Quaker Peace & Justice Centre
18th-24th June 2018 is Refugee Week! As part of our theme Speak, Listen, Change, this article explores some of the mental health issues faced by refugees and asylum seekers. People seeking sanctuary have often fled traumatic circumstances at home, such as war, torture or loss of loved ones. They may have undergone a difficult and […]
Image: Institute for Economics & Peace. The Institute for Economics and Peace have published their 2018 Global Peace Index. The annual report, which measures peace in 163 countries using 23 indicators, shows a gradual decline in peace over 2017-18, but the detailled picture is more complicated with improvements in some aspects of epace and deteriorations […]
Our theme Speak – Listen – Change is all about having positive conversations about mental health: by speaking openly about mental health we can challenge stigma; by listening deeply to other’s experiences we can create a supportive environment. Being open to mental health doesn’t have to be awkward! Being there for someone can make a […]
Image: End Child Poverty‘s map of child poverty levels in the UK. Our current theme Think Global, Act Local, Get Equal is all about challenging inequality, and making our economy work for everyone. This week has given us a stark reminder of how pervasive inequality is: even in a prosperous city like Birmingham. On Thursday, […]
We’re pleased to announce that white poppies are on sale at the Hub (suggested donation £1) in the run-up to Armistice Day & Rememberance Sunday. Pop in to get yours! But what are white poppies, and why do people wear them? White poppies are produced by the Peace Pledge Union, who state that: “The White […]
Next week, London will be hosting one of the worlds biggest arms fairs, DSEI, with repressive regimes and weapons manufacturers coming together to do business. All this week, whilst the guns, tanks and rocket launchers arrive ready for display, non-violent protesters have been taking a stand to say Stop the Arms Fair. On Tuesday (5th […]
Photo: Stop the Arms Fair. From now through till mid-October, Peace Hub’s theme is Stop Arming Repression: let’s put human rights first. In 2016, the UK exported arms to over 100 countries, including many that are repressing their own people and/or engaging in violent conflicts where civilians are being targeted. Arms export licences (granted by […]
A new Virtual Reality (VR) video produced by The Guardian gives an insight into the life of someone stuck in limbo whilst they seek asylum. You can watch the video above straighforwardly, or if you have a smartphone and a VR headset, really get inside the world of a refugee. The film-makers say: “The piece […]
As we near the end of Refugee Week 2017, it’s time to start looking forward to the future, and how we can build welcoming communities. Refugee Week have produced this short video featuring a whole range of ideas about what ‘Our Shared Future’ means. Why not check out the video, and then add your thoughts: […]
Photo: Joris Louwes CC 2.0 BY 16th – 18th June 2017 is the Great Get Together, followed by Refugee Week 19th-25th June. The Great Get Together has been started in memory of Jo Cox, in the spirit of her quote “we have more in common than that which divides us.” Refugee Week has ben runing […]