Issue 12-05-2023

Featured story

Yearly Meeting 2023: Special interest groups

FREE 11 May 2023 | by Rebecca Hardy, Elinor Smallman, Joseph Jones

In the week before Yearly Meeting began in earnest, various Quaker Recognised Bodies and special interest groups ran sessions online for interested Friends. Staff from the Friend managed to get to many of them, but if we missed yours please let us know and we’ll try to catch up...

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Top stories

Accessible language: Rebecca Hardy talks to Swarthmore lecturer Esther Loukin

11 May 2023 | by Rebecca Hardy

‘These are all ways of saying “You’re the problem”.’ | Photo: © Mike Pinches, for BYM

How did you feel when you were first asked to do the Swarthmore Lecture? Did you know immediately what you wanted to say? Or was it more a slow process of evolution? It took a while and definitely evolved. My initial response and feeling was ‘Absolutely no’. I thought: ‘I...

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Quakers march on May Day

FREE 11 May 2023 | by Rebecca Hardy

Members of QSS marching on May Day | Photo: courtesy Sheila Taylor

Members of the Quaker Socialist Society (QSS) joined the May Day march in London last week, against a backdrop of public sector strikes.

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Eye - 12 May 2023

11 May 2023 | by Elinor Smallman

‘I loved learning from Barbara Childs how to draw labyrinths. This morning I made this one from camellia flowers.’ | Photo: Alice Curteis

Friendly labyrinths Eye’s foray into labyrinths and their uses (31 March) inspired readers to share snaps of Friendly paths. Alice Curteis, of St Andrews Meeting, said: ‘I loved learning from Barbara Childs how to draw labyrinths. This morning I made this one from camellia flowers’ (see above). John Lawson, one...

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All articles

BYM shortlisted for campaigning award

FREE 11 May 2023 | by Rebecca Hardy

Britain Yearly Meeting (BYM) has been shortlisted for a major campaigning award as part of the Police Bill Alliance.

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Quaker London history walk returns

11 May 2023 | by Rebecca Hardy

A popular guided walk highlighting Quaker history in the heart of London’s financial district will return this month, thanks to a Hertfordshire Friend.

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QCEA prioritises ‘migration and peace’

11 May 2023 | by Rebecca Hardy

Quaker Council for European Affairs (QCEA) has chosen migration and peace as a key strand of its work for 2023-2024. According to its latest Around Europe newsletter: ‘Migration is a peace issue, and QCEA will work alongside others to develop this approach and make it more prominent in the European...

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Quakers lobby MPs on prison sentences

11 May 2023 | by Rebecca Hardy

Quakers in Criminal Justice (QICJ) and Britain Yearly Meeting (BYM) briefed MPs ahead of a debate on indeterminate sentences last week. The debate on 27 April followed a conclusion last September from the UK parliament’s Justice Committee that Imprisonment for Public Protection Sentences (IPPs) caused profound psychological harm and mental...

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Correction

11 May 2023 | by Rebecca Hardy

Last week we said that the Woodbrooke Place residentials held at Glenthorne will be pay-as-led. This was incorrect. Woodbrooke says: ‘This year’s courses at Glenthorne follow their existing pricing structure and we’re working together to set prices in future which are affordable and sustainable for both organisations.’ We...

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Letters - 12 May 2023

11 May 2023 | by The Friend

Oath of allegiance I was pleased when Charles spoke of seeing himself as defender of faiths, rather than as defender of the (Anglican) faith, as it seemed to show a broader vision than nationalism. So I was rather taken aback when I heard that we are being asked to take...

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