The other side of silence

Quakers use the term 'witness' to describe their faith in action. In the closing episode of the first Q:Witness podcast series, we explore what this term really means. We also explore how people sustain their activism.

We chat to Paul Parker, the Recording Clerk of Britain Yearly Meeting, about what witness means to him and reflect on the spiritual underpinnings of Quaker activism. We also talk to George Lakey, the veteran US trainer and activist (pictured)about how he has remained resilient in his witness over the course of decades. He shares his thoughts on how to build successful campaigns that address different layers of structural and cultural violence.

Learn more about Quaker witness work at www.quaker.org.uk/our-work

• CAAT's podcast | www.soundcloud.com/caatuk

• George Lakey's book is ‘Viking Economics: How the Scandinavians got it right – and how we can too’ | www.bookshop.quaker.org.uk/Viking-Economics_9781612195360

• Paul Parker's blog 'Campaigning for change – in it for the long haul' | www.thinknpc.org/blog/campaigning-for-change-in-it-for-the-long-haul/

• @RCQuaker | www.twitter.com/RCquaker

• @EQAT | www.twitter.com/eqat

• George Lakey’s column on Waging Nonviolence | www.wagingnonviolence.org/archives/?column=living-revolution

This Q:Witness we discuss the tide of militarisation in Britain and how to take action to stop it. The belief that military solutions are superior is one of the things that makes war more likely. From cadets in state schools to Armed Forces Day, we hear how new initiatives amount to a deliberate militarisation of society to counteract falling support for Britain’s wars. We hear about the movement to challenge militarism in Britain.

Suki Ferguson, debut interviewer, speaks to Ellis Brooks and Sam Walton who work to challenge militarism in education and across society.

Meanwhile, Elizabeth Payne speaks to Scottish Parliamentary Engagement Officer Mairi Campbell-Jack about Quaker work in Scotland to increase transparency and scrutiny of military involvement in schools.

Don’t forget our questionnaire; we want to know what you think! http://forms.quaker.org.uk/qpsw-comms-survey-2017/

www.quaker.org.uk/militarism

• Short film, the Unseen March | www.unseenmarch.org.uk

• Veterans for Peace UK | http://vfpuk.org

• New Film | http://War.School

• INSPIRE Peace project | www.oasisacademymediacityuk.org/content/inspire

• Forces Watch | www.forceswatch.net

• Quaker Council for European Affairs | www.qcea.org/peace

• Child Soldiers International UK | www.child-soldiers.org/uk

o Child Soldiers International report: www.child-soldiers.org/news/british-army-is-targeting-working-class-young-people-report-shows

• Our stories | www.quaker.org.uk/stories-witness

How can Quakers offer sanctuary to those forced to flee their homes? Jon Martin and Tim Gee explore the idea of sanctuary and prepare for the launch of the Sanctuary Meetings programme.

Tim also asks the various speakers from Refugee Week at Friends House (Euston, London) what sanctuary means to them. Learn why and how Quaker meetings can become Sanctuary Meeting and how you can join our movement challenging the process of destitution, deportation and detention.

Interviews in order: Sita Brahmachari, Gulwali Passarlay (pictured), Maron Ehad, Gaël Le Cornec, Hassan Abdulrazzak.

Closing poems read by Ambrose Musiyiwa from the anthology; Over Land Over Sea, poems for those seeking refuge.

Visit www.quaker.org.uk/migration for more information about becoming a Sanctuary Meeting or contact the team on [email protected]

For more information about Refugee Week see: refugeeweek.org.uk/

You may also be interested in www.qarn.org.uk/homepage/

Tell us what you think of this podcast!

https://forms.quaker.org.uk/qpsw-comms-survey-2017/

What happens when you feel compelled to action on an issue but don't know where to start? Elizabeth and Jon chat to Hannah and Steve from the Turning the Tide social action training programme about how they support groups looking to help build a more just and peaceful world. Turning the Tide uses the skills and tools of nonviolence to support social change at the grassroots.

Ellis also catches up with Sally Ingham, a Quaker from Cumbria who was part of a group motivated to 'walk for the welfare system'. Kendal and Sedbergh Area Meeting worked with Turning the Tide to develop their plan and engaged with local media and politicians about why they were compelled to act.

Visit turningtide.org.uk for more information about the Turning the Tide programme or contact Hannah and Steve on +44 (0)20 7663 1064 or [email protected].

Tell us what you think of this podcast and fill in our survey: https://forms.quaker.org.uk/qpsw-comms-survey-2017/

Follow @BritishQuakers on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Following the UK General Election on 8th June 2017, Ellis speaks to Jessica Metheringham, the Parliamentary Engagement Officer at Quakers in Britain. Jess reports on Quaker action during the campaign on key issues like nuclear disarmament and economic inequality and how to keep these on the agenda. She also reflects on the impact of the Lobbying Act on civil society's voice during the election.

Read more about Quakers and the Lobbying Act on the ACEVO website:

https://acevoblogs.wordpress.com/2017/06/02/quakers-and-the-lobbying-act/

Follow @politicalQuaker and @ScotPolQuaker on Twitter

War, human rights abuses and forced migration start in London. The Defence and Security Exhibition International (DSEI - pronounced 'dicey') is the largest arms fair in the world. Every two years, DSEI allows arms buyers and sellers to network and make deals. It’s coming again 4 September 2017, at ExCeL – the huge exhibition centre in London Docklands.

This episode is about how to stop the arms fair. Ellis and Elizabeth hear from Sam Walton, the Peace and Disarmament Programme Manager for Quakers in Britain, and Kat Hobbs from Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT), as well as lots of activists ready to challenge the repression.

Quakers in Britain are a founder member of Stop the Arms Fair: a coalition of groups working together to oppose the arms fair in East London. We are building resistance to the arms fair through protest, lobbying, witness, creativity and prayer. The next DSEi is due to take place in 2017: if it does, Quakers will be working to increase the resistance.

Quakers work to raise awareness of the human and environmental cost of the arms trade. We work with others to challenge the morality of the trade as a whole and to shine a light on the unethical and sometimes illegal activities of the arms industry. Find out more about our work.

Get all the updates you need from www.stopthearmsfair.org.uk or contact Sam on [email protected] for more help.

Find out more about Campaign Against Arms Trade at www.caat.org.uk or follow @CAATuk on Twitter

Thanks to audioungle.com and Bensounds for the music in this episode.

Quakers in Britain are deeply concerned by the widening gulf between rich and poor, which is brought about by injustice within our economic system. Quakers call for an economic system that values and protects all people. Any government strategy to reduce economic inequality should include a fair social security system which is upheld by a fair tax system and decent pay.

In this episode we talk to Gurpreet Bola and Mairi Campbell-Jack about economic inequality, exploring what we can do to support work to reduce it. We also catch up on the other areas Quakers are raising at this election. We speak to Tim Wallis about the nuclear ban treaty currently being negotiated, and to Tim Gee about countering negative stereotypes around migration and refugees.

www.quakervote.org.uk | @QuakerVote | www.quaker.org.uk/economic-justice

Land across Lancashire is at risk of fracking, a new form of fossil fuel extraction that is set to threaten the UK’s ability to meet its low carbon commitments. Planning permission has been granted for fracking at Preston New Road in Lancashire, between Blackpool and Preston. Pendle Hill Area Meeting Quakers joined together to organise a meeting for worship for witness against fracking atop Pendle Hill, a historic site for Quakers. The land that can be seen from Pendle Hill is licensed for fracking, or at risk of being so. Jon Martin went along to hear from those who attended the meeting for worship on 6 May.

It’s urgent that we move beyond reliance on fossil fuels. This means campaigning against fracking, and many other types of action too. Sunniva Taylor, Sustainability and Peace Programme Manager, celebrates 19 area meeting fossil fuel divestment commitments and outlines key climate change questions to put to parliamentary candidates before the general election on 8 June. We need their answers – and their actions. For further information about the general elections, and question to ask candidates, go to www.quakervote.org.uk.

A note for listeners: whilst fracking receives government support in England, this issue will be devolved to the Welsh Assembly next year. Listeners in Scotland can take action to uphold and strengthen the Scottish Government’s moratorium on fracking by responding to the official online consultation before 31 May. Find out more at www.quaker.org.uk/fracking.

Twitter: @EarthEconQuaker @QuakerVote

As a collective body Quakers in Britain are not party political. But that doesn’t mean we’re neutral. A general election is a good time to raise some key concerns with parliamentary candidates.

In this episode of Q:Witness we speak to Jessica Metheringham, who works on political engagement, about how to get involved with the election and how we stay engaged afterwards.

www.quakervote.org.uk | @QuakerVote | [email protected]

How is money actually created? Can a bank be ethical? How would you ensure a favourable reincarnation? These questions and more are explored in this episode of Q:Witness, the podcast from Quakers in Britain all about taking action for sustainability, equality and peace.

We talk to Cait Crosse, who has been running the New Economy Programme, about the recently released the fourth New Economy Booklet, Money, banks and finance in the new economy.

“Savings accounts, investments and loans: the financial sector provides essential services at the heart of any modern economy. Some people view it as the oil that allows the wheels of the economy to turn effectively.

“Yet, as most recently shown by the 2007/8 financial crash, the system is also highly volatile and when it goes wrong can wreak havoc across society. This booklet explores the financial system and money creation, asking how they could be reformed to help create a more stable, equal and just economy.” – Money, banks and finance in the new economy

The new economy project supports Quakers to articulate a vision of a practical, ethical economic system in line with Quaker values.

[email protected] | www.quaker.org.uk/neweconomy | @EandEQuaker |

Credit union survey by North Wales Quakers: http://bit.ly/qcredit

See www.yourfaithyourfinance.org, a guide to money, faith and ethics

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