On June 12/13 and June 26/27 the formal launch of the new Manchester Peace Trail took place, with seminars and walkthroughs to test the Trail with a variety of attendees.
Manchester is part of a project called ‘Discover Peace in Europe’. This has brought groups from seven European cities together to develop innovative peace trails highlighting the progressive social, economic and political issues, people and movements who have helped to promote peace, tolerance, mutual understanding and social justice in each city and further afield. The cities involved in this project, which is funded by the European Union’s Lifelong Learning Fund, are Manchester, Vienna, Paris, Berlin, Turin, Budapest and The Hague. Each city has developed its own peace trail, booklets and a joint website.
The Manchester seminars sought comments from participants who are assisting in disseminating information about the Trail, such as tourist guides and officials, teachers, students, councillors, members of faith groups, peace groups and refugee groups. As well as an explanation of the Trail, the seminars also included tours of Manchester Town Hall and guided talks by Mines Advisory Group, the Nobel Peace Prize joint winners who have their headquarters in the city; and Manchester Cathedral, who played an important early role in the origins of the national and international anti-slavery movement, by hosting one of its first meetings.
Booklets are available from the UK & Ireland Mayors for Peace Chapter Secretary, Sean Morris, or directly from their website, where an app can be downloaded.
>Photo of the guided talks by Mines Advisory Group