Annual General Meeting 2025
Annual General Meeting (AGM) - Saturday 14th June 2025
It is a crucial time for the Peace Pledge Union. We are continuing to witness the devastating impact of war and violent conflict across the world, and seeing the UK government's complicity in death and destruction, as well as its increasingly militaristic mindset.
The PPU has been working hard to actively engage in resistance and to champion nonviolence, challenging militarism in our communities and contributing a pacifist voice to wider movements for peace. It is vital the PPU comes together to build its capacity to resist in the months and years ahead.
We invited PPU members to join us on 14th June, to hear more about our work – and to help us shape what comes next.
The day was divided into two halves. In the morning, we looked back at the achievements and challenges of 2024, particularly in relation to the PPU's four main campaigning areas, announced who was elected to the PPU Council, and received the annual report and accounts.
The afternoon was focused on political discussion, as we wanted to ensure our members have ample opportunity to discuss critical world issues with fellow pacifists. It was a really exciting and enjoyable day, and a great opportunity to come together, meet each other, and to plan for the future.
We look forward to seeing many of you at our next AGM in 2026!
Panel Discussion
Our panel discussion was comprised of three brilliant speakers, all PPU members, working in different fields for peace and against war and violence. Recordings of their initial presentations can be accessed through the links below, and details of the Q&A can be found in the AGM minutes.
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Ceri Buckmaster is a Certified Facilitator in Nonviolent Communication and an Interfaith Minister. She sees her ministry as supporting people to rehumanise each other in the wake of conflict, and to access compassion, clarity, confidence and creativity to find shared reality and openings in conflict processes. She works with organisations and activist groups to amplify the narrative of nonviolence in the current moment. ceribuckmaster.co.uk
Watch Ceri's presentation
Kate Smurthwaite is a political comedian, writer and activist. She has made more than 2000 TV and radio appearances including Question Time and Newsnight. She has written for Have I Got News For You and toured nationally and internationally with her one woman shows for over 20 years. She has been particularly involved in women’s rights and refugee rights for many years. www.katesmurthwaite.co.uk
Watch Kate's presentation
Anastasia Taylor-Lind is a British-Swedish photojournalist and poet reporting on issues related to women, war, and violence. She is a National Geographic Society Explorer, a TED Fellow, and a 2016 Harvard Nieman Fellow. Anastasia has been covering conflict for 20 years and working in Ukraine since the war began in 2014. www.anastasiataylorlind.com
Watch Anastasia's presentation
AGM Minutes
The AGM minutes can be found below. Please do give them a read, as they provide important information about the work of the PPU, as well as insights and ideas generated by PPU members during the day, especially from the group discussions.
AGM Minutes
Accounts
At the time of the AGM, the three years of backdated accounts (2022 - 2024) were in the process of being finalised. This process has now been completed, and all three years can be accessed below.