Latest News
Power of song in Palestine
People in Palestine are about to receive a new form of international solidarity – through the power of song. Singer-songwriter Penny Stone, who attends Quaker Meetings in Edinburgh, is taking a choir from Scotland to the Occupied Territories to back nonviolent struggles for human rights.
Mark Tully talks to Quakers
Broadcaster Mark Tully is to head the line-up of speakers at a gathering that will explore Quaker connections with India. Hindus, Sikhs and Christians will all participate in the conference, entitled ‘India: A source of universal spiritual inspiration’.
Christian Aid Week
Every donation in Christian Aid Week will have double the usual effect – because the government will match the contributions of individual donors. The Department for International Development will give Christian Aid the same figure that they raise in the week. This should be up to £5m. Christian Aid Week...
BAE boss grilled by Friends
A major British arms company was challenged to shift its business from weapons to renewable energy, putting their workers’ engineering skills to better use. That was the argument put to the board of BAE Systems last week by Rhiannon Rees of Croydon Meeting.
Visit of Nobel Laureate
A Nobel Peace Prize winner visited Friends House on Monday and encouraged Quakers to keep campaigning for peace. Argentine activist Adolfo Perez Esquivel renewed his friendship with British Quakers with whom he had worked during the Falklands War thirty years ago.
Quaker speaks out against ‘deadly trade’
A Quaker delivered an impromptu speech at a gathering of arms dealers in London after interrupting an address by business secretary Vince Cable.
Bath Quaker to ‘Live Below the Line’
A Quaker in Bath will spend no more than a pound a day on her food and drink next week. Wren Sidhe is joining the ‘Live Below the Line’ challenge, launched by Christian Aid in solidarity with the world’s poorest people.
Responsible lending
The UK government is blocking attempts at the United Nations (UN) to discuss how governments can lend and borrow responsibly. The news comes from the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in Doha, Qatar.
Quaker takes the plunge
An eighty-six-year-old Quaker has completed a 170-length sponsored swim to raise funds to tackle malaria. Trevor Jaggar, of Uxbridge Meeting, was inspired to take the plunge after attending an interfaith event run by Malaria No More.
The last taboo explored
Quakers in Leeds are sponsoring a conference to explore ‘the last taboo’ – death and dying. The gathering on 12 May will explore ‘all points of view’ on the issues, according to organiser Ben Francis. Speakers include Emily Jackson, an expert in medical law and Chris Larner, who accompanied his wife...