Photo by Emad El Byed on Unsplash The wars in Ukraine and Gaza are distressing, causing horrifying levels of death, and devastation to ordinary people now and into the future. Northern Friends Peace Board has, during the past two years, sought to promote understanding of the nature of the conflicts and also of possible routes to peace. The very nature of war is that it is messy, and our responses, individually and collectively, are varied – sometimes very clear, and sometimes grappling with dilemmas. We are working towards a short publication that gathers a range of Quaker voices, seeking to c ..read more

In 2024, there is a growing chorus of political voices from across the world, our own government being no exception, calling for an increase in spending on weapons. More than that, some parts of the armed forces establishment are encouraging a readiness for war in society more generally. This comes as international relations are under strain, with the wars in Ukraine and in Gaza being the closest to home. The world is indeed facing multiple crises, from the community to global level, but an increase in spending on military has a number of impacts: it increases tensions and in turn challenges ..read more

At our meeting in Sheffield at the start of March, NFPB members heard from Cassie Woodard, who manages the Middle East programme for Quakers in Britain, with particular responsibility for the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme for Palestine and Israel. Cassie described the challenges that programme continues to face, as well as the advocacy work that Quakers have undertaken in calling for a cessation of hostilities so that the humanitarian needs of people in Gaza can be properly addressed. In the following discussion, Friends considered the value of protests and solidarity action in this count ..read more

NFPB members met in Bolton and online on 2 December. The NFPB office had moved to the Meeting House in Bolton a year previously and so this was a chance for Friends to see its current location and set up. Friends expressed appreciation for the arrangement that has been made possible by Bolton Quakers. The situation in Palestine and Israel was both a specific item on our agenda and also, inevitably, a thread throughout the day. Friends received reports of modest NFPB activities to respond and support Quakers in their understdanding and actions, including circulating information and links and ho ..read more

Through the Network of Christian Peace Organisations in the UK, NFPB has endorsed an open letter to the Foreign Secretary, James Cleverley, asking him and the UK government to work for: – urgent de-escalation of the conflict – meaningful dialogue, recognising the long-standing unresolved issues arising from the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and blockade of Gaza as key factors that have to be addressed. – a ceasefire and humanitarian corridors to allow the needs of people in Gaza to be met The letter also highlights the importance of standing against Islamophobia and anti-semitism and of ..read more

For our second members’ meeting of the year, Friends gathered in Darlington and online on 24 June, with roughly equal numbers in the physical and virtual spaces respectively. The date of our meeting coincided with the government-sponsored ‘Armed Forces Day’ and Friends had the opportunity to reflect on this in the opening part of the meeting. We were pleased to be joined by Charlotte Cooper, the Peace Lead for Quakers in Britain. Charlotte had recently participated in a peace movement-organised International Summit for Peace In Ukraine and gave an account of the event, highlighting the value ..read more

Last September the memorial Meeting for Worship took place at Harrogate Meeting House for former NFPB member Anni Rainbow. Anni had, with her friend Lindis Percy, been particularly involved in the campaign to draw attention to and campaign against the US base at Menwith Hill. As well as weekly vigils, now organised by the Menwith Hill Accountability Campaign, on the first Saturday of every even-numbered month of the year, a Quaker Meeting for Worship takes place outside the base between 2 and 3pm, supported by Harrogate Friends, York Area Meeting. If you would like to join this meeting for wor ..read more

‘No one said it was easy’, wrote Mary Lou Leavitt in the NFPB booklet published in the late 1980s. Peace is not easy, but on the other hand, to see wars being waged and money spent on weapons for no good reason is distressing and frustrating, plain and simple. As we approached the anniversary of the invasion by Russian military of Ukraine, NFPB hosted an online space for reflection, exploring the complexity and seeking clarity and deeper understanding. Introductions had been prepared by four Friends, and a period of worship sharing gave space for participants to share their feelings – fears an ..read more

NFPB joined with other members of the Network of Christian Peace Organisations in writing to the UK government on the occasion of the second anniversary of the TPNW (the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons) coming into legal force. The letter states “This Treaty represents the global majority who live without nuclear weapons and wish to see them eradicated. We are writing to you to urge the FCDO to attend future TPNW review meetings with a view to signing the TPNW.“ The letter (see https://www.for.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/NCPO-letter-to-FCO.pdf)  stresses the importan ..read more

November meeting The final of our four members’ meetings of 2022 was to have been at Lancaster Meeting House at the end of November, with a zoom link. Unfortunately, it coincided with a day of industrial action by rail workers, meaning that few Friends would have been able to get there. The meeting online worked well, however. We were very pleased to welcome Lindsey Fielder Cook to the meeting, sharing first-hand her experiences and insights from the recent COP27 climate conference in Egypt, which she attended on behalf of Friends internationally. She gave a fascinating insight into the proces ..read more