Keeping up with Friends

No Way to Treat a Child
One of Canada’s closest allies is systematically mistreating children, and Canada is turning a blind eye. The United Nations reports that for a Palestinian child thought to have thrown a stone,
 
“[T]he common experience… is being aggressively awakened in the middle of the night by many armed soldiers and being forcibly brought to an interrogation centre tied and blindfolded, sleep deprived and in a state of extreme fear. Few children are informed of their right to legal counsel.” – UNICEF, Children in Israeli Military Detention: Observations and Recommendations, 2013, pp. 9-10
 
We do not support throwing stones, but no one should be subjected to this kind of treatment. That’s why CFSC has joined other groups as founding members of the No Way to Treat a Child campaign in Canada. More information and a petition are available via: http://quakerservice.ca/NoWayToTreatAChild
 
Canada 150 Statement
In the spirit of “renewed courage” and the desire to go about our lives in a faithful way, we offer you an adapted version of Friends’ Advices & Queries #11:
 
Be honest with this nation state called Canada. What unpalatable truths might we be evading? When we recognize shortcomings, do not let that discourage you. In worship together we can find the assurance of the Creator’s love and the strength to go on with renewed courage towards a future where the rights and dignity of all peoples are respected.
 
CFSC welcomes funding of CoSA
Circles of Support and Accountability (CoSA) is a community-based reintegration program that holds sex offenders accountable, while assisting with their hard work of re-entry into communities. A 5-year project evaluating CoSA found the program remarkably successful and cost-effective. We helped communicate this evaluation to Minister Ralph Goodale, who recently announced renewed funding for CoSA.
 
Local reconciliation work
In 2016 Canadian Friends found unity with a proposal to take our reconciliation work “to the next level.” This commitment involves reporting back each year about our progress. We are pleased to share the first update of actions Friends in 13 Meetings and Worship Groups are taking: http://quakerservice.ca/ReconciliationReport2017
 
Free Issa
Issa Amro is an internationally renowned human rights defender, and is principled in his philosophical and practical commitment to active nonviolence as the route to peace. CFSC members and associates have seen Issa’s work first hand and been very impressed. Now he has been tried in Israeli military court and faces major jail time. The charges brought against him appear to be attempts to crush nonviolent struggle for equality. Consider supporting Issa if led: http://freeissa.org
 
Quakers express profound concern over famine
CFSC and Canadian Yearly Meeting have written to the government of Canada about our profound concern over the famines in Yemen, South Sudan, Somalia, and Nigeria. Our letter focuses on the importance of preventing the violence that is a major cause of all of these famines. Canada can and must do more in this regard. We also lift up the positive example of one grassroots peacebuilding effort in South Sudan. The open letter is at: http://quakerservice.ca/famine