Quaker faith in action

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QPSW Spring Sessions: What love can do: How Quaker faith impels us to act in the world.

• Our unstoppable faith in action
• Difficult conversations in difficult times
• Justice is love in action
• Working with decision-makers in challenging times
• Campaigning for peace together with your “opponent” – learning from East African peace activists
• A brief story of climate justice: from slavery to now
• Freedom from fear and harm - building peace in Britain today

Upcoming events

Take action

Now is the time to act on the Policing Bill

The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill threatens the right to peaceful protest, and would increase prison sentences, fines, and police powers. The section on trespass would criminalise the way of life for nomadic Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities, and would limit access to the countryside.

Quakers in Britain will be lobbying on this at a national level. Please join us to help to persuade your local MP to speak out against the bill.

The bill has just started its Committee Stage in the House of Commons. This is where a group of MPs examines it line by line, and takes evidence from experts. All MPs will then vote on it again in July, before it goes to the House of Lords.

This means the next few weeks are critical.

Olivia Hanks outlines key actions to take now to challenge the bill. Find out how you can help.

5 quick actions you can take to stand in solidarity with Palestinians and Israelis and help end the violence

Last month our Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI) team wrote about five quick actions we can do to stand in solidarity with Palestinians and Israelis

"The current surge in violence can only be understood in the context of 53 years of Israeli military occupation of Palestinian land and 73 years of dispossession and oppression of the Palestinian people. For Palestinians, there can be no 'return to normal' once this latest round of violence ends. This is the message we need to our faith leaders and politicians to hear. Without challenging the main driver of this conflict – the Israeli military occupation of Palestine – the continued cycle of violence will never end." Please read and take action. 

Check out our new briefing ‘Climate justice: how does finance play a role?’

Our Economics and Sustainability team have been working with partners in the Faith for the Climate Network to join forces in advance of the UN climate talks. You can read more about the this work here. As part of our interfaith advocacy, we have developed a new briefing that explores two areas that we want to shine a spotlight: loss & damage and fossil fuel subsidies. The briefing includes a section on each, exploring why we must act and what we are calling for. It also ends with six things you can do to take action in these areas.
 
We would really like to hear your thoughts about the resource – please email us at climatejustice@quaker.org.uk to tell us what you think. Alongside our partners in the Make COP Count group, we’ll be sharing the resource with faith communities across the UK. Is there anyone in your networks who might be find the resource useful? Send it their way and help us share it even further!
 

News & views

Why peace needs practice

The Peace Education team was thrilled to host the Possibilities of Peace Education conference with our colleagues at the Quaker Council of European Affairs (QCEA). The blessing of moving this long-planned conference online was that we could make truly global connections. Delegates joined us from dozens of countries including Syria, Canada, Argentina, Turkey, Rwanda, Ireland, South Africa, Iraq, France, Afghanistan, India and the USA. We are grateful to the many British Quakers who joined us.

“We need to continue to build secure peace education learning opportunities that everyone can access regardless of background, identity or citizenship status as we are all citizens of the planet.”
- Hans Svennevig, UCL Institute of Education

Please watch and share the videos from QCEA, making the case for peace education.
Video 1 - Making the case for peace education
Video 2 – What needs to be done to make peace education a priority? 

Atiaf Alwazir, QCEA's head of peace programmes, write "The most revolutionary thing we can do in dark times is to counter helplessness by imagining another future and believing that peace is in fact a possibility." Read Atiaf Alwazir's blog taken from the opening and closing remarks of the conference. 

Coalition stands up for rights of Palestinian people

Amid escalating violence in Israel and occupied Palestine, Quakers in Britain are among a coalition of UK charities, human rights and faith organisations speaking up for the rights of Palestinian people. Read more.

Reflections on George Floyd

Edwina Peart, BYM's Inclusion and Diversity Coordinator, is among those sharing reflections on George Floyd's death as part of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland’s service marking one year since his murder. 

The service was broadcast on BBC Local Radio. Listen to the service (skip to 02:03:20). 

Campaign update: military spending

Recent months have seen a spike in antimilitarist activity, with Global Days of Action on Military Spending (GDAMS) taking place in April and May.
 
The recent international #DefundTheMilitary twitter action organised by the Global Campaign on Military Spending (GCOMS) had a reach of over 104 million Twitter accounts over the entire GDAMS period. Here is an overview of some of the things our network did during this time. Thank you to everyone who participated.
 
Individually and in collaboration with the a number of partners, our Peace & Disarmament Programme held meetings for learning on military spending and on new ways of thinking about security. If you would like to hold a meeting for learning on military spending and on new ways of thinking about peace and security, contact Daniel Jakopovich, Peace & Disarmament Programme Manager, at danielj@quaker.org.uk.
 
With our other partners in GCOMS UK we have set up a joint lobbying tool which you can use to call on MPs to challenge the militarisation drive in parliament. Contact your MP using the lobby tool