In any war there are always people who, rather than pick up an AK 47, will take the difficult route of active peacemaking... There are individuals in the midst of the violence in Afghanistan, N. Ireland, even in the DR Congo, who are risking their lives to prevent other people getting killed. This book tells their stories. Featuring 16 personal testimonies by those who have summed up the courage to transform violence in their lives, Unarmed Heroes is an inspiration as well as a handbook for overcoming conflict. The contributors, drawn from all over the globe, include relatives of those who died in the World Trade Centre attack and the Oklahoma bombing; Israeli, Palestinian and Afghan peace activists; a former IRA bomber and the daughter of one of his victims; a British military commander turned antinuclear campaigner, and many others. Despite their diverse backgrounds, each shares a passion for working actively but peacefully for positive change.