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Category: International Political Engagement

From a Green Deal to a Green Economy

International Political Engagement

In the second part of a series of contributions, Friend Kees Nieuwerth is sharing a paper on the European Green Deal. The paper is a contribution to the Conference of European Churches’ Thematic Report on the topic.

Kees is a member of the Board of the European Ecumenical Peace Movement Church and Peace, which is a partner organization of the Conference of European Churches (CEC) based in Brussels. CEC brings together 114 churches from different traditions and across Europe “for dialogue, advocacy, and joint action.”

The shared paper was written by Kees as part of the CEC working group on Economic and Ecological Justice and a Sustainable Future, which he also moderates. The CEC working group is in the process of developing an critical analysis of the European Green Deal from the churches’ perspective. This paper is therefore a contribution from the author to this work in progress which –it is hoped- will result in an document for dialogue with the European institutions and the member churches of CEC entitled ‘From a Green Deal to a Green Economy – Inspired by Green Theology.’

The author is a member of Netherlands Yearly Meeting. Read his previous contribution to the Resource Hub here.

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August 26, 2021 quakersandclimateLeave a comment

QCEA launches report on Climate, Peace and Human Rights

General Resources, International Political Engagement

In May, the Quaker Council for European Affairs launched their new report Climate, Peace & Human Rights: Are European Policies Coherent?. In the context of EU climate policies and the EU Green New Deal, this report lays out the need for an integrated approach to these three areas.

Learn more about QCEA’s work on climate justice in the full report, which can be accessed here.

July 23, 2021 quakersandclimateLeave a comment

The UN Sustainable Development Goals, Peace and the Churches

General Resources, International Political Engagement

Friend Kees Nieuwerth has recently shared a paper on The UN Sustainable Development Goals, Peace and the Churches available here. The paper offers insight into a joint meeting of German Mennonites, German Quakers and Church and Peace at the Thomashof held in 2018, reflecting on the Sustainable Development Goals in the context of just peace and issues a call for ecological and economic justice. An extract from the paper reads:

[The SDG Agenda] can only work if there is  a transformation of the dominant economic model in the direction of what the WCC calls ‘An Economy of Life for All’ for us to be able to really pursue sustainability. After all, ignoring the constraints put on us by the planetary limits is not in keeping with the Gospel option for the poor and vulnerable or the care for creation.

The author is a member of Netherlands Yearly Meeting. He is also a member of the Board of the European Ecumenical Peace Movement Church and Peace.

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April 16, 2021 quakersandclimate1 Comment

A Quaker Statement on Migration

International Political Engagement

Working together American Friends Service Committee, Britain Yearly Meeting, Friends Committee for National Legislation, Quaker Council for European Affairs and Quaker United Nations Office have developed a statement on migration drawing on Quaker foundations and work with migrants and on migration. The core of the statement says:

Rooted in our belief that there is that of the sacred in everyone, our spiritual leading to uphold the inherent value and agency of every human being, and our commitment to building a world without violence, we are heartbroken by migration policy that dehumanises some members of our human family on the basis of where they come from. We reject the notion that security for some can be achieved through means that use or result in violence and insecurity for others. We abhor the many forms of violence used in the management of migration and the effect current migration systems have in dividing our human family. 

We are committed to working for a world where dignity and rights are upheld regardless of migration status and not on the basis of citizenship or perceived deservedness.  Our faith calls us to work alone and with others for migration justice.  

Meetings, Quaker organisations and Friends’ groups or associations are encouraged to consider supporting the statement and signing on to it. For further information please email the Quaker UN Office’s Human Rights and Refugees team: Laurel Townhead ltownhead@quno.ch and Najmah Ali nali@quno.ch

February 9, 2021February 9, 2021 quakersandclimateLeave a comment

Campaign on the Human Right to a Healthy Environment

International Political Engagement

The month of September saw significant strides being taken within the area of climate change and human rights.

A global call for the United Nations to recognise the right to a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment was launched at the start of the month. The call came ahead of the 45th Session of the Human Rights Council. The Council is an intergovernmental body within the UN which meets three times per year to promote education, follow up on commitments and prevent human rights violations. FWCC, QEW and AFSC added their signatures to those of over 900 civil society, NGO and Indigenous Peoples’ organisations worldwide.

Read the Global Call for the Recognition of the Right to a Healthy Environment.
Read the list of signatories to the Global Call here.

The 45th Session also saw the adoption of a Resolution on Child Rights and the Environment, which urges states to consider recognizing a right to healthy environment in their national legislation. The resolution is a critical step forward on the recognition of a global right and comes at the same time as the opening of consultations on this topic by the core group of States responsible for the annual resolution on human rights and the environment.

October 27, 2020October 28, 2020 quakersandclimateLeave a comment
Building a Bridge to COP26

Building a Bridge to COP26

General Resources, International Political Engagement

Friend Frank Granshaw was recently in touch to share his work as part of the organizing group for the PDX Climate Bridge ahead of what would have been COP26 in November. The group has put together a virtual “Bridge Kit” to offer a guide to those looking to organize a local bridge to COP26. The PDX Climate Bridge sits under the umbrella of the Greater Portland Sustainability Education Network, delivering education for sustainable development to local communities.

Frank is a Quaker from the Pacific Northwestern United States.  A retired geology instructor, he now teaches climate science for nonscientists at a local university and is heavily involved in climate and sustainability education and advocacy through several secular and religious organizations.  He writes:

During a recent visit to the Oregon state capital I was asked during an elevator conversation with a capital staffer what I was doing there.  I explained that I was there with a group talking with legislators about supporting climate related legislation.  When asked about what motivated me to do so, I responded that I was originally trained as a glacial geologist and that I’m a grandparent.  At which point she smiled and said that explains it.

As part of his teaching on the general studies course at Portland State University, Frank has published a Climate Toolkit: A Resource Manual for Climate Science and Action. It offers an accessible guide to climate science and action, and is written in such a way that it can be used in many different settings, including study groups, churches, community groups, or workplaces.

October 26, 2020October 29, 2020 quakersandclimateLeave a comment

Young Friends Worldwide for Climate Action, Peace, and Justice

International Political Engagement, Spiritual, Lifestyle and Community

FWCC, in collaboration with young Friends from around the world and across the Quaker branches, are hosting a series of 5 online workshops over 10 weeks. These sessions will be run by young Quakers for young Quakers through Friends World Committee for Consultation on 5 Saturdays between August 29 and October 24, 2020.

Each session will explore climate action, peace, and justice in relation to one of the five testimonies: Truth, Equality, Peace, Simplicity and Community. There will be a chance to hear from 2 – 3 speakers (who will be Young Friends from across the FWCC sections), to talk in zoom breakout rooms exploring the session’s theme, and a chance to gather and reflect on our discussions together.

July 24, 2020 quakersandclimateLeave a comment

UN Secretary General Earth Day Message

International Political Engagement

The United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres delivered a powerful message where he shared that “The current crisis is an unprecedented wake-up call. We need to turn the recovery into a real opportunity to do things right for the future.” He continued by proposing a six-step plan for action. On the same link you will also find the message of General Assembly President Tijjani Muhammad-Bande who wrote that “We will only preserve Mother Earth through a paradigm shift from a human-centric society to an Earth-centred global ecosystem.”

April 27, 2020 quakersandclimateLeave a comment

Interfaith Statement on Postponement of COP26

International Political Engagement

A group of interfaith groups working on the international climate negotiations, which this year were supposed to take place in Glasgow, have released a statement regarding its cancellation, as well as speaking on COVID-19 and climate change. The Quaker United Nations Office helped write the statement, and Friends World Committee on Consultation is a signatory.

interfaith-cop26-postponement-statementfinalDownload
April 22, 2020April 22, 2020 quakersandclimate1 Comment

QUNO Contributions at the 52nd Meeting of the IPCC

International Political Engagement

QUNO, through the Friends World Committee for Consultation (FWCC), is the only faith-based observer at the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).  At the latest IPCC Meeting, held from 24-28 February in Paris, countries negotiated an outline for the Synthesis Report of the upcoming 6th Assessment Report, to be released in 2022. 

QUNO’s Representative for Climate Change, Lindsey Fielder Cook, made four interventions during the week, which can be found here, alongside additional information. These related to the addition of (or protecting existing) language on the essential role of civil society/public participation, rights-based approaches to climate action, non-economic losses and loss and damage when calculating ‘costs’, and ‘behavior change’ to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to locked in climate change. 

March 13, 2020 quakersandclimate1 Comment

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