DOCSLIB.ORG

European Quaker Peaceworker Schemes -‐ an Overview

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
European Quaker Peaceworker Schemes -‐ an Overview European Quaker peaceworker schemes - an overview SUMMARY This short report is based on a survey of former staff employed by the Quaker United Nations Office (QUNO) Geneva and the Quaker Council for European Affairs (QCEA) Brussels in the capacity of Programme Assistants, and those employed by Quaker Peace and Social Witness (QPSW) London in the capacity of UK Peaceworkers between 1989 and 2015. It also includes responses from the two recent Young Friends General Meeting (YFGM) Coordinators, employed by Britain Yearly Meeting since 2013. The results demonstrate that these schemes are very effective at sharing Quaker ideas, values and practices and the ‘faith in action’ component is important to a lot of people who do these schemes, both during and following their placements. The majority of peaceworkers who responded continue to be engaged in social justice work and activism following their placement year. Many indicate that they made enduring connections with fellow peaceworkers and staff members from their placement year and the majority express an interest in staying connected with each other and in mentoring current and future peaceworkers. 1 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank current and former Representatives and staff members of the Quaker organisations who helped me to track down contact details, the wonderful Woodbrooke tutors and all those who took the time and effort to respond to the survey. Particular thanks are due to Rhiannon Redpath, Heather Rowlands, Christine McCartney and Jude Kirton-Darling for participating in interviews as well as my Quaker peaceworker friends for your support, encouragement, feedback and for inspiring this project. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Haifa Rashed was a programme assistant at the Quaker United Nations Office (QUNO) Geneva in 2012-2013. Whilst she specifically did not include her own experiences in the research, her experience as a peaceworker1 motivated her to conduct this study. In 2015 she was awarded an Eva Koch scholarship at Woodbrooke Quaker Study Centre2, which enabled her to undertake this research. November 2015 1 For ease of legibility, all participants in the schemes are referred to as ‘peaceworkers’ throughout this paper 2 Woodbrooke Quaker Study Centre is Europe’s only Quaker study centre, based in Birmingham, UK. See https://www.woodbrooke.org.uk for more. 2 Table of Contents Research questions, method and background ............................................ 4 Survey limitations ................................................................................. 4 The organisations and their placement schemes ....................................... 5 The Quaker Council for European Affairs (QCEA) Brussels ....................... 5 The Quaker United Nations Office (QUNO) Geneva ................................ 6 Quaker Peace & Social Witness (QPSW) UK Peaceworkers ..................... 7 Young Friends General Meeting (YFGM) and Britain Yearly Meeting (BYM) ....................................................................................................... 8 Survey results summary .............................................................................. 9 How peaceworkers found out about the scheme ................................... 9 Peaceworkers’ prime motivations for applying to the placement .......... 9 The placement itself .............................................................................. 10 Training and support throughout the placement year .......................... 11 Spirituality and Quakerism ........................................................................ 15 Where are they now? ............................................................................... 18 What next? ................................................................................................ 21 Alumni network ..................................................................................... 21 Conclusions and recommendations .......................................................... 22 3 Research questions, method and background The question of how Quakers can appeal to and engage with young people is often asked; yet we don’t know the effectiveness of the current European Quaker-sponsored work placements targeted at young people in this regard. This research considers how effective the placements and their related organisations are at sharing Quaker ideas, values and practices and to what extent these schemes encourage and support growth in the area of an individual’s spirituality in relation to their social justice work. It also explores whether former peaceworkers would be interested in connecting with each other and forming an informal alumni network, with the possibility of meeting, mentoring and collaborating together in years to come. An online survey was set up for anyone who had been a peaceworker or programme assistant in the last 20-odd years at the Quaker United Nations Office (QUNO) Geneva, the Quaker Council for European Affairs (QCEA) in Brussels and from the Quaker Peace and Social Witness (QPSW) UK Peaceworker scheme. The survey was also completed by the two people who have worked for Britain Yearly Meeting (BYM) as Young Friends General Meeting (YFGM) Coordinators. Whilst this post has only existed in its current format since 2013, it is another year-long European-based Quaker placement for young people and thus fit within the remit of the research. The earliest respondent undertook their placement in 1989-1990 and the most recent respondents were peaceworkers from the 2014-2015 cohort. The three main organisations provided contact information for some previous peaceworkers, but weren’t all able to provide a complete record so social media, a letter in The Friend and emails to various Quaker contacts were also employed to track down former peaceworkers. A total of 64 people responded to the survey, including 22 from QUNO, 21 from QPSW, 19 from QCEA and two from BYM. Whilst it is difficult to know precisely how many peaceworkers there have been in the period studied, an estimate is that the response rate was roughly between 40-50% of all participants in the schemes over the last 20 odd years. The responses to the survey are all anonymous. Two case study interviews were conducted, the first with Rhiannon Redpath, who is currently the only peaceworker to have undertaken two of the European Quaker schemes – she was a QPSW Peaceworker in 2012-2013 and a QUNO Programme Assistant in 2014-2015. The second interview was with Heather Rowlands, Christine McCartney and Jude Kirton-Darling, who were Programme Assistants at QCEA in 1999- 2000. Feedback will be given to the three organisations concerned, including where suggestions and criticisms were made. Survey limitations Those contacted who then did respond to the survey are a self-selecting group, and therefore this must be borne in mind when reading the results – those who are still involved in Quaker circles and who had a positive experience of their placement are more likely to have responded. 4 The organisations and their placement schemes The Quaker Council for European Affairs (QCEA), Brussels QCEA was founded in 1979 to promote the values of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in the European context. Its purpose is to express a Quaker vision in matters of peace, human rights, and economic justice. QCEA is based in Brussels and is an international, not-for-profit organisation under Belgian Law. Since its beginning in 1979, young people have worked alongside the Representatives initially as volunteers and now as Programme Assistants. The Programme Assistant (PA) placement is an entry-level position for young professionals, which includes accommodation and a living stipend.3 Programme Assistants currently specialise in QCEA’s Peace, Economic Justice and Sustainability programmes. “[The role] involves research, analysis, and advocacy through the publication of briefing papers as well as content for our newsletter and blog. Each Programme Assistant is also responsible for a share of administrative and other tasks. QCEA Programme Assistants live and work from Quaker House, located near many of the European Institutions, and also support the lettings and the general organisation of the House. Through your one-year contribution to the wide range of activities undertaken at QCEA, you gain valuable experience of working in European politics and managing the competing demands of a heavy workload.” 4 Who the QCEA Programme Assistant scheme is aimed at The scheme is aimed at “someone who wants to develop a career in European Affairs, politics, advocacy, or research, or specifically in promoting peace, economic justice, or sustainability, or addressing hate crime. Programme Assistants are given support to do their jobs but are expected to use their own initiative, drive, and enthusiasm to make a difference.”5 QCEA states that is has “always recruited Programme Assistants from a variety of backgrounds but has always sought to have at least some Programme Assistants who had a prior connection with Quakerism and with Quakers. This connection could be relatively loose or very close or anything in between.”6 3 QCEA (2009) p.7 4 QCEA Programme Assistant Job Description, 2015 5 QCEA Programme Assistant Job Description, 2015 6 QCEA (2009) p.7 5 The Quaker United Nations Office (QUNO) Geneva What is QUNO? QUNO works to promote peace and justice at the United Nations and other global institutions. QUNO maintains houses in Geneva and New York to serve as QUNO offices and meeting places close to the
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Evangelical Friend, February 1973 (Vol. 6, No. 6)
    Digital Commons @ George Fox University Northwest Yearly Meeting of Friends Church Evangelical Friend (Quakers) 2-1973 Evangelical Friend, February 1973 (Vol. 6, No. 6) Evangelical Friends Alliance Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.georgefox.edu/nwym_evangelical_friend Recommended Citation Evangelical Friends Alliance, "Evangelical Friend, February 1973 (Vol. 6, No. 6)" (1973). Evangelical Friend. 92. https://digitalcommons.georgefox.edu/nwym_evangelical_friend/92 This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the Northwest Yearly Meeting of Friends Church (Quakers) at Digital Commons @ George Fox University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Evangelical Friend by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ George Fox University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. February 1973 Vol. VI, No. 6 l!fuvEJT IN THE BEAUTIFUL NORTHWEST LIFE is what George Fox College is all about. Academic LIFE of the highest quality. Spiritual LIFE of vigorous vitality. Social LIFE with meaningful relationships. A total campus LIFE that is Christocentric. If you desire to live a life of meaningful relationships now while preparing for a greater service to God and mankind . .. then George Fox College, a private Christian College in Newberg, Oregon, is the place. Clip this coupon for more information Send to: NAME __________________________________________ ADDRESS _____________________________________ Admissions Office ----------------------------------- ZIP _________ GEORGE FOX COLLEGE YEAR IN SCHOOL _____ Newberg, Oregon 97132 PHONE ________________ 2 Evangelical Friend Evangelical Friend Contents Editor-in-Chief: Jack L. Willcuts Managing Editor: Harlow Ankeny Editorial Assistants: Earl P. Barker, Kelsey E and Rachel Hinshaw Art Director: Stan Putman. Department Editors: Esther Hess, Mission­ ary Voice; Betty Hockett, Children's Page; Walter P.
    [Show full text]
  • FWN 172.Qxd 24/04/2013 10:53 Page 1
    FWN 172.qxd 24/04/2013 10:53 Page 1 Number 172 2010/1 Friends World News The Bulletin of the Friends World Committee for Consultation Friends World Committee for Consultation Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) FWN 172.qxd 24/04/2013 10:53 Page 2 Page 2 Friends World News 2010/1 From the World Office Threads It takes a variety of threads to make fabric and FWCC Friends have to say on the spiritual dimensions of is fabric in the making. Right now the major threads this global issue? Regional coordinators are being iden- are planning for the World Conference in 2012 and tified, and in the meantime, clusters may take place at activating the cluster process of our consultation on any time. Funding permitting, more yearly meetings Friends' responses to global change. Both are getting can receive staff support locally. Responses are stronger, more colourful, more textured – and more being gathered on the website: www.fwccglob- entwined. It is exciting to watch this fabric take alchange.org. shape. FWCC has numerous other threads, some more vis- Yearly meetings have been asked to designate their ible than others. These are called Quaker UN work in allotted delegates to the world conference by the end New York, Geneva and Vienna, international mem- of this year. The International Planning Committee, bership for isolated individuals and growing groups, co-clerked by Elizabeth Gates of Philadelphia YM and continuing networking among Friends organisa- and Pradip Lamachhane of Nepal YM, has met at the tions and yearly meetings. site Kabarak University near Nakuru, Kenya and developed a structure for the programme centred With this fabric coming into being, FWCC is becoming around worship and our experiences of the theme: more visible to new faces in the Quaker world.
    [Show full text]
  • The Cambridge Companion to Quakerism Edited by Stephen W
    Cambridge University Press 978-1-107-13660-1 — The Cambridge Companion to Quakerism Edited by Stephen W. Angell , Pink Dandelion Frontmatter More Information THE CAMBRIDGE COMPANION TO QUAKERISM The Cambridge Companion to Quakerism offers a fresh, up-to-date, and acces- sible introduction to Quakerism. Quakerism is founded on radical ideas and its history of constancy and change offers fascinating insights into the nature of nonconformity. In a series of eighteen essays written by an international team of scholars, and commissioned especially for this volume, the Companion covers the history of Quakerism from its origins to the present day. Employing a range of methodologies, it features sections on the History of Quaker Faith and Practice, Expressions of Quaker Faith, Regional Studies, and Emerging Spiritualities. It also examines all branches of Quakerism, including evangelical, liberal, and conservative, as well as non-theist Quakerism and convergent Quaker thought. This Companion will serve as an essential resource for all interested in Quaker thought and practice. Stephen W. Angell is Leatherock Professor of Quaker Studies at the Earlham School of Religion. He has published extensively in the areas of Quaker Studies and African-American Religious Studies. Pink Dandelion directs the work of the Centre for Research in Quaker Studies, Woodbrooke, and is Professor of Quaker Studies at the University of Birmingham and a Research Fellow at Lancaster University. He is the author and editor of a number of books, most recently (with Stephen Angell) Early Quakers and Their Theological Thought. © in this web service Cambridge University Press www.cambridge.org Cambridge University Press 978-1-107-13660-1 — The Cambridge Companion to Quakerism Edited by Stephen W.
    [Show full text]
  • TURNING HEARTS to BREAK OFF the YOKE of OPPRESSION': the TRAVELS and SUFFERINGS of CHRISTOPHER MEIDEL C
    Quaker Studies Volume 12 | Issue 1 Article 5 2008 'Turning Hearts to Break Off the okY e of Oppression': The rT avels and Sufferings of Christopher Meidel, c. 1659-c. 1715 Richard Allen University of Wales Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.georgefox.edu/quakerstudies Part of the Christian Denominations and Sects Commons, and the History of Christianity Commons Recommended Citation Allen, Richard (2008) "'Turning Hearts to Break Off the oY ke of Oppression': The rT avels and Sufferings of Christopher Meidel, c. 1659-c. 1715," Quaker Studies: Vol. 12: Iss. 1, Article 5. Available at: http://digitalcommons.georgefox.edu/quakerstudies/vol12/iss1/5 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by Digital Commons @ George Fox University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Quaker Studies by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ George Fox University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. QUAKER STUDIES 1211 (2007) (54-72] ISSN 1363-013X 'TURNING HEARTS TO BREAK OFF THE YOKE OF OPPRESSION': THE TRAVELS AND SUFFERINGS OF CHRISTOPHER MEIDEL c. 1659-c. 1715* Richard Allen University of Wales ABSTRACT This study of Christopher Meidel, a Norwegian Quaker writer imprisoned both in England and on the Continent for his beliefs and actions, explores the life of a convert to Quakerism and his missionary zeal in the early eighteenth century. From Meidel's quite tempestuous career we receive insights into the issues Friends faced in Augustan England in adapting to life in a country whose inter-church relations were largely governed by the 1689 Toleration Act, and its insistence that recipients of toleration were to respect the rights of other religionists.
    [Show full text]
  • Switzerland Yearly Meeting History and Biography Project a Resource
    Summer 2005 Switzerland Yearly Meeting History and Biography Project “Let Their Lives Speak” A Resource Book. prepared by Michael and Erica Royston SYM History and Biography Project Summer 2005 Page 1 SYM History and Biography Project Summer 2005 Page 2 Table of contents Abbreviations 8 Introduction 9 Why the Project? ________________________________________________________ 9 What does it mean “Letting Their Lives Speak”? _____________________________ 9 Who is in the list?________________________________________________________ 9 This is a resource book. __________________________________________________ 10 Thanks. ______________________________________________________________ 10 Section 1. Concerning People. 11 Allen, William__________________________________________________________ 11 Ansermoz, Félix and Violette._____________________________________________ 11 Ashford, Oliver and Lilias________________________________________________ 11 Ayusawa, Iwao and Tomiko.______________________________________________ 12 Balch, Emily Greene.____________________________________________________ 12 Béguin, Max-Henri. _____________________________________________________ 12 Bell, Colin and Elaine. ___________________________________________________ 12 Berg, Lisa and Wolf. ____________________________________________________ 12 Bieri, Sigrid____________________________________________________________ 13 Bietenholz, Alfred. ______________________________________________________ 13 Bohny, August and Friedel . ______________________________________________
    [Show full text]
  • (Quakers) in Britain Epistles & Testimonies
    Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in Britain Epistles & testimonies Compiled for Yearly Meeting, Friends House, London, 27–30 May 2016 Epistles & testimonies Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) In Britain Documentation in advance of Yearly Meeting to be held at Friends House, London, 27–30 May 2016 Epistles & testimonies is part of a set of publications entitled The Proceedings of the Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in Britain 2016, published by Britain Yearly Meeting. The full set comprises the following documents: 1. Documents in advance, including agenda and introductory material for Yearly Meeting 2016 and the annual reports of Meeting for Sufferings and Quaker Stewardship Committee 2. Epistles & testimonies 3. Minutes, to be distributed after the conclusion of Yearly Meeting 4. The formal Trustees’ annual report and Financial statements for the year ended December 2015 5. Tabular statement. Please address enquiries to: Yearly Meeting Office Britain Yearly Meeting Friends House 173 Euston Road London NW1 2BJ Telephone: 020 7663 1000 Email: [email protected] All documents issued are also available as PDFs and for e-readers at www.quaker.org.uk/ym. Britain Yearly Meeting is a registered charity, number 1127633. Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in Britain Epistles & testimonies Epistles Introduction to epistles from Quaker World Relations Committee 7 From Europe and Middle East 9 Belgium and Luxembourg Yearly Meeting 9 Europe &
    [Show full text]
  • Among Friends Issue
    Among FriendsNo 107: Summer 2007 Published by the Europe and Middle East Section of Friends World Committee for Consultation Executive Secretary: Bronwyn Harwood, 1 Cluny Terrace, Edinburgh EH10 4SW, UK. Tel: +44 (0)131 466 1263; [email protected] Finding the Prophetic Voice for our Time Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. 1 Corinthians 14:1, NRSV It is love, then, that you should strive for. Set your hearts on spiritual gifts, especially the gift of proclaiming God’s message. 1 Corinthians 14:1 TEV-Good News for Modern Man Welcome and greetings from Europe and Middle East Section to Friends from around the world meetings gather for nine days not only to conduct travelling to Dublin, Ireland, for the 22nd Triennial business but also to grow in the life of Christ and the of Friends World Committee for Consultation Holy Spirit by discovering together their common which will take place 11 – 19 August. And thank spiritual ground. you to the Irish Friends and the World Office team The work of the gathering is not only the who have been working so hard for many months administrative business of FWCC, but also the now to prepare for our arrival. exchanges and communication among Friends The Triennial is the business meeting for the Friends worldwide about the work of Friends in the world World Committee for Consultation. Every three and our joy in living our faith. It is a time to learn years, the representatives named by their yearly about each other and the challenges and successes of other yearly meetings.
    [Show full text]
  • FWCC/EMES Annual Report 2011
    Europe & Middle East Section P.O. Box 1157, Histon, Cambridge CB24 9XQ, United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0)1223 479585 Email: [email protected] Exec Sec: Marisa Johnson FWCC/EMES Annual Report 2011 What is FWCC/EMES? 2/3 Report of the work of the Executive Committee 2011 4 From the EMES Executive Secretary 7 Ministry and Outreach 10 Amari Play Centre, Ramallah 12 Church and Peace 13 Global Change and Climate Matters 14 Quaker Youth Pilgrimage 15 Reports from Yearly Meetings and Groups 16 Woodbrooke Quaker Study Centre 48 Diary 2012 49 EMES Bank Account details 50 Note: The formal annual report and accounts, prepared in accordance with UK charity requirements, are available as a separate document on request from the EMES office. Scottish Charity number: SC 036528 EMES Annual Report 2011 2 What is FWCC? The Friends World Committee for Consultation was established at the Second World Conference of Friends held at Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, in 1937. The concept of a world organisation to express the sense of world fellowship of Friends arose as an important part of the evolution of the Religious Society of Friends in the first two decades of the twentieth century. This tentative development gained impetus from the 1920 Friends World Conference in London and the Young Friends Gathering in Jordans, England, held in the same year. No other organisation exists which links together Yearly Meetings around the world. Authority within the Religious Society of Friends lies at the Yearly Meeting and Monthly Meeting/church level, leaving these groups potentially in isolation. Hence, the vision arose of an organisation to keep Friends connected and in touch with each other across the diverse spectrum of the Society.
    [Show full text]
  • Did Not Our Lord Bear the Heavy Cross of Wood to Calvary and Almost Sink Beneath
    Did not our Lord bear the heavy cross of wood to Calvary and almost sink beneath it? Theology, Business, and Social Activism in the Philadelphia Quaker Community, 1907-1927 Luke McKinstry Haverford College History 400: Senior Thesis First Reader: Bethel Saler Second Reader: Emma Lapsansky Submitted: April 23, 2010 Abstract: In the early 20th century before the beginning of World War I many members of the Quaker community carried the perception that the Friends Meeting was becoming increasingly irrelevant in the city of Philadelphia. Starting with the United States entry into World War I, the Quaker Meetings in Philadelphia transformed from sanctuaries for people to nurture their inner spirits into cauldrons of ideas for an ambitious social mission. The 'total war' nature of World War I thrust the Quakers into public life. In a militarized society, how could Quakers uphold their religious commitment to peace without becoming traitors to the state? Quakers commitment to peace was the underlying fact that set them apart from civil society in the United States. Adhering to this principle in wartime forced the Quakers to set out on an ambitious program of social service and war relief, which began to turn the focus of the Meeting outward to the world around them. Called to action by the war, the Quakers became increasingly aware of the larger social problems around them. As Quakers surveyed and heard tales of the destruction in Europe, and witnessed the postwar uprisings in Germany and the United States, many became acutely concerned with the problems of economic inequality. The Quakers sought to bring about systemic reform to the capitalist system because they felt that inequitable industrial relations and the profit-seeking ambitions of business cause the ultimate evil of war.
    [Show full text]
  • Running Radio Selam
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by NORA - Norwegian Open Research Archives Running Radio Selam Constraints facing an Ethiopian peace radio project Tarjei Kidd Olsen Master Thesis in Peace and Conflict Studies Department of Political Science UNIVERSITETET I OSLO December 2009 1 Acknowledgements I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my excellent thesis supervisor Kristin Skare Orgeret for her astute and precise guidance as regards both style and substance, and for her indispensable motivational support. Thank you to Associate Professor Anne Julie Semb, Peace and Conflict Studies´ Programme Leader, who has provided stimulating lectures and steadfast support for the duration of my time spent on this degree and thesis, and to Programme Coordinator Aashild Ramberg, who has provided much practical advice and motivation during times of pressure. I am most grateful to my interviewees for sharing their time with me, to Regatu Olana for drawing my attention to Radio Selam in the first place, and to Eba Olana for finding me a great guesthouse in Addis and for making me feel welcome in his city. I would also like to thank my close friend and colleague-at-a-distance Lioba Suchenwirth for feedback on an early draft of one of the chapters and for her general provision of advice and encouragement. Last but certainly not least, a heartfelt thank you is also due to my mother, Fiola Kidd, who provided me with ceaseless motivational support throughout the entire process, as she has throughout my life. The responsibility for any errors and inaccuracies that may have occurred is of course mine alone.
    [Show full text]
  • Race and Privilege in Europe
    Race and Privilege in Europe Quaker Council for European Affairs 1979—2 O19 C bnd This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ or send a letter to Creative Commons, PO Box 1866, Mountain View, CA 94042, USA. Author Andrew Lane Race and Editorial support Rosemary Crawley Laura Davis Privilege Kate McNally Rorie Nazareth Elysia Rezki in Europe Design Martin Leng First published July 2017 This edition published May 2019 ISBN: 978-2-9602247-2-6 Printed in the United Kingdom on FSC-certified paper from responsibly-managed forests Square Ambiorix 50 1000 Brussels Belgium www.qcea.org AISBL - MONITEUR BELGE NO. 11 732/80 NO. D’ENTREPRISE 0420.346.728 TRANSPARENCY REGISTER 3960234639-24 Contents 4 Introduction 7 Quaker concern 10 Equality 10 What is race and where did come from? 12 Colourblindness 14 Racism 19 White privilege 24 Socialisation 26 Unpalatable truths 26 The invention of race 27 Missing histories: slavery and race 33 Colonial propaganda and Afrophobia today 35 Missing histories: Islam in Europe 38 Race and belonging in Europe today 41 Exclusion policy today 46 Groups openly committed to racism 51 Our place in community 52 White role to support, not lead 55 White church 67 Justice 71 Appendices 84 References and notes Racism is a problem. We are part of racism. Racism can be resisted. Race is a particularly difficult topic to talk about, especially These are difficult questions to hear.
    [Show full text]
  • EMES in the Autumn Dear Friends, I Am Starting to Learn How Quickly the Deadline for Among Friends Comes Round
    Among FriendsNo 146: Autumn 2019 Published by the Europe and Middle East Section of Friends World Committee for Consultation Exec Secretary: Marisa Johnson, P.O. Box 1157, Histon, Cambridge CB24 9XQ, UK [email protected] Tel: +44 (0)122 347 9585 EMES in the autumn Dear Friends, I am starting to learn how quickly the deadline for Among Friends comes round. It feels like only a few weeks since the last one! Autumn 2019 is proving to be a busy one for me and I thought you would be interested to hear some of what is going on for the EMES staff right now. In mid-November I will be attending part of the Europe & Middle East Young Friends (EMEYF) annual meeting at Quaker House in Brussels. Although EMES is for Friends of all ages we recognise that EMEYF has a particular role to fill for Young Adult Friends in our Section. Visiting the EMEYF annual meeting will be particularly special for me not least Picture of the Old Abbey, Kortenberg because I met my wife at the EMEYF Photo: Michael Eccles annual meeting 20 years ago! I am also looking forward to considering how we can continue 22 Friends will be gathered to consider public witness to develop and strengthen the relationship between and in particular, how we protest. On the Saturday EMES and EMEYF. morning three speakers from the Northern Friends Towards the end of November the EMES Peace & Peace Board, Roots of Resistance and Stop Fuelling Service Consultation is taking place at the Old Abbey War will share something of their experience of protests in Kortenberg, just outside Brussels.
    [Show full text]