Latest News
Campaign highlights plight of conscientious objectors
War Resisters’ International marked International Conscientious Objectors’ Day on 15 May by launching a campaign on behalf of the six hundred conscientious objectors (COs) imprisoned in South Korea.
QCEA quizzes the EU on the Mediterranean crisis
Friends participating in a Quaker Council for European Affairs (QCEA) study tour took advantage of a visit to the Council of the European Union to question officials about Europe’s response to the ongoing crisis in the Mediterranean.
JRCT grant to strengthen Quaker values in Europe
The shared identity of Friends in Europe is being strengthened by a grant from the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust (JRCT). The grant was awarded to the Europe and Middle East Section of Friends World Committee for Consultation (FWCC/EMES) and will cover a period of three years.
Friend highlights concern over palm oil
Banbury Friend Maria Huff is backing an online petition that highlights a concern over how palm oil is produced. She is also concerned about the association of the word ‘Quaker’ with this.
Canadian Friends tackle ‘hate crime’ rumours
Canadian Quakers were mentioned in a recent Canadian Broadcasting Corporation report which stated that the country’s government ‘is signalling its intention to use hate crime laws against Canadian advocacy groups that encourage boycotts of Israel’.
Friends sign up to Alzheimer’s initiative
Twenty-two Quakers from New Earswick have volunteered to take part in an Alzheimer’s Society initiative designed to challenge how society thinks, talks and acts about dementia.
QSA project in running for award
Quaker Social Action (QSA)’s Homestore project has been nominated for an Aviva Community Fund award. The fund will be awarded to an organisation that has made a positive difference to its community. The winner is chosen by a combination of public votes and a judging panel. It is worth £25,000,...
Edinburgh University held to account over divestment
Students at the University of Edinburgh reacted with dismay to the news that the university had stopped short of divesting from fossil fuels. The University of Edinburgh announced last week that it ‘has committed to a change of fossil fuel investment policy’. This means that it will not divest, but â€...
Quakers call for end to social injustice
Britain Yearly Meeting has released a statement describing Friends in this country as ‘ready to challenge the incoming UK government to adopt policies to cut social injustice’. According to the statement, Friends will also press the government to ‘value the contribution everyone can make to building a more just and...
Friends enjoy election success
Two Friends were elected to parliament last week. They are the first serving Quaker MPs in a decade. Catherine West (above left) of Muswell Hill Meeting took the seat of Hornsey and Wood Green. Ruth Cadbury (above right) was elected in Brentford and Isleworth. She belongs to the Local Meeting...