BYM pledges to ‘build back better’
BYM joins with others to support green and just recovery from Covid-19 crisis
Britain Yearly Meeting (BYM) has joined with other groups and organisations to support the Build Back Better movement in a push to create a green and just recovery following the Covid-19 crisis.
The campaign – which involves unions, youth campaigns, health workers, green NGOs and faith-based organisations – was started by Green New Deal UK and launched at a virtual press conference on 5 May by Andy Burnham, mayor of Greater Manchester, and Steve Rotheram, mayor of Liverpool City Region, as well as business leaders.
Oliver Robertson, head of witness and worship, said BYM looked forward to supporting Quakers all over Britain to get involved with the campaign. ‘The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the massive inequalities that already existed in our society. Quakers have been working for many years for a world where equality, justice and peace can flourish, and we need to work with others to make this vision a reality.’
The campaign will include virtual rallies, while social distancing applies. It is also encouraging people to write to their MPs and support local groups to work together to build a people-powered mandate for a recovery that benefits people and planet.
Several Quakers have already supported the campaign and attended online meetings, including Extinction Rebellion Friends from Taunton Meeting. The campaign is drawing on existing funding from the European Climate Foundation and Oak Foundation.
