Yearly Meeting special interest sessions 8
'A faith group that plays an active role in conciliation processes around the world is "often not very good at dealing with conflicts and disagreements in our own Meetings".'
In a session co-hosted by Quaker Life and QPSW’s Conciliation Group, seventy-seven Friends explored The strange paradox of Quaker conciliation.
The paradox? A faith group that plays an active role in conciliation processes around the world is ‘often not very good at dealing with conflicts and disagreements in our own Meetings’.
Following a period of worship, the session began with a dialogue between four Friends: Judith Baker, QPSW conciliation coordinator; Pip Harris, a local development worker and link for the Quaker Life team with Restoring Relations; Clem McCartney, who has experience working in conflict resolution; and Ivan Hutnik, who is part of the QPSW Conciliation group and Restoring Relations.
Friends spoke of general themes and experiences in their conflict resolution work over the years, including the importance of: respect, listening, building understanding and trust, remaining neutral, and working alongside those involved to find a way forward together.
Moving to the question of Meetings specifically, Friends went into break-out rooms to reflect on the questions: What do we expect of other people in our Meetings? How much is it to do with what we bring to the situation? How much is it to do with what others bring to the situation? How much is it to do with the organisation, structures and processes?’
Twenty-six Friends heard about the Conflict Minerals Campaign (CMC). Elizabeth Coleman started with an overview, saying there are a ‘huge amount of minerals flowing out of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) which are used in our phones and computers, so the people should be very rich, but they’re not; they’re the poorest people in the world’. Minerals can also be a curse, leading to violent conflict; rape of men, women and children; people being driven off their land; and environmental destruction. Mostly run by Quakers (but not all), CMC’s focus is on companies and coltan mining.
‘It’s an embryonic campaign,’ said Elizabeth. ‘The other thing we are focusing on is increasing awareness. We would welcome any invitation to speak at any of your Meetings.’
Two other CMC members, Jules Irenge and George Bani, spoke about visiting mines to start a body of work making local people aware of their rights, the responsibilities of the companies, and how they can benefit and improve conditions.
Jules talked about the history of DR Congo, including the invasion in 1996, when Rwanda and Uganda invaded the eastern DRC in an effort to root out the remaining perpetrators of the 1994 genocide. ‘Since 1997, there have been multiple militia and rebel groups operating in Congo… they orchestrate very violent crimes.’
George Bani, who is based in east Congo, spoke in French about CMC’s work. With one member translating, we heard that at the international level, a UK group has started work investigating the impact of batteries for electric cars. At the local level, CMC is investigating the conditions in mines, by speaking with the local communities, where George said there is terrible poverty and a lack of infrastructure: ‘everything is falling apart’.
Elizabeth closed the session outlining what action can help. ‘Learn about Congo and raise awareness.’
Yearly Meeting special interest sessions reporting by Alastair Reid, Annique Seddon, Elinor Smallman, Joseph Jones, Laurence Hall, Rebecca Hardy and Sarah FitzGerald.
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