Issue 12-05-2017

Featured story

Thought for the Week: The structure of evil

FREE 11 May 2017 | by Barrie Rowson

It may be that everyday evil is just an absence of the good, as a Friend recently wrote in the Friend. However, when we are faced with industrialised genocide or the carpet-bombing of civilian populations my intuition screams out that there is more to it than that. I am not...

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Top stories

Doing time in Holot

11 May 2017 | by Paul FitzPatrick

‘Bisharah and Anwar’s Tree’ | Photo: © Ron Amir.

On a recent visit to Israel to find out more about the lives of Eritrean and Sudanese asylum seekers there, I chanced upon a photography exhibition at the Israel Museum featuring the work of the Israeli photographer Ron Amir. It was entitled ‘Doing Time in Holot’. Holot is the detention...

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Words, faith and action: Our Life is Love

11 May 2017 | by Stuart Masters

Comprehending how Quakers have experienced the spiritual journey can help everyone understand and cooperate more fully in the movement of the Spirit that wants to transform the human race now, as we face the challenges of our day. Marcelle Martin, Our Life is Love: The Quaker Spiritual Journey

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Reflections on the ‘Red Book’: Location is everything!

11 May 2017 | by A Friend

We know that Jesus identified himself with the suffering and the sinful, the poor and the oppressed. We know that he went out of his way to befriend social outcasts. We know that he warned us against the deceitfulness of riches, that wealth and great possessions so easily come between...

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Creating a just country

11 May 2017 | by Phil Lucas

In 2015 British Quakers committed themselves to give priority to working with others to identify and address the root causes of inequalities in our society. With increasing powers devolved to Holyrood, are some Quakers right in believing Scotland can show the rest of the United Kingdom the way?

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Conscientious Objectors Day

11 May 2017 | by Ian Kirk-Smith

Memorial to conscientious objectors, Carlisle. | Photo: Ian Watson.

International Conscientious Objectors Day is marked around the world on 15 May each year. A brief ceremony has been held at the Commemorative Stone in Tavistock Square in London since it was unveiled by the composer and conscientious objector Michael Tippett, then president of the Peace Pledge Union, in 1994.

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Yellow flags over Pendle Hill

FREE 11 May 2017 | by Harry Albright

Two hundred Quakers from all over Britain took part in a Meeting for Worship at the top of Pendle Hill on 6 May to witness against fracking. Local anti-fracking activists joined in the national Quaker event which centred on thirty minutes of silent worship. Yellow, the colour of the anti-fracking movement,...

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Northern Friends Peace Board calls for North Korea de-escalation

FREE 11 May 2017 | by Harry Albright

Northern Friends Peace Board’s trustees have written to Theresa May and Boris Johnson, as well as to the leaders of the main opposition parties, urging diplomatic and non-military approaches to solving the increasing tensions on the Korean peninsula.

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Totnes Quakers highlight concern

11 May 2017 | by Harry Albright

The silent protest against fracking held on Pendle Hill at the weekend prompted Quakers to organise other events earlier in April.

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Faith and the election

11 May 2017 | by Harry Albright

Faith has a central role to play in politics and the general election campaign, according to the archbishops of Canterbury and York.

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Election briefing on security

11 May 2017 | by Harry Albright

The Ammerdown Group, which includes Quaker Peace & Social Witness, has issued a briefing paper ahead of the general election.

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New exhibition launched at Friends House

11 May 2017 | by Harry Albright

An exhibition entitled ‘Making Connections: a Journey of Transformation’ was launched at Friends House on 4 May. It features a series of narrative paintings by Jill Green, of the Quaker Arts Network, inspired by a personal link with Japan and a passion for sustainability.

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Friends of the Earth condemn air quality plan

11 May 2017 | by Harry Albright

The government’s draft air quality plan has been branded ‘woefully inadequate’ by Friends of the Earth.

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Conscientious Objectors Day

11 May 2017 | by Harry Albright

Events will be held across the UK and around the world to mark International Conscientious Objectors Day on Monday 15 May. The purpose is to remember, support and celebrate conscientious objectors, who have established and are maintaining the right to refuse to kill.

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Letters - 12 May 2017

11 May 2017 | by The Friend

Taking sides Taking sides (21 April and 28 April) can be kept free from hate and anger when we bear in mind that those we are siding against are no less a manifestation of God than we are. Therefore, they are no less deserving of love, compassion and forgiveness than us, and...

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