Issue 22-02-2013

Featured story

Thought for the Week: Quakers

FREE 21 Feb 2013 | by Anya Nanning Ramamurthy

I am a Quaker,  it makes me proud!  I’m not a faker,  we are not loud. 

Read more

Top stories

Gaza – what is the issue?

FREE 21 Feb 2013 | by Davorka Lovrekovic

A view of the countryside and fortified border around the West Bank. | Photo: Photo: Marion Doss / flickr CC.

The issue concerning Gaza, for Quakers, is not: Are you pro-Palestine or pro-Israel? The question is: Are you supporting those people in the region who are committed to a vision of living together in respect, security and lawfulness – as good neighbours and joint stewards of the land entrusted to us?...

Read more

Speaking love and truth

21 Feb 2013 | by John Lampen

Adam Curle | Photo: True Justice

In the discussions over our Society’s stance on the Palestine/Israel conflict, I have heard it said that the Quaker way in such conflicts is always to adopt a neutral position in relation to the parties and try to find the way to reconcile them. I think this is...

Read more

Innovation and testimony

21 Feb 2013 | by Joy Belle Conrad-Rice

To what extent is taking advantage of innovations adding to… our goals of living within our modern meaning of the old term ‘simplicity’? | Photo: Photo: DeclanTM / flickr CC.

Recently, while reading Chocolate Wars by Deborah Cadbury, I learned of the conflicts with the testimonies that were endured by early Quaker family producers of chocolate. Sometimes an outcome was in accordance with the testimonies of Friends, sometimes not, especially as younger generations took over these companies, as world war...

Read more

Quaker Memorial on schedule

21 Feb 2013 | by The Friend Newsdesk

The Quaker Memorial is on track | Photo: Photo: David Faul / National Memorial Arboretum.

Work on the Quaker Service Memorial in the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire is on schedule for the inauguration on 20 April.  The Memorial commemorates the work of the Friends Ambulance Unit and Friends Relief Service between 1939 and 1948 and began as a concern during the first Quaker Week. The original...

Read more

Michael Hutchinson retires

21 Feb 2013 | by The Friend Newsdesk

Michael Hutchinson | Photo: Photo: Colin Edwards.

Michael Hutchinson retires this week after nearly twenty-two years as assistant recording clerk of Britain Yearly Meeting.  Many Friends around the country will know Michael in this role, which has mainly been about church governance. For several years he was also general secretary of Quaker Life.

Read more

All articles

Pilgrimage route confirmed

FREE 21 Feb 2013 | by The Friend Newsdesk

The route of the forthcoming Pilgrimage for Peace and Economic Justice has been confirmed.  The Pilgrimage has been modelled on the successful carrying of the Olympic torch through Britain in 2012 and is organised by Hexham Quakers. It is being supported by Meeting for Sufferings and Quaker Peace & Social...

Read more

Plans for Australian Quaker Centre

21 Feb 2013 | by The Friend Newsdesk

Positive progress continues on the development of the Australian Quaker Centre at Silver Wattle.  A property near Canberra, the capital of Australia, has been purchased thanks to over one hundred donations. A Quaker teaching ministry and curriculum is being developed.

Read more

Christian lobby group targets tax justice during Lent

21 Feb 2013 | by The Friend Newsdesk

A campaigning Christian charity has encouraged Christians to do no business with tax-dodging corporations, such as Amazon and Starbucks, for the duration of Lent.

Read more

Canadian Friends support treaty rights

21 Feb 2013 | by The Friend Newsdesk

The Canadian Friends Service Committee (CFSC), with several partner organisations, have released an open letter exposing the Canadian Department of Justice’s quiet campaign to erode the constitutional and legal status of Aboriginal and Treaty rights in Canada.

Read more

Faith in conflict

21 Feb 2013 | by The Friend Newsdesk

Coventry Cathedral is hosting an ecumenical conference: ‘Faith in Conflict: Finding better ways to handle conflict in the church’.

Read more

Islam and peace

21 Feb 2013 | by Richard Seebohm

It has never seemed likely to me that Islamic militants can be brought into the civilised fold by bullets. We are people of the Book and so are they. Until 9/11 there was a Muslim Peace Federation website. I would like to quote the extracts I downloaded at the time:

Read more

Refraction: Moving images on Palestine

21 Feb 2013 | by Faith Kenrick

The uneven relationship between Israel and Palestine is the theme for a powerful exhibition at a superb new gallery space, the P21 Gallery, just off London’s Euston Road, near Friends House. Refraction: Moving images on Palestine is art that attempts to come to terms with what is, for some,...

Read more

Eye - 22 February 2013

21 Feb 2013 | by Eye

Sidcot centenarian celebrates Nancy Woodhead, a former Sidcot School pupil whose father died on the Titanic, recently celebrated her 100th birthday. Nancy was born eight months after her father, Frank Maybery, died on 15 April 1912 when the Titanic sank. He was on the Titanic to tie up business interests in Moose...

Read more

Letters - 22 February 2013

21 Feb 2013 | by The Friend

Quaker bank John Parkin (1 February) found the Quaker bank article (25 January) self-righteous. I’m afraid I agree, but there are many other issues raised by the article. The bank will use the ‘Sharia principle of sharing profits generated by the investment’ instead of charging interest. Although sometimes described as ‘sharing...

Read more