SOME OF WHAT QUAKERS DO

WORKING FOR PEACE
For three centuries Quakers have believed that war is morally wrong and have worked towards providing alternative solutions. Friends’ peace work includes working with people in positions of power in places such as Northern Ireland, Sri Lanka, the Middle East and South Africa, seeking to bring about understanding and reconciliation.	We utterly deny all outward wars and strife and fightings with outward weapons, for any end or under any pretence whatsoever.., the spirit of Christ, which leads unto all Truth, will never move us to fight and war against any man with outward weapons, neither for the kingdom of Christ, nor for the kingdoms of this world."THE HISTORIC PEACE TESTIMONY Declaration to Charles II, 1661

WORKING FOR JUSTICE

Quakers believe there can be no true peace without justice: economic, social and political. In our work we try to strengthen the moral will to build a fairer world. Through the quality of personal relationships Quaker workers try to lessen the effects of fear and ignorance and provide opportunities for solutions to be found

Peace stands on a precarious footing so long as there is unrelieved poverty and subjection... This situation demands sweeping political and economic changes."

STATEMENT FROM BRITISH FRIENDS ANNUAL MEETING, 1937

QUAKERS AND POLITICS
Experience has shown that we cannot draw a line between religious and secular affairs. Thus, Quakers work to assist leaders and decision-makers, at home and abroad, who may find their sense of moral responsibility at odds with their political duty, to help them to cope more creatively with inescapable tensions.	"...practical experience has reinforced our religious conviction that statesmen, diplomats and ordinary people will respond to that of God in each of us, provided that opportunities for genuine encounter and creative negotiation are actively sought and sustained." FROM THE QUAKER ADDRESS TO THE QUEEN, 1983

PART OF CREATION
"Quakers have long felt an obligation to work for a world more as it is meant to be... a world in which justice and love are expressed in the everyday conduct of life through sharing of resources and concern for the welfare of others, in which people are peaceful, free and healthy." FROM QUAKER EVIDENCE TO THE DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT, 1990	Quaker involvement in working for sustainable development and respect for the environment stems from the desire to seek justice both for future generations and for the rest of creation of which we are but a part.	We believe the world is in the process of making. Creation continues... This teaches us humility and the understanding that, whatever we may do, we are not going to establish a perfect, final, ideal order in a finite world." FROM FRIENDS WORLD CONFERENCE, 1937