| Description: | This arpillera, which bears the conference title (SMALL Actions BIG Movements,July 2014, Capetown, South Africa) and encapsulates its essence, was commissioned specifically for this memorable event. It is rich in imagery, movement and colour. In the foreground, we see two groups of activists holding placards aloft announcing the conference SMALL Actions BIG Movements, while a third group display an image of a broken rifle, the powerful symbol adopted by War Resisters International (WRI), which represents the destruction of weapons and denounces the institution of war.
Amidst all of this nonviolent action, which is a core principle of WRI, children absorbed at play are undoubtedly being shaped by the surrounding activity. Linda included children in the arpillera: “because they are taught to hate and become involved in fighting wars at a very young age.”
The face of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, well known for his work in the field of nonviolence, is a prominent image. For Linda the combination of: “his wisdom, courage and brilliant sense of humour make him one of the most well respected people of this and the last century.”
The convoy of three trucks, travelling left on the overhead highway, bearing the conference title, location and broken rifle image, convey the powerful sense of energy, movement and purpose of this event. It gives a sense of assurance that this conference, the culmination of small actions, dialogue and collaboration, is “travelling” in a new direction. It urges us to imagine that a world without war is attainable.
Echoing the message from the conference organisers on the potential for change by working collaboratively, Linda reminds us that: “we all have the responsibility to consider our actions and the results of them. We are never powerless and by doing even small things collectively we can produce big changes.”
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