Beccles Quaker Meeting

Posted: November 1, 2020   •   Posted in: Discussions

Can we build a better future?

Can we hope for a better world after the pandemic?

Quakers in Britain have given their support to the national Build Back Better campaign which was launched last April to galvanise a green and just recovery from the pandemic. The stated demands of the campaign are:

  • Secure the health and needs of everyone in the UK now and into the future
  • Protect and invest in our public services
  • Rebuild society with a transformative Green New Deal
  • Invest in people
  • Build solidarity and community across borders

Local discussion

In October Beccles Quakers held a Zoom discussion after our Meeting on the theme of ‘Building Back Better’ and Friends were encouraged to think about whether we could do more either individually or together as a Meeting help to ‘Build Back Better’.  We were encouraged to think of what we could do to help promote:

  • A fairer, greener economy
  • A peaceful world
  • A humane immigration and asylum system
  • A transformative justice system

What can our Meeting do?

Our Meeting has a commitment to a more sustainable approach to managing our premises.  So for example, we have installed solar panels, and recently installed secondary glazing to the windows in our Meeting room. We buy only environmentally friendly cleaning products and Fair Trade products.

We try to ensure that all our decisions are made in the spirit of our testimonies to Equality, Peace, Simplicity, Truth and Equality.  Where possible our money is invested ethically and does not support any concern that we feel damages either the environment or the peace of the world.

Every month we have a collection, and we support causes that we feel reflect our testimonies and values such as Anti-Slavery, Freedom from Torture, Campaign against the Arms Trade.  We also make donations from our Meeting to Quaker Charities such as Quaker Social Action and Glebe House.

What can individuals do?

Quakers in Britain have suggestions about what you can do to support the campaign.  This includes lobbying politicians, setting up local reading groups and joining up with campaigns spearheaded by other organisations.  Read more at: https://www.quaker.org.uk/blog/lobbying-for-build-back-better

There is always more to be done, both as individuals and as a Meeting.  What we must not do is lose hope.