News Release - Quakers express support for Occupy London

17 November 2011
 
 As the City of London Corporation gives notice to the Occupy London Stock Exchange activists to clear the "public highway" by 6pm this evening, Quakers in Britain have made a public declaration of support for the protesters.
 
A statement from Quakers in Britain says that they share the concern for global economic justice and sustainability expressed by the Occupy movement. And speaking from their long tradition of nonviolence, praise the peaceful nature of the Occupy movement.
 
The Quaker statement, signed by Paul Parker, Recording Clerk, goes on to say: “Quakers in Britain agree with the statement of Occupy London Stock Exchange that our current economic system is unsustainable. It is undemocratic and unjust. We need alternatives.  We, too, ‘want structural change towards authentic global equality. The world’s resources must go towards caring for people and the planet, not the military, corporate profits or the rich,’ (as in Occupy LSX initial statement).
 
“The idea that another world is possible is crucial for us too,” the Quaker statement continues.  “We cannot accept the injustice and destructiveness of our economic system as it is. At the annual meeting of Quakers in Britain in August 2011 we wrote: ‘We need to ask the question whether this system is so broken that we must urgently work with others of faith and good will to put in its place a different system in which our testimonies can flourish’.   We support the process initiated by the Occupy movement to create a path towards a different future, and to develop it democratically.”
 
The statement also says that Quakers greatly value the movement’s peaceful quality.  “We pray that this can be actively supported by all, including the civil and ecclesiastical authorities who have the difficult task of maintaining simultaneously both public order and the right of peaceful protest.”
ends
 
The full text of the statement reads:
“Quakers in Britain share the concern for global economic justice and sustainability expressed by the Occupy movement.  We agree with the statement of Occupy London Stock Exchange that our current economic system is unsustainable. It is undemocratic and unjust. We need alternatives.  We, too, “want structural change towards authentic global equality. The world’s resources must go towards caring for people and the planet, not the military, corporate profits or the rich,” (as stated in Occupy LSX initial statement). We are grateful to the various Occupy groups for raising these issues so passionately and respond to the deep spiritual significance that we recognise in the movement.
 
“Those of us who have visited have been welcomed, and found the Occupy sites an exceptional learning experience.  We honour the values and positive ways of working within Occupy communities: without hierarchy, based on care for others, open to the contributions of all and searching for the truth.  These are in harmony with our Quaker practice and business methods.
 
“The idea that another world is possible is crucial for us too.  We cannot accept the injustice and destructiveness of our economic system as it is. At the annual meeting of Quakers in Britain in August 2011 we wrote: “We need to ask the question whether this system is so broken that we must urgently work with others of faith and good will to put in its place a different system in which our testimonies can flourish”.   We support the process initiated by the Occupy movement to create a path towards a different future, and to develop it democratically.
 
“We hope that individual Quakers will continue to provide support, both moral and practical, to the movement.  We greatly value its peaceful quality and we pray that this can be actively supported by all, including the civil and ecclesiastical authorities who have the difficult task of maintaining simultaneously both public order and the right of peaceful protest.”
Signed Paul Parker, Recording Clerk for Quakers in Britain
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Notes to editor:

• Quakers are known formally as the Religious Society of Friends.
• Around 23,000 people attend nearly 475 Quaker meetings for worship in Britain. Their commitment to equality, justice, peace, simplicity and truth challenges them to seek positive social and legislative change. Quakers refer to this commitment as testimonies.
• In September Quakers held a conference Economic Justice and Sustainable Global Society saying that we live in a world where people and society are geared to supporting economic systems. Instead Quakers want to turn this around and build fair economic systems to support people. 
• Occupy LSX initial statement here http://occupylsx.org/?page_id=575 includes this: “We want structural change towards authentic global equality. The world’s resources must go towards caring for people and the planet, not the military, corporate profits or the rich.”
• More information at http://www.quaker.org.uk/economic-justice   

Media Information
Anne van Staveren
0207 663 1048
07958 009703
annev@quaker.org.uk
www.quaker.org.uk