This excellent piece on the importance of civil society campaigning speaks my mind: www.civilsociety.co.uk/voices/craig...
Craig Jones: Ministers should embrace the campaigning culture of the voluntary sector
The former CEO of the Royal Osteoporosis Society reflects on a former minister’s resistance to the charity’s campaigning and how the new administration should engage with the sector…
civilsociety.co.uk
We have a Swarthmore Lecture book which will become available to buy from the Quaker Centre Book Shop, immediately after the lecture next Saturday evening (it is NOT available to pre-order).
"Any of us can be protestors and we are all members of communities" @rcquaker.bsky.social gave evidence at the Joint Committee on Human Rights' inquiry on the expansion of police powers and the impact on the right to protest.
"We tolerate disruption from all sorts of other causes without worrying about it as much as we do from protest." @rcquaker.bsky.social gave evidence at the Joint Committee on Human Rights' inquiry on the expansion of police powers and the impact on the right to protest.
Earlier this week @rcquaker.bsky.social gave testimony to the Joint Committee on Human Rights' inquiry into protest rights. Watch the recording here: parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/...
Parliamentlive.tv
Human Rights (Joint Committee)
parliamentlive.tv
Moving service at Methodist Central Hall Westminster to mark the 80th anniversary of the very first sessions of the UN General Assembly in this room in 1946. In my lifetime it has rarely been so important to assert the significance of the UN and what it stands for.
Here's what the American Friends Service Committee has to say about the US intervention in Venezuela.
American Friends Service Committee@afsc-org.bsky.social · 7mo agoEarly this morning, the U.S. bombed the capital of #Venezuela and forcibly captured President Nicolás #Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores. We call on Congress and world leaders to stop U.S. regime change in Venezuela. Read more: afsc.org/newsroom/no-...
Statement from our colleagues at the Friends Committee on National Legislation. @quaker.org.uk
FCNL@fcnl.bsky.social · 7mo agoPresident Trump’s claim today that the United States will “run the country” following this attack is deeply concerning and a clear violation of Venezuela’s sovereignty. Our full statement:
We've joined other NGOs in calling on the Israeli government to immediately halt its deregistration process. Otherwise it risks halting international NGO operations at a time when civilians face acute and widespread humanitarian need. https://ow.ly/cM3b50XR89a
53 International NGOs warn Israel’s recent registration measures will impede critical humanitarian action
MAP News. The latest developments in the Middle East as well as eye witness accounts and expert analysis from MAP's staff.
ow.ly
As the sun rose this morning I was interviewed on the Sunday programme (with @dumbledad.bsky.social from Nontheist Friends Network) about Quakers, God, belief & proposed changes to Quaker marriage declarations. Not easy to cover all that in 6 mins! Starts 26 mins in. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Sunday - 14/12/2025 - BBC Sounds
A look at the ethical and religious issues of the week with William Crawley.
bbc.co.uk
Representing @quaker.org.uk at the National Emergency Briefing on the climate and nature crisis in a packed Methodist Central Hall. Impressive list of speakers but suspect we're in for quite a challenging morning. I'll keep you posted.
Representing @quaker.org.uk at Lambeth Palace to hear archbishops of York & Jerusalem, & Munther Isaac, Ramallah pastor. @archbishopofyork.org outspoken about genocide, ethnic cleansing & his experience of apartheid conditions on his recent trip to West Bank. www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/202...
Thank you to everyone who stopped to engage with Bury St Edmunds Quakers (despite Storm Amy) at the information table outside the Meeting House on Saturday. #QuakerWeek #LoveYourNeighbour Find us @bsequakers.bsky.social
There is no need for further restrictions to protest based on the concept of cumulative disruption. Repeated protests can be evidence of strength of feeling towards an ongoing injustice and are an important democratic mechanism for citizens to have their voices heard. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Police to get broader powers to crack down on repeated protests
The move is not a ban on protests but
bbc.co.uk
Violence is never right. Killing is never right. Targeting people because of who they are is never right. We give thanks for all those, from all backgrounds, who have come together to oppose hatred and promote living together peacefully. It is vital that we all continue to do so.
Quaker statement in response to Manchester synagogue attacks on Yom Kippur
We offer our love, support and solidarity with the Jewish community, in Manchester and beyond, following the horrifying antisemitic attack on a Manchester synagogue on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in t...
quaker.org.uk
Quaker statement in response to Manchester synagogue attacks on Yom Kippur. We offer our love, support and solidarity with the Jewish community, in Manchester and beyond, following the horrifying antisemitic attack on a Manchester synagogue on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.
“For Quakers, faith and action are inseparable," said Paul Parker, @rcquaker.bsky.social for Quakers in Britain. “Peaceful protest, prayer, and non-violent action are expressions of our worship. When this is criminalised, our religious freedom is under attack." www.quaker.org.uk/news-and-eve...
Quakers denied intervention in court challenge over faith rights in terror law case
Quakers in Britain has been refused permission to give evidence in a landmark legal challenge to the UK government’s proscription of Palestine Action as a terrorist group.
quaker.org.uk
We have applied to intervene in the judicial review of the proscription of Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation, saying the ban has undermined our freedom of religion. Quakers have a long history of non-violent action against injustice and oppose war and violence of any kind.
Quakers apply to intervene in Judicial Review of the proscription of Palestine Action
Quakers in Britain has applied to intervene in the judicial review of the proscription of Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation, saying the ban has undermined their freedom of religion.
quaker.org.uk
On Tuesday 26th August tear gas canisters were fired near Ramallah Friends School and a parent was fired on by a sniper while trying to reach the school gates. Nobody at the school was injured but the children were left shaken and their families anxious. www.quaker.org.uk/news-and-eve...
Quakers condemn dangerous Ramallah Friends School incursion
On Tuesday, 26 August, the Israeli army carried out a dangerous incursion outside the gates of the Quaker Ramallah Friends School in the occupied West Bank.
quaker.org.uk
We are filled with anguish to see human beings seeking refuge facing the threat of further violence and intimidation. Too many politicians are fanning the flames of division when they should be voices for peace. www.quaker.org.uk/news-and-eve...
Quaker statement on asylum seeker harassment
One year on from the riots in the summer of 2024, we are filled with anguish to see human beings seeking refuge in our nation facing the threat of further violence and intimidation. As our book of tea...
quaker.org.uk
#INC5 in Geneva has concluded without an agreement on a #plastics treaty, despite an intensive 2 weeks of dialogue. QUNO's Sustainable & Just Economic Systems (SJES) Programme provides an overview, and thoughts on a way forward, here: quno.org/timeline/202...
The facts speak for themselves. Police arrest 474 at Palestine Action ban protest, including a 89 year old woman. www.bbc.com/news/article...
Palestine Action protesters arrested by police at London demo
The Metropolitan Police said the number of arrests was the largest made by the force on a single day in the last decade.
bbc.com
An experience of temporary blindness and the shame of his own profane language are said to have prompted Cuthbert Wigham, the founder of Coanwood Meeting House, to convert to Quakerism. 1/8
Plenty of Quakers in the ecumenical crowd outside the gates of Faslane naval base to mark the 80th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. @quaker.org.uk
With nukes in the news it's grimly fitting to be at Faslane to mark the 80th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and say 'never again'. @quaker.org.uk
Quakers discern that genocide is occurring in Gaza. Urgent global statement from the Quaker service agencies:
Quakers in Britain@quaker.org.uk · last yr.Urgent Statement from 8 Quaker Orgs: Genocide is happening in Gaza. We urge courageous action. ➡️ Immediate, permanent ceasefire ➡️ Full humanitarian access ➡️ Sanctions + arms embargo ➡️ Accountability under intl. law ➡️ Protection of protest & free speech ➡️ Just peace rooted in dignity + equality
‘Agents of change’, equal partners’ and call for transformational ideas from every corner of civil society, What a stimulating day at yesterday’s civil society covenant launch thanks @pbe.co.uk @lbfew.bsky.social @ncvoyr.bsky.social @acevo.bsky.social and all involved @kidscharity.bsky.social
And yet where is the government's repeal of the recent anti-protest laws? Where is the review of Blair era anti-terror laws? Where's the commitment to roll-back the plethora of public order acts? Whoever is in government, the Home Office is always in power. share.google/ibxdLAMhTjHJ...
Government vows to respect charities’ right to protest peacefully in covenant agreement
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