A number of peace activists and groups have come together to promote an educational project in national and secondary schools entitled “Fly Kites, Not Drones / Eitleoga Seachas Dróin.”
The initiative was first launched in Britain by a number of organisations, including the Catholic Church’s Pax Christi and the Society of Friends (Quakers). It is now actively promoted also on the European continent.
At the heart of this venture is the never-ending war in Afghanistan and the true story of Aymel, an Afghan boy who never really knew his father because of a drone strike.
The “Fly Kites, Not Drones” educational programme aims to have children flying kites on 21 March to mark the Afghani New Year. In the past week schools throughout Galway city and county have been written to with an invitation to them to take up the scheme.
This educational project comes with considerable resources for teachers, which are freely available from www.flykitesnotdrones.org.
The letter sent to Galway schools was signed by the former independent Connemara councillor Seosamh Ó Cuaig and Commandant Edward Horgan (retd) of Shannonwatch, as well as two representatives of the Galway Alliance Against War, Dette McLoughlin and Niall Farrell.
In their letter they recognise that 21 March gives teachers a rather short time this term in which to carry out such a project, but the organisers had only become aware of the project before Christmas. Nevertheless they believe it is a novel idea that could be applied in the classroom from national school to transition year and most certainly in CSPE (civic, social and political education), as it promotes peace and a sense of common humanity.
Deputy Clare Daly (Independents for Change) has also written to schools in her Swords constituency suggesting that they participate.
Further information: Niall Farrell, 087 9159787.
