QARN and Woodbrooke Conference:
‘Detention, Destitution and Deportation – gathering Quaker energy to speak truth to power’, over the weekend of 6-8 February 2015 at Woodbrooke, Birmingham.
The Conference was attended by Quakers from Quaker Meetings in England, Scotland, Eire and Wales, and we were joined by Jerome Phelps of ‘Detention Action’ and Mike Kaye of ‘Still Human Still Here’ who were speakers during the Saturday. Our experience was enhanced by the presence of five members of ‘RAPAR – Refugee and Asylum Seeker Participatory Action Research’ from Manchedter, who shared their experiences and energy over whole weekend with us.
The Conference brings the following Minute:
Fifty plus people, mostly Quakers met at Woodbrooke over the weekend 6-8 February 2015 to gather Quaker energy to speak truth to power about the injustices we see in the treatment of people seeking safety/asylum in UK.
We have shared our anger, confusion, hopelessness and helplessness, and now we move forward to share our strengths and uphold each other while we seek to effect change.
We have been strengthened by those who joined us over the weekend from organisations with whom we share our concern and will help us discern our way forward so that we can effectively work alongside those who share our vision towards bringing about the Quaker Testimony to Equality.
QARN Conference
8 February 2015