Welcome

Living Witness is a community that welcomes Friends who are actively discerning how we might respond to the unfolding climate and ecological crises, drawing on our Quaker values and practices. Central to this is nurturing a deepening spiritual exploration among Quakers and others, and supporting each other in the action and witness that may grow from this.

We hold online Quaker meetings focused on the Earth every Monday and Friday morning, and every Wednesday evening. See more information here

There are more events farther ahead on the events page.

To receive notices about Living Witness events and next issues of the EarthQuaker e-newsletter, please sign up to our email list.

News updates (More Pages tab) and Opportunities for Action available through top menu tabs.

Faith Leaders urge UK Government to show leadership on the climate 

See the full article on Quakers in Britain website: https://www.quaker.org.uk/news-and-events/news/show-leadership-on-the-climate-faith-leaders-urge-foreign-secretary-david-lammy

United Nations Biodiversity Conference
COP 16 / CP-MOP 11 / NP-MOP 5
Cali, Colombia, 21 October - 1 November 2024

At COP 16, governments will be tasked with reviewing the state of implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Parties to the Convention are expected to show the alignment of their National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) with the Framework. COP 16 will further develop the monitoring framework and advance resource mobilization for the Global Biodiversity Framework. (text taken from UN webpage)

To find out more about the Conference go to https://www.cbd.int/conferences/2024

 

Activist Alphabet Book Launch and Exhibition

1 November at 2-3:30pm : Quaker centre, Friends House, Euston 

An exhibition of 26 prints and poems motivated by the climate crisis kicks off this November exhibition with a talk in the Bookshop of Friends House with author Christine Felce and invited speakers. No registration needed.

A Quaker Approach to Capitalism and Climate Justice

Live Zoom sessions every Tuesday from 19:00 - 21:00

12 - 26 November

Tutors: Paul Hodgkin and Gill Westcott

Quakers want an economic system that has equality, justice and sustainability at its heart. Does our faithfulness require new discernment about capitalism? If so, what possibilities for change can inform our witness as individuals and as a Society.

https://www.woodbrooke.org.uk/courses/a-quaker-approach-to-capitalism-and-climate-justice/

 

The Big Picture : COP 29 - Azerbaijan : 11 - 24 November

Areas likely to be discussed at the COP are:

Climate finance - the new finance goal, known as the new collective quantified goal (NCQG), is due to be adopted at COP29, building on the $100 billion per year committed in 2009 and extended to 2025

Updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) – climate action plans to cut emissions and adapt to climate impacts. The NDCs are due to be updated between November 2024 and February 2025

Aligning biodiversity and climate 

Agreeing the specifics of the Global Goal on Adaptation.

Information from the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership website

Saturday, 7 December - Creatively Visioning the Future - A Winter Retreat

Live Zoom: 10:15 - 16:00

Tutor/Speaker: Linda Murgatroyd

This creative participatory retreat offers a space to explore what a future based on love and truth might bring. Acknowledging that governments and corporations aren’t acting swift enough, how can we inspire positive actions and re-envision society?

https://www.woodbrooke.org.uk/courses/creatively-visioning-the-future-a-winter-retreat/

Quaker Arts Network have now published a Loving Earth arts calendar for 2025. This is 30×30 cm with 28 pages featuring a beautiful Loving Earth panel for each month.

Great as gifts for friends and family, encouraging engagement with the climate and environment crises, in a loving way.

It retails at  £12 and is available from the Quaker Bookshop. For direct ordering, discounts for Local Meeting bulk orders and details on purchase and payment methods please use the link below:

https://lovingearth-project.uk/shop/

 

A Quaker Take podcast | Quakers in Britain 

A podcast from Quakers in Britain and Woodbrooke Quaker Study Centre featuring people talking about ideas, faith and activism. A Quaker Take explores a range of issues in Britain and internationally, including climate change and climate activism.

Relaunched as A Quaker Take, find new episodes or listen to previous episodes of Q:Witness.

https://www.quaker.org.uk/our-work/podcast

NEW COURSES relating to the Climate Crisis available late summer/autumn through Woodbrooke Study Centre, online and residential

https://www.woodbrooke.org.uk/our-courses/?_sft_course_category=climate-crisis

 

Quaker Gardens - Eva Koch Scholarship presentation

by Caroline Chandler - watch on Youtube -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFyZsqtI468

 

 

 

Revising the Book of Discipline - Unity of Creation

At Yearly Meeting in 2018 Paul Parker, recording clerk, welcomed the decision to revise Quaker Faith & Practice: 

"Once in a generation, Quakers decide to take a long hard look at our faith, what it means to us, and what we can say about it. Today's bold decision to revise Quaker faith & practice means it's time for us to do that again. It's exciting. We want to hear the insights of younger and more diverse people, and set out how we are a faith fit for the 21st century. I'm looking forward to it."

Suggestions for new content are welcome and invited. If you have a suggestion to make for inclusion in the Unity of Creation chapter, please send by email to qfp@quaker.org.uk, or by writing to the Revision Committee, Friends House, Euston Road, London NW1 2BJ.

Photo by Jonny Gios on Unsplash

QUAKER EARTHCARE WITNESS

Quaker Earthcare Witness is a network of Quakers inspiring Spirit-led action for ecological integrity and environmental justice in the USA. You can visit their website https://quakerearthcare.org/ 

With the opportunity to sign up for their newsletter 'Befriending Creation'  and keep up-to-date on the work of Quaker Friends across the Atlantic.

 

CLIMATE JUSTICE GATHERING - November 2023

The Gathering was held over the weekend of 17-19 November bringing together Quakers from across the UK in a blended meeting of in-person Friends and Friends online. 

The main themes rising to the top by the close of this shared time together were: 

  • community and the importance of connectedness, supporting one another
  • indigenous values - learning about them and how they might be applied to our own lives
  • capitalism - what should replace it and the importance of using our imaginations to navigate our way to a new social system

 

Upcoming Events

Wed 6 November

Wednesday Epilogue

20:30-21:00

Venue: Zoom

Our weekly evening epilogue

Please contact us for the Zoom link.

Thu 7 November

Natural Inspiration : Elemental Qualities for Positive Change

18:30-20:30

Venue: Zoom

Fri 8 November

Friday Worship

07:00-07:45

Venue: Zoom

Our weekly open worship session, including some prepared ministry and followed by a brief period of 'afterwords.'

Please contact us for the Zoom meeting URL.