relating to political engagement

Climate Lobby
A QPSW day of action on climate change, including lobby of MPs
Wednesday 17 June 2015 12.00 - 17.30 Palace of Westminster

‘As members of this beautiful human family, we seek meaningful commitments from our leaders and ourselves, to address climate change for our shared future, the Earth and all species, and the generations to come.’

From Facing the Challenge of Climate Change, a shared statement by Quaker groups, January 2015, signed by Quakers in Britain.

A LINK TO MORE INFORMATION

Hustings
Friends may be interested to know that we are holding national hustings at Friends House in London on Tuesday 31 March (international affairs), Thursday 9 DOWNLOADS: Principles for a just housing policy 2015 booklet (PDF, 177KB), Housing our spiritual concern 2015 booklet April (community and sustainability), and Tuesday 21 April (economy and social justice). If you happen to be in London then, we’d love to see you there. Doors open at 6.30pm for a 7pm start.

It is hoped there will be similar national hustings in Scotland and Wales and many Friends are holding constituency hustings.

A LINK TO QUAKER VOTE: GENERAL ELECTION 2015

Housing booklets reissued
Might be of particular interest after the talk by Shelter Cymru  in Caridigan.

Inequality in housing in Britain is widening and housing options are narrowing. There is a strong sense of the need for radical change in the housing situation in Britain today. Principles for a just housing policy offers a way of describing what that change might look like. Housing: our spiritual concern offers a way of exploring how we might contribute to that change. To help Friends prepare for both the general election and Yearly Meeting 2015, these two booklets have been reissued by Quaker Housing Trust, Yearly Meeting’s own housing charity. A6 printed copies of both booklets are freely available from: Paula Harvey, paulah@quaker.org.uk
To download the leaflets: Principles for a just housing policy 2015 booklet (PDF, 177KB), Housing our spiritual concern 2015 booklet (1.56MB)

Also A LINK TO QUAKER HOUSING TRUST

European and Middle East Section of the Friends World Committee for Consultation

Here is a link to Among Friends Summer 2014 [a PDF] from the European and Middle East Section of the Friends World Committee for Consultation [EMES]


includes:
the annual meeting of the EMES
the Human Impacts of Climate Change
John Henry Barlow, Quaker Man of Peace


Testimony to him in Quaker Faith & Practice: 18.12

Testimony concerning John Henry Barlow (1855–1924):
Resolute but cautious, judicial and yet sympathetic, a man of quiet strength and almost stern gravity, and yet with a very tender spirit beneath apparent severity, a man slow to take the initiative, yet vigilant and constant in the discharge of responsibilities which were laid upon him – such was John Henry Barlow… His character and his faith qualified him to render invaluable service to the Society as clerk of [London] Yearly Meeting from 1913 to 1919. During these troubled and perplexing years when feelings were often strained and patience nigh to breaking point, when new elements of enthusiastic life were beginning to emerge in the Society, John Barlow showed himself to be a true leader, by promoting real harmony without compromise. ‘He had a great gift in knowing, during those difficult war years, just when the Meeting had got to a place where it might step quite swiftly into a region higher and clearer than itself realised it was yet ready for, and he helped it to take the step by offering minutes which, while they did not compromise, did not on the other hand rouse factious opposition nor lead to subsequent reaction by any over-stressing or labouring of words’.
Warwickshire North Monthly Meeting, 1924


EMES website