Latest News
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Pews and views
The Quaker architectural historian and writer David Butler is to speak at a forthcoming conference devoted to the non-conformist contribution to the story of pews, benches and chairs. -
Peace activist faces ASBO
A pacifist campaigner has been threatened with an Anti-Social Behaviour Order (ASBO) by the Metropolitan Police. Chris Cole, a Roman Catholic peace activist from Oxford, has already served several prison sentences for offences committed in the course of nonviolent protests (see ‘More faith than hope’, 4 February 2011).
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Court for census boycotter
An eighty-two-year-old Quaker is ready to go to prison over his boycott of the census. John Voysey, of Ludlow Meeting, has said he will refuse to pay a fine if found guilty. He will face magistrates on 1 February. A boycott campaign began after the government awarded the contract for…
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Ministers ‘massaging’ aid money
Ministers have been accused of using ‘made-up money’ to meet their overseas aid targets. They plan to cancel a debt owed by Sudan and have said the money involved will be counted as aid. The Department for International Development made the admission in an email to Jubilee Debt Campaign. The… -
Arms export guidelines broken
2012 will see UK ministers sending arms sales delegations to governments with a reputation for using violence against their own citizens. The arms wing of UK Trade and Investment (UKTI), the government’s export promotion unit, is planning missions to countries including Bahrain, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Representatives will visit the… -
Pioneering project in Uganda
A Quaker couple in Uganda have pioneered a new project aimed at tackling environmental problems and securing employment for disabled people. Mike and Liz Watson, of Skipton Meeting, moved to Uganda to work on health issues with Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO). After a two-year placement, they will return to Britain… -
Civil partnership threat rejected
The House of Lords has rejected a last-ditch attempt to prevent same-sex civil partnerships being registered on religious premises in England and Wales. The news has been welcomed by representatives of British Quakers, who have been lobbying for a change in the law. -
Rise in homelessness expected
Quaker Homeless Action (QHA) are expecting more people than usual to visit their Christmas shelter this year – as a result of government cuts. ‘I suspect that the numbers of people we encounter this Christmas will be up,’ said QHA’s director, Kate Mellor. She expects to see ‘more people telling…
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Threat to civil partnerships in religious buildings
Quakers in England and Wales are now able to host same-sex civil partnership ceremonies in their Meeting houses. The legal ban on the use of religious buildings to host the ceremonies was lifted on 5 December. -
Occupy spreads to universities
As the ‘Occupy’ movement spreads to universities, at least one protest camp has included several Quakers, a Meeting for Worship and a very visible Quaker banner.
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