Latest News
Lawsuit against forest defenders dropped
A Manchester Friend has been celebrating after a leading timber company withdrew a lawsuit against indigenous forest defenders in Borneo.
Peace Museum has January refit
The recently-relocated Peace Museum in Bradford is starting the new year by refitting its new building. The museum showed off its new premises recently in the iconic Salts Mill, in the World Heritage village of Saltaire, Bradford.
Friends lobby on anti-democratic bills
The year began with a call from Britain Yearly Meeting (BYM), saying there was a ‘pressing need to defend our human rights this year as more anti-democratic measures are in the pipeline’. This included the Bill of Rights and the Public Order Bill.
Woodbrooke building handed over
There was sad news in March when, after 120 years of providing Quaker fellowship and ministry, the Woodbrooke Quaker Study Centre announced that it was leaving its building.
Quakers divided on ‘loyal address’
Quakers from Britain and Ireland visited Buckingham Palace in the spring after being invited to offer a ‘Loyal Address’ – a historic entitlement to address the monarch.
War in Israel and Gaza
The ongoing war in Israel and Gaza dominated the last three months of the year, after the Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October took hostages and killed over 1,200 Israelis. By December, at least 20,000 Palestinians had been killed, according to Gaza Health Ministry figures, including more than 7,700 children.
Friends welcome action on climate loss and damage
Quakers campaigned for climate justice in a year that would be ‘the warmest on record’, scientists said with ‘near certainty’. By November, they said it was 1.43C above the pre-industrial average.
New CEO for Woodbrooke
Woodbrooke trustees have announced the appointment of Mandy Cooper as the new permanent CEO to lead the charity into 2024 and beyond.
George Fox 400 programme launched
A ‘George Fox 400 programme’ will be officially announced by Friends World Committee for Consultation (FWCC) on 1 January 2024. The programme of events is to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the co-founder of the Quaker movement, George Fox.
Stop selling arms to Israel, Quakers tell UK government
Quakers joined calls on the UK government to suspend arms sales to Israel due to the ‘clear risk’ that the weapons might be used in violation of international law.