Nonviolence

Stemming from Quakers' challenge to answer 'that of God' in every person, QPSW is committed to working for peace and justice through nonviolent social change.

Nonviolence challenges war, violence and injustice by focusing on the root causes of oppressive use of power, fear and separation. It does not seek to evade conflict, but instead creates alternative approaches to enable conflict to be waged creatively and without harm.

The Quaker commitment to nonviolence and the vision that it represents is known as the 'Quaker peace testimony'.

Making Waves - Summer 2010

Turning The Tide

Turning The Tide (TTT) works with Quakers and nonviolent activist groups to advance the understanding of active nonviolence and its use for positive social change.

The resources and experience of TTT and its volunteer Resource People (RPs) are offered through training workshops, consultations and publications, which are freely available to groups and individuals. They include training on nonviolent strategies, direct action, consensus decision-making and other tools and skills for groups wishing to challenge power-abuse and create constructive and just power relations.

TTT has worked with a range of groups, including G8 protesters, Stop the War groups, Trident Ploughshares, Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme for Palestine and Israel, Iona Community, People & Planet, Peace Brigades International and local peace and justice groups.

More information can be found on the Turning The Tide factsheet and the Turning The Tide website: http://www.turning-the-tide.org/ [offsite link]

Ecumenical peace work

We are committed to working with other church groups on our shared concern for peace with justice. Through the Network of Christian Peace Organisations (NCPO), we are able to work with over 20 other like-minded organisations such as the Fellowship of Reconciliation and Pax Christi.

Ecumenical projects include an exhibition display about peace from a Christian perspective, and the 'Peace Zone' at the annual Greenbelt Christian Arts Festival. All of these activities help us to raise the profile of peace and peace issues among the churches. 

For more information about NCPO, visit http://www.ncpo.org.uk/ [offsite link]

Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI)

We also run the EAPPI in collaboration with several churches and church-related organisations in Britain and Ireland and in many other countries and with the World Council of Churches. QPSW is the implementing partner for the EAPPI in Britain and Ireland. The EAPPI recruits volunteers to accompany Palestinians and Israelis in their nonviolent actions and concerted advocacy efforts to end the occupation. These volunteers (Ecumenical Accompaniers) offer protection through nonviolent presence and stand in solidarity with all Palestinians and Israelis struggling nonviolently against the occupation.

There is more information on the Israel-Palestine web pages. 

Peace resources