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AFSC - South East New England (SENE)

The American Friends Service Committee is a Quaker-based peace and justice organization that was begun in 1917. AFSC’s work is based on the Quaker belief in the innate dignity of every person and faith in the power of love to overcome violence and injustice. The South East New England Program serves Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts (north from Providence to Worcester and east through the Cape, including Fall River and New Bedford). We are here to help lift up voices for peace and justice in the region, to help groups and individuals in the region learn about each other’s efforts, and to provide resources for our work together.

Our work falls into two general areas – Peace Building and Community Justice.  Peace Building includes ending  the war in Iraq and preventing war with Iran; education and dialogue about Israeli/Palestinian issues, with a focus on changing US policy on the area; and Youth and Militarism. Community Justice includes immigration, economic justice, and Native New Englanders.

Check out our winter newsletter for information on recent activities> (PDF)

Get a calendar of events.

The SENE Program Coordinator recently returned from an AFSC/Interfaith peacebuilders delegation to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. There is much work to be done on US policies relating to this troubled area. Please help arrange for her to speak in your community.

AFSC-SENE is co-sponsor of the art exhibit "Experiencing the War in Iraq". Follow this link to the website: http://reconnectus.org/ The echibit has now moved to The Narrows Center for the Arts at 16 Anawan St, Fall River, MA.

Breslin Fine Art Gallery announces "We Can Create Life Without War," an exhibition of artwork created by Corita Kent (1918 - 1986), who became one of America's most popular graphic artists in the 1960s and '70s. Exhibition dates are April 12 through May 10; the exhibit is presented in collaboration with Inspired Images, a non-profit foundation created to share Corita's vision with new generations. The Breslin Fine Art Gallery is located at 187 Main Street, East Greenwich, RI http://www.breslinfinearts.com/187Main-Events.htm

See a slideshow about our work.

Please join us in thinking, speaking, praying,
voting and acting for peace and justice.

Announcements • Making the Cost of War Clear
Weekly Vigil at Senator Reed's Office • Fair Trade Palestinian Olive Oil Available

Announcements

Every Friday at 4:30pm, vigil at Senator Reed’s Providence office in the Federal Building at the corner of Exchange St and Kennedy Plaza. The focus of these vigils is to call upon the Senator to stop funding this war, bring all the troops home now, prevent a war on Iran and adequately fund human needs in the US and Iraq.

Making the Cost of War Clear

Cost of War display. Photo: Martha Yager

In addition to the dead and injured of both countries, and the thousands with wounded spirits and minds, there are billions and billions of dollars being spent while thousands of people remain homeless, schools fall into dilapidation, children go hungry, and millions remain without health care. To make the billions and trillions more comprehensible, we asked the question "If we had the money from just one day of this war, what could we do instead?" The Cost Of War display responds to this question. It is intended to provoke conversation within our communities. AFSC SENE will have the display through August and again for the month of October. Please contact us to make arrangements if you are interested in exhibiting the display in your community, in a public square or park, during a peace vigil, or at any type of public event or gathering.

Logistics: The display requires about 45 minutes to set up. The poles, fully extended, stand about 12 feet tall.  Each stand needs about 3 feet in width. There are 10 banners hung on 5 stands. Enough space should be allowed between stands so that flags can be viewed from both sides.  Not compatible with significant wind! The bases are weighted and can handle gentle breezes. It is important that someone remain with the exhibit at all times. Along with the banners, AFSC offers brochures with additional Cost of War information that may be handed out. Let us know if you would like the exhibit to come to your town!

Cost of the War in Iraq

From the National Priorities Project, costofwar.com.

Weekly Vigil at Senator Jack Reed's Office: Fridays, 4:30-5:30 pm

Reed's Office. Photo: The Providence Plan.

AFSC SENE and the local organizing group of the Declaration of Peace campaign has been holding a weekly vigil since May 25, 2007 in front of the Providence office of Senator Jack Reed. Reed is the only member of Congress from Rhode Island who voted in late May to continue funding the war in Iraq. Read a report from the May 25 vigil. Each week will highlight new information about the war. During the vigil, a delegation will visit Reed's office to lobby about the nine-point Comprehensive Peace Plan.

The vigil will take place every Friday from 4:30 to 5:30 pm at the Federal Building and Courthouse at the corner of Exchange St and Kennedy Plaza, Providence RI 02903 (click here for a map).

Fair Trade Palestinian Olive Oil Available

"Zatoun" Olive Oil

Through the Middle East Peace Education Program (MEPEP) in Atlanta, AFSC is selling fair trade olive oil from Palestine's West Bank, to help support Palestinian farmers in their peaceful daily struggles of survival and resistance to the separation wall and occupation. A donation of $20 is suggested for a 750 ml bottle of olive oil. The oil is available from the AFSC SENE office, please call for details.

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