“In the absence of your voices, you are going to see the same array of voices that got us into the Iraq war, leading to a situation in which we forgo a historic opportunity and we are back on the path of potential military conflict." President Barak Obama. 2015
Category: AFSC
Signs and Witness
Another day a young Black man stopped, got out of his car, and walked up to us. I wasn’t sure how that was going to go. But he said, “a white man holding a Black Lives Matter sign”. I said, “yes, a white man holding a Black Lives Matter Sign”
Quakers Silent Witness for Peace
Quaker public witness has stood in opposition to cruel and authoritarian actions in our country before. It is time for us to show this love in action again. American Friends Service Committee (AFSC)
Peace
Reading Charles Eisenstein's recent post 'Peace' this morning has caused me to re-examine my life's work for peace.
The center cannot hold
At the collective level, a loss of sensemaking erodes shared cultural and value structures and renders us incapable of generating the collective wisdom necessary to solve complex societal problems like those described above. When that happens the centre cannot hold. James Allen
Stories of faith in action
I've been thinking a lot about a passage from Scot Miller's book, Gospel of the Absurd. He writes that intentional non-violent responses to specific situations are not usual "NOT because they are too difficult an ethic to maintain, but because we do not live in communities that seek out opportunities to embody such faith on a larger scale."
Israel Iran 6.14.2025
It is difficult to keep up with the myriad developments stemming from Israel's attack on Iran. Included is a new feature called the AI Advisor that allows you to ask questions about the war.
When Iran Diplomacy Worked
As a Quaker, a pacifist, and a human being, I am profoundly saddened by the Israeli attacks on Iran. This moment is deeply personal to me. In 2015, I worked closely with others to advocate for the successful approval of the Iran Nuclear Deal. I believe it is important to tell this story now, as a cautionary tale for future peace and justice work. To try to learn from history's mistakes, such as exiting the Iran nuclear deal. To consider this lesson in the future and deepen our commitment to work for peace.
Edge of Erasure
According to the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), the policies and violence Israel is perpetrating on people across the territories are "systematic and risk the erasure of Palestinians."
Global March to Gaza
What makes this march particularly inspiring is its stance. Organisers have emphasised that it is not about taking sides but about addressing a humanitarian catastrophe. Participants are funding their own travel, with no fundraising involved, reflecting a pure intent to serve those in need. This citizen-led approach contrasts with stalled diplomatic efforts, offering a fresh avenue to pressure governments and international bodies to act. Mooman Muhammad