Since 2004 International Alert (Alert) has organised an Annual Regional Peace Festival in rural Liberia. Through dance, song, theatre and traditional arts, the Festivals provide a space for divided communities to celebrate peace together. Alert is seeking funding to organise a National Peace Festival in Monrovia – Liberia’s capital – for December 2008. Harnessing already existing artistic traditions and the complete spectrum of performing arts - music, poetry, dance, drama, storytelling, song and traditional masks and costumes - the peace festivals have re-established relationships through art and dialogue. The impact has been amplified through broadcasting the festival on the Liberia Media Project’s 8 community radios, reaching the remotest of regions. The Peace Festivals provide an unprecedented opportunity for the region’s different ethnic groups to gather together in peace. For example at the 2006 festival, the Mandingoes from Bong County - a group that has been at the centre of land disputes in Northern Liberia - drummed for singers from Kpelle group, which was a significant break through. Chiefs and other traditional leaders who attended the festival helped to raise awareness of the need for people to actively work for peace. Many of the participants believe that the festival helps create foundations for true and lasting peace, including Bishop Arthur Kulah of Liberia's Truth and Reconciliation Commission: "Here we didn't think about weapons. Instead we talked about instruments of peace like dancing and drums. Those instruments can be used to bring about peace and reconciliation. Once people sing and talk, they see there is no need for war." To date £100,000 has been raised towards the 2008 festival, covering the significant cost of transporting participants from across the region to Monrovia, consultation meetings across the country and publicity events. However, without your support there is a real risk that the Peace and Cultural Festivals will not be able to go ahead. Alert is seeking a contribution from yourself towards the £56,000 to stage this event December.