New programme explores links between sustainability, climate change and peace

Sunniva Taylor joined QPSW as Programme Manager of the Sustainability and Peace Programme in February 2010 and is responsible for developing plans for work over a three-year period. Here she reflects on how Friends might link sustainability and peace.

I started work fresh from a week in the far north-west of Scotland. This land of silvered lochs, snow-dusted mountains and flamingo-pink sunsets led me to reflect on what it is that gives life meaning, and on how it is we can live with integrity in the world.

I believe that these questions are central to the desire of Friends to build sustainability and peace. At the heart of both has to be an appreciation of the beauty of the world and all that inhabits it. Building peace and sustainability is about searching for ways to live in respect and celebration of that of God in all people and all life.

Our three-year Sustainability and Peace Programme aims to increase the understanding and commitment of Quakers in Britain to environmental sustainability.

It will explore our own behaviour and ways of being in the world, the role of our economic system, and the relationship between violent conflict and our failure to live sustainably in the world. It will also support Friends to respond to climate change and bear witness to sustainable living.

This is a new programme, enabled by a grant from the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust (JRCT). However, it has emerged from a long Quaker history of seeking an ordering of the world that respects the integrity of all of creation. It is a response to the increasing enthusiasm of Friends for action on sustainability and climate change.

This is clear from the large numbers of meetings who have already taken action to green their meeting houses, the support for the climate change statement agreed by Meeting for Sufferings and endorsed by Yearly Meeting, and the involvement of Friends in campaigning and advocacy on sustainability issues.

The programme will also build on much excellent work already being done within the Yearly Meeting. My first job will be to map and link these activities and explore ways in which the programme can best support and supplement them.

These are exciting times. There are almost limitless possibilities for action and it will take some time to define our direction. However, there are two areas where it is already clear QPSW will be working – supporting Quakers as individuals and meetings to live more sustainably, and speaking out with and on behalf of Friends with a confident Quaker voice on climate change. In order to do such work we will need more funding to match that received from JRCT (for more about the appeal being launched to achieve this please see page 13).

It is undeniable that these are also challenging times. Radical and deep changes are needed globally and there is a lot of work to be done. However, wonder for the glory of this world should inspire us and give us hope. To be kept updated on the sustainability and peace work and find out how you can be involved, please contact me with your name, meeting and contact details.

Contact:

Sunniva Taylor
sunnivat@quaker.org.uk
020 7663 1047