Peace Campaigning
Did you know that the UK spends more money on the military than any other country apart from the United States and is one of the largest exporters of arms? Quaker Peace & Social Witness (QPSW) campaigns to challenge militarism and build the conditions of peace.
The problem of militarism
The world now spends over $1400 billion every year on the military. Every year, a new record is set.
Around the world, 2,000 times more is spent on defence and the military than on conflict prevention.
Less than half of this could:
- Stop runaway climate change - less than a third of global military expenditure
- Meet the entire international Millennium Development Goals for reducing global poverty - less than 4% of global military expenditure
Quakers and peace
Central to Quaker faith and practice is a commitment to peace and nonviolence, which we call our peace testimony. It means striving for a culture of peace with justice at all levels of society and we believe that this is an imperative of faithful living today. QPSW’s Peace Campaigning and Networking carries this work forward in four ways:
- Promoting a deeper and wider understanding of the Quaker peace testimony;
- Campaigning for disarmament and against militarism, and advocating a peacebuilding approach to security;
- Supporting and building the British peace movement and churches’ commitment to peace;
- Leading the Quaker response to international military crises.
Work with others
We do most of our peace campaigning in partnership with other groups, believing that collaboration is an essential part of peacebuilding work. We also play a facilitating and supportive role to other groups where we can.
We work with peace organisations and activists to build the peace movement, with other churches to develop ecumenical thinking on peace, and with other Christian peace organisations to raise the profile of peace issues among the Churches in general.
“QPSW representation on the WMD Awareness Programme has been invaluable and acts often as a moral compass… QPSW’s representative is such a source of inspiration and innovation for the programme and we owe a great deal to both her and QPSW for their continuing support.”
Carol Naughton, Coordinator, WMD Awareness Programme, 2009
Disarmament
By working with Quakers, the public and other peace campaigning groups, and communicating with civil servants and Parliament, QPSW promotes the view that global peace and security is achievable by tackling the systemic causes of violence and building the conditions of peace. Projects we have focused on in recent years:
- Sustainable security - promoting the long-term resolution of insecurity and conflict by tackling its root causes.
- A series of meetings with Government officials to promote a peacebuilding approach to security policy.
- Nuclear disarmament and the campaign to abolish nuclear weapons in the UK and worldwide.
In particular a joint QPSW-BASIC (British American Security Information Council) initiative ‘Dialogue for a Nuclear Weapon-free World’, which aims to facilitate dialogue between Quakers and the ministers, diplomats and government officials making UK nuclear weapons policy.
Responding to crises
It is important for us to anticipate and respond to international military crises, such as the wars over Afghanistan and Iraq, in a way that supports our programme of long-term work tackling militarism and promoting sustainable peace and security. At the heart of our crisis-response work is support for peace action at a local level. We support the Quaker presence on national demonstrations and occasionally make national statements to Parliamentarians, Government and the media.
“This news release is a good initiative, well expressed”
Response to the news release ‘Quakers call for Unarmed Forces Day’, sent on the occasion of Armed Forces Day, June 2009
Get involved
Subscribe to the free newsletter - Disarm for Peace - produced in paper and electronic format three times per year.
Join the Peace Exchange email list to keep up-to-date with new opportunities for learning and action.
Use our campaigning and awareness-raising resources in your Meeting House and local community.
Invite staff to speak to your meeting or peace group
Support this work with a donation
Contact
QPSW Peace & Disarmament Programme
QPSW, Friends House, 173 Euston Road, London NW1 2BJ
020 7663 1067
Quaker Peace & Social Witness works with, and on behalf of, the Religious Society of Friends in Britain to translate our faith into action. As Quakers we are impelled by our faith to make our lives an active witness for peace and justice. Our historic testimonies to equality, justice, peace, simplicity and truth challenge us to alleviate suffering and seek positive social change.
This work is overseen by QPSW’s Peace Campaigning and Networking Group that sets priorities and determines policy for this work.
June 2009