Borys Wrzesnewskyj, Member of Parliament for Etobicoke Centre, recently introduced a Private Members’ Motion (M-163) seeking to establish an Ambassador for Women, Peace, and Security. This concept of women, peace, and security has been advanced by the international community since 2000, but it seems Canada is starting to take it more seriously, with a newly…
CFSC proudly worked with partners in the Coalition for the Human Rights of Indigenous Peoples to host a symposium, Implementing the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: Priorities, Partnerships and Next Steps, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the United Nations’ adoption of the Declaration. Our Symposium took place at the University of…
CFSC members continue to visit cities across Canada to lead workshops on penal abolition, and to strengthen our connections with grassroots Quaker justice work. In October 2017, Dick Cotterill (Halifax Meeting) and David Summerhays (Montreal Meeting) visited Sackville, New Brunswick and Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia. In January 2018, Joy Morris (Calgary Meeting) visited Edmonton, Alberta.…
Industrial technologies have extended across the earth and provided benefits like food, clean water, sanitation, and housing to billions of people. However, with increased consumption of resources and the social changes that technologies and capital-driven economies have brought, they have also disrupted ecosystems and human communities.1 In fact, the global, ecological impact of humans and…
I’ve learned a great deal from Friends about discussing difficult issues and searching together for unity in the Spirit. Without having to agree, we can find ways to hold a broader perspective and come to experience a deeper truth. Every area that CFSC works on is controversial, and many will passionately disagree with our views…
I wake up. It’s 4:30 AM. At first I notice the silence. It’s quiet now. Earlier in the night it was noisy. The jail cells were purposely constructed with rounded ceilings so that sound would travel. This lets the guards hear what goes on in the cells. I assume that is why I could hear…
Synthetic Biology Since the last issue of Quaker Concern we’ve been busy: releasing a new position paper on synthetic biology to grapple with the tough questions, working with partners to host a successful international conference, bringing together synthetic biology critics, enthusiasts, and many just trying to understand the far-reaching implications, and releasing news updates full…