AMNESTY IN SERVAS
Peter Benenson
Among the many people I've met through Servas one is Peter Benenson, the founder of Amnesty International. The first time I met him was at his home on an Easter Monday some years ago. I was feeling extremely embarrassed because I had arrived late after having had to wait almost an hour for the underground train. But as soon as I entered the living room, my mood changed. The tables and shelves were literally covered with brightly coloured eggs of all sizes. Peter at once introduced me to the (lady) artist responsible for this wonderful display. We took our seats at the table and very soon the conversation came round to the Waldenses. Peter had already explained to his guests that I came from such an area and I found myself being stormed with questions on the history of protestants in Italy. We then talked with him about the network of aid that he was setting up in order to help the orphaned and handicapped children in Rumania.have since met Peter again on other occasions and, during a visit to Nuneham Courtenay, where he was in the habit of spending his summers, I asked him to answer certain questions in writing.
Here is the text of that interview, which appeared in Servas's newsletter.
Not many people know that Mr Peter Benenson, the founder of Amnesty International, has been in Servas for ten years. He withdrew a few years ago. I thought of asking him a few questions about Servas and Amnesty.
What was your experience in Servas?
I think that Servas is an excellent organization for young people. For those of my age, the temptation to explore the world has passed, and in those countries we do visit, we usually have friends with whom we can stay. For those reasons we did not use Servas hosts when travelling abroad. I felt compelled to withdraw my name from the list of hosts in the U.K., because my small cottage is so oftes filled with family and friends.
What do you think of the recent developments in A.I.?
I welcome the recent developments in A.I., particularly the decision to extend the mandate to cover the conduct of guerrilla, though I have some reservations about the extension to cover people indulging in homosexual acts.
In 1980 you started another movement, called Nevermore.
What was it intended to be and for whom?
In 1980, I started Nevermore as an experiment in action planned with foresight to prevent war. As the experiment was planned for Somalia, it was natural that many Italians should play a role. The project was to start a number of useful schemes, in particular turning desert into fertile land, so that the volunteers operating the schemes would gain sufficient confidence among the government and clans to be able to influence their policy in a peaceful direction. Unfortunately, the scheme failed, because the protector of Nevermore in Somalia, the son-in-law of President Siad Barre, lost the dictator’s confidence and all the volunteers had to be evacuated. Had the scheme succeded, the present terrible internecine was between the Somali clans might have been averted.
What do you think might possibly be done to increase peace in the world?
Almost all the present threats to peace come from right wing nationalists, who increasingly wield power in their country of clan. Nationalism is bound to thrive until mankind discovers a social system which instills its citizens with a sense of security.
The present system of individual capitalism certainly does not. Its greediness goes against the teachings of every religion, thus destroying the moral base on which people stand. Until mankind develop an economic system in line with the precepts of the Gospel (and in the East of Mohammed and Buddha), I fear that there will be many and continuing threats to peace.