Annual General Meeting 2025

Annual General Meeting (AGM) - Saturday 14th June 2025

Hybrid meeting (Zoom & PPU office), 11am - 5pm

This 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 invite you to join other PPU members on 14th June, to hear more about our work – and to help us shape what comes next.

The day will be divided into two halves. In the morning, we will look back at the achievements and challenges of 2024, particularly in relation to the PPU's four main campaigning areas, announce who has been elected to the PPU Council, debate motions, and receive the annual report and accounts.

The afternoon will be focused on political discussion, as we want to ensure our members have ample opportunity to discuss critical world issues with fellow pacifists.

There will also be lots of opportunities for comments, questions and discussion throughout the day. It's an exciting and engaging day, and a great opportunity to come together, to meet each other, and to plan for the future. We look forward to seeing many of you there!

Schedule

11am - 1pm - AGM

1pm - 1.45pm - Lunch

1.45pm - 2.45pm - Panel discussion with:

  • Ceri Buckmaster - Facilitator in Nonviolent Communication and an Interfaith Minister
  • Kate Smurthwaite - Political comedian, writer and activist
  • Anastasia Taylor-Lind - photojournalist and poet reporting on the war in Ukraine

(See more details about the panel below)

2.50pm - 3.30pm - Group discussions (full details announced soon)

3.30pm - 3.45pm - Short break

3.45pm - 4.25pm - Group discussions (full details announced soon)

4.30pm - 5pm - Feeding back & Closing

Book your place at the AGM now

The AGM will be a hybrid event, to ensure as many people as possible can participate. It is free to attend, and open to all PPU members. If you have not already done so, please book your place now!

RSVP - Please book your place by emailing mail@ppu.org.uk, providing your name, contact details, and stating whether you will attend in person or online.

Attending online

  • The Zoom meeting will open at 10.45am.
  • Online participants will be given information and support to participate fully, and an option of joining by telephone will be provided.
  • There will be options for flexible attendance in the afternoon, as we recognise the day might feel overly long for some online participants.
  • Full details of how to join the meeting online or by telephone will be provided at least a week in advance.
  • Bookings for online attendance will close at 5pm on Friday 13th June.

Attending in person in the PPU Office (1 Peace Passage, London, N7 0BT)

  • The physical event will be an opportunity for members to visit our office and archives, and to meet each other in person.
  • Attendees are welcome to arrive from 10am onwards for tea and coffee, and to meet other PPU members. You're also welcome to stay after the official close of business to carry on informal discussions and socialise!
  • We will be providing a vegetarian lunch, tea and coffee. If you have additional dietary requirements please do let us know. If you are able to make a contribution towards the cost of lunch, we will welcome donations on the day.
  • Please also get in touch if you have accessibility requirements and we will do our best to accommodate you within our building’s restrictions.
  • In person attendees are requested to RSVP by Monday 9th June, to give us time to finalise arrangements, such as catering.

Panel Discussion

For our panel discussion we have three brilliant speakers, all PPU members, working in different fields for peace and against war and violence. After hearing from each of them, there will be plenty of time for questions and group discussion.

Speakers

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

PPU Council Elections

The deadline for nominations has now passed.

There are vacancies for one Chair, one Treasurer, and up to seven Council members.

The Returning Officer received three nominations for Council members:

•     Albert Beale
•     Matthew Harbage
•     Colin Kerr

The Returning Officer received one nomination for Chair:

•     Peter Glasgow

The Returning Officer received no nominations for Treasurer:

The new PPU Council (taking office at the 2025 AGM) can fill this vacancy by resolution. A Treasurer appointed by resolution would serve until the 2026 AGM. 

Council also has the power to co-opt up to three people as members of Council for the current year should there be vacancies.

Candidate Statements

Council

Albert Beale

Albert Beale is a militant pacifist, born-again atheist, Londoner, pedant, and Shostakovich junkie; he opposes nationalism without exception. An active member of the PPU and of War Resisters' International since the 1970s, he has frequently represented both in the media, and has held elected office in both. He became a pacifist at school, on a day when someone was hanged "to show that killing people is wrong". Once a computer programmer, then a physics teacher, peace movement jobs include co-ordinator of the Campaign Against Arms Trade, co-editor of Peace News, and editing an international database of peace organisations. He has spent many years as volunteer editor of the Housmans Peace Diary. Anti-militarist campaigning has included a focus on Northern Ireland and the Middle East; he also campaigns over public transport, nuclear power, censorship, sexual rights, over-consumption, and local democracy - amongst other things. He has a varied experience of (civil and criminal) legal issues in a political context (with a 100% acquittal record). He doesn't think it right to be less than open about one's views for the sake of a quiet life; he supports nonviolent direct action in a range of causes.

Matthew Harbage

I have been a peace activist for 19 years; taking part in protests, petitioning MPs, attending arms company's AGMs and promoting peace in schools and churches. I have been a supporter of the PPU for a number of years, although not always as a paid up member. I have been a white poppy distributor for the last five years both in my church and a local primary school of which I am a governor.

The PPU has an important role: To promote pacifism as a viable and intelligent alternative to militarism and warfare, to reclaim 'remembrance' to avoid glorifying past wars, and through encouraging people to make the Peace Pledge to build up resistance to the UK entering future wars. I am interested in joining the council because I believe I can make a contribution towards the strategic approach and direction of the PPU.

I am an Anglican priest, currently a vicar in north London and a current member of the PPU Council (I am standing for my third year on Council). I have a passion for peace building, motivated by my Christian faith and believing in strength through diversity of tactics and people.

Colin Kerr

A clear voice for Pacifism is needed now just as much, if not more, than ever before.
Pacifists have one thing in common, war is a crime against humanity and we oppose all war, all war-mongering and the manufacture or use of any means designed to destroy a member of the human race. This sets us apart from the actions of governments which frame violence, sometimes approving it and sometimes disapproving it, to suit their immediate agenda.

Pacifist not passive; we stand unequivocally against violence and for peace building and justice. The challenge is to project and communicate the cause of pacifism in relation to today's circumstances. We need to be as visible as we can be in society. Pacifism grows one person at a time. It is today's individual conscientious objectors who bring the sharpest focus to pacifist commitment.

As part of the civic Remembrance Ceremony in November 2024 at Wood Green, London, for the first time, a White Poppy wreath was laid in memory of all victims of war, civilian and military. Some twenty local people wearing white poppies attended. The simple but prominent public laying of a white poppy wreath took place in the sight of a large gathering, including military presence.
There were many children from youth organisations all lined up. They saw a white poppy wreath for the first time.

I am a long-term member of the Peace Pledge Union. I was elected to the PPU Council at the last AGM and have been volunteering in the office for about eighteen months. It has been a privilege to serve on the Council for the last year.

Chair

Peter Glasgow

Events across the world, upsurges in nationalist fervour and an acceptance that increased military spending to support military solutions is the way forward shows that the PPU’s position of shifting people from op-posing a war to opposing all war is as relevant as ever. Previously as an FE teacher my passion was promoting young people’s critical awareness; I would like to see the PPU continue its work in providing alternative ways of looking at the world, at exposing militarism and challenging accepted notions of how things should be done.

As articulated in our Strategic Plan the PPU aims to raise the profile of pacifism in public discourse, articulating its relevance across a range of political contexts. We need to equip our members and supporters to pro-mote pacifist, nonviolent perspectives, and actively resist war, alongside supporting our formal peace education work.

Another important aim is to continue to increase membership numbers.  We must secure a more active and diverse membership, which can adapt the PPU’s mission for the modern world.

I would like the opportunity to continue the work of supporting staff, volunteers and members as our organisation implements the changes necessary to become even more effective in today’s increasingly militaristic society.

I have previously taken a lead within the PPU Personnel function as the staff team operate within a non-hierarchical management structure and I wish to continue to support the outstanding members of our current team and be involved in ensuring any new staff become fully embedded as effective members of this strong team.

A major priority has to be ensuring the PPU’s financial stability; I will continue to work with others on exploring fundraising and other finance related initiatives.

The PPU is going from strength to strength and it is crucial that staff and peace activists are properly supported; action that will help the Peace Pledge Union to continue as the premier pacifist organisation in the UK. 

How do I vote?

All members should have received ballot papers in the post.

The PPU Council decided that if the number of candidates was fewer than or equal to the number of vacancies, the ballot paper would contain options to vote for or against each of the candidates. Candidates who receive more “for” than “against” votes shall be elected.

To vote, please ensure your ballot paper is sent back to the Returning Officer, Debbie Herring, at The Returning Officer, PPU, 1 Peace Passage, Brecknock Road, London N7 0BT, to arrive no later than 5pm on Friday 13th June.

Any questions?

If you have questions about the nomination and election process, please email election@ppu.org.uk.

Motions to the AGM

No motions have been proposed for discussion and debate in advance of this year’s AGM.
 
Emergency motions (motions submitted during the course of the meeting on important matters that have arisen since the deadline for motions) may be discussed if raised.

Any questions?

If you have questions about the nomination and election process, please contact the PPU Returning Officer at election@ppu.org.uk.

If you have questions about sitting on PPU Council, membership or volunteering, or questions about the PPU more generally, please contact us at mail@ppu.org.uk.