Seeds of Peace in Korea the Friend Independent Quaker Journalism Since 1843
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25 August 2017 £1.90 theDISCOVER THE CONTEMPORARYFriend QUAKER WAY Seeds of peace in Korea the Friend INDEPENDENT QUAKER JOURNALISM SINCE 1843 CONTENTS VOL 175 NO 34 3 Thought for the Week: A Quaker alphabet Ruth Chick 4 News 5 Friends and Charlottesville Harry Albright 6 A fond goodbye Celia James 7 Seeds of peace George Penaluna 8-9 Letters 10-11 Letter to Josie Richard Thompson 12-13 Reflections on the ‘Red Book’: A Korean peace monument. Photo: George Penaluna. Conducting our Quaker business See page 7. Linda Murgatroyd 14-15 From the archive: Letters to the editor Compiled by Janet Scott 16 Naming the animals R V Bailey Correction: 17 Friends & Meetings In ‘Standing at God’s right hand’ (18 August) the location of Jacob Cover image: Epstein’s sculpture in Llandaff Rice paddies in the Korean Demilitarised Zone. Cathedral was initially, incorrectly, Photo: George Penaluna. See page 7 given as Coventry Cathedral. The Friend Subscriptions Advertising Editorial UK £86 per year by all payment Advertisement manager: Editor: types including annual direct debit; George Penaluna Ian Kirk-Smith monthly payment by direct debit [email protected] £7.25; online only £69 per year. Articles, images, correspondence For details of other rates, Tel 01535 630230 should be emailed to contact Penny Dunn on 54a Main Street, Cononley [email protected] 020 7663 1178 or [email protected] Keighley BD20 8LL or sent to the address below. the Friend 173 Euston Road, London NW1 2BJ • Tel: 020 7663 1010 • www.thefriend.org Editor: Ian Kirk-Smith [email protected] • Production and office manager: Elinor Smallman [email protected] Advertisement manager: George Penaluna [email protected] • Subscriptions officer: Penny Dunn [email protected] Sub-editor: George Osgerby [email protected] • Arts correspondent: Rowena Loverance [email protected] Environment correspondent: Laurie Michaelis [email protected] • Clerk of trustees: Nicholas Sims ISSN: 0016-1268 • The Friend Publications Limited is a registered charity, number 211649 Printed by Warners Midlands Plc, The Maltings, Manor Lane, Bourne, Lincolnshire PE10 9PH 2 the Friend, 25 August 2017 Thought for the Week A Quaker alphabet A. Agreement B. Beautiful, belonging C. Companionship, caring D. Do-able E. Exciting, energy F. Fun, friendship, fellowship G. Goodwill H. Hugs I. Interesting, inventive J. Joy K. Kinship, kindness L. Laughter, love, Light M. Motivation, Meeting N. Newcomers O. Openings P. Plenty, prayerfulness Q. Quakers R. Rowdy S. Smiles, singing, silence, sharing, Spirit T. Thoughtfulness, togetherness, trust U. Understanding, unity V. Vulnerability W. Welcome, Worship X. Experimentally (yes, this is a bit of a cheat) Y. Youth Z: Zzzzz (Meeting for Worship can be restful) Ruth Chick Horsham Meeting the Friend, 25 August 2017 3 News reported by Harry Albright Hunger crisis in East Africa Christian AID is issuing a renewed plea for urgent, the population severely short of food. comprehensive global action to help the twenty ‘In terms of scale and intensity, this is the worst million people affected by food shortages caused by disaster that I have seen in my twenty years as a severe drought and conflict in East Africa. humanitarian worker, and the worst in our generation. Speaking from Nairobi, Kenya, Christian Aid’s It is certainly the most severe crisis that Christian Aid regional humanitarian adviser Mbaraka Fazal said: and our partners here in East Africa have dealt with,’ ‘In 2017 it is a scandal that anyone should starve to said Mbaraka Fazal. death. Yet that is the reality facing millions of people Christian Aid’s emergency fundraising drive for East – from babies to the most elderly. As an international Africa’s hunger crisis has raised more than £2.1 million community, we cannot just sit by and watch from the in six months, with the agency and its local partners sidelines. We can, and we must, do more. We need helping nearly 75,000 people across Ethiopia, Kenya extra funding to help women, children and men not and South Sudan since February. only survive, but also rebuild their lives.’ ‘However, over sixteen million people are affected by In Kenya and Ethiopia persistent drought and poor this catastrophe,’ said Mbaraka Fazal. rains have driven people to their limit: harvests have He added: ‘Together with other national and failed, water sources have dried up, and cattle – the international aid agencies, we are only touching the tip life-source for many – have died in their thousands. of the iceberg. We can’t sit by and watch a generation In South Sudan violent conflict has forced millions to of children die before they have had a chance to live. abandon their homes and land, with more than half of We need to act now.’ Hertford Friends host concert on testimonies Hertford meeting house Quartet with Richard Simpson and the Quintet for oboe & string will be hosting a concert in early (principal oboe, BBC Symphony quartet by Arnold Bax. There will October entitled ‘Walk Cheerfully Orchestra) and Lottie Greenhow also be music by Purcell, Vivaldi, over the World: Quaker testimonies (soprano). The programme will Webern and Vaughan-Williams. in music and song’. feature six songs by Peter Webb The concert is at 3pm on 8 It will feature the Aylwin String reflecting Quaker testimonies October. Quaker schools celebrate exam success ‘This Evil Thing’ on tour A-Level students at The Reading over twenty per cent of A play about conscientious objectors Mount School in York achieved the A-Level cohort achieved A in world war one written by a London a 100 per cent pass rate, with or A* in three or more subjects. Friend is on tour this autumn. seventy-nine achieving A*-B ‘I am delighted that so many of The play is entitled This Evil Thing grades. our students achieved the highest and was written by Michael Mears of Adrienne Richmond, principal grades,’ said head Nigel Williams. Wandsworth Meeting. of The Mount, said: ‘I am At Bootham School in York It deals with ‘the men who said no to delighted with this year’s A-Level over seventy-one per cent war’ and had its world premiere at the results.’ She added: ‘Girls do achieved between A* and B Edinburgh Fringe in 2016. better, academically, in an all- grade, and nearly a quarter of The tour will take in a variety of girls environment for a number students secured at least three A venues, including four Quaker schools of reasons: our teaching is geared grades. (the Mount, Bootham, Ackworth and to girls’ learning styles, career Headmaster Chris Jeffery Leighton Park) and three Meeting aspirations are not limited, girls said: ‘We are very proud of the houses. It will be performed in Ipswich are more confident about making achievements of our young Meeting on 3 November, in Huddersfield decisions and learning from their people, who have coped so well on 30 November and in Wandsworth a mistakes, and there are fewer with the challenge and chaos few days later. distractions, leaving them free to inherent in the ridiculously The tour begins in Cardiff in late pursue academic excellence.’ phased introduction of Michael September and finishes in Cambridge in At Leighton Park School in Gove’s new A-Level system. early December. 4 the Friend, 25 August 2017 News Quakers and Charlottesville Photo: Frances Racette. Photo: Frances Harry Albright describes Friends’ responses to the violence in Virginia FRIENDS IN THE USA have reacted strongly to the belief in that of God in every person. Through our events in Charlottesville, Virginia on 11 and 12 August, actions, words and prayers we must work to stand for when white supremacist groups staged rallies which justice and love, promoting the free exercise of religion resulted in the death of one person, Heather Heyer, and equality for all.’ and many injuries. Friends also condemned president The American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) Donald Trump’s comments in the following days. said: ‘There is no “both sides” when it comes to racist Before and during the rallies, Charlottesville Friends hate and violence. The president’s failure to genuinely and clergy from other faiths held vigils calling for calm condemn white supremacy and vociferous attack on and peace. The movement ‘Congregate Charlottesville’ counter protesters – who stood against hate at risk of gathered pastors in a direct, nonviolent action. safety and life – is completely unacceptable. His words The Friends Committee on National Legislation and actions deny the humanity of people of colour, (FCNL) said that ‘the president encourages white who are increasingly under siege as the presidential supremacy, which denies equality of races and administration gives quarter to hate.’ freedom of religion and promotes hate and violent The Friends Council on Education said: ‘Quaker acts. He insists on a false moral equivalency between education is directly opposed to the violent white supremacy and protest. His failure of leadership expressions of hatred, racism, white supremacy and condones hate, sows division among people, demeans anti-Semitism in Charlottesville, Virginia. Quaker our country, and diminishes hope. schools are committed to teaching [to students] habits ‘The violence directed at people of colour, Jewish of heart and mind that insist upon a disposition people, immigrants, LGBTQ people, and their allies of openness and respect for every member of our in Charlottesville this weekend is reprehensible. We community regardless of race, creed, religion, sex, all have a responsibility to stand up and speak out sexual orientation, place of national origin, gender against expressions of hatred in its many evil forms identity or gender expression.’ – especially because of the president’s failure to name Gretchen Castle, general secretary of Friends that violence as unequivocally wrong. World Committee for Consultation and a member FCNL’s statement added: ‘As Friends, we believe of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, told the Friend: that every person contains the light of God, regardless ‘FWCC and Quakers around the world join Friends of their identity, background, or beliefs.