14 April 2017 £1.90 theDISCOVER THE CONTEMPORARYFriend QUAKER WAY the Friend INDEPENDENT QUAKER JOURNALISM SINCE 1843 Contents VOL 175 NO 15 3 Thought for the Week: People and principles Ian Kirk-Smith 4 News 5 Meeting for Sufferings 6 We all have a part to play Hazel Shellens 7 Effective altruism Martin Hartog 8-9 Letters 10-12 People Power: Fighting for Peace Ian Kirk-Smith 13 Reflections on the ‘Red Book’: Easter: the inside story Bernard Coote 14-15 Being a pacifist Graham Spinks and Martin Aitken 16 Friends & Meetings CND badges appearing in ‘People Power: Fighting for Peace’. Photos: Campaign Peace’. Fighting for Power: CND badges appearing in ‘People Nuclear Disarmament. See pages 10-12. for Cover image: Anti-war protest. Photo: Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament. See pages 10-12. 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Public fasts and feasts were ‘devised in man’s will’ and, therefore, not ‘in God’s will.’ The same emphasis on inner spiritual life Fover outward ceremony was behind the early Quaker rejection of baptism. The recent controversy over Easter eggs that became a lead story on many media outlets has little to do with Quakerism, Jesus Christ or a religious festival. It has everything to do with marketing, materialism and a conception of capitalism. John Cadbury, the founder of Cadbury’s, had a very different conception of capitalism. He was an inspiring Friend with a profoundly Christian vision. We are told that he would be ‘spinning in his grave’ at the recent news story. I suspect he might be angry, not about eggs and names, but about people and principles. When Kraft took over Cadbury’s in 2010 most Friends in Britain and Ireland were left with a rather sour aftertaste – a bit like eating, for some, its processed cheese. Promises made to workers had been broken. People were betrayed. Thousands lost jobs. The actions of those responsible did not reflect the values of John Cadbury. A Sunday Times investigation later revealed that ‘legal’ arrangements enabled Mondelez, which currently owns Cadbury, to pay no UK corporation tax in 2014 despite accounts showing that Cadbury UK, its subsidiary, made profits of £96.5 million in 2014 and £83.6 million in 2013. John Cadbury would, perhaps, be more concerned about this and also be rather bemused to discover that Theresa May was being questioned on a recent visit to Saudi Arabia about the vital world issue of Easter eggs. He might have asked, as someone whose family refused to profit from war, a different question to the head of the British government: why is Britain arming an authoritarian regime that has repressed some of its population and acted aggressively towards its neighbours? Is this not a compelling ‘Christian story’ to put on front pages? Britain sells more arms to Saudi Arabia than any other country in the world. The kingdom presently leads a coalition of Middle Eastern nations in trying to put down a Houthi insurgency in Yemen. More than £3.3 billion worth of exports have been licensed since the Yemen offensive started in March 2015 – sales that included drones, helicopters, aircraft, bombs, missiles, grenades, armoured vehicles and tanks. The Saudis are accused of bombing multiple international hospitals in Yemen run by the charity Médecins Sans Frontières, as well as schools, wedding parties and food factories. UK weapons, it is alleged, have been used to crush democratic protests in Bahrain. John Cadbury, with his ethical and principled approach to making money and supporting a community, might also find another fact interesting. Analysis of HM Revenue and Customs figures by Greenpeace show that in 2015 83 per cent of UK arms exports – almost £900m – went to Saudi Arabia. Over the same period, the UK imported £900m of oil from the kingdom. Ian Kirk-Smith Editor of the Friend the Friend, 14 April 2017 3 News [email protected] Quaker writers sign up for Hay THREE leading Quaker authors, Philip Gross, with the Hay Festival Sheila Hancock and Tracy Chevalier, have been on what promises to be confirmed to speak at the Hay Festival in May. a thought-provoking, They will talk on the subject of how their faith spiritually-refreshing and influences their creativity and will take the stage on enlightening event.’ Sunday 28 May. Sheila Hancock’s books The festival, which is now in its thirtieth year, runs include the memoir Just from Thursday 25 May until Sunday 4 June. Me and the novel Miss Award-winning poet Philip Gross said: ‘Where do Carter’s War. my poetry and the Quaker way connect? In an attitude Philip Gross’s of spacious, vivid listening… being ready and willing to collections include The resonate with what you find in that deep place.’ Water Table, Deep Field Sheila Hancock, the actress and author, is looking and the forthcoming A forward to exchanging ideas with fellow panellists. Bright Acoustic. Novelist Tracy Chevalier reflected: ‘I found writing Tracy Chevalier’s novels about Quakers and our practice in my novel The include Girl With a Pearl Last Runaway made me think much more about how Earring, At the Edge of the silence helps me in my own life to become grounded.’ Orchard and New Boy, to Paul Parker, recording clerk of Britain Yearly be published next month. Meeting, said: ‘I’m really looking forward to hearing The discussion is run in these three amazing writers talking about how their partnership with Quakers Quaker faith infuses their work. It’s good to be working in Britain. Wikimedia Commoms / Tim Donovan Photo: Chevalier. Tracy Friends take on 400-mile cycling challenge Two TAVistock FRIENDS are on a 400-mile cycle Friends and friends as we go and we are using a website across Cornwall and Devon to raise funds for a leading – JustGiving – to raise funds. charity working for freedom from torture. ‘We’ve been privileged to live and work in peaceful Carolyn Burch and Richard Ragget started just before surroundings for years, and when our Freedom from Easter, on 12 April, and hope to complete their journey Torture guests come to stay for just one week of – which takes them along the coast to Penzance, then tranquillity and relaxation away from London, it makes inland to Truro, before returning north to Newquay us re-appreciate how lucky we are to be within reach of and across to Exeter – by 14 May to raise money for the sea and green scenes.’ charity Freedom from Torture. Carolyn Burch added: ‘The individuals we have come ‘We live on the border of Devon and Cornwall and to know – from a range of places from rural Sri Lanka are both Quakers,’ said Carolyn. ‘Our route is designed to the cities of the Democratic Republic of Congo – to visit all the Quaker groups, and the two cathedrals, have loved the chance to walk by the sea, have a picnic in the two counties, raising awareness and funds among on Dartmoor, or get a glimpse of farming life here.’ Australian Quakers launch new website Universalist Group Australia Yearly Meeting has launched a new website to THE Quaker Universalist Group will help inquirers from around the world find out information about be holding its annual conference in the Australian Friends. Woodbrooke Quaker Study Centre this The Yearly Meeting has released a statement explaining the year from 5–7 May. initiative and giving some background information: ‘The new site, The title of the conference is www.quakersaustralia.org.au, is designed as an introduction to ‘Exploring the mystery of mysticism’ Australian Quakers, simply explained, and includes images of and the speakers are Rex Ambler, Chris Friends’ activities and Meeting life.’ Cook, Jan Arriens, Alinda Damsma The statement adds: ‘The site links to the current Australia Yearly and Sharada Sugirtharajah. There are Meeting website for further information, which is now located at presently seventy delegates booked to www.quakersaustralia.info.’ attend the event. 4 the Friend, 14 April 2017 Meetings for Sufferings Linking Friends worldwide Working collaboratiVely is at the heart of bear in mind actual and opportunity costs, and to the mission of the Quaker World Relations Committee consider the carbon footprint any intervisitation might (QWRC), Friends attending Meeting for Sufferings involve. It was, she said, a ‘matter of judgement’ and were told when they gathered in the William Penn she described how a decision was made to send the Room on Saturday 1 April.