Latest News
-
David Cameron defends arms sales
The prime minister has strongly defended his government’s role in the arms trade. His comments follow revelations that the UK authorities had authorised arms sales to a number of repressive regimes in the Middle East and north Africa, including Libya, Bahrain and Egypt (‘Arms and Egypt’, 18 February). -
Fair Trade Way launched
Quakers in the north-west of England are at the centre of a plan to launch the ‘Fair Trade Way’ as a long-distance footpath this week. The eighty-five mile route begins at Garstang, which became the UK’s first Fairtrade town in 2000, and finishes at Keswick.
-
Fairtrade fortnight
Fairtrade Fortnight is underway, with events from sales promotions to fashion shows taking place across the country. It will run from 28 February to 13 March. -
Christchurch Meeting damaged
Christchurch Meeting House in New Zealand has suffered extensive damage as Friends in the country work hard to support people affected by last week’s devastating earthquake.
-
Rise in problem gambling
Problem gambling in the UK has risen sharply since gambling regulations were relaxed just over three years ago. The latest Gambling Prevalence Study suggests that the number of problem gamblers has risen from around 260,000 to 400,000 since 2007.
-
Governments urged to cancel Egyptian debt
Western governments have been urged to cancel debts built up by the Mubarak regime in Egypt. -
Protests at Barclays
Quakers have held a Meeting for Worship in a high street bank as part of a protest against corporate tax avoidance. Around twenty Friends peacefully entered Barclay’s Bank in Cornmarket, Oxford, on Saturday and sat down in the public area. -
Inspiring women
Three Quakers are among the 100 most inspiring women in the Midlands, according to a list published by Oxfam ahead of International Women’s Day. -
Meeting for Sufferings
What does the future hold? A topic of vital importance to the governance of the Religious Society of Friends was given careful reflection and discernment at Meeting for Sufferings on 5 February: the future role of Meeting for Sufferings itself. -
Arms and Egypt
The close relationship between several arms-producing countries in the European Union (EU)and the regime of president Hosni Mubarak in Egypt has been brought to light. In recent years the Mubarak regime has benefitted from a sharp increase in arms sales from EU countries. The evidence was found in an EU…
Subscribe to The Friend
Many reasons to subscribe:
- Get The Friend first every week
- Become a part of the Quaker community
- Prices start from just £48 per year
- Get a FREE trial of the new website