A Book to Read with “Talmudic Devotion”

by Adele on November 23rd, 2007

At the launch of Adèle Kirsten’s A Nation Without Guns? at the Wits Club earlier this week, UKZN Press’ Glenn Cowley described the author as an extraordinary woman, tracing her credentials from her days as the national organiser of the End Conscription Campaign back in the scary days of Apartheid.

Guest speaker Jacklyn Cock elaborated: “Adèle has been a solid centre providing courage, strength and comfort since she began her work as a peace activist. She continued as the Director of Gun Free South Africa and has been a model of inspiring, inclusive, participatory leadership and is recognised in global circles for her contribution and commitment to peace and justice.”

Cock announced that Kirsten will commence as the Director of the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation in January.

She called Kirsten’s book kind to read with “talmudic devotion” because it addresses a core problem of a society in crisis. “Some 25 gun-related deaths occur in South Africa each day,” she said, “and the solidarity that was seen during the Apartheid era has disintegrated. Violence is seen as a legitimate solution to conflict. Using scrupulous analytic methods, Adèle tries to understand people’s attachment to guns and debunks the myths associated with them.”

She praised the book’s style as well, saying it was beautifully written and contained many colourful anecdotes. “We can all learn from this book about the importance of using strategic research, establishing partnerships between disparate groups, how to access the media and how to reach upwards to policy makers and downwards to grassroots organisations.”

“This is a story about what is still possible. It is a reminder that there are spaces and gaps where one can still find opportunities to influence policy makers. It is an injunction to use different strategies and an encouragement to push harder.”

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Book Details

A Nation Without Guns? by Adele Kirsten
EAN: 9781869141356
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Tags: A Nation Without Guns?, Adèle Kirsten, Adele Kirsten, Apartheid, End Conscription Campaign, Events, Glenn Cowley, Gun Free South Africa, Jacklyn Cock, News, Non fiction, South Africa, UKZN Press, Wits Club