Acting in Faith

Displaced people from Masisi who were in the Mugunga IDP camp near Goma

Displaced people from Masisi who were in the Mugunga IDP camp near Goma

Note: I've been receiving regular updates on Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo from David Zarembka, Coordinator of AGLI of the Friends Peace Teams, for the past few weeks. They are insightful, sensitive and heart-breaking. I invited David to write a reflective post about the situation there, and he sent me this, powerful words to consider carefully, and to remember that we are connected via our Quaker brothers and sisters to the situation there.

San Francsico Friends Meeting/AFSC Peace Vigil

San Francsico Friends Meeting/AFSC Peace Vigil

by Lucy Duncan

“Let them remember that there is a meaning beyond absurdity. Let them be sure that every little deed counts, that every word has power, and that we can do — every one — our share to redeem the world despite all [the] absurdities and all the frustrations and all [the] disappointments. And above all, remember that the meaning of life is to live life as if it were a work of art.” – Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel

David Niyonzima

David Niyonzima

by Madeline Schaefer

Steve Cary

Stephen Cary, peace activist and longtime AFSC staff member.

Regularly we will be posting a piece inspired by the rich history and archives of AFSC. The below post is the first in the series. - Lucy

by Madeline Schaefer

Gaza Attack Generic Image

The below statement was issued by Britain Yearly Meeting on Nov. 18, 2012 in response to the violence in Gaza. Other Quaker organizations are invited to add their names to the statement and so far AFSC, QUNO, QCEA, New York Yearly Meeting and the Canadian Friends Service Committee have signed on.

Gaza youth working with AFSC

Gaza youth working with AFSC

Patricia Sellick, AFSC Regional Director for the Middle East, shares her experience working with AFSC’s Gaza team and the young people with whom they work.  She wrote this on November 18, 2012.          - Lucy

by Patricia Sellick

Jerusalem Old City

The below letter was sent to Congress on October 5th from Church Leaders including Shan Cretin, AFSC's General Secretary, as a call to make US military aid to Israel conditional on Israel's "compliance with applicable U.S. laws and policies” regarding human rights. There have been many responses to this letter, both in support and critical. I will post some of the relevant links here.               In Peace, Lucy

QUNO Staff in Burundi

QUNO Staff in Burundi

by Lucy Duncan

Thanks to Andrew Tomlinson, Director of QUNO-NY, Olivia Ensign, QUNO Program Assistant, and Theresa Kirby for assistance composing this post.

Security was tight in New York City as delegates gathered for the high-level meetings that marked the opening of the 67^th session of the United Nations General Assembly in late September. There were snipers on the roof of the UN buildings, and black limousines with flashing lights crowded the streets nearby as they lined up to get through the NYPD roadblocks.