Faith, Spirituality and Social Change
University College, Winchester
April 8th 2006
Who’s the Real Druid?
(short abstract)
Arthur Pendragon
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A conference bringing together people whose action for social change is informed by their faith, organisations working with faith communities for social change, and academics exploring faith-based social change issues.
This conference invites discussion about the dynamic dimensions of inter-faith dialogue, and multi-faith action across a range of social change issues. Opening the debate to include academic perspectives and grass-roots voices will allow for broader conversations about the current state and future direction of faith-based social change.
We invite proposals for posters, 20 minute papers or 30 minutes workshops in the context of faith-based social change which broadly address any of the following themes:-
Ecology and/or Environment
Gender and/or Sexuality
Education – formal and/or faith-based
Cultural dimensions - including music, art, literature
Social Protest
World Development and/or Social Regeneration
Lifestyle as Protest
Proposals in the form of a title, a short abstract (300 words max.) and a brief biographical statement including affiliation should be sent by 30 November 2005
It is expected that a selection of papers from the conference will be published
Speakers, papers and a provisional programme will be posted on the conference web site as soon as they become available.
http://www.fsscconference.org.uk <http://www.fsscconference.org.uk/>
Short abstract (300 words max.)
From a proposed 20 minute Paper
Who’s the Real Druid?
This was the problem posed to me at the site of the proposed Newbury by-pass, or rather the Protest site against such a project. A colleague of mine and senior Druid was leading ‘prayers’ for the trees was quoted as saying, “We Druids are not political and therefor have no views either way as to whether the by-pass should be built or not.”
Given the immediate threat to the trees this I though was more like a requiem than a blessing and posed the question.
Was it the Robed folk on the ground Blessing the trees or was it the protesters up the trees risking life for limb? neither being mutually exclusive I decided it was the protester up the tree, wearing their Robes and the best way to demonstrate was by example.
From that moment on I led the Druids, into the political arena, parading them through the courts, leading them on political marches and gaining their support for civil actions that I would take against the authorities. Many druids of many Orders came and joined me in Non-violent Direct Action, and many more supported in a myriad of ways that are equally essential to the political process of protest.
The logistics of protest born by the Authorities are quite extensive, court cases Solicitors, Barristers, Bailiffs, Sheriffs officers, Police, Security, Evidance gatherers, and the list goes on. All must be in place and are called upon to remove a single protester.
An equally impressive number of supporters are required to keep a single protester up a tree, from the little old lady who brings supplies to the local residents who opposed any such environmentally damaging schemes at the earlier planning stage, and all those unsung heroes who write to their MP’s and the press highlighting such issues and campaigns.
Biographical statement including affiliation
Profile
Arthur Pendragon, Titular Head and Chosen Chief of The Loyal Arthurian Warband, was born into an Army family in 1954; his father from Liverpool, his mother a Londoner, he was born in Yorkshire and raised in Hampshire, making him “Mongrel English, a typical army brat.”
At the age of fourteen he had a near death experience that set him on his path, studying various Religions, Philosophies and Occult practices. He was initiated into various groups and paths around the country, including Traditional, Gardinarian, and the Universal Free Church.
After serving in the army and working in the supervision of local amenities, country parks, building and restoration, he became a full time Druid in 1986. His Order joined the Council of British Druid Orders in 1990, on which body he now holds the title and office of Battle Chieftain.
Perhaps best known for his Environmental stance, he and his Order are veterans of many a campaign, Twyford Down, Third Battle of Newbury, Kingston, Crystal Palace, to name but a few. He also fought a fourteen year Battle with the Authorities over the Free And Open access to Stonehenge, challenging the so-called exclusion zone, purposely getting arrested year in year out at the Solstice, which culminated in a case he brought against H.M. Government over human rights at Strasbourg .
He and his Order are still heavily involved in the protest movement, but he tends to spend much of his time leading Public Ritual, giving lectures, workshops and talks, and in negotiations with the Authorities. He is also involved in many political campaigns, and has stood three times for Parliament.
Published works
Many Articles, Reports and Essays written and published on www.warband.org
Papers and articles published in many Pagan magazines including Pagan Dawn, Druids Voice, Druid Lore, The Rite Times, etc.
A Monthly column in The Esher news and mail entitled ‘A Write Royal Rant’ (1998-2000),
A Poetry Book, called The Latterday Book of Arthurian Bards,
And,
The Trials of Arthur, co-authored with C.J.Stone, Thorsons -Element