Climate, militarism and security – writing to MPs
Northern Friends Peace Board
by Philip Austin
5M ago
As reported in a previous item  the main output of the Alternative Security Review will be released in September. The month will also see the first Global Week of Action on Peace and Climate Justice, 21-28 September Can you raise these issues with your MP? At a time when effects of the climate crisis become ... Read more ..read more
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Violence in our towns and cities
Northern Friends Peace Board
by Philip Austin
6M ago
Many of the towns and cities where there has been the worst violent and racist unrest in the past ten days have been in the North of England. We don’t currently have a programme on peacebuilding in our own communities, but do try to respond to new and emerging peace challenges facing Friends and wider ... Read more ..read more
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Climate of Peace – time for a security rethink
Northern Friends Peace Board
by Philip Austin
7M ago
Darlington Quaker Meeting House In the second of this summer’s regional NFPB events Friends from three Area Meetings gathered at Darlington Meeting House on 6th July 2024. The date and theme had been planned before the General Election announcement, but the result of that election two days previously provided a not-insignificant backdrop to the meeting. Rethinking Security – the results are in During the morning session, we welcomed Jo Frew, the Outreach Coordinator of Rethinking Security (RS). RS had been planning to publish in June (after delays earlier in the year) a substantive report from ..read more
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Coming events – election-resources, NFPB gatherings
Northern Friends Peace Board
by Philip Austin
8M ago
General election 2024 At the time of writing, we are in the run-up to the general election. We have created a page which will be updated as necessary – with links to resources from a range of organisations with peace concerns on their agenda. Elections are opportunities to raise these issues with candidates, and then to follow this up with newly elected parliamentarians.   We are planning our own events that happen to be taking place either side of the election date. NFPB meeting on 29th June On 29th June NFPB members will meet in Glasgow and online for the second of our meetings of the y ..read more
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NFPB Regional event in Stockport
Northern Friends Peace Board
by Philip Austin
9M ago
Friends from four different area meetings met in Stockport on 11 May, for a small regional gathering for NFPB members and other interested Friends. The meeting took place towards the end of the Global Days of Action on Military Spending, for which NFPB is an active member of the UK steering group. Following a preparatory discussion some weeks earlier, the arms trade and related issue of military spending were chosen as twin themes for the event. The group worked together to share ideas and information about different aspects of these concerns – which can feel overwhelming. As a follow-up activ ..read more
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Publication on current peace challenges – invitation
Northern Friends Peace Board
by Philip Austin
11M ago
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
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Military spending – ‘War Costs us the Earth’
Northern Friends Peace Board
by Philip Austin
11M ago
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
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Current crises and the long-view – NFPB meeting in March
Northern Friends Peace Board
by Philip Austin
11M ago
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
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NFPB members’ meeting in December
Northern Friends Peace Board
by Philip Austin
1y ago
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
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Palestine and Israel: Joint call for ceasefire and de-escalation
Northern Friends Peace Board
by Philip Austin
1y ago
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
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