Law man's mission to promote peace (From Barry And District News)

Law man's mission to promote peace

A SELFLESS Barry man has studied for years and earned himself two law degrees to help people threatened by violence and cultural upheaval.

Edd Wright, aged 26, has been chosen to join the Peace Brigades International (PBI), a non-governmental organisation that protects human rights and promotes non-violent transformation of conflicts. And although he will be heading out to Indonesia just after Christmas, Edd is desperately trying to find the cash that will help him live as he works.

He told the News: "My parents Ken and Mary still live in the family home on Port Road. I lived in Barry until leaving to study law at Swansea University.

"I graduated in 2000 and went travelling for three years, teaching English in South Korea for 10 months.

"Afterwards I travelled around Papua New Guinea, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and India. While in India I volunteered at Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity, working in a mental hospital in Calcutta.

"I returned to the UK in 2003 to do my masters degree in international human rights law at Nottingham University, in which I got first class honours.

"A few weeks ago I went to Portugal for the 12-day PBI training programme and I gained a place on their team. If funding goes well I will leave on January 10 to start three months in language school, after which I will serve one year in the field."

The PBI sends teams of volunteers into areas of repression and conflict to accompany human rights defenders threatened by political violence. Their presence, backed by a support network, helps to deter violence, creating space for local activists to work for social justice and human rights.

Edd added: "I am currently working like mad to pay off my student overdraft as well as trying to raise money for language training.