The other side of silence

Europe is experiencing the largest number of refugees since World War II. This is bringing attention to a steadily growing global crisis of human displacement, born of war, inequality and environmental degradation. In this episode of Q:Witness, we speak to Tim Gee who is scoping new work on forced migration from Quakers in Britain. We then hear from Sheila Mosley and Bridget Walker who help run the Quaker Asylum and Refugee Network (QARN), an independent group that has been working to change the way that asylum seekers are treated since 2007.

www.quaker.org.uk/migration | www.qarn.org.uk

Get involved in exploring the new work by email [email protected]

A transcript can be provided if requested- email [email protected]

Why are Quakers and others taking action to stop fracking?

In February 2017, Quakers in Britain called for a ban on shale gas fracking and all forms of intensive fossil fuel extraction. Meeting for Sufferings, Quakers in Britain’s representative body, said “We have faith that we can tackle climate change and build a more sustainable future, but we know this is only possible if fossil fuels remain underground [...] Fracked gas is not the low-carbon solution some suggest that it is and is incompatible with tackling the climate crisis.”

In this episode we talk to Sunniva Taylor and Chris Walker who manage the Sustainability and Peace Programme and Quakers in Britain, and we hear from Stephen Lee about upcoming action led by Pendle Hill Quakers.

On Saturday 6 May, many will be climbing Pendle Hill in Lancashire to protest against the effects of fracking, both locally and around the world. Quakers are known for worshipping in stillness and they will gather in a meeting for worship for witness.

Find out more: www.quaker.org.uk/fracking

Do you want to be a Peaceworker? The Quaker Peaceworker scheme funds one year placements in organisations in Britain working for peace at a national or international level. In this episode we talk to Steve Whiting, who manages the scheme, and to Philip Wood, one of this year’s peaceworkers, placed with Scientists for Global Responsibility. Carefully supported by Steve and a committee of Quakers, the Peaceworkers make a big contribution to the work for peace.

More information at www.quaker.org.uk/jobs | www.quaker.org.uk/peaceworkers

The closing date for receipt of application forms is Tuesday 2 May 2017 (9am). Interviews will be held on Tuesday 16 and Wednesday 17 May 2017.

We regret that we are unable to apply on a candidate’s behalf for a UK permit to work in this role.

Hear more about how Mr Meanor wrote Think About It: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pCWbfAZYeQ

Image: 2016-17 Peaceworkers

Ellis Brooks and Elizabeth Payne outline some of the topics coming up on Q:Witness, including fracking, the Quaker Housing Trust, stopping the arms fair and a Quaker response to forced migration. If you can’t wait for these episodes, check out www.quaker.org.uk/qpsw to find out more about the work of Quakers in Britain.

If you have questions about the issues we’ve discussed or those coming up, or perhaps a topic you’d like us to cover, email Ellis on [email protected]

Explore the peace and justice work from the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI), an international programme coordinated by the World Council of Churches. EAPPI brings people from around the world to the West Bank to serve for 3 months as human rights monitors. We call them Ecumenical Accompaniers (EAs).

Keith Reeves, an EA from Yorkshire, offers eyewitness accounts of Israeli activists striving for a change and of house demolitions in the West Bank. Teresa Parker leads EAPPI in the UK and Ireland and gives an overview of the successes and challenges over its 15 year history.

Find out more:

Eyewitnessblogs.com

http://www.quaker.org.uk/our-work/international-work/eappi

Take action: tell the UK Government to recognise Palestine: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/174181

House demolition data from UNOCHA: http://www.ochaopt.org/content/protection-civilians-report-18-31-october-2016

In this episode we discuss peace education, specifically how teaching the skills and approaches of conflict resolution can have a transformative effect on individuals and communities. With the voices of young peacemakers and educators past and present, we look at the benefits and ongoing challenges.

Featuring Isabel Cartwright from Quaker Peace & Social Witness; Tom Leimdorfer, who helped pioneer peace education in Britain and beyond; Sara Hagel, Director of Peacemakers – a Quaker peace education charity; and Kezia, a sixth form peer mediator.

Find out more about peace education at:

www.quaker.org.uk/peace-education

www.peermediationnetwork.org.uk

www.peacemakers.org.uk

Quakers work with other organisations, policy-makers and the public to rid the world of nuclear weapons. In this episode, we look back at the struggle against Trident renewal in 2016, then at the way forward as the United Nations begins to negotiate a new treaty banning the development, testing, production, financing, transferring, stockpiling, use and threat of use of any nuclear weapon. What role will the United Kingdom play, and what role can you play?

Follow @DisarmQuaker on Twitter

For info and resources: http://www.quaker.org.uk/our-work/peace/nuclear-disarmament

Newsletters: http://www.quaker.org.uk/educate-disarm

Take action:

http://www.cnduk.org/

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/175096

The current economic system has provided humanity with many material benefits. However those benefits have been unequally shared. In this episode we hear from Cait Crosse, the New Economy Project Manager in Quaker Peace & Social Witness. The project is enabling Quakers and others to articulate a vision of how the economy could be transformed.

Cait shares what’s happening with the project and interviews Yuan Yang, Beijing correspondent for the Financial Times and founder of Rethinking Economics.

Find out more:

http://www.quaker.org.uk/new-economy

http://www.rethinkeconomics.org/

Hear about the nonviolent grassroots movement standing up for human rights and a just peace in Kenya with Ezra Kigondu (Turning the Tide Kenya) and Laura Shipler Chico (Quaker Peace & Social Witness).

Introducing the new podcast about witness in action from Quakers in Britain. This tease explains what it's all about so you know to subscribe!