Reading My Way Around the World

Friday, 26 January 2018

Belfast communities come together for carol service #WATWB

Last year I really enjoyed taking part in the We Are The World Blogfest
The idea was, and still is, to flood the internet with good news stories at least once a month.  
This is now the 10th month and I'm happy to add my name to the group of people from all around the world who are taking part.

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We're well into the new year now, but I want to refer back to something that made the news here over Christmas.   As you know, I live in Northern Ireland where years and centuries of division have made for a very conflicted community and at the moment a very fragile peace.  


This story really gave me hope.  

I want to give a cheer and a shout out of well done to two communities in the Ardoyne area of Belfast who for the first time in more than 40 years have come across the so called Peace Wall to have a carol service together.  Lead by two children, one from each community, this is the most beautiful scene we could imagine for the end of this year of division.  The British government has promised to bring down the peace walls by 2023 (there are over a hundred of them, built to keep opposing Catholic and Protestant communities apart, who live on streets that back on to each other).

"An incredible step forward, where the impossible has become possible".




The cohosts for this month's We Are The World Blogfeset are:  Shilpa GargSimon FalkLynn HallbrooksEric LahtiDamyanti Biswas and Guilie Castillo.   

Please take a look at their stories, or check out the Facebook link where lots of people are adding their contributions ...  

Until next month I'm sending peace and love and light to your corner of the world.  

8 comments:

  1. That's an amazing story. Having seen the wall last year I was horrified....peace is the last thing it's about.
    Arilx

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    1. I agree Aril although I have to confess that I've never seen them, couldn't bear it.

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  2. What an uplifting hopeful story Fil - thanks so much for sharing it.

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    1. Thank you Deborah, it really filled my heart

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  3. H Fil - I do hope the community can pull together and join to become one - it's amazing how long people hang on to hatred ... Peace is what we need ... cheers Hilary

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    1. I think the communities are willing Hilary, but the powers that be are harder to convince

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    2. So many leaders need to be conciliatory and show that caring does heal ... one day - cheers Hilary

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  4. It is difficult for me to imagine what the so-called peace walls are like. But it sounds like the barriers in the community is breaking down and I hope that true peace and love one day conquers all. Thanks for sharing this story Ms. Fil and for being a part of #WATWB

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