HUMAN rights champion Bianca Jagger will be one of the key speakers at a ‘celebration of peace’ staged at Tintern Abbey later this month.

The event has been created by the Tintern Festivals Association in response to the United Nations annual day of peace, and also near the time of the centenary of the armistice which put an end to horrors of the First World War.

Also speaking at the event will be leading environmentalist Herbert Girardet, Lord Elis-Thomas and Satish Kumar.

Herbert Girardet, co-founder of the World Future Council, is the recipient of a UN 500 award for outstanding environmental achievements and author and co-author of 13 books and 50 TV documentaries on aspects of sustainable development.  

Lord Elis-Thomas is an independent member of the Welsh Assembly and, since last November, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Sport.

Satish Kumar, a former Jain monk born in India, is editor of Resurgence and Ecologist Magazine and author of ten books on aspects of peaceful and sustainable living.

“Tintern Abbey has long been a magnet for Romantic artists and poets, for pilgrims and tourists, a place of tranquility and inspiration,” said John James Clarke, chair of the Tintern Festivals Association.

“As well as being a wonderful celebration of peace the event we’re organising on 21st and 22nd September will also present a powerful reminder that wars and violence, international and personal, are still rife in our world.

“There will be performers, speakers, dancers, musicians, choirs, coming from many cultural backgrounds, entertaining us and rousing us at concerts, and inviting all comers to a variety of workshops and activities in which all can participate.”

Friday’s opening concert ‘The Spirit of Peace’, following talks by Satish Kumar and Bianca Jagger, will feature Eisteddfod winners Cor Caerdydd singing excerpts from Sir Karl Jenkins ‘The Peacemakers’ and ‘Armed Man, A Mass for Peace’ - and a torchlit meditation in the Abbey nave.

Saturday’s concert ‘Working for Peace’ features the Renewal Gospel Choir, green poet Martin Kiszko and kora player Mamadou Cissokho.

Both evening concerts are by ticket (although you can pay at the door if you wish). The daytime workshops on Saturday are free, as is entrance to the Abbey on that day, courtesy of Cadw. Refreshments with a cultural flavour will be available all day on Saturday.

For more information including timings and tickets go to www.waystopeace.org