From Winter 2018

Indigenous rights legislation was a key topic of a 2017 symposium in Quebec

Advancing Legislation on the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

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…

Children walk down train tracks with the words "Friends on the Move"

Friends on the Move

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.…

Quaker perspectives on synthetic biology, biodiversity, technology, and mass extinction

A Quaker Perspective: Technology, Synthetic Biology, and Extinction

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…

Detaining Dreams - No Way to Treat a Child

No Way to Treat a Child

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…

Quakers at the National Restorative Justice Symposium 2017

The National Restorative Justice Symposium

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…

Keeping up with Friends

Keeping up with Friends

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…