Economic Justice and a Sustainable Global Society

Presented to the NOTTS AND DERBY AREA MEETING - January 14th 2012 - Mansfield

Introduction

I was nominated by Notts and Derby Area Meeting [AM] to take part in national discussions on Economic Justice and a Sustainable Global Society in autumn 2011. The discussions comprised a day conference at Friends House and a weekend for AM representatives at Woodbrooke. I am grateful to the AM for the opportunity to take part. This is my report. It comprises a set of reflections rather than a blow-by-blow account of what happened. Jim Norris [Nottingham] has already reported fully on the day conference; I have reported more briefly. I had helpful input following the day conference from David Megginson [Bakewell] and Jill Holley [Fritchley].

Overall assessment

Issues about economic justice and sustainability are important and urgent. Our global society is neither just nor sustainable. The time to act is now. Quakers have made a national commitment to become a low carbon, sustainable community. We need to take this seriously, as individuals, in our local Meetings, and nationally.

The Woodbrooke weekend

Friends at the Woodbrooke weekend were deeply concerned about the issues. It was easy to see what was wrong with our current global society; less easy to see what to do about it. Some Friends felt that the economic and environmental crisis had reached such an advanced stage that no action was possible to resolve it. Others felt that the growing global population was the central issue, and that it was being ignored as too sensitive. There was a difference of emphasis at the weekend between economists and would-be economists on the one hand, looking for economic solutions, and on the other hand those Friends who saw the crisis more in personal, spiritual and social terms.

There were so many issues and so much depth of feeling that the Quaker discipline of respectful listening tended to break down. Worship became discussion; discussion was replaced by speeches. No clear conclusions or recommendations for action were reached.

The most interesting session came at the end, where small groups were invited to draft an Advice [as in Advices and Queries] based on the work done at the weekend. The Advice drafted by our small group is attached. I claim no special merit for it: it was prepared in great haste. But it was a useful technique which might be used by a Local Meeting as part of a discussion of the issues.

Some personal conclusions

• The commitment made by Britain Yearly Meeting to become a low carbon, sustainable community is important, and provides an over-arching framework.
• There is a lot of useful material being provided by Friends House and by Woodbrooke, including this year's Swarthmore Lecture, plus other non-Quaker publications such as Tim Jackson's 'Prosperity without Growth'.
• The issues are big and intractable. Discussing them, as we found at the weekend and subsequently at Bakewell Local Meeting, is not easy. We need to use our Quaker discipline to listen to each other.
• It is important that each person is able to express their feelings, even when these are negative or despairing.
• As a Religious Society, we are called to hope, and to affirm the possibility of change.
• We should not judge other people's actions, even when we do not agree with them, but try to enter into other people's lives and view of the world. 'What does love require' is a good starting point.
• Questions of economic justice and sustainability are profoundly spiritual, and have a place in all aspects of our lives, including our Meeting for Worship.
• We should expect to have our own behaviour, and ways of thinking, challenged.
• Seeing the world differently, and doing differently, is at the heart of our response.
• People are more important than things. While a simple lifestyle, freely chosen, is something to which we should aspire, relations between people are the key. This may be at the family, community or global level. Possessions fall into perspective if we put people first.
• We are called to action. This may be personal, or at the level of the local Meeting or community, or at the national or global level.
• Local Meetings may wish to set up small groups to discuss our response more fully.
• Protest, as with the 'Occupy' movement, is an important part of action. It has a symbolic as well as practical value. We should be ready to support political activity.
• 'Speaking truth to power' does not mean arguing, or turning up the volume, though we may feel angry. Quakers have a special role in creating space for dialogue, and accepting differing points of view, based on the experience of our Meeting for Worship.
• At the start of our journey towards a just and sustainable world, we may not see all the steps along the way. This should not prevent us from setting out.

What next?

Area Meeting, and our Local Meetings, might want to:

• Put the issue on the agenda, by focusing on the BYM call to become a low carbon, sustainable community.
• Many Meetings have already started discussions about what it may mean for them.
• Continue to inform ourselves about the issues, and make the most of expertise within the Meeting.
• Set up small groups to help each other on our journey.
• Consider the environmental impact of the AM and the Local Meeting, by auditing current performance in areas such as travel, energy use, and waste management.
• Consider, with other faith groups, what community projects the Local Meeting might support, which demonstrate the change that is needed.
• Set up discussion with local Members of Parliament about social justice and sustainability, focusing on a limited number of topics and using the Quaker business method.
• Support campaigns which highlight the issues and call for political and economic change.

Report by Roger Clarke,
Bakewell Local Meeting,
December 2011