Issue 20-03-2020
Featured story
‘Sometimes then, the worst brings out the best in us.’
In the short span of this year so far, we’ve seen the unfolding of one shock to our sense of normality after another: whether it’s been the bush fires in Australia, the record floods in Britain, and now the coronavirus worldwide. Partly these are what the insurance industry...
Top stories
‘It’s so important to understand where your food comes from.’
James Cadbury is telling me what the next big thing is in the chocolate world, and I really want to know. Vegan, he says, (obviously). ‘We’re creating a non-dairy product at the moment. We’re hoping to launch later this year. People are worried about how much dairy they...
‘We are never separate from that which sustains our life.’
Changing climate, deteriorating ecosystems and loss of species call out for our response. A cultural problem is the separation constructed between humans and nature, since we then overlook how humans also are an integral part of nature. What we do to nature, we do to ourselves. Sustainable living is nature-friendly...
Greenham
It was a weight to carry – the dread overcoming me and it was time to act – to take back what was stolen from us. Our right to survive. I was not alone. Women, together, we were strong.
‘Postscript’, by Patricia Gosling
Postscript is a fascinating, far-ranging survey of contemporary issues by a retired psychotherapist. Finding release from the constraints of her profession, Patricia Gosling discovered a freedom of expression she has brought to bear over a range of thought-provoking and emotionally-felt observations.
‘Dublin Quakers (1650-1900)’, by Richard S Harrison
T his book on the growth of Quakerism in Ireland, specifically Dublin, offers a most interesting account of the spiritual, industrial and enterprising life of Friends there. It is the first study of Dublin Quakers, covering their contacts, growth, business, social, spiritual and philanthropic life. Richard S Harrison is a...
All articles
BYM cancels events amid COVID-19 crisis
Britain Yearly Meeting (BYM) has urged Meetings to ‘consider how best’ to keep each other ‘informed and protected’ amid the coronavirus outbreak, as it cancelled four Quaker events. In a statement posted on 13 March on the Quakers in Britain website, BYM said: ‘So that we can care for each other...
QARN urges European stance on border
Quakers have been seeking ways to take action against the escalating violence on the Greek-Turkish border. Quaker Council for European Affairs (QCEA) has said it is ‘making representations to relevant parties at the European level including relevant European governments, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), the Council...
Romford Quaker Healing day
Romford Quakers held a Meeting for Worship of Healing, as part of the Quaker Nationwide Day of Healing on 7 March.
CAAT: Climate crisis should be ‘first duty’
A report by Campaign Against the Arms Trade (CAAT) has said that the UK government spends more than twice on the military than it does on climate change and the crisis should be its ‘first duty’.
Manchester Friends consider assisted dying
Central Manchester Quakers held a workshop inspired by Meeting for Sufferings’ appeal for Meetings to examine the subject of assisted dying. Twenty Friends came to the event on 21 February facilitated by Quaker Valerie Clark and heard a talk from a man dubbed ‘Peter’ who had accompanied his wife to Dignitas...
Visit to Congo
Three trustees of Quaker Congo Partnership (QCP) UK travelled to visit its partner church, the Community of the Evangelical Friends’ Churches in Congo (CEEACO) in the Democratc Republic of Congo. Catherine Putz, Alick Munro and Paul Simon spent ten days from 3-13 February meeting with local people from the church.
‘They were listened to patiently – and then offered a response.’
Having trudged up the hill from the railway station to Friends Meeting House in Edinburgh I was very grateful to find coffee and biscuits on offer as part of the warm welcome with which I was met.
Letters - 20 March 2020
Inclusion and diversity When I look around my Meeting I see individuals, friends, people who share with me the experience of silent worship. I do not see a teacher, a retired engineer, an elderly man, a young person. All of those in Meeting are all different, unique, but that does...