Friends throughout Britain have been actively involved in anti-war campaigning over the past 18 months or so.  In many cases, this will have involved making themselves publicly visible, joining demonstrations, holding vigils etc. Some have worked within anti-war coalitions and groupings, running street stalls, petitions, public meetings etc.   Others still have been letter-writing, praying and finding diverse other ways of seeking to stop the rush to war. 

From contact with Friends, it is clear that this has been hard work, but work, it is felt, that must continue with the same – if not greater – vigour.   Others feel strongly that, with war now under way, it is time to provide a more reflective input; more silent vigils and opening meeting houses up for reflection and quiet prayer. 

 A quiet Quaker presence at different events has certainly attracted people who just feel more comfortable with it, even if they know nothing else about Quakers. Working in coalitions has been energising but has also thrown up challenges.  It has not always been easy, for example, to incorporate careful listening when there is so much political-anger.  And there has certainly been a range of views on the use of violence in other circumstances.  We have much to learn from the current anti-war work, as well as much to give. 

Some Friends have felt that, on reflection, they would have preferred to have been involved in a coalition with a broader base, as particular brands of politics can be off-putting to others who might be interested in joining.  Others have spoken of the value of flexibility and fluidity in this work, not being bogged down with too many committees etc. 

Coming weeks and months will need different types of organisation and witness.  The challenges will remain – how do we communicate effectively, without ‘frightening’ people away?  And how do we balance the expediency of working in coalitions with a commitment to the ‘means and ends’ nature of Friends’ understanding of peace work?  Friends have felt, to varying degrees, a strong sense that ‘doing nothing’ in recent months has just not been an option. 

It seems very important that Friends have been in the midst of the anti-war campaigning, persisting with peaceful ways of working and witnessing and keeping the longer-term vision alongside the short-term crises.  What have you learned?  How can we work better as Friends and as parts of wider groupings? 

20th Day of Third Month of 2003 

Quaker Service Agencies statement on the 
launching of war on Iraq  

A good end cannot sanctify evil means; nor must we ever do evil that good may come of it."                                                                          William Penn, 1693 

We are appalled and deeply saddened by the decision of the United Kingdom, the United States of America and other countries, such as Australia, to launch a war against Iraq. We pray for all those affected - combatants and non-combatants alike. We pray for world leaders that God's grace will lead them to bring a rapid cessation to the war. 

War threatens to terrify, maim, kill, and bereave vast numbers of innocent people in Iraq who are already suffering the punitive effects of economic sanctions (half of Iraq's citizens are children). We fear that violence in the region will intensify, whilst efforts towards peaceful democratic change will be undermined.  Bridge-building between the West and the Arab and Muslim world will become more difficult.  Support for political extremists across the world appears likely to increase. The primary purpose of the United Nations to "save succeeding generations from the scourge of war" through patient dialogue and disarmament has been cast aside by governments that claim to be world leaders in democracy and human rights. We are shamed, grieved and angered by the fact that a small minority of governments has chosen the unconscionable act of war, going against the will of the international community and against the will of many of their own citizens. 

Despite our grief and shame, our spirits are heartened by the tens of millions of world citizens who are taking up the responsibility of citizenship - to learn about global issues, to affirm the role of the United Nations and the Security Council, and to challenge the actions of government when their actions contravene what is moral and just. 

Quakers recognise that the crisis over Iraq has presented extraordinary challenges to the international community. The world's goal for Iraq must be the same as that for any nation - a just and sustainable peace for its people and neighbours. To this end, the  United Nations weapons inspections and disarmament process appeared to be making progress. The lifting of indiscriminate economic sanctions against Iraq might have helped its people towards determining their own future according to their right. 

War is not the answer, not now and not ever. War does not bring about peace. War does not bring about security. War hurts innocent people and generates new resentment and new impetus for revenge in generations to come. Faith in violence as a means of solving political problems is both dangerous and contrary to our understanding of God's way. It is irresponsible for any nation to possess weapons of mass destruction and threaten their use against others.  Peace between nations can only be won if the international community accepts a common responsibility for achieving disarmament and answering the vital needs of all. We implore world leaders to return to the tables of the United Nations with ever more resolve to solve international crises peacefully and to hold each other accountable for their actions in the global community. 

We pray for the day when "nations will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore" (Isaiah 2:4).  Quakers remain joined to the global effort to bring this day nearer. We  renounce the use of violence, and affirm the power of non-violence and love, to bring about the cause of peace and justice for all. 

Signed initially by 13 Quaker bodies, including NFPB,  Quaker Peace & Social Witness, American Friends’ Service Committee, Canadian Friends Service Committee, Quaker Service Australia, QUNO, QCEA, FWCC and Quakers in Norway and Sweden 

We are producing a series of ‘signpost leaflets’ focusing on particular aspects of military and arms-related concerns with a northern connection.  They give a short, digestible summary of the issues, a critical Quaker view and some pointers to what Friends and others might wish to do if they want to take further action.  We have sent copies to all  Meet-ings in the north.  If you would like a some more, contact the NFPB of fice.  All are also available on our web site. 

The issues covered so far are: 

• Arms trade susbsidies, 
• Cluster bombs, 
• MBDA (missile producers), 
• Faslane and nuclear weapons, 
• Menwith Hill and Fylingdales. 

Resources for Peace  

“To be peacemakers”, reads the text in one of our leaflets “requires patience, love and endurance ... It is to rely in our own weakness on the strength of God.  It is to listen for the voice of the holy spirit which allows us to see anew the situation we inhabit, the holy spirit which shows us what, in existing circumstances, must unfailingly be done.” 

It also helps to have a range of materials!  NFPB and QPSW have the following to help Friends in understanding and acting on their peace concerns. 

From NFPB: 

• Envelope re-use labels, newly reprinted, three designs available in packs of 100
• Mini-stickers
• Publications, including The Peace Papers and various booklets
• Postcards
• Video
• Web site – www.nfpb.gn.apc.org
• Banner kits (single person rainbow banners)
• Posters – A4 size, black and white

From the Quaker Bookshop: 

• Badges – “NO WAR" black on white
• Window cling stickers: “Quakers for peace”,“Quakers oppose all war” 
• “WAR IS NOT THE ANSWER” 
• Posters – “Quakers for peace”

From QPSW 

• Peace vigil kit 
• Information and Action Pack “War on terrorism – Is there an alternative?” 
• Web resources – Peace Exchange web pages at www.peaceexchange.org.uk 
• Peace Exchange email list – email David Gee davidg@quaker.org.uk with the name of your meeting 

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I was unable to go on any of the 15 February demos against the war on Iraq, and wanted an alternative way to protest locally.  A friend told me about a website (www.ontherailings.org.uk) which suggested tying peace messages on to railings outside public buildings - Town Hall, Library or whatever - to give a voice to those seeking alternatives to war.  I liked the idea because it gave the protest a local focus and it offered a way of keeping the protest going after the marches had finished. 

I sent a press release to the local paper explaining the idea and inviting others to join in. Next day I was duly photographed at the railings round Hexham’s park.  I'd made a laminated poster headed  “Give peace a chance - say no to war on Iraq ”  which listed the likely outcomes of the bombing, and I tied this to the railings together with a bunch of flowers and a copy of the Daniel Seeger piece which begins “To be peacemakers in the modern era ... requires patience, love and endurance ...”. 

A friend in the neighbouring village of Allendale got a group of like-minded people to do the same thing there, and together we got a good bit of coverage in the local paper.  In the following week other people did add messages to ours, but within ten days they had all disappeared, presumably removed by the council. 

The next edition of local paper carried a letter criticising the protest for making the railings look untidy (!). This opened up a useful correspondence, both for and (mostly) against the war, which is still running. 

Caroline Westgate, Northumbria MM 

People, Peace and Power: Conflict Transformation in Action 
by Diana Francis 
Pluto Press, 2002 ISBN 0-7453-1835-5 

Published nearly a year ago, Peace, Peace and Power is concerned with an approach to world problems that is far removed from the fancy footwork of diplomats at the United Nations.  Experienced facilitator and trainer (and Friend) Diana Francis draws together some of her experiences of working with groups in many different parts of the world to develop peaceful strategies for dealing with the conflicts or injustices they are facing. 

At the heart of her approach is the idea of respect for oneself and for others, and accepting responsibility for taking on a role in changing the world for the better.  This is summarised thus: 

“… if we resign ourselves to pathological relationships, to the oppression of some human beings by others and to the inevitability of war and destruction, investing culture with the right and the power to control our lives, I believe we degrade ourselves, robbing ourselves of moral choice and responsibility and condemning ourselves and others to witness and suffer atrocities … Conflict transformation implies the acceptance of personal and collective responsibility .  It also means culture transformation for all of us.” 

These convictions  are backed up in the book with rigorous and illuminating theoretical background to the approach and fascinating and detailed case-studies.  Highly recommended for anyone wanting an insight into this particular style of peace-building. 

NFPB members have spent time considering what contributions we might have to make at the Trident Ploughshares blockade of Faslane, the UK’s Trident nuclear 
weapons base, on 22 April.  Friends are often welcomed at such events, bringing a strong commitment to peaceful means and to openness and honesty. 

We did not feel, as an organisation, able to provide a team of trainers or 
‘peacemakers’ as we had been invited to by the organisers, but several Friends will be participating in support roles and direct action of various sorts during the blockade. 

Glasgow Friends, meanwhile, continue to hold Meetings for worship at the gates of Faslane from time to time, and will be doing so again the day before the blockade. 

Contact the NFPB office if you would like to be involved in either event. 

Join the NFPB - Phone Co-op affinity scheme and: 
¨ Get cheaper calls 
¨ Donate to Quaker peace work whilst doing so 
¨ Get a ‘local rate’ 0845 number for your own use 
¨   Fixed-rate and low-cost internet access

For a leaflet call us on: 0845 458 3095 

Or visit:   www.nfpb.gn.apc.org/co-op.htm 

• Building a culture of peace
• Dialogue with decision makers