Issue 13-05-2016
Featured story
Thought for the Week: Seeing the person
Our old friend Sam had been in hospital for ten weeks. The hospital was the other side of London from his home. He had spent his birthday in hospital and it looked likely that he would spend Christmas there as well.
Top stories
Children’s Charter of Developmental Rights
I’ve had a concern for childhood for several years now. It grew from my observations working in education, which I came to realise reflected my own childhood experiences and explained difficulties I’ve had throughout my adult life. As Quakers, we see our faith as being expressed in how...
Who is my neighbour?
Ireland Yearly Meeting (IYM) this year challenged Friends to consider the question: ‘Who is my neighbour?’ The quotation from Quaker Life and Practice, which underpinned the theme further, probed participants: ‘How can we, such a small insignificant group of people as the Society of Friends help to stem the tide...
Pentecost
Every year the Christian church celebrates Easter, although the crucifixion was an absolute tragedy. The Easter story has been embroidered by myths and symbols to turn it into the central Christian festival, but these are later churchly additions. For example, in an early copy of Mark’s Gospel, found, incidentally,...
Europe: Environment and agriculture
I should declare a personal interest in the outcome of the EU referendum: my work involves helping clients (government agencies, mostly) translate European environmental legislation into practice. I once tried to explain this to Enoch Powell. He put his face close to mine and, eyes blazing, spat contemptuously: ‘What business...
From the archive: Harry Stanton
Harry Stanton was a Friend who was involved in one of the most controversial events concerning conscientious objectors in the first world war. It began with his refusal to fight in 1916 and his decision to take up the ‘conscience clause’ of the Military Service Act 1916. Ordered to do non-combatant service,...
All articles
Friends witness at AGM of BAE Systems
Two Quakers were physically removed from the annual general meeting (AGM) of weapons manu-facturer BAE Systems last week.
JRCT responds to report findings
The Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust (JRCT) has issued a response to the Charity Commission’s regulatory case report on the trust’s funding of the advocacy organisation Cage.
Quakers and the elections
A number of Quakers stood in the recent elections. Those elected included Carla Denyer of Young Friends General Meeting and Alex Cole-Hamilton of Central Edinburgh Local Meeting.
London Quakers welcome new mayor
London Friends were among those who welcomed the new mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, and his team to City Hall on their first day in office, Monday 9 May.
Protest at Campsfield
Friends took part in a protest against immigration detention on 7 May.
Leaveners look to 2020
The Birmingham-based Quaker arts group Leaveners held its annual general meeting on Saturday 7 May.
Central & Southern Africa Yearly Meeting
British Friend Jennifer Kavanagh gave the Richard Gush lecture at Central & Southern Africa Yearly Meeting, which took place in Modderpoort, South Africa from 27 April to 3 May.
Friends share refugee news
Two Friends have shared their experiences of working with refugees in Calais, Dunkirk and on the border between Macedonia and Greece.
Friends consider the use of money
Twelve Quakers from Bury St Edmunds, Ipswich and Woodbridge Local Meetings recently took part in a workshop on the ethical and spiritual issues around the use of money.
Anti-corruption summit
Paul Parker, recording clerk of Britain Yearly Meeting, was among fourteen faith leaders who wrote to prime minister David Cameron about an anti-corruption summit in London on 12 May.
Letters - 13 May 2016
EU referendum I am glad that Simon Barrow (29 April) has reminded us that most of our decisions are based on feelings rather than on facts. Of course, false feelings come from and lead to choosing dodgy facts, and vice versa. Life is complicated. My decision on the European Union comes...