4 March 2011 £1.70 the discover the contemporaryFriend quaker way

Fair Trade Special Issue the Friend independent quaker Journalism since 1843

CoNTENTS VoL 169 No 9 3 4 Christchurch Meeting damaged 5 On taking a side Sharen Green 6-7 Letters 8-9 Fairtrade: ethics and choice Raymond Mgadzah 10-12 Living fairly Interview: Bruce Crowther 13 The case for Sunday shopping Joy Paul 14 Simplicity made easy Trish Carn 16 Q-eye 17 Friends & Meetings

Cover image: beans. Coffee was one of the first product to be sold as Fairtrade. See pages 3 and 8-13. Photo: Theogeo/flickr CC.

Images on this page: Photos of the Christchurch Meeting House in after the earthquake last week. Photos: © Adam Coole, resident Friend at Christchurch Meeting. See page 4.

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2 News Fairtrade fortnight

Fairtrade FortNight is underway, with events on global cotton subsidies, from sales promotions to fashion shows taking place which they believe restrict market opportunities for across the country. it will run from 28 February to 13 cotton farmers in Mali, Senegal and Cameroon. March. , one of the organisations which founded Sales of Fairtrade goods have increased by forty per , now wants to see the cent in the last year, reaching an estimated value Fairtrade Mark made available to a larger range of of £1.7bn. the Fairtrade Foundation insisted that, goods. the British association of Shops despite the economic downturn, British shoppers are (BaFtS) sets its own criteria for products not covered ‘showing no downturn on ethical values’. by the Fairtrade Foundation, such as crafts and the Foundation is responsible for awarding jewellery. Fairtrade status to products considered to give a ‘fair BaFtS recognises organisations and companies as deal’ to producers in the global south. to receive the having ethical status rather than individual goods. Fairtrade Mark for one of its products, a company in contrast, the Foundation tests only the ethics of a must pay a minimum price and a ‘Fairtrade premium’ particular product, without questioning the nature of that allows investments in local communities. the company involved. a spokesperson for the Foundation told the Friend on the eve of Fairtrade Fortnight, dan Welch, that there would be ‘thousands of events, everywhere co-editor of the Ethical Consumer magazine, said he from shops to the workplace, to schools to town would rather buy non-Fairtrade coffee than shop at centres, to get more people excited about the difference Starbucks, even though all the company’s coffee is their everyday shopping could make’. Fairtrade. Worthing Friends’ Meeting will hold a Fairtrade day he acknowledged that ‘Fairtrade is the gold on Sunday 13 March, with a bring-and-share lunch, standard’. But he said the magazine had uncovered a Fairtrade stall and fashion show with Fairtrade clothes. range of unethical behaviour by Starbucks, including the fashion industry is a particular target this year, ‘union-busting’, lobbying against trademark protection with cotton being one of the few Fairtrade products to for ethiopian coffee-producers and requiring staff to have seen a decline in sales. the Foundation say that share tips with their bosses. ‘ethical ranges struggle to compete with a continuing trend for cheap, fast fashion’. they are lobbying the Symon Hill

Fair Trade Way launched QuakerS iN the North-WeSt of england are at the centre of a plan to launch the ‘Fair trade Way’ as a long-distance footpath this week. the eighty-five mile route begins at garstang, which became the uk’s first Fairtrade town in 2000, and finishes at keswick. the overnight stays on the six-day hike will all be in Fairtrade towns. a website for the Fair trade Way will list cafes, restaurants and accommodation that serve Fairtrade goods. Bruce Crowther of garstang Meeting, one of the organisers, told the Friend that the walk will combine four themes: fair trade, slavery, Quakerism and chocolate. Much of the route will pass through the ‘1652 country’ in which Quakerism initially developed. the walk also includes Lancaster, now a Fairtrade town but once the fourth largest slave trade port in Britain. ‘the themes all link to each other and, in fact, have a resonance The ‘Team’ for the first Fair Trade Way walk in with social and cultural history that goes back two hundred October 2009. years,’ said Bruce. drawing links between campaigns for fair trade and the anti-slavery movement, he explained: ‘it is a question of challenging accepted practices’.

the Friend, 4 March 2011 3 News [email protected] Christchurch Meeting damaged

ChriStChurCh MeetiNg houSe in New Zealand has suffered extensive damage as Friends in the country work hard to support people affected by last week’s devastating earthquake. thousands of people have been made homeless and over a hundred deaths have been confirmed so far. adam Coole, the resident Friend at Christchurch Meeting, and his wife hege, are currently living in a caravan as their cottage beside the Meeting house is unsafe. Claire and Linley gregory, co-clerks of aotearoa/New Zealand Yearly Meeting, report that several Quakers are among those with damaged homes, but they are not aware of any Friends who are physically injured. Some Friends have joined the exodus of Christchurch residents leaving to stay elsewhere. The Friend was told that there is water and silt throughout the Meeting house, which has broken windows and jammed doors. it will be out of use for some time. (See more photos page 2.) Quakers in the area say that they are ‘helping fellow New Zealanders cope with the human suffering and distress that is all around them’. they have received emails from Friends around the world asking for news but have been unable to reply to them all, due to the difficult situation and problems with electricity. Carpets and underlay had to be removed after Claire and Linley have asked Quakers everywhere ‘to hold there were seven inches of water inside the Friends in Christchurch in the Light at this stage’. Meeting house. Photo: © Adam Coole. David Cameron defends arms sales ‘Discharge as of right’ the priMe MiNiSter has strongly defended his there haS BeeN progreSS on the issue government’s role in the arms trade. his comments follow of ‘discharge as of right’ for young soldiers. revelations that the uk authorities had authorised arms alex Cunningham, Mp, has introduced sales to a number of repressive regimes in the Middle east an amendment to the armed Forces and north africa, including Libya, Bahrain and egypt Bill in Select Committee to raise the age (‘arms and eg y p t ’, 18 February). of recruitment to eighteen and to give the Campaign against arms trade (Caat) drew ‘discharge as of right’ to all under-eighteen- attention to the presence of arms dealers in david year-olds currently serving. Cameron’s delegation as he toured the region last week. the amendment was not forced to a vote the prime minister hit back at Caat while visiting but the minister for the armed Services kuwait, saying ‘i simply don’t understand how you can’t agreed to look further at the issue of a right understand how democracies have a right to defend to leave for those under eighteen. themselves’. he insisted that companies such as Bae the amendment may be brought back in Systems ‘have a perfect right’ to be part of his visit. the house of Commons or Lords. Caat’s kaye Stearman told the Friend: ‘he talks about Michael Bartlet, parliamentary democracy and the right of self-defence but in reality is liaison secretary, Britain Yearly Meeting, flogging arms to some of the world’s most authoritarian said: ‘this is a good first step. this states and nastiest dictators’. amendment was drafted to give effect to david Cameron argued that the uk has ‘very, very the recommendations of Quakers and the tough controls and very clear controls’ on arms exports. Coalition to Stop the use of Child Soldiers. kaye Stearman said, ‘it is nonsense for him to declare the i hope Quakers and all those committed to uk has strict criteria for arms exports when supposedly human rights will continue to press their ‘responsible’ governments use the same arms to suppress Mps for a discharge as of right for all under- peaceful demonstrators’. eighteen-year-olds.’

4 the Friend, 4 March 2011 talking point on taking a side

Sharen Green believes it is time to do so

imon gray’s piece Supporting Both Sides (17 Simon rightly praises Neve Shalom/Wahat as Salam February), in which he urges Friends not to take as an oasis of harmony (in israel, not in the West Ssides in the question of boycotting goods from Bank) where israeli Jews and israeli arabs make israeli settlements, got me thinking hard. Quakers a conscious decision to share their lives. i would have, generally, always taken a side – the side of the commend anyone who supported the venture but oppressed, the downtrodden and the marginalised. there is no evidence that such support addresses unjust it’s not a question of supporting terrorism – structures within israel. arab citizens of israel do not whether it comes from a state which bombs schools enjoy equality with their Jewish neighbours – their and hospitals or from a frustrated youth strapping on own foreign minister advocates the ‘transfer’ of all some Semtex and blowing up a bus full of civilians. arabs out of the country. of course each is a war crime. But i would like to take i work with many Jews, both British and israeli, issue with Simon when it comes to comparing the for a just peace. i think we all consider ourselves true labelling of goods from israel and palestine with that friends of israel as well as to palestinians because we of potatoes from herefordshire and Worcestershire. speak truth to power. a farmer in Worcestershire does not have to turn although i have seen young soldiers trying to treat up at an illegal fence at a time prescribed by an illegal palestinians with decency at the agricultural gates, i occupying force and hope that the teenager with a large fear they are not the norm. human rights abuses are gun in charge of the gate will also turn up and feel like committed on a daily basis and the state supports the letting him onto his own land that morning. S/he will soldier who, for example, shoots at unarmed people at not be forced to buy twenty per cent of his/her own point blank range (see the autopsy reports on the Mavi water from that illegal occupying army at an inflated Marmara attack). price while eighty per cent is siphoned off for use in dozens of soldiers, it has been reported, have broken israel proper or on israeli settlements in the West Bank, into people’s homes in the dead of night to beat up, every single one of which is illegal under the Fourth blindfold and handcuff children as young as eight geneva Convention. the farmer will not have to queue for allegedly throwing stones at an illegal barrier (see up again that afternoon at that same agricultural gate defence for Children international evidence). at half past three with hours of good daylight left and unarmed gazan fishermen are frequently fired on in go back to his village or risk being jailed for being on their own waters (see palestine Monitor reports). What the ‘wrong’ side of the fence – declared illegal by the is all this doing to the next generation of israelis? international Court of Justice in 2004 – at night. as my colleague diana Neslen from Jews for Justice the farmer from herefordshire, also, is not sitting for palestinians told members of the european on land whose hapless owner has been forcibly evicted parliament in october: ‘the occupation must end because the usurper claims the right to do that, and we regard any support, including permission according to an interpretation of an ancient book. for products from the occupation to be exported, as i have never read press reports that a herefordshire collusion with it. farmer has polluted his neighbour’s well, set his corn ‘this is why today we chose to lobby against on fire or violently prevented his neighbour from settlement goods, above all because we are tormented harvesting his own olive trees. by what is happening to the palestinians and clear that all these things have often been witnessed by human israelis and Jewish people who support the oppression rights organisations in the West Bank, including by of the palestinians are losing their moral compass.’ ecumenical accompaniers who are recruited and trained by Quaker peace & Social Witness. i recorded Sharen is a former ecumenical accompanier. many of them myself during my own service in tulkarem (2006) and Jayyous (2009). All references can be found through Google.

the Friend, 4 March 2011 5 Letters All views expressed are those of the writer and not necessarily those of the Friend

Supporting both sides? (18 February) groups are themselves under hostile scrutiny by i was extremely sad to read that Meeting for Sufferings the government, because of their campaigning and hadn’t been able to support the QpSW call for Boycott, reconciliatory actions. divestment and Sanctions (BdS), but was even sadder Now palestinian Christians, a community dwindling, to read Simon gray’s attack on Quaker peace & Social under pressure, have asked us for help, in the form of Witness (QpSW) for having brought it to Meeting for the nonviolent kairos document. Sufferings (MfS). palestinian Christians have been notable for their Stéphane hessel, ninety-three, French resistance nonviolence (see, for example, the recent book by hero, Nazi concentration camp survivor and drafter our ramallah Friend Jean Zaru, Occupied with of the universal declaration of human rights, says Nonviolence). ‘the absence of meaningful action from governments i hope that when palestinian Christians ask us to hold israel accountable to international Law leaves (metaphorically) for bread that we do not offer them open one path for citizens of conscience: to take this a stone. responsibility upon themselves.’ David Harries in the kairos document, palestinian Christians have 42 St Patrick’s Drive, Bridgend CF31 1RP done just that, and have asked churches to embrace boycott and divestment as ‘a serious action in order to reach a just and definitive peace that will put an end to it is sometimes useful to transfer a phase into another the israeli occupation of palestine and will guarantee context to test its validity. ‘Supporting both sides.’ how security and peace for all.’ would this apply to the Quaker view of the german Quakers are citizens of conscience. QpSW was, invasion of the Sudetenland (1938), the russian rightly in my view, responding to the kairos call. invasion of Czechoslovakia (1968) or the white the ecumenical accompaniment programme in governance over the blacks of South africa (1948- palestine and israel (eappi) has a policy of principled 1993). thankfully, the two occupations were shorter impartiality, but eas align themselves with those most than the forty-three years of the israeli occupation oppressed. in the second world war it would have been of the West Bank and apartheid collapsed partly due with the appalling persecution of the Jews: now it is to international pressure, only to reappear in israel/ with the palestinians who yearn for their freedom and palestine. dignity. the aims of the eappi programme include ‘the We all need to be better informed about the ending of the occupation’. if the Society of Friends is situation. BdS is not an attack on our Jewish friends; it unable to support this aspiration perhaps it should is a nonviolent challenge to political systems that deny rethink its relationship with those who go into the the equality of israeli Jews and palestinians. field in the name of peace and human rights, and are Judith Hammond confronted with the reality of the israeli occupation? Former Ecumenical Accompanier i fully agree with Simon gray’s suggestion of support for all those who work for peace on both sides, but this support needs to be exercised in the full i think it has been quite in order for QpSW to bring reality of the contravention of international law and the issue of the boycott of Jewish settlement products conventions on human rights by the most powerful to the attention of MfS. party, the occupying power; contraventions that must if we see a thief or a burglar robbing someone, whose be properly addressed if peace is going to be possible. side are we on first? doubtless the robber has needs Maurice Hopper and has rights, but we should help the victim first. Former Ecumenical Accompanier the trouble with the even-handed approach advocated by Simon gray in the palestine situation is that one ends up being identified with the oppressor. in ‘Supporting both sides’ Simon gray treats the Should one have been even-handed between the palestinians and israelis as if they are two equal Nazis and the Jews or between the South african sides of a central argument. But the israeli state has apartheid regime and the black majority? i think not. enormous firepower and deploys the latest lethal the israeli state is terribly well armed – with technology from drones to tanks. it uses its vastly nuclear weapons, tanks, helicopters and warships. superior might to extend its territory and power by they control the Mediterranean and the air space over progressively depriving largely unarmed palestinians of gaza and the West Bank. Settlers have, increasingly, food, water, land, economic development and freedom. been confiscating land. the homes of palestinians For sixty years palestinians have watched their are demolished and families evicted. israeli peace heritage disappear, while world opinion and human

6 the Friend, 4 March 2011 [email protected]

rights conventions have been contemptuously ignored. and on behalf of whom the palestinian population is Some have resorted to terrorism in response to subjected to all manner of oppression. (perceived) terrorism, but Simon gray is wrong to the fact that Quakers will not want to condone all suggest that in some way support for either side makes the actions of either side is not a reason to abdicate the ‘their’ terrorism acceptable. are he and i terrorists responsibility for differentiating between the mighty because of ‘our’ illegal war against the iraqi people? injustices of the powerful and the perhaps desperate it is right that we should give support to israeli forms of injustice that derive from generations- peace groups and seek ways of resolving conflict. But long frustrations. our Quaker faith does not assert our efforts over decades have led to nothing. Meeting that there was nothing to choose between Nazism for Sufferings heard that dialogue between non- and liberal democracy (with all the imperfections governmental organisations and the israeli embassy and injustices that we know of); nor between white has faded away. how many more decades will pass apartheid South africa and the imperfect forces of before justice is achieved? black majority revolutionary aspiration. We need to be Simon tells us that a boycott of goods from crystal clear: the decision to boycott goods, whether illegal settlements is a red herring. he is right: the from the illegal settlements, or, as i would argue, from government of israel deliberately confuses the world israel proper as well since it is directly responsible for by obscuring the origin of israeli produce. our only the fact of the settlements, has nothing to do with a solution is to treat all israeli goods as suspect and to declaration that any party is whiter than white. boycott them. at the November Brussels conference, a Simon argues that the region needs vehement palestinian Quaker begged us to do this on behalf of support for a just and peaceful settlement. that is her people. So do some israeli peace groups (whom exactly what has been going on for the last generation their government is now threatening to legislate into with a singular lack of success. it’s time that we trusted silence). our deep conviction that we have been complicit one speaker at MfS suggested that a boycott would in an appalling injustice; then we will not fear any make israel feel isolated and defiant. on the contrary, attempt to charge us with anti-Semitism. We need israel’s acceptability advances daily. it is ‘a significant to stand alongside those who are being abused with economic power with growing uk trade and the connivance of the most powerful global political, investment links’ and ‘an important strategic partner’ economic and military forces. (i quote from two recent letters to me from Foreign i have personally committed to avoiding the office ministers). it enjoys trade privileges from the purchase of goods from israel and from illegal eu. it has recently joined the oeCd, and is massively settlements on the West Bank for well over ten years. supported by the uSa. What kind of isolation is that? i make no claims for its effectiveness; except that it We see a person being steadily strangled by a much reminds me, every time i need a fresh herb and there larger and more powerful man. the latter turns a deaf are only pots from israel or the illegal settlements, that ear to every plea and stricture. We stand by, wondering missing out is a very small price to pay. those who whose side we are on. We need to ask ourselves how have really paid a disproportionate price are the people we stop the strangulation. of the West Bank, of Lebanon and especially of gaza. Roger Iredale Let’s not contribute any money through our shopping Mid-Somerset AM to their oppression. Jonathan Dale 48 Coronation Street, Salford M5 3SA if Simon gray was appalled by the mere fact that Friends were asked to consider a proposal for a boycott of goods produced in the palestinian territories illegally occupied and settled by israel, i deeply regret The Friend welcomes your views. please keep letters that Friends in Britain Yearly Meeting haven’t yet short and include your full postal address, even agreed to withdraw their monetary support for the when sending emails. please specify whether you preponderant injustice that is visited on the current wish for your postal or email address or Meeting and former peoples of palestine. i very much hope name to be used with your name, otherwise we will print your post address or email address. Letters that we will do so after further reflection. Friends are published at the editor’s discretion and may know that shopping isn’t a neutral activity; it is a be edited. Write to: the Friend, 173 euston road, way in which wealth and power are distributed. We London NW1 2BJ or email [email protected] should not give the support from the profit on a pot of Remember if you are online that you can also parsley to those who are illegally settled on palestinian comment on all articles at www.thefriend.org land, who take a preponderant proportion of the water

the Friend, 4 March 2011 7 overview Fairtrade: ethics and choice

Raymond Mgadzah looks at the background and development of the Fairtrade movement

n 1988 the first from Mexico was there are over 430 producer organisations selling sold in dutch supermarkets. it was named after to the uk and 872 certified producer groups globally ian historical figure from holland, ‘Max havelaar’, representing over 1.5 million farmers and workers. in who had opposed the exploitation of coffee pickers in the uk alone there are now over 500 Fairtrade towns dutch colonies. (see pages 10-12). the philosophy underpinning fair trade was Fairtrade Foundation director of policy and established with the first consumer guarantee label. communications Barbara Crowther, said: ‘in today’s in 1992 the Fairtrade Foundation was set up in the world many people see labels as a way of defining and the first products to carry the themselves. Choosing products with the Fairtrade Fairtrade Mark were launched in 1994: tea and coffee. Mark says a lot about a person’s lifestyle and values.’ Fairtrade Fortnight aims to show case the activities of the foundation embraces the definition of the Fairtrade Foundation. it is an independent non- Fairtrade agreed by FiNe, a working group of the four profit organisation that licenses use of the fair trade networks: ‘Fairtrade is a trading Mark on products in the united kingdom in accordance partnership, based on dialogue, transparency and with internationally agreed Fairtrade standards. respect that seeks greater equity in international trade. Fairtrade has become a powerful strategy for it contributes to sustainable development by offering poverty alleviation and sustainable development. better trading conditions to, and securing the rights of, its purpose is to work from two perspectives – marginalised producers and workers – especially in the that of the consumer and that of the producer. it south.’ creates opportunities for producers who have been the Fairtrade Mark is awarded by the Fairtrade economically disadvantaged or marginalised by the Foundation to products that meet international conventional trading system. fair trade standards set by FLo (Fairtrade Labelling Quakers throughout the uk have supported and organisation international). continue to support the movement and will be widely the Foundation, which has a strategy for 2008 to involved in Fairtrade Fortnight, which this year runs 2012 called Tipping the Balance, has four main areas of from 28 February to 13 March (see page 3). activity: the theme for this year is Show Your Label. • Providing an independent certification of the trade Campaigners, consumers and businesses aim to tell the chain, licensing use of the Fairtrade Mark as a country why the Fairtrade Mark is their label of choice consumer guarantee on products. for the fortnight. • Facilitating the market to grow demand for Fairtrade according to traidcraft, which was set up in 1979 to and enable producers to sell to traders and retailers. fight poverty through trade as a pioneer of fair trade in • Working with partners to support producer the uk, the Fairtrade market in the uk is growing and organisations and their networks. it is worth over £800 million per year. • Raising public awareness of the need for Fairtrade there are more than 4,500 Fairtrade certified and the importance of the Fairtrade Mark. products carrying the Fairtrade Mark. these range paul Langley, head of marketing at Christian aid, from pioneering items, such as chocolate and coffee, one of the co-founders of the Foundation, said: to cosmetics and gold, the latter having been launched ‘the Foundation is important because it offers the this year on St Valentine’s day. More than 7.5 million opportunity of an independent label that guarantees people – including farmers, workers and their families a fair deal for third world producers. this means a – across fifty-nine developing countries, benefit from direct impact on poverty when you purchase products the international Fairtrade system. carrying the Fairtrade Mark.’

8 the Friend, 4 March 2011 Coffee picking, Gumintindo, Uganda. Photo ©Simon Rawles courtesy The Fairtrade Foundation.

paul added: ‘Christian aid believes that we are not mobilising support networks – divine has grown year just consumers but we are people with values and on year for the last eleven years. when we buy a product in a shop here in the uk and ‘the difficult economic times we are all ireland we are trading with another person, often in a experiencing now, as well as the increased competition developing country and living in a poor community. in Fairtrade chocolate, has slowed down our rate of ‘the trade between these two people should be fair growth over the last two years – but we are holding and this can be guaranteed with the Fairtrade Mark. our position. our last turnover was £11.8m.’ We believe that we are all made equal in the image of Fairtrade has, also, had its share of criticism. god and as such we need to seek to love one another the adam Smith institute described Fairtrade as a as he loves us. this includes how we shop. in short ‘misguided attempt to make up for market failures’ Fairtrade gives us the opportunity to put faith and and there have been concerns over the certification values into action.’ system. another argument is that Fairtrade is wrong to Fairtrade sales continue to grow as producers, work within the existing system, by dealing with mass consumers and retailers have become more aware of retailers and multinational corporations, and should its benefits. david Murray, CaFod campaigner, said: work outside it and set up alternatives: but supporters ‘Why should you buy Fairtrade products? Because i say it should work within the world as it is – trying to am confident that the end producer gets a consistent change it for the better. and fair price for her/his product and the community Fairtrade is a small part of a huge picture. real receives a premium which they can use towards change requires trade reforms at international levels building, for example health centres or community and good governance and the rule of law in all centres.’ producing countries: but fair trade has helped to Fairtrade companies, such as , give consumers the opportunity to make individual, which was set up in 1998 by members of a cocoa ethically based choices, in their purchases. co-operative called kuapa kokoo (good Cocoa the real strength of the movement, some believe, is Farmers) in , are flourishing despite the harsh when it is rooted in the grassroots and in individual economic climate. lives and decisions and when a strong ethical vision in Charlotte Borger, a spokesperson for divine maintained. Chocolate, said: ‘With almost no budget for marketing – but lots of creative ideas for promotion and Raymond is a member of Wanstead Meeting.

the Friend, 4 March 2011 9 interview Living fairly

Bruce Crowther, who inspired the first Fair Trade town in Britain, describes the background to a local success story

When did you first develop an interest in issues of How did it work in Garstang? poverty and social justice in the Third World? the first meeting of our group, in the i always had a concern. the active interest began when Methodist Church hall, was myself, my wife and our i went to an oxfam workshop in Liverpool, where i was babysitter. that was in 1992. the Fairtrade Mark was studying to be a vet. once qualified i went to Northern introduced into the uk in 1994, initially on just three ireland where i set up the dungannon oxfam group products; Cafédirect coffee, Clipper tea and Maya gold and then i was involved with the local oxfam group chocolate. We focused on a clear fair trade message. everywhere i went. When i got married and moved to We wanted people to think about the idea of ‘a fair garstang, i thought that i would not do so much. day’s wage for a fair day’s work’ – something that had a resonance in the north of england – and the message But that did not happen? was simple to understand. i felt so strongly that No. i went to a harvest festival at the school of my everyone could do something. in the words of oscar stepson, tom, and a Methodist minister talked about romero: ‘We can all do something, therefore we all poverty and the issues. it really affected me. a chilling must do something’. statistic has always been in my mind – that a child dies every three seconds in the world. We have the capacity and the resources to prevent this. Why do we not? his talk re-ignited a spark in me.

What did you do? i started the garstang oxfam group. i had always been impressed by the Hungry for Change campaign that oxfam did. after years of concentrating on emergency relief and development aid, the organisation started to also address the causes of poverty and to campaign to raise public awareness. the idea of ‘hungry for Change’ came from a broadening out of vision and action. it was vital we mobilised people to campaign around poverty issues: debt, aid, trade and arms. i truly believed in that saying: ‘We should not just hand out fish, but provide fishing rods and teach people how to use them.’ the next logical step for me Bruce Crowther, standing, at the newly erected road sign was to remove the causes that prevented them from with two representatives of the Co-op, who sponsored the fishing – such as landmines on the river bank or toxic sign. On the right is Betty Whitam, manager of the Garstang waste polluting the river. Co-op store. Photo courtesy Bruce Crowther.

10 the Friend, 4 March 2011 The Fairtrade bus visits Garstang. Bruce Crowther joins with local schoolchildren. Photo courtesy Bruce Crowther.

But you were failing in Garstang? Foulkes, at the house of Commons! We thought that if We were having little success. We had some churches we won we would get some great publicity. involved but not all of them and that was frustrating Fairtrade bananas had been introduced by the and demotivating. the Quakers were incredibly Co-op that year and we were already campaigning positive. i was given the job of introducing Fairtrade around divine, the Fairtrade chocolate. Chocolate was coffee to our local Meeting and the clerk replied: ‘You an excellent product to talk about at local schools. it is are knocking at an open door’. a terrific product to get the Fairtrade message across. My interest and connection with Quakerism pancake day that year was in the middle of Fairtrade began then. i started going regularly to meeting and, fortnight. a veterinary nurse at my work had given of course, got to know about their involvement in me a recipe for banana and chocolate pancakes – so starting oxfam, their work against the slave trade, i thought it would be a great idea to invite leading and their concern with issues of social justice and people in the community – from the business sector, inequality. i understood the idea that this work was education, the council and so on – to an event where prompted by the spirit. we would serve banana and chocolate pancakes. We My own passion to act has been guided and then decided it should be a meal, with all the food prompted by my spiritual life. My idea of god may not being either Fairtrade or locally produced. be the same as that of other people, and i know within Farmers in our area were struggling at the time Quakerism it is a very personal understanding, but i and i remember there were suicides in the farming have felt guided by god in the work i do. it is, in the community in Britain – so we ended up serving a three- Quaker way, my own experience that is important – course meal. everything was donated – vegetables, beef, not something handed down to me from a pulpit. the even the flowers. Someone from the oxfam group sat promptings of ‘love and truth’ in the heart. at each table and talked about the issues and about the importance of taking action as individuals. What did you do? it was a great success. We asked everyone to sign a in 2000 there was a competition called ‘Stir it up’ run pledge to promise to sell products or to use them on by Cafédirect. We entered it. the first prize was to the premises when they could. Nearly everyone drinks have lunch with the under-secretary of state for dfid tea and coffee. So this was something that everyone (department for international development), george could take part in.

the Friend, 4 March 2011 11 Garstang cross and market place. Photo: Dr Greg/wikimediacommons CC.

And this was the beginning of Garstang being the What is the situation today? first Fair Trade town in the world? there are over five hundred Fair trade towns in the Yes. all the churches signed up, ninety-five per cent united kingdom. they include cities such as London, of the businesses and the council. Just about every edinburgh and Belfast. it is also now worldwide. there window in the high street had a sticker declaring ‘we are over nine hundred Fair trade towns. support Fairtrade and local produce’. i remember the first Fair trade town in america was Media in waking up one day in the middle of the night and pennsylvania. the campaign to organise again had thinking that we had, effectively, created a ‘Fairtrade strong Quaker links. the same five criteria are applied to w n’. it was a spiritual moment. it was very powerful. whether the place has a population of sixty-five as in i was invited to speak about the idea of a Fair trade Fair isle or seven million like London. it is a grassroots town at the annual public meeting, which usually got movement. it is about bringing people together under only a handful of people, but thirty people turned up the same banner. it is about people making choices. it that evening. is about ending injustice and poverty. at the meeting one of the audience, who was a Quaker, stood up and said: ‘it is all very well talking – Many people have contributed and sacrificed a lot but what are we going to do about it?’ to make all this happen. Why do you do it? Normally it is the councillors who make the it goes back to that statistic – a child dies every three decisions; but this was the annual public meeting. So seconds. We can prevent this. there is also a spiritual they were quite shocked when the clerk told everyone prompting as well as a deep sense of an injustice that this decision could be made by a public vote. continuing. garstang has a community link with a ordinary people! dorothy got up and proposed that cocoa producing town in ghana. this is the backbone garstang become a Fair trade town. rachel, another of our Fairtrade campaign. Quaker, seconded this. the proposal was passed and in But, to be honest, it is hard to put into words what it april 2000 garstang became the first Fair trade town feels like when you meet a producer in somewhere like in the world. ghana or peru and they look you in the eye and say to our aim was to give people a choice. We then began you: ‘keep on doing what you are doing.’ lobbying to get the idea of a Fair trade town accepted. in November 2001 the Fairtrade Foundation officially recognised garstang. Bruce is a member of Garstang Meeting.

12 the Friend, 4 March 2011 experience the case for Sunday shopping

Joy Paul talks about her commitment to being a Fair Trader Collecting tea in India. Photo: © Simon Rawles.

ooking back, i have been trying to be an ethical Meeting house in doncaster, which is being used by shopper for a long time. Back in the 1970s i was a wide range of groups – sales being overseen by a Lbuying that Nicaraguan coffee that people still Friend who now has his office base in the building. groan about. My efforts became more focused after we i see all this as a useful, if low-key, form of Quaker returned from Voluntary Service overseas in Malawi, outreach. having seen for ourselves the workers’ conditions on the tea estates and, incidentally, having come into as someone who enjoys food, i find i think about contact with Quakers for the first time. Moving to everything i buy and where i buy it. ethical challenges Newcastle shortly afterwards helped me on my way. abound, compromises inevitably have to be made, the traidcraft shop in the city centre was a veritable and there may not always be a ‘right’ answer. using aladdin’s cave, and i had a friend down the road who Fairtrade products is a fundamental commitment that was a traidcraft ‘rep’ and supplied me with the basics. at least ensures that my daily cups of tea and coffee are not exploiting producers and are helping to support We moved to Nottinghamshire at the end of poor communities. this is such a simple act that i 1991, having in the mean time spent three years in struggle to understand why so many other people Zimbabwe. practically my first question to Friends in just don’t get it, and that is why i carry on selling Worksop Meeting was ‘where can i buy my traidcraft?’ my traidcraft, telling (and reminding) people about they didn’t know – but suggested that if i became Fairtrade, and campaigning on the issues. a rep (or Fair trader, as we are now), they would support me. that was it. ever since then i have been there is one final reason why i think i shall be carting my battered old shopping bag around to hawking my wares for many years to come, and that is, Meetings in Worksop and doncaster setting up stalls. paradoxically, the proliferation of Fairtrade products the small but steady turnover from Meeting sales has in the supermarkets. of course this is to be welcomed, kept me going and ensured that i have not had to feed but supermarkets vary in their commitment to my family too many time-expired products! principles as opposed to profits, and there is no doubt that the benefits to producers and the impact of the Becoming known as a Fair trader has opened doors ‘Fairtrade premium’ passed on to communities can over the years, with requests for stalls and talks from be much reduced by businesses viewing Fairtrade groups and churches. i currently supply a monthly primarily as a marketing tool. do please remember stall for my local church and am involved with the this, and if you have a traidcraft stall at your Meeting, Fairtrade for Bassetlaw group, which has achieved support it. if you haven’t, why not set one up? Fairtrade status for our district. We have also just set up a traidcraft cupboard in the recently refurbished Joy attends Doncaster Meeting.

the Friend, 4 March 2011 13 Books Simplicity made easy

Trish Carn reflects on Jennifer Kavanagh’s new book

implicity. What does it mean? this has been a in the past five years i have been feeling this challenge to me for many years. Some people seem inner nudge to dig my way out from the papers and Sto feel that it is a movement backwards towards other possessions that have taken over my time and an older, supposedly simpler, way of living – growing concentration: they have been controlling me rather our own food, avoiding electrical equipment such as than i them. as i slowly emerge from the piles of computers and so on. For me, this wasn’t a direction papers that have grown in my office and taken a toll i could take. Yes, i can and do enjoy some gardening on my mental space, i find that there is now a driving but my livelihood is based on computers. i couldn’t go force towards simplifying my life. i am aware that i back to a treadle-powered machine or lose the internet. need to find time to think, time to contemplate and time to have a leisured opportunity to reconnect with Quakers have a testimony to simplicity, but what my understandings ‘of life, the universe and everything’ does it involve? in Advices and queries number 40 – to paraphrase the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. we are challenged: ‘try to live simply. a simple lifestyle freely chosen is a source of strength. do not Simplicity made easy has helped me to understand be persuaded into buying what you do not need or that this need is a ‘normal’ and essentially healthy one. i cannot afford. do you keep yourself informed about have already been trying to operate on the maxim given the effects your style of living is having on the global by William Morris: ‘have nothing in your house that economy and the environment?’ you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.’

Jennifer kavanagh’s new book Simplicity made easy Working to this standard allows me to keep the tackles some of these questions. as she states in the computer and also the things that i find beautiful, introduction: ‘Simplicity is neither simple to achieve whether it is a nicely shaped jug, a warm hand-woven nor easy to define. is it the opposite of complexity? blanket made by a friend – or even the drawing by my is it a lack of elaboration or a lack of excess? it may young grandchild that i find beautiful but that others be all of these things but there is a positive quality to might consider clutter. however, the essence is that the simplicity that is more than a set of negatives, and things i have around me need to feed my soul and not surpasses form.’ these questions are expanded upon possess me. throughout the remainder of the book in a way that i found extremely helpful. as Jennifer says at the end of chapter eight: ‘if we take a long look at what is really necessary in our lives, Jennifer talks about the inner need to simplify we will more easily find a balance in the reality of your life. She states that simplicity is not a lifestyle our material world. We will ensure that what we gain choice but rather an attitude of mind. it is an inner from scientific advances is not encountered by a loss compulsion to simplify our lives rather than an outer of connection with each other and with the rest of one. the possession of things can take over in a way creation.’ that disconnects us from what is real in life and can separate us from our inner connection with that which Trish is a member of Finchley Meeting. is greater than us – from what i call god but for which others have different names. after all the root of all Simplicity made easy by Jennifer Kavanagh. evil is not money but rather the love of money. O Books. ISBN: 978 1 84694 543 4. £6.99.

14 the Friend, 4 March 2011 Ad pages 4 Mar 1/3/11 14:05 Page 1

Celebrate Fairtrade Fortnight at Friends House The Quaker Centre Café and Friends House Restaurant are both successful, much appreciated resources. We serve exclusively Fairtrade tea, coffee and hot chocolate, along with a wide variety of Fairtrade, Organic and Vegetarian food and snacks. Opening times Café: Mon–Thurs 8am–8pm, Fri 8am-6pm, Sat 9am–4pm. Restaurant: Mon-Fri 12–2pm. We look forward to serving you! Friends House, 173 Euston Road, London NW1 2BJ. 020 7663 1000. www.friendshouse.co.uk

Independent advisors Fundraising job planning your secure future in line with opportunity at your concerns Friends House investingethically Ethical screening for Grants Officer existing investments (Part time 17.5 hours per week, fixed term until 2013) Call Tracey for a free brochure Initial Salary £27,796 rising to £31,896 (pro rata) plus 01603 309020 contributory pension www.investing-ethically.co.uk Investing Ethically Ltd is Authorised and At Friends House, Quakers put faith into action around the world Regulated by the Financial Services Authority and in the UK working on human rights, support of peace, social justice, development of young people as peaceworkers and fostering the spiritual growth of our members. A vacancy has Get a free come up in our small fundraising team which is based within the copy of communications department. Black Gold, probably Your attention to detail and knowledge of working with a range of the best institutional donors from government to faith based agencies will film about enable you to make effective cases for funding. Your relationship Fairtrade building skills will be valuable for the care of our regular grant makers and to build and maintain our donor portfolio. If you ever share our values and have relevant expertise to offer us we made, would like to hear from you. with a new subscription to For further information please visit www.quaker.org.uk/jobs the Friend. Applicants should be in sympathy with Quaker values, have an I enclose a cheque for £74 payable understanding of raising money in a faith context and excellent to The Friend for a one year sub. oral and written communications skills. Name...... For an informal discussion telephone 0207 663 1112. Address...... For a full job description and a job application pack go to our ...... website: www.quaker.org.uk/jobs or email us on: [email protected] Postcode...... Email...... Closing date: Friday 18 March 2011. Interview date: Wednesday 30 March 2011. Return to Penny Dunn, The Friend 173 Euston Rd, London NW1 2BJ. Registered charity 1127633. New subs only. Expires 30.6.2011.

the Friend, 4 March 2011 15 a wry look at the Quaker world [email protected]

Ring any bells? Norwich Friends offer nothing at all FrieNdS iN NorWiCh are keen to give their fellow city dwellers a breathing space, Eye notices this week. their new initiative Still… in the city provides a simple half hour of empty space to help people escape the hustle and bustle of the city centre at the end of the day. the semi-formal gathering will be a ‘drop-in’ affair aimed at the general public needing to recover from a ‘hectic day at work, or shopping, or looking after children’. one Friend commented to Eye that some people find that ‘mid-morning worship on a Sunday (10.45am) conflicts with other weekend activities such as sports or gardening, even’. the meeting hopes to enable some of these people to encounter silence more frequently. Eye agrees with Norwich Friend deb arrowsmith who claims that ‘silence is a pretty scarce commodity in modern times, with mobile phones, continuous music, social networking and non-stop demands from others around us.’ What is intriguing is her insistence that they are ‘not offering a religious service but simple peace and quiet’. So, when does a gathering of silent people become a Meeting for Worship?

Campanologists. Photo: JustABoy/flickr CC Long lives our FrieNd MiChaeL Nott, intrigued by an Eye item on bell-ringing (29 october 2010), tells us that he started himself about twelve years ago and now rings at angmering and Findon in West Sussex. ‘it is a useful way,’ he writes, ‘to establish links with other local churches’. Michael wonders whether there are many other Quakers who indulge in campanology. Jesus the…Quaker? WouLd JeSuS Be a CathoLiC if he returned to earth now? the BBC1 programme The Big Questions posed this challenging question on the 21 February. Judith treanor tells Eye how the answers from the panel were varied but included one rather interesting one from author Val Mcdermid. She said: ‘if Jesus had Elizabeth Pafford, who celebrated her 100th birthday on to be affiliated with a religion or any spiritual thing i 24 January, with her card from the queen. Elizabeth, born in would probably put him in the camp of the Quakers, Bentham near Lancaster, has been part of four Meetings which is all about your internal spirit.’ during her life: Bentham, Wandsworth, Bridport and Eastbourne.

16 the Friend, 4 March 2011 Ad pages 4 Mar 1/3/11 14:07 Page 3

Friends&Meetings Eric TAYLOR 24 February. ISRAEL & PALESTINE Two places Deaths Peacefully. Husband of Judith, father available for QVA Working Retreat of Sarah, William, Richard and 6-15 April. Study, encounter, Joan M CASTWOOD 5 November Charlotte. Member of Garstang practical work and reflection on the 2010 in Eastlake Residential Care Meeting. Aged 79. Memorial issues. £360+travel. Project organ- Home, Godalming. Member of Meeting 2pm Saturday 26 March at ised in collaboration with FICR in Godalming Meeting. Aged 93. Lancaster FMH. Enquiries 01995 Ramallah. Contact: 07910 434941 or Funeral held 26 November. Donations: 602974 or [email protected] [email protected] Epilepsy Action (British Epilepsy Association), www.sunflower. QUAKER CHINA GROUP tributefunds.com or New Anstey Changes of clerk 19 March, Redland FMH, . House, Gate Way Drive, Yeadon, 11am news/views; 2pm Martin Leeds LS19 7XY. CHELTENHAM LM is discontinuing Palmer, Director of ARC, distin- its Thursday lunchtime Meeting for guished scholar: ‘The Dao of nature Blanche FLEMING (formerly - an alternative to consumerism.’ All Jenkins) 17 February. Peacefully Worship from the beginning of March. welcome. Bring lunch. Ruth Baker: after a short illness. Member of 01235 520447. [email protected] Meeting. Aged 91. Donations: Cruse Bereavement Care. Notices QUAKER UNIVERSALIST ANNUAL CONFERENCE Ways of Mabel LEACH 23 February. Being (see www.qug.org.uk) Peacefully in Boarbank Nursing SURVIVING YOUR PARTNER Hinsley Hall, Leeds, 8-10 April. Home. Member of Cartmel A practical yet sensitive self-help Speakers: Buddhist, David Brazier Meeting. Aged 98. Private funeral. guide to living with the death of the “Love and Altruism.” Quaker, Meeting for Worship at Cartmel person closest to you. "Gives the Eleanor Nesbitt “Interfaith Realities.” FMH 2.30pm Thursday 3 March. bereaved hope and empowerment." Google their enlightening web pages. Donations: Christian Aid. Enquiries £5.99+p&p from the author. Buy Details: Andrew Cowan 01788 562252. Saunders & Son 015395 32566. online at www.sylviamurphy.com 01395 267367. Meeting up Albert LEESER 25 February. Member of Burnham-on-Sea Diary SINGLE? WANTING TO MEET Meeting, formerly High Wycombe. THAT SPECIAL SOMEONE? Aged 81. For funeral arrangements BUILDING A MAINSTREAM Use the Meeting up column! please phone Helen Derbyshire Single entry £17.20 incl. vat for 35 (daughter) 0117 986 0872. ETHICAL ECONOMY Edinburgh FMH, Sat 2 April, 9.30-6.00pm. words. 3 entries £39.80, 6 entries Alastair McIntosh, RBS and Eigg £67.40. Box reply service included. Notices on page 17 Community lead Q&B's discussion. Replies forwarded 1st class. Please Vision, Problems and Practice. send all entries and replies to: (Box Friends & Meetings notices should Creating Quakerly change, using ___), The Friend, 54a Main Street, preferably be prepaid. Personal entries Cononley, Keighley BD20 8LL. (births, marriages, deaths, anniver- QF&P 24.56. Book: www.qandb.org Queries: [email protected] saries, changes of address, etc.) from METHODIST, 61 YEARS, 4 January 2011: £17.20 incl. vat at believes 20%. Meeting and charity notices her soulmate is out there. Could you (changes of clerk, new wardens, alter- Put your events in the Diary! be he? Replies please Box 941. ations to meeting, diary, etc.) £14.34 zero rated for vat. Max. 35 words. 3 Diary or Meeting up entries £39.80 (£33.18 zero rated); 6 entries £67.40 EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT STUDY TOUR (£56.16). Add £1.70 for a copy of the issue with your notice. Cheques QCEA British Committee – which exists to support the work of the payable to The Friend. Quaker Council for European Affairs – is organising a mini-study Entries are accepted at the editor’s tour to Brussels on Wednesday 22 - Thursday 23 June 2011. discretion in a standard house style. A gentle discipline will be exerted to Based on the European Parliament (which meets travel costs) maintain a simplicity of style and we visit also the Commission and the Council and learn about wording that excludes terms of the work of QCEA. endearment and words of tribute. Deadline usually Monday morning. Bookings and enquiries (with contact details) please to Richard The Friend, 54a Main Street, Seebohm at [email protected] or (non-internet users) to Cononley Keighley BD20 8LL Simon Bond on 01628 631216. Full details are on our web site 01535 630230. [email protected] www.qceabc.org.uk

the Friend, 4 March 2011 17 Ad pages 4 Mar 1/3/11 14:07 Page 4

Classified advertisements 54a Main St, Cononley, Keighley BD20 8LL T&F: 01535 630230 E: [email protected] Classified ad rates CAERVALLACK GARDEN COTTAGE, jobs Cornwall. Beautiful 2 person cob cottage Standard linage 51p a word, within 2 acre walled garden. Superb walks semi-display 78p a word. Rates around Helford river. Meditation studio. incl. vat at the new rate of 20%. Organic pasties. 2 pubs/great restaurant Min. 12 words. Series discounts POOLE, DORSET walking distance. www.build-art.co.uk/ Resident Friend(s) caervallackgarden or: 01326 221339. 5% on 5 insertions, 10% on 10 or more. Cheques payable The Friend. Would you like to join a lively Meeting on the South Coast, contributing energy CORNISH COASTAL VILLAGE. Self-cater- and a positive Quaker presence? Ad Dept, 54a Main Street ing for two adults. Adjacent coastal foot- Cononley, Keighley BD20 8LL A 2 bedroom flat is available path in Perranuthnoe. 01736 710452. www.littlechurchway.co.uk T&F: 01535 630230 above our Meeting House. E: [email protected] Please contact Jeremy Deane by phone on 01202 874553 or by email to COTSWOLDS. Spacious barn conversion [email protected] in Charlbury near Woodstock. Sleeps 2+. TRADITIONAL COTTAGE in Portreath, Closing date for applications 24 March. Wood burner. Lovely walking. 01608 811558. [email protected]. Cornwall, for holiday rental. Sleeps five. Very near sea, walks, cycle paths. Long garden. 01209 215917. COUNTRY COTTAGES NEAR LUDLOW www.kittiwakecottagecornwall.co.uk where to stay with green award. Walking, wildlife. Short breaks. Pets and children welcome. GUESTHOUSES, HOTELS, B&BS Ffriends’ discount. 01547 540441. UNUSUAL TRANQUIL RETREAT in nature www.mocktreeholidays.co.uk reserve on Essex coast. Birding. Walking. [email protected] EDINBURGH. City centre accommodation at Emmaus House. Tel. 0131 228 1066. ISLE OF HARRIS (WESTERN ISLES) www.emmaushouse-edinburgh.co.uk Coastal cottage. Spectacular views from WEST CORNWALL STUDIO FLAT. Sleeps 2. Email: [email protected] picture window overlooking North Uist Near Prussia Cove/St Michael’s Mount. and numerous islands. Recently upgraded, Weekly from £170. Weekend/short breaks. cosy summer and winter. Peaceful loca- 01736 799170. FOXWOOD, ISLE OF SKYE. Inspirational tion - unwind and relax! Photos/brochure [email protected] setting amid mountains, sea, islands. on request. 01445 781225. Delightful accommodation. Sauna, jacuzzi [email protected] bath, therapies, special diets. B&B £30. OVERSEAS HOLIDAYS www.-info.co.uk/foxwood 01470 572331. ISLE OF WIGHT. Clatterford House (sleeps 8) and The Coach House (sleeps BUDAPEST HOLIDAY LET 5). Self-catering holidays and mindfulness 1 June - 30 August. €400/week or €1500/ LONDON: B&B IN CENTRAL, quiet com- retreats. 10% discount for Friends with month inclusive. 2 bedrooms, sleeps 6. fortable family homes. Double £26 pppn. this ad. www.clatterfordhouse.co.uk and Good location. Details: [email protected] Single £39 pn. Children’s reductions. www.claritybooks.co.uk Tel. 01983 537338. 020 7385 4904. www.thewaytostay.co.uk COTTAGE IN HEART OF UMBRIA. NORTHWEST SCOTLAND, Oldshoremore. Swimming pool. Sleeps 6+. Convenient NEWCASTLE, WARM, FRIENDLY B&B Friends' self-catering cottages, well- Assisi, Perugia (Ryanair), Lake Trasimeno. Jesmond. Quiet, adjacent Metro/city. equipped, sleep 5. Glorious beaches. Hill From £390pw. Vacancies April, July, August. Veggies welcome. 0191 285 4155. and coastal walking. Dilys and Michael, Telephone 020 8642 5785 or 01225 01971 521729. [email protected] 723750. www.tabucca.co.uk (security code Umbria). COTTAGES & SELF-CATERING SETTLE, YORKSHIRE DALES. FAUGÉRES, LANGUEDOC. Well equipped, Cosy cottage, peaceful situation. Sleeps 3. 14TH CENTURY CORNISH COTTAGE unpretentious village house. Ideal for walks, 01274 832368. www.maltkiln.com overlooking sea. 0117 951 4384. wine, historic towns. €310pw, sleeps 4/6. [email protected] www.wix.com/beryldestone/cornishcottage Terrace. 15 miles north Beziers. [email protected] Montpellier 1hr, Carcassonne 90 mins, PEMBROKESHIRE, NEAR TENBY. Golden sea 40 mins. Brochure/availability: www.faugeres.co.uk Call Liz 0113 257 1652 COUNTRY, HOWGILL, SEDBERGH. sands, castles, Coastal Path. Two comfort- 6232, email: [email protected] Comfortable 4 star holiday cottages in able flats attached to 16th Century farm- Yorkshire Dales National Park overlooking house, each sleeping 5. Peaceful environ- Firbank Fell. 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18 the Friend, 4 March 2011 Ad pages 4 Mar 1/3/11 14:07 Page 5

VISIT VIENNA. Comfortable apartment, sleeps 4. Convenient location. City of miscellaneous LIVING FURNITURE culture and cafés. Tel. 01904 416840. TLC for your furniture [email protected] Professional furniture restoration, upholstery, www.holidayapartmentinvienna.co.uk ACCOUNTING SERVICES gilding, carving. Ornate period antiques Charity Accounts prepared. to simple Quaker benches. Nationwide. HOLIDAYS Independent Examinations carried out. Roland Carn, 56 Alexandra Grove, Bookkeeping Services. London N12 8HG. 020 8446 5772 [email protected] Contact David Stephens FCCA www.living-furniture.co.uk on 07843 766685. VEGETARIAN AND VEGAN Email: [email protected] WALKING HOLIDAYS PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTANCY With Lupine Adventure Co-op &TAXATION SERVICE DO THE MYSTICAL ASPECTS of Isle of Skye, English Lakes, Glen Coe Quakerism appeal to you? Contact others Quaker Accountant offers friendly 7 nights from £550 all inclusive. of like mind in the Quaker Universalist service countrywide. 0845 217 8917 Group. Write to: Carol Wise, Enquiries Self-assessment & small businesses. [email protected] Secretary, QUG, 24 Rose Bank, Burley-in- Richard Platt, Grainger & Platt www.lupineadventure.co.uk Wharfedale, Ilkley LS29 7PQ. Chartered Certified Accountants www.qug.org.uk 3 Fisher Street, Carlisle CA3 8RR Telephone 01228 521286 STUDY TOURS [email protected] INDEPENDENT HOME ENERGY www.grainger-platt.co.uk BOLIVIA SERVICE/STUDY TRIP JULY 2011. CONSULTANCY Work with indigenous Quaker villagers. • Comprehensive survey of your home. WRITING YOUR FAMILY’S HISTORY? Visit life-changing projects, Bolivian • Whole-house strategy report. Books typeset for your family’s pleasure. leaders, Inca ruins, Lake Titicaca, optional • Face-to-face consultation. Photos and other graphics can be included. Machu Picchu. Reserve early. • Information on grants and finance. Contact Trish on 020 8446 5772. [email protected] www.TreasuresoftheAndes.com Serving Wiltshire but willing to travel. 001 707 823 6034 California. Other printed material also prepared. [email protected] www.environomic.co.uk YOU’LL WALK CHEERFULLY INTO SPRING 0800 612 5942 & in shoes from James Taylor & Son, Bespoke for sale to let Shoemakers since 1857, 4 Paddington St, QUAKER MARRIAGE CERTIFICATES, (near Baker Street), London W1U 5QE. ISLE OF SKYE. 19th Century 2 bedroom partnerships, commitments, notices and Telephone 020 7935 4149. fisherman’s cottage to let in Kyleakin. other calligraphy. Liz Barrow 01223 369776. www.taylormadeshoes.co.uk Initially for 6 months. £450pcm. Margaret 01478 660353.

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LONDON. Professional lady urgently The Summer School aims to provide an introduction to the work of seeks sunny room (lodger arrangement or the United Nations. In previous years it has been especially attractive shared house) by 26 March. Within 7 miles to people who have recently completed higher education studies. cycling/transport to Russell Square/KingsX, work in Bloomsbury. 07876 196 877. Application packs available at www.quaker.org.uk or from [email protected] Helen Bradford (QUNSS), QPSW, Friends House, 173 Euston Road, MATURE LADY SEEKS shared accommo- London, NW1 2BJ. Email: [email protected] dation in London area. Please call Deidre 07805 056931. Deadline for applications – 14 March 2011

the Friend, 4 March 2011 19 Ad pages 4 Mar 1/3/11 14:07 Page 6 vol AD. DEPT EDITORIAL 169 54a Main St 173 Euston Road Fairtrade at Cononley London NW1 2BJ Friends HouseKeighley BD20 8LL T 020 7663 1010 No

See page 15! T 01535 630 230 F 020 7663 11-82 9 E [email protected] the Friend E [email protected]

RCBrown Investment Management (RCBIM) has been working with Quaker organisations for more than 11 years, and currently manages more than £160 million, in line with specific ethical criteria.

The Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust are major clients and also shareholders.

So what can you expect from Bob Brown and his team: - Quality, bespoke Investment Management - Excellent performance record, outstanding service - Over 15 years Ethical Investment expertise - Happy to work in conjunction with your existing Financial Adviser

Although we are based in Bristol, we regularly travel throughout the UK to meet with clients and their advisers. Please contact us for an initial discussion, or to arrange a meeting.

Tel: 0117 925 6073 Email: [email protected] www.rcbim.co.uk 1 The Square, Temple Quay, Bristol BS1 6DG

Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority