A series of discussions on topics which are of interest to the people of the Woking area and the wider world Will new laws make it
impossible to protest?

Our first debate of 2026 will explore whether new laws are making lawful protest difficult, if not illegal.

Both Human Rights Watch and the cross-party law reform organisation Justice say the right to protest is under attack in England and Wales.

The debate on Saturday, March 7 is entitled Is Our Right To Protest Under Threat?

The speakers include Ruth Breddal – a former chair of Amnesty International UK and a member of the policy council of Liberty, the National Council for Civil Liberties – and local Palestinian activist Ahmed Afana.

Local politicians will also be speaking and we hope to a Surrey Police representative can take part.

The event is at Woking United Reformed Church in White Rose Lane, Woking, not far from the railway station. The doors open for refreshments at 10.30am and the debate is from 11am to 12.30pm.

Speakers address the audience for around 12 minutes each and then the audience will have the opportunity to ask questions and give their views.

The debate will also be broadcast on Zoom – email keithsc_2000@yahoo.com to obtain the link.

On Saturday, April 11, we are staging a hustings for the candidates standing for the West Surrey unitary council at the elections in May. Updates will be posted here and on our website.

 

 

Is protesting on the streets becoming impossible? Ceremony recalls horror of atoms bombs first use
TWINKLING tealights floated down a canal at Send to mark the 80th anniversary of nuclear weapons being used for the first time in war. The little candles, in half grapefruit and orange skins, and white flowers were launched on the Wey Navigation by members of Woking Action for Peace and Woking Debates and members of the public. Launching of the flickering flotilla was preceded by a ceremony on the towpath by the New Inn pub to mark the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. “As dusk started to fall, we read poems and there were appropriate readings to remember the hundreds of thousands of people who died as result of the atomic weapons being dropped on Japan,” said group spokesman Keith Scott.