now be displayed at various locations across the borough.

Cllr Burke continues, "I got a great sense today that everyone here is proud of our diverse community and wished to show their support for the vision of a world at peace - a world where individuals, organisations and nations work together to make humanity's aspirations
for peace a practical reality for future generations."

Borough Commander, Heather Valentine, said a key focus of the week was about joining the community together and promoting safety within the borough. "Peace Week represents a really good opportunity to celebrate all that's best about our borough and our city and to continue in the process of making it a safer place for all of us."

Top Championship striker Kevin Gallen, from QPR, signed the peace pledge book as drummers played in the background and up-and-coming actress Leonora Crichlow, who plays 'Sugar' in E4's Sugar Rush, lent her support to the week by reciting a poem with MC Ola
Animashawun.

Mulat Tadesse Haregot, Chair of Refugee Forum and Hammersmith and Fulham Black & Minority Ethnic Network said, "The need to celebrate peace and support for ones neighbour has never been greater. Fortunately, the community of Hammersmith & Fulham is rich in diversity
and well equipped to show how united its people are, whatever their ethnicity, culture or religion."

100 balloons, also with messages of peace on them, were released at
the end of the event. Alex Cottrell, 91, said, "I have lived through two world wars but
still live in the hope that someday we will have peace."

Cllr Burke concludes, "Today reinforces my view that the people of Hammersmith & Fulham are devoted to promoting and strengthening the ideals of peace throughout the borough, London and wider world. This may have been the first event of its type in the borough but I> '> m sure it will not be the last."

September 18, 2005