11 March 2016 £1.90 the DISCOVER THE CONTEMPORARYFriend QUAKER WAY A silent prayer for peace the Friend INDEPENDENT QUAKER JOURNALISM SINCE 1843 COntents VOL 174 NO 11 3 Thought for the Week: 12 ‘Fierce Feathers’, ambulance trains A silent prayer for peace and surrealism Jane Taylor Simon Colbeck 4-5 News 13 Poem: Water of life 6 Moving beyond difference Bob Morley Gretchen Castle 14 God is reality 7 Pisac and equality Abigail Maxwell Daniel Hewitt 15 Austerity 8 Housing and inequality Don Atkinson Fred Ashmore 16 q-eye: a look at the Quaker world 9 Letters 17 Friends & Meetings 10-11 Living out our faith: Passing the problem by Ian Beeson …Slavery as an evil shared many of the qualities of the present housing situation – it benefited the wealthy, created an underclass and denied them human rights.… Quaker faith & practice 23.23 Cover image: Graveyard at Hitchin Meeting, Hertfordshire, which will be included in their new commemorative garden. Photo courtesy Hitchin Meeting. 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Her invitation bore the words: We stand in solidarity with all those worldwide living in fear and fleeing from violence. So, here we are. An hour is a long time to stand silent in a public place. Rather than watch the passersby, to see their reactions to us, I bow my head in a traditional posture of prayer. What do I think of? I find I am thinking of myself, and juxtaposing my own situation with that of all those trudging across Europe. The media repeatedly and lightly use the word ‘unbelievable’; but though we’d rather not, we do have to believe it: we see it on our television screens. But still I find it unimaginable. Unimaginable. What must it be like for them? It is wet and cold. I know that in less than an hour I will be dry and warm. What of them? How do they get any shelter or warmth? I’m so cold – perhaps I’ll catch a chill. But I have all the facilities available to get better. What do they do if they get ill or need any kind of medical help? Delicious, tantalising smells waft around us from the market stalls in the square. When this hour is over I could get something hot and tasty for myself. But what of them? How do they get food and fluids? I could use the loo. What do they do for simple, basic things like that? I resist the urge to feel guilty for my wonderfully secure life; but they know no security. They have probably experienced terrible violence and fear for real, and have quite likely left their homes in ruins. If I had to flee, what would I take with me? They, probably, have virtually nothing, having left behind their lives and their possessions, their families, friends and work roles in the hope… Whatever they hoped for, it can’t have prepared them for this. My mind shifts to those who are responsible for the conflict and violence. I try to hold them in the Light – and struggle to do so. Then it occurs to me that perhaps they believe deeply that what they are doing, in making war, is right – that it is their duty by their faith to do so. And I remember that there is ‘that of God’ in everyone. I find myself thinking that in this context that of God may be just a spark of humanity – the possibility that they will have some compassion for the human tragedies resulting from their decisions. I reach out yearningly with my soul to that spark of goodness in them, trying to make that connection in the Spirit. It’s wet and cold. But I know that in less than an hour I will be able to be dry, and warm. But what of them – those trudging away from violence across Europe… Jane Taylor Lancashire Central & North Area Meeting the Friend, 11 March 2016 3 News Conscientious objectors to be honoured in Hitchin A New peace garden in the grounds of Hitchin symbolising the loneliness of conscientious objectors, Meeting House will honour conscientious objectors, many of whom were subjected to accusations of among others. cowardice and even imprisoned for their beliefs,’ said Friends have been planning the garden for more Miranda Norton, a Hitchin Friend involved with the than a year. They intend to create a path around the peace garden project. Meeting house grounds, that joins a number of ‘points Miranda explained that the garden is expected to of interest’. The first of these will be a seat bearing an develop organically as each point of interest is planned appropriate inscription. Adjacent to the bench will and installed. It has been designed by Hitchin Friends, be a free-standing information plaque that explains although local representatives of other faith groups conscientious objection in the first world war. have also been invited to get involved. ‘Other points of interest will have benches to invite ‘The intention is that other faiths may contribute a the visitor to sit in stillness and to contemplate peace. point of interest, or a quotation about peace, if they However, this point of interest will be a single seat, wish to be involved in the project,’ she said. Friends debate money in Bangor SUE HOldeN of Wensleydale Meeting and Tony Weekes of South Belfast Meeting spoke at a public meeting at Bangor University in Wales on Thursday 3 March. Sue and Tony spoke on the theme Is Money at the root of today’s big problems? The fifty-strong audience included students, local people and Friends from North Wales Area Meeting. Sue’s presentation explained the problems with the present monetary system and some of the possible solutions. Tony spoke about the need for a Basic (or Hywel Williams, Sue Holden and Ryan Heaton Citizen’s) Income, something he says would be easier if monetary reforms were made. Weekes Photo: Tony Efa Wulle, of Colwyn Bay Meeting, organised the event, which was chaired by Ryan Heaton, Hywel Williams, the local Plaid Cymru member of vice president of the University Debating Society. parliament, made a brief contribution at the end. Quaker Service names new Let’s go fly a kite operations manager THE ANNual ‘Fly Kites Not Drones’ weekend will take place between 19 and 21 DAVid MOrtON will join March to coincide with the Afghan New Belfast-based Quaker Service as Year. operations manager in March. Friends are encouraged to take part This is a new senior management to show their opposition to the use of post. David will manage, maintain armed drones. The United Kingdom has and develop resources and business ten armed ‘Reaper’ drones. Royal Air processes. His responsibilities Force pilots have ‘flown’ armed drones in will include finance, IT and Afghanistan, Libya, Iraq and Syria. communications. He will deputise Fly Kites Not Drones was inspired by for the director when required. The the international initiative run by Afghan post has been funded by the Tudor Peace Volunteers. It is a joint effort from Trust. Morton. Photo courtesy of David Voices for Creative Non-Violence UK, the David is a member of Bessbrook Meeting, and served as clerk of Drone Campaign Network, Pax Christi Lurgan Monthly Meeting in 2014 and 2015. He is an experienced UK and Quaker Peace & Social Witness project manager. (QPSW). 4 the Friend, 11 March 2016 reported by Tara Craig [email protected] Lunchbreak flashmob Photo: Robin Bowles. Photo: Robin Huddersfield FRIENDS attending a recent was taking place. They were joined by members of Northern Friends Peace Board (NFPB) meeting spent Carlton Hill Meeting. their lunchbreak taking part in a flashmob action. ‘We weren’t leafleting, so the public reaction as far as Friends held a brief silent peace witness outside I could tell was mainly curiosity – there was no vocal Nottingham Meeting House, where the NFPB event opposition!’ Huddersfield Friend Robin Bowles said. American Friends move to end mass incarceration THE AmericaN FRIENDS working to end the mass new initiatives through joint Service Committee (AFSC) has incarceration of prisoners in the campaigns.