Issue 20-07-2012
Featured story
Thought for the Week: First things first
‘An attitude to life which seeks fulfilment in the single-minded pursuit of wealth – in short, materialism – does not fit into this world, because it contains within itself no limiting principle, while the environment in which it is placed is strictly limited.’ EF Schumacher
Top stories
Working on the dump
The cool hours from four until eight in the morning have come to an end. The air is already hot and humid as our little van, laden with bags of rice and beans, leaves the marketplace. We four Friends prepare ourselves for another busy day on the city of Managuaâ€...
Connecting at the edge
Last summer I had a remarkable experience. A chance conversation between friends led three PhD students – on the HighWire doctoral programme in Digital Innovation at Lancaster University – to a shared exploration over four months with me. They were interested in Quakers, in our values and processes, our constantly evolving tradition...
Still Small Voice
It was a powerful experience to see the world premiere of a play about Bury St Edmunds Meeting House in that very Meeting house. The Still Small Voice is that of Margaret Kemp who, in the 1950s, insisted on keeping the Meeting house open in the face of quite reasonable...
QAAD conference
There has been a ‘massive explosion’ in the number of betting shops, as they promote new gambling machines that fuel addiction. That was a key message from last weekend’s conference of Quaker Action on Alcohol and Drugs (QAAD).
Call to end trade with illegal Israeli settlements
On 19 June I had the privilege of offering the Quaker perspective to parliamentarians who came to an event organised by Christian Aid to call for a ban on trade with illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
All articles
Symon Hill leaves the Friend
Symon Hill will be leaving the Friend for pastures new this week. Symon has been the news reporter for the Friend for over two-and-a-half years, providing invaluable coverage of issues of concern to, and concerning, Friends in Britain. He will now be expanding his freelance work, including a book on...
Cost of living increases as incomes decline
The income needed for a ‘minimum standard of living’ in the UK has risen by nearly a third in four years – just as average incomes for lower earners have declined.
Sidcot School reaches out
The headteacher of a Quaker private school has said that one way its Quaker ethos is demonstrated is through a new project that introduces local children to horse riding.
Quaker Youth Pilgrimage
Twenty-five young Quakers from around the world have arrived in England to begin this year’s international Quaker Youth Pilgrimage. Friends aged 16-18 will spend a month exploring Quaker history and spirituality in Britain, Belgium and the Netherlands.
Meeting for Sufferings: The Skyspace
An Area Meeting, in the wake of the decision not to proceed with the James Turrell ‘Skyspace’ at Friends House, has requested that the terms of reference of Britain Yearly Meeting (BYM) trustees be reconsidered.
Eye - 20 July 2012
Artistic flare Turbans at the ready! Sidcot School’s annual Summer Festival kicked off with a student production of Arabian Nights. Nearly forty junior and senior pupils put on four performances of the story, which sees Scheherazade tell tales that led a sultan to spare her life and fall...
Letters - 20 July 2012
Integrity I was very moved by the call by Jill Segger (13 July) for a statement on honesty, integrity and plain dealing in our national institutions. I am rather wary of statements for the sake of statements and sometimes I feel that they can be so bland or obvious as to...