Latest News
Threat to soup runs
This was the case in the Irish famine and in Germany in the twentieth century – but today in London, this simple act of charity has provoked a heated debate.
Straw bales for San Diego
The Californian city of San Diego is to host the world’s first Quaker Meeting House made of straw bales. More than eighty volunteers have been involved over a period of four years in the process of building the San Diego Friends Center, which will open with a weekend of...
Legal challenge to cuts
Conflict over cuts to housing benefit is set to move to the courts. The Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) has launched legal action against the government.
International Women’s Day
Quakers were among those marking International Women’s Day on Tuesday.
‘Discharge as of right’
There has been progress on the issue of ‘discharge as of right’ for young soldiers.
David Cameron defends arms sales
The prime minister has strongly defended his government’s role in the arms trade. His comments follow revelations that the UK authorities had authorised arms sales to a number of repressive regimes in the Middle East and north Africa, including Libya, Bahrain and Egypt (‘Arms and Egypt’, 18 February).
Fair Trade Way launched
Quakers in the north-west of England are at the centre of a plan to launch the ‘Fair Trade Way’ as a long-distance footpath this week. The eighty-five mile route begins at Garstang, which became the UK’s first Fairtrade town in 2000, and finishes at Keswick.
Fairtrade fortnight
Fairtrade Fortnight is underway, with events from sales promotions to fashion shows taking place across the country. It will run from 28 February to 13 March.
Christchurch Meeting damaged
Christchurch Meeting House in New Zealand has suffered extensive damage as Friends in the country work hard to support people affected by last week’s devastating earthquake.
Rise in problem gambling
Problem gambling in the UK has risen sharply since gambling regulations were relaxed just over three years ago. The latest Gambling Prevalence Study suggests that the number of problem gamblers has risen from around 260,000 to 400,000 since 2007.