Latest News
Economic justice at Lancaster
Lancaster Friends were left ‘full of optimism’ after a day spent engaging with tough economic issues. The Economic Justice Forum was organised by Lancaster Friend Mo Kelly, who was inspired by the ‘Occupy’ movement.
Quakers at Buckingham Palace
A group of Quakers were among the ‘privileged bodies’ invited to give an address to Elizabeth Windsor on the occasion of her Diamond Jubilee. The ceremony was held at Buckingham Palace on 27 March.
Alcohol pricing welcomed
Quakers have welcomed government plans for alcohol pricing – but urged them to set a higher minimum price than they have suggested.
Woodbrooke expansion
Building is well under way for a new lounge extension at the Woodbrooke Quaker Study Centre in Birmingham. It is expected to be in use by May.
Olympic partner pays poverty wages
The ‘official sportswear partner’ of the London Olympics has been accused of paying poverty wages. Adidas factories in Bangladesh employ people paid just nine pence an hour, according to a report by War on Want. This is below the legal minimum wage in the country.
Friends nominate Hawa Abdi for the Nobel Peace Prize
The American Friends Service Committee has nominated the Somali physician Hawa Abdi for her provision of medical care and refuge to all – regardless of their clan, religious or political affiliation.
Fothergill remembered
An eighteenth-century Quaker physician has been remembered in a series of events at the school he founded. A celebration on 8 March marked three hundred years since the birth of John Fothergill, who founded Ackworth School near Pontefract in 1779. He died the following year.
Leaping for 25 years
LEAP Confronting Conflict has celebrated its twenty-fifth anniversary. The charity works with young people and adults to manage conflict and prevent violence in young people’s lives, schools and community.
Women suffer from food speculation
Worldwide 555 million women go hungry – making up sixty per cent of the world’s hungry people. That’s the estimate of the World Development Movement (WDM), who published the statistics on International Women’s Day last week.
Reform Jews back same-sex marriage
Reform Jews have become the largest religious group in Britain to give their support to same-sex marriage – a role previously occupied by Quakers.