by Nicola Grove.

“Whilst the horrors we are witnessing serve to dry my tears as though in frozen repulsion, it is the little kindnesses that enable them to flow…” Heather Stroud, CAMPAIN.

JUST… One thing you can do this week for peace and justice in Palestine

Every Monday 19.30 GMT

Witness… a minute silence remembering ONE event or person 

Learn… what’s going on – UPDATE

Act…. ONE letter or petition to write or sign: 

Share…what is happening in your area that counts as a small WIN

Sign up here and you will then receive an email link from Nicola: https://www.campain.org/post/join-just-campain-s-weekly-action-for-peace-and-truth-in-the-middle-east

We meet for no longer than an hour. Don’t worry if you can’t get to the meetings, or can only come for a short time – actions and links are circulated each week to everyone who signs up.

For over a year now I have been watching in disbelief and horror as the plan to eradicate Palestine from the map proceeds unhindered and unopposed by the major powers of the US, Europe, and of course the UK. 

During these months, a source of strength and solace has been the weekly Action Hour run by the American Friends Service Committee https://afsc.org/actionhour

Speaking not only to Quakers, the premise is simple – to update and inform ourselves and to lobby our elected representatives. Why, I wondered, was there nothing like this for British Quakers? I have corresponded with Oliver Robertson, who after talking to colleagues, responded that there was no interest in taking this action.

I know from personal experience that many Quakers go on national and local demonstrations, write letters, hold vigils, run fundraising events. I am also aware of a highly active and engaged group of Ecumenical Accompaniers; however, unless you are one of that community, you have no way of finding out what they are doing. There doesn’t seem to be any organised way of connecting and learning from each other about constructive, creative ways to use our commitment and our sorrow. 

The deeply considered minute from Meeting for Sufferings (25/10/24) calling for an emphasis on speaking truth to power, naming and owning the terms apartheid and potential  genocide, feels like a radical turning point.

I have been developing a concern for some time, to create an online space for connection in the UK.

JUST…works under the auspices of CAMPAIN (https://www.campain.org)  a non-partisan organisation that counters misinformation and misrepresentation in the public domain and the media. CAMPAIN has been active in working to persuade the Church of England to show moral leadership on war in the Middle East. 

In our first meeting we upheld Mayazouna Damoo, one of many children with horrific injuries denied exit visas for medical treatment. Thankfully she has been permitted to leave (we can’t pretend we had any influence here…) but others are still waiting and in need of support. https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2024/nov/21/mazyouna-damoo-girl-face-ripped-off-israeli-missile-permit-evacuation-gaza-medical-treatment

We reflected on events in Amsterdam, and the complete reversal of the truth about the video footage of Maccabi fans on the rampage, but  used to portray them as victims rather than perpetrators of violence; our action was to support the complaint against Sky News from the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign  https://palestinecampaign.eaction.online/ofcom-sky-news-complaint

Richard Sanders’ film about these events can be seen here https://www.doubledown.news/watch/2024/november/14/exposed-what-really-happened-in-amsterdam

JUST… actions  focus on ceasefire and peace in the regions of Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon and Israel. We call for the return of all captives. We stand in solidarity with those who are doing their best to bring the war to an end.

Nicola Grove, Frome Local Meeting