quaker peace and social witness news

From 1–3 April, we held the QPSW Spring Conference in Swanwick, Derbyshire. Friends attended workshops on militarism, Trident, the ‘new economy’, climate justice, ecumenical accompaniment in Palestine and Israel, and more. Our keynote speaker, Hannah Brock, a former Peaceworker and Ecumenical Accompanier (EA), told us about her Quaker faith and her activist journey. We know that she has inspired at least two people to apply to be an EA!
[you will find a report on this conference in Area Minute minutes from Milford Haven in June]

On Saturday 3 December, we will hold the third Quaker Activist Gathering in York. Please note that this is a change of date and venue and we would very much appreciate if you would circulate these new details to Friends in your meeting. The gathering will be a chance for Quakers wanting to take action for social change to meet with others, learn, plan and be inspired. We will send out more information in the next mailing and in our newsletters. You can also keep an eye on the website www.quaker.org.uk/events as we will post details there.

Please do also browse the Our Work section of the new website www.quaker.org.uk/our-work. This gives you more information about QPSW’s work and lots of resources and opportunities for action. And the new Turning the Tide website is now launched with lots of information about TTT courses and resources for groups wanting to take action http://turningtide.org.uk/

‘Peace Education or Militarisation?’ Submission to UN Committee on Rights of the Child (UNCRC) QPSW’s Peace Education Programme made a submission to the UNCRC. It highlights the UK Government’s: failure to adequately support peace education in accordance with Article 29 of the UNCRC continued military recruitment of 16 and 17  year olds in circumstances that undermine the safeguards in Article 3 of the Optional Protocol to the CRC on the involvement of children in armed conflict, as well as infringing the rights in Articles 3, 5 and 24 of the CRC itself the encroachment of the military in children and young people’s lives the marginalisation resulting from the Prevent counterterrorism strategy  Read the submission [PDF]

Stop Trident parliamentary lobby Quakers in Britain are joining other peace organisations to take the Stop Trident message to Parliament on Wednesday 13 July. It is the last chance to influence MPs before they vote on whether or not to replace Trident, the UK’s nuclear weapons system. For more information contact Tim Wallis: timw@quaker.org.uk

Rethinking Security Quakers, other peacebuilders and academics have joined together to say #RethinkSecurity. Known as the Ammerdown Group, they are seeking a public conversation in search of a new vision for peace and security. The group challenges the "outmoded narrative” which focuses on military and economic power without looking at the roots of insecurity. With the new paper Rethinking Security, the group calls for a public conversation in search of a new vision for peace and security. Visit www.rethinkingsecurity.org.uk to learn more.

Say no to TTIP! Alongside four other Quaker organisations from Europe and the United States, QPSW has produced a statement asking governments to say ‘no’ to the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), the controversial mega trade deal being negotiated between the European Union and the United States. The statement was produced jointly by Quaker Peace & Social Witness, Quaker Council for European Affairs, American Friends Service Committee, Friends Committee on National Legislation and the Quaker United Nations Office. It was sent to representatives of the UK and US governments, and the EU trade commissioner. The statement highlights concern that TTIP negotiations are prioritising short-term economic gains over human wellbeing and protection of the Earth. Among other things, the deal is set to enable foreign companies to sue governments for introducing social, environmental, health or other legislation believed to threaten profitability. Read the statement Trade for well-being, not just for profit. Take action With the next round of TTIP negotiations due to take place in July, it’s vital that decision-makers hear our opposition to the trade deal. You can get involved by writing to your MP, local council and MEPs. Download our action guide [PDF] Download our TTIP briefing [PDF] Find out more about our work on trade and economic justice at www.quaker.org.uk/trade. New economy The first two new economy booklets are now available! The new economy series explores different aspects of the economy and asks what an alternative economic system, compatible with Quaker values, could look like. The booklets are intended as a resource to support Friends to reflect on economic change and how we can work, as Quakers, to build a fairer and more sustainable economy. The first booklet, entitled What’s the economy for? discusses the aims of economic policy, the dangers of perpetual economic growth and how we might measure economic success. The second booklet, Good work in the new economy looks at how we can use economic policy to support fulfilling paid and unpaid work and how business might be reformed to realise this vision. The booklets are available online at www.quaker.org.uk/new-economy. You can also order paper copies for yourself or your meeting by contacting Cait Crosse at caitc@quaker.org.uk or on 020 7663 1035.   Economic inequality Have a look at our new guide for taking action on inequality! In this new guide, we outline five actions Quakers and meetings can get involved with to help tackle economic inequality. We draw on action already being taken by Friends across the UK. We know that many Friends are already acting to challenge inequality, and that the yearly meeting is increasingly concerned about its impact on our society. We hope this guide will spark new ideas and help to share what Quakers are doing. You can read more about our work on economic inequality, and download further resources, at www.quaker.org.uk/our-work/economic-justice/inequality. We’d love to hear from you if your meeting is already taking action on these issues, or would like to do more. Please get in touch by contacting Jo at joh@quaker.org.uk or on 020 7663 1056. QPSW Sustainability and New Economy grants Have you got an idea for a project that will help to build low-carbon, sustainable communities or a more just kind of economics? You can apply for a QPSW grant of £100–£2000 to help you get started with, or develop, your project. In previous years we have supported the creation of biodiverse garden spaces, the development of local currencies, accommodation for destitute migrants, community workshops on low-carbon living, a show about the history of land rights and protest, and many other Quaker-led or Quaker-supported initiatives. We’d love to fund your project this year. Applications for 2017 are now open, and will close on 3 October 2016. For more information, go to www.quaker.org.uk/sustainabilitygrants. Before applying, please contact Jo (QPSW) at joh@quaker.org.uk or on 020 7663 1056 to discuss your project.

conscience: taxes for peace not war

the statement from

conscience: taxes for peace not war works for a world where taxes are used to nurture peace, not pay for war.

We campaign for a progressive increase in the amount of UK tax spent on peacebuilding, and a corresponding decrease in the amount spent on war and preparation for war. We also campaign for the legal right of those with a conscientious objection to war to have the entire military part of their taxes spent on peacebuilding.

 

A link to their webpage

 

A link to the page where you can apply for a form for registering as a CO with regards to your taxes

 

A link to the latest news

 

41 members of staff from BYM representing their personal concerns and not that of Quakers in Britain as a whole, signed the letter which requested, ‘…that the part of our taxes that is currently used for military purposes be diverted to a special fund which is used only for non-military forms of security.’

In response to their letter the staff were told, ‘… as the law stands there are no provisions for taxpayers to withhold tax on grounds of conscience, or to decide which part of Government expenditure they would like their payments to be allocated to.’

 

to read the rest follow the link above...

 

 

 

White Feather Day

2 March 2016

 Mark the centenary of the recognition of the right to conscientious objection by participating in White Feather Day. This could involve holding a public meeting for worship at a place associated with conscientious objectors, discussing Conscience’s Taxes for Peace Bill in your meeting, or engaging local groups in a discussion around conscientious objection then and now.

Contact Elizabeth Payne for an information pack.
Elizabeth Payne, 020 7663 1158, elizabethp@quaker.org.uk

There is an ongoing project The White Feather Diaries

LINK to website

 

LINK to Twitter account

LINK to Facebook page

A guide to taking action to prevent British military action on the people of Syria

A Quaker guide a link to a PDF document with useful information and links to further information.
The debate looks planned for Wednesday 2nd December

Quakers Respond to Terrorism As Parliament prepares to debate next steps in Syria, Quakers in Britain have made this statement LINK

LINK to a thoughtful article "Confessions of a terrorist sympathiser

Quaker Peace & Social Witness November Mailing

Housing: Responding to social inequality and injustice

At Yearly Meeting 2015 we were reminded that the housing problem in Britain is not insoluble – although, as with the abolition of slavery, it may take some time (Qf&p 23.23).

As a continuation of the session at Yearly Meeting, a threshing meeting was held at Woodbrooke in September 2015 with the aim of helping Quakers in Britain strengthen individual action and to suggest how we can be more effective collectively in this area of social inequality and injustice.

The meeting began to identify alternative models and different strands which Friends might wish to work on. These are seen not  as isolated issues, but as interconnected and with many existing and potential links to activity already within BYM. Eight specific ideas are captured in the minute made by the group at the end of our weekend together.

The housing minute is available online [PDF: 89kb]. For further information contact Paula Harvey; paulah@quaker.org.uk / 020 7663 1036

Welfare reform

link to previous blog post 

Thank you to all those who responded to our recent action alert about the Welfare Reform and Work Bill. The Bill is currently at its 2nd reading in the House of Lords.

We are working with other faith groups to urge Peers/Members to support amendments that would remove or reduce the impact of clauses 11 and 12, which limit the support provided to families through tax credits and Universal Credit to the first two children.

When the Bill returns to the House of Commons there may be further opportunities to lobby your MP. Many Friends may have been disappointed by the initial response of their MP but please do not lose heart. This is a slow process but there is movement and raising your concerns is having an impact.

More information about what Quakers in Britain is doing about the Bill, as well as the joint briefing to the House of Lords, is available at http://old.quaker.org.uk/wrwb or from Ellie Roberts; ellier@quaker.org.uk / 020 7663 1056.

also of note 38 Degrees campaign is seeking funds to put posters up in Conservative MPs constituencies about tax credits link here

Climate justice through Paris

If you are wondering what you can do to uphold climate justice during the climate negotiations in Paris in December then visit http://old.quaker.org.uk/climate-justice for ideas and links to more detailed briefings, or contact Ellie Roberts; ellier@quaker.org.uk / 020 7663 1056.

You might want to:

Join the People’s March for Climate, Justice and Jobs, on 29 November in London (and 28 Nov in Cardiff and Edinburgh). Sign up for the march to let us know you are coming and to join a Quaker meet up point.

Tell the UK government to stop financing fossil fuels abroad. We have joined with Christian Aid, as part of their ‘Big Shift’ campaign, to tell Sajid Javid MP, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, to make a public commitment to ending the government’s support for coal projects through export credit guarantees.

Come to Friends House on 14 December to hear Eileen Flanagan, US Quaker climate activist speak about the journey that led her to handcuff herself to the White House fence. More details about the talk on the event page.

To stay in touch with future climate justice activity, and what QPSW is doing on economic inequality too, make sure you sign up to the Earth and Economy mailing list. We email updates once a month, and circulate a full newsletter twice a year, with the latest edition just out!

***Freddie from Milford Haven/Haverfordwest intends going there for the last day.***

War and conscience

2016 marks the centenary of the introduction of conscription and the recognition of the right to conscientious objection in law. Speakers on ‘Objections to war: A Quaker approach’ are now available for meetings to book. To request a speaker for your meeting, please contact Helen Bradford; helenb@quaker.org.uk / 020 7663 1071.
www.quaker.org.uk/WWI

Friends have long argued that it is the conscription of our money rather than our bodies which makes war possible today (Qf&p 24.19). We are continuing to support Conscience: taxes for peace not war in their work to introduce a ‘Taxes for Peace’ Bill into Parliament. More information is available at www.conscienceonline.org.uk

Be the change

QPSW has teamed up with Quaker Life to develop a new resource to support young Quakers to take action on Friends’ concerns. It’s called Be the Change.

To begin with, we have chosen three themes – ‘tackle inequality’, ‘create climate justice’ and ‘no nukes’ – each of which will be the focus of much Quaker activism in the coming year.

There are postcards for young Quaker activists to get started on the three campaigns and a webpage for each so that they can collaborate online – planning, sharing and publicising their activism together.

To request postcards for young people in your meeting email Cat Waithaka at catw@quaker.org.uk or 020 7663 2011. To get started, young Quakers should go to www.yqspace.org.uk/bethechange and create a ‘Causes’ account, which will allow them to share their activism online.

Peace education

The new Fly Kites Not Drones peace education pack is now available. Inspired by the internationally successful project from Afghan Peace Volunteers, it introduces children and young people to creative nonviolence in action.

In or out of school, the pack offers activities to learn about the impact of drones on human rights and on children in particular, inviting young people to come to their own critical understanding of the issue.

The resource pack is available from www.flykitesnotdrones.org  and hard copies are available from the Quaker Centre;  quakercentre@quaker.org.uk / 020 7663 1030.

Conflict resolution led by young people

Quakers were at the forefront of developing peer mediation in Britain. Recently, Quakers from Hammersmith Local Meeting supported a local school to train its first peer mediators. A team of Year 6 pupils are now on hand to help fellow pupils find win-win solutions to the conflicts that inevitably arise in school, just as they do in any part of life.

We are hoping to support more Quakers with a passion for peace education to take steps to support schools in their area to develop peer mediation. Contact Ellis Brooks; ellisb@quaker.org.uk  / 020 7663 1009 if someone in your meeting would be interested in joining other Quakers in a ‘train the trainer’ workshop to develop their skills as a peer mediation facilitator.

To stay in touch about future peace education activity, as well as what QPSW is doing around disarmament sign up to receive Educate & Disarm

QPSW peaceworkers

Each year QPSW recruits peaceworkers to support the work of peace organisations at local, national and international levels. This year our UK peaceworkers are Rhianna Louise, Zara Rizvi and Holly Wallis. Look out for their journal letters on our website in early December.

Rhianna Louise is placed with Medact in London, working on issues around revitalising the health for peace movement and the recruitment of children (under 18s) into the British armed forces.
www.medact.org

Zara Rizvi is placed with Omega Research Foundation in Manchester. Her project is on the use of military, security and police equipment in committing human rights violations.
www.omegaresearchfoundation.org

Holly Wallis is placed with Conscience: taxes for peace not war, to play a key role in their work to promote a Conscientious Objection to Military Taxation (COMT) Bill.
www.conscienceonline.org.uk

 

Fairtrade nuts

The Fairtrade folk sent out this video from Liberation Nuts [a company who sell Fairtrade nuts - I had some this week!]

urgent action on the Welfare Reform and Work Bill

An urgent action alert, from Quaker Peace & Social Witness, to ask you to contact your MP about the Welfare Reform and Work Bill, due to be debated in the House of Commons on Tuesday 27 October. Please also forward this others who are likely to be interested. 

Some MPs are still deciding whether or not to support the Bill so it's important that as many of them as possible hear your concerns. If you have already contacted your MP there are still things you can do.

The Welfare Reform and Work Bill forms a key part of the Government’s strategy to make a further £12 billion of cuts to our social security system. The welfare section of the Bill will hit some of the most vulnerable people in our communities and will have a particular effect on children, large families and people who are unable to work because of sickness or disability.

It is hoped that as many people as possible will be able to raise their concerns about the Bill. Please let Ellie Roberts know when you have emailed your MP and send us a copy of any reply you receive, by contacting ellier@quaker.org.uk. This will help QPSW to understand how MPs are responding to these concerns and help them plan further action around this Bill.

What can I do?

Please send a quick email to your MP, highlighting some of our concerns and drawing their attention to the Quakers in Britain briefing [PDF] about the Bill. The debate will take place on Tuesday 27 October, so it would be most useful to get in touch with your MP before then.

You could use our briefing to help frame your arguments. If you have personal experience which is relevant to the proposals being discussed please consider sharing it as this will strengthen your message.

MPs are much more likely to listen to personally written letters than standard templates. Here are some suggestions about what you could include in your email. If you already know what your MP thinks about further social security cuts do try and adapt your message accordingly.

General points:

The last round of social security cuts has already had a disastrous impact. Now is not the time to be making further cuts.

The welfare section of the Bill will increase already unacceptable levels of poverty, and make Britain an even more unequal, divided society.

Several aspects of the Bill will substantially alter the nature of our social security system by severing the link between what is necessary to meet a household’s basic needs and the amount of support it will be entitled to from the social security system. Many households, particularly large families, will not have enough money to live on and will experience severe hardship as a result.

The government is presenting further welfare cuts as an inevitable consequence of the deficit. In fact, there is nothing inevitable about further weakening our social security system. It is a political choice.

If your MP is opposed to the proposed cuts, or you don’t know what they think, you could:

Emphasise why we need an effective social safety net and that this Bill would significantly damage our social security system.

Ask them to take part in the forthcoming debates and to highlight the human and social costs of the proposed changes.

Ask them to consider supporting amendments designed to mitigate some of the most harmful aspects of the Bill and, if necessary, to vote against the Bill in its entirety.

If you know that your MP has already spoken out against the Bill, don’t forget to thank them!

If you know your MP is in favour of further social security cuts you could:
Emphasise the fact that depending on benefits is not a lifestyle choice but the inescapable reality for millions of adults and children.

Highlight the fact that children will be disproportionately affected by the Bill. The proposal to limit child tax credits to the first two children in a household will disadvantage children, simply because they have more than one sibling.

Emphasise how an effective social safety net is a vital foundation of a just and compassionate society. Proposals to dismantle this further raises uncomfortable questions about our values as a society.

Suggest that the government’s arguments that withdrawing benefits will tackle the root causes of poverty and create work incentives are flawed. There is very little evidence to suggest that this will be the case.

Highlight the fact that the reforms that the government is introducing to offset social security cuts, will only do so partially at best. Some of them will not come into force until after some of the cuts have hit, leaving many families substantially worse off, particularly in the short term.
Ask them to reconsider their position on some of the specific issues highlighted in our briefing.

What if I've already written to my MP?

Many thanks to all those Friends who have already been in dialogue with their MP about this Bill. You are probably the best person to judge whether or not it would be useful to contact them again at this stage. However, here are some thoughts that might help you decide whether this is the right course of action for you.

Where do the different parties stand?

Individual MPs will, of course, have different views about the various reforms proposed in the Bill. However, here is an overview of how the main parties stand.
Conservative: The large majority of Conservative MPs are expected to support the Bill. However some are worried about the impact of cuts to working tax credits, which were agreed separately to the Bill by MPs a few weeks ago. There is a possibility that some Conservative MPs might consider supporting amendments designed to mitigate the impact of working tax credit cuts in this Bill.
Labour: The Labour front bench is expected to come out strongly against many aspects of the Bill, and will probably instruct MPs to vote against it. However it is by no means certain that all MPs will do so.
Liberal Democrats, Green, SNP, Plaid Cymru: Have all stated clear opposition to the Bill and their MPs are expected to vote against it.