Low carbon future for Quakers

Quakers in Britain have today committed their whole movement to becoming a low-carbon, sustainable community. They have always tried to lead simple lives but this decision goes further. It means every Quaker in Britain will be urged and supported to reduce their carbon footprint.
A plan is being drawn up to turn this commitment into action and members have agreed to support each other and hold each other to account to achieve it.
“We can no longer ignore the fact that our planet is finite,” say Quakers.  “We have not only inherited the earth from our ancestors: we have borrowed it from our children and from their children.”
More than 1,500 Quakers made the decision while gathered at the University of Kent in Canterbury for their annual Yearly Meeting to discern the way ahead for Quakers in Britain. The eight-day programme for all ages, from 30 July to 6 August, was an inspiring mix of worship, business, spiritual growth and fun.
Recording Clerk Paul Parker said: “We met to grow in the Spirit. We listened to God and we discovered with certainty that what the world needs of us at this time is to change our lives. Our decision is exciting. This involves every child, every adult, every person in our Quaker community.”
The decision is rooted in Quakers’ longstanding work for a peaceful and more equal world. Quakers understand that many global problems are connected: speakers during the week highlighted the fact that the environmental crisis is inextricably linked with global economic injustice. The meeting also decided to challenge the values of consumer capitalism and engage with politicians and other decision makers to develop policies to safeguard people and planet. “We believe this corporate action will enable us to speak truth to power more confidently,” says the minute recording the decision.
The same theme of sustainability and spirituality in challenging times was explored by Pam Lunn, of Woodbrooke Quaker Study Centre, in the Swarthmore Lecture, traditionally delivered during Quakers’ Yearly Meeting. She said: “We need to take with utter seriousness the place of theology, religion and spirituality as necessary to our human response to the challenges now facing us. People of all faiths have a crucial role to play.” She spoke about Quakers’ practice of spirituality and about the “absolute need for serious and sustained spiritual discipline if we’re to develop the inner resilience to meet the challenges and demands that face us.”
Yearly Meeting focused on many aspects of Quaker life. During one session a woman who recently celebrated her marriage expressed profound thanks to Quakers for campaigning on same sex marriage. Many listening shared the joy of the two women as she movingly described the “profound step on our spiritual journey”.  This was one of the first marriages of same sex partners since  Quakers decided at Yearly Meeting in York in 2009, to seek a change in the law so that same sex marriages can be prepared, celebrated, witnessed, reported to the state, and recognised as legally valid, in the same way as opposite sex marriages are celebrated in Quaker meetings. Quakers are clear that changes they are making will stay within the law.
Quakers’ Yearly Meeting decision in 2009 asked for a revision of Quaker faith and practice – the book of Christian discipline which guides Quakers in Britain. And those gathered in Canterbury have updated text on marriage and acknowledged further changes will reflect future changes in the law. Quakers, who were given the right to conduct marriages in England and Wales in 1753, do not have clergy. They do have registering officers who are present at the solemnisation of a marriage at a meeting for worship.
ends
Notes to editors

• Quakers are known formally as the Religious Society of Friends, a radical Christian movement founded in seventeenth century England.
• Around 23,000 people attend nearly 475 Quaker meetings in Britain. Their commitment to equality, justice, peace, simplicity and truth challenges them to seek positive social and legislative change.
• Last year, the Equality Act 2010 lifted the ban on civil partnerships being held on religious premises in England and Wales (as long as a faith group wishes). So far, the Act hasn’t been implemented: Quakers have responded to a government consultation on how this will work and see difficulties because of the costs involved.
• The Swarthmore Lecture, established in 1907, is under the care of Woodbrooke Quaker Study Centre trustees. Pam Lunn teaches at Woodbrooke Quaker Study Centre. Review copies of the book are available from annev@quaker.org.uk and www.quaker.org.uk/shop/swarthmore/2011
• Additional 2011 Yearly Meeting Gathering information is available online

To see the highlights of the day – please watch this youtube clip

We have set up an online survey - https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ProjectEARTH

It should take about 20 minutes and your comments will be taken into account as we develop the project.  Our areas of focus include a human library, training, an online community, access to speakers, mentors etc and an award scheme.

Many thanks in advance.

Project EARTH team

The Government are asking for our help  ’You have to deal with these rules day-in, day-out. This website is for you to tell us which regulations are working and which are not; what should be scrapped, what should be saved and what should be simplified.’ I would encourage you to add your voice to this website, among the laws they consider redundant and up for scrapping are the Equalities Act and the Climate Change Bill amongst others.

Listen to Friends of the Earth talking about why we fought for this law and why it ought to be maintained.

Tonight they launched Plain Islam a website to help provide Islam and Muslims to non specialist audiences in a way that is clear, simple and accessible.

The purpose is not to preach the message of Islam, but to show the essence of Islam and the practice of Muslim culture as they are, because the debates around Islam have now become an important barrier to social cohesion. We thus hope to enhance understanding in a way that is objective and self-critical.

There is a lot of work still to do to engage faith communities across Birmingham, to build relationships and develop friendships.  Focussing on areas like the environment can bring us together with a common purpose but its the way we relate to one another that is crucial.

As well as attending participants were asked to commit to personal pledges for the year ahead.  These covered shopping, business practice and energy suppliers.  These were all hung on the 450 year old tree in the Palace gardens.

Speakers covered a range of issues, from green spaces to energy efficiency and theology to our buildings.  One speaker expressed his concern over whether our buildings served our community or whether our communities were serving our buildings.  Another talked about his feeling that nature was the ink in Gods quill.  It was an inspirational day which left participants inspired to go back to their communities and find new ways of working together.

For more information on the Conference, see this article.

For more information on the Church of England Shrinking the Footprint website – click here. This website includes information on what you can do, case studies and other relevant materials to Churches.

in Birmingham

The Alliance of Religions and Conservation project Faith in Food is about people of faith honouring their values in the food they eat. It’s about faith communities recognising that eating is a moral and spiritual act which affects all life on Earth.
And it’s about all of us creating a fairer, healthier and more sustainable food system through our daily food choices and, together, transforming the world through the food we eat – one meal at a time.

Just as we cannot talk about food without also talking about social justice and what Pope Benedict has called “the scandal of hunger” – the fact that one billion people in the world do not have enough to eat – so we also cannot discuss food without focussing on the environment.

Up to 30% of an individual’s carbon footprint comes from their food – which means choosing planet-friendly food is the most important, everyday way for people to reduce their environmental impact.

Faith in Food works with the world’s major religions to help them develop policies to ensure the food they buy, grow or eat – in worship and celebration, in their schools, restaurants, retreats and conference centres – honours their beliefs about caring for creation, and is kind to the Earth rather than destroying it.

taken from the Alliance of Religions and Conservation website.

If you would like more information on their project, please  follow the link at the top of the page.

We would love to hear your thoughts about food, the role that faith communities play and any tips on how to eat in a way that is sustainable to our earth.

Acts from across Birmingham, from across Faiths and from local schools came together at the end of Interfaith Week to make this concert a success.

Participants were asked to fill out hearts with their commitments for Justice

1 – thing to do this week

2 – things to this month

3 – things to this year

Why not commit yourself to taking action!

Oxfam, Friends of the Earth Birmingham and Jubilee Debt Campaign as well as local initiative Just Film Coop were able to talk about their work.  We hope to repeat this event later in the year with Birmingham Council of Faiths so please look out for information on this.

A personal highlight of the afternoon was the variety of acts from the group from GNNSJ school to local schools through The FEAST, Poetry from Rohit Ballal and Shaila Sharif and the fabulous Mohammed Yahya.