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...

 

 

 

where to begin with peace and conflict

Ministry at meeting, [which was deeply silent at times] on Sunday 27th July very much settled on conflict, poignant reactions of sadness but also optimism, about the current situation in Gaza but also a reading from Quaker Faith & Practice*, a section of 24.10 [Section 24 starts with our peace testimony and many other statements and questions on peace, conflict & reconciliation] asking us to look to our own lives:

"We urge all ... to have the courage to face up to the mess humans are making of our world and to have the faith and diligence to cleanse it and restore the order intended by God.
We must start with our own hearts and minds. Wars will stop only when each of us is convinced that war is never the way.
The places to begin acquiring the skills and maturity and generosity to avoid or to resolve conflicts are in our own homes, our personal relationships, our schools, our workplaces, and wherever decisions are made.
We must relinquish the desire to own other people, to have power over them, and to force our views on to them. We must own up to our own negative side and not look for scapegoats to blame, punish, or exclude. We must resist the urge towards waste and the accumulation of possessions.
Conflicts are inevitable and must not be repressed or ignored but worked through painfully and carefully. We must develop the skills of being sensitive to oppression and grievances, sharing power in decision-making, creating consensus, and making reparation.
In speaking out, we acknowledge that we ourselves are as limited and as erring as anyone else. When put to the test, we each may fall short."





* The book of Christian discipline of the Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in Britain

Poetry Evening Aberteifi/Cardigan

Cardigan Quaker meeting are having a poetry evening on Saturday 26th April starting at 7.30pm
The evening is entitled Commemorative War Poetry. The initial idea was to explore the poetry of the first world war but it has now broadened.
All are welcome and please do bring a poem in whatever language you wish - the topic is broad enough to include poems of peace.


Free refreshments.
All at Mwldan 4/ Mwldan Studio - across the stream from the main Theatr Mwldan building.