Building Bridges For Peace

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Welcome to Building Bridges for Peace

A non-profit organisation promoting peace and conflict resolution throughout the World

My Latest News

New Performances of the play The Bomb

"The Bomb" is a play written by Kevin Dyer commissioned by Action transport for anyone over the age of 14. It is inspired by the story of Pat Magee and Jo Berry. A co-production with The Dukes Theatre, Lancaster it is touring nationally to theatres throughout November 2008.

12th October - Opening Night - The Dukes Theatre, Lancaster

31st October – 1st November
The Baby Grand, Belfast Opera House

6th November - University of Hertfordshire

10th-11th November - Warwick Arts Centre

12th-13th November - Theatre-by-the-Lake, Keswick

Launch of International Network for Peace

Jo went to New York last September as a guest of Peaceful Tomorrows. With more than 30 victims from around the world, we joined with families of those killed in the September 11th attacks to create a new coalition to promote effective, nonviolent solutions to terrorism.

Gathering at a conference entitled, “Civilian Casualties, Civilian Solutions,” victims from 15 countries, including Afghanistan, Israel/Palestine, Russia, Rwanda, Colombia, Sudan, Indonesia, Algeria, Spain, and Italy we pledged to use our personal experience of violence as a starting point for creating and promoting new initiatives for peace.

My Story

Jo Berry

I have been on a long journey since my father, Sir Anthony Berry MP, was killed by the IRA in the bombing of the 1984 Tory Party conference in Brighton. In the days after the bomb I wanted to somehow bring something positive out of the tragedy and began a journey of healing. The last 21 years have been full of learnings and remarkable experiences.

In November 2000 I met Pat Magee, the man responsible for planting the bomb and we have now become friends. For me, the question is about whether I can let go of my need to blame, and open my heart enough to hear Pat's story and understand his motivations. The truth is that, sometimes I can and sometimes I can’t and this choice is always there.

I wanted to meet Pat, to hear his story and see him as a real human being. At our first meeting I was terrified but as soon as we met we talked with an extraordinary intensity. I shared a lot about my father, while Pat told me some of his story. I realised half way through that first meeting that I was at the beginning of another journey.

I still have feelings that are painful. I still get angry but I have learnt that these feelings can be transformed into passion for change. My passion for change starts with me wanting to stop the cycle of violence and revenge in me and has grown into helping create a world in which violence is not seen as a viable way of resolving conflict.

My commitment is to see the humanity in everyone. Building Bridges for Peace is now a umbrella for all the work that I do to participate in creating a peaceful world. For more information on my work please look at Current Projects.

I am also available as a speaker, either on my own or with Pat Magee.