Peace and Social Concerns Committee, 1/8/17

Present: Dan G, George M, Jane J, Diane C, Roger C, Ka R, Ken H, Jan H, David A

1.  We opened with a time of silence and meditation.

2. Resistance Center:  A conversation ensued about the current status of the Resistance Center of Peace And Justice which has replaced, in some way, the former W MA AFSC office. The suggestion was initially to support the Resistance Center but since our recommendation to the meeting for business, more information has come to light, some of it raising concerns with us, for example the absence of Quakers on its board.  We value the opinions of Adele and Roxanne a great deal on this issue. We greatly appreciate the letters they sent to our committee.  We are clear to withdraw our initial recommendation to the MfB and to make no recommendation for this month’s MfB.  We want to stay in close touch with Adele in her role on the Advisory board as the Resistance Center evolves and see how we can be helpful to her as things progress. We are more aware now as to our part in the regional section of AFSC.

3. David A spoke to us about the recent treaty in the UN prohibiting nuclear weapons.  Tim Wallis of Northampton has been important in the creation of the treaty and is now in Northampton aiding his mother Teddy Milne, and Tim may be a good resource for us in this matter. 
We have become aware that the quarterly meeting has asked us to respond to the letter from the Northampton meeting, and David has brought information to us to help us in our consideration. We are agreed to forward a statement to the January MfB saying that we support the call to support the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, and that we want this support to be forwarded to the Quarterly Meeting. We support the QM’s effort on this.  Next month in our meeting, and we hope with the benefit of some direction from the QM, we will talk more about the matter and look for action steps. David has offered to write the statement from P&SC which he will send to the Clerk.

4. Letter writing David mentioned the Markey-Lieu bill which forbids the first use of nuclear weapons without a declaration of Congress.  Warren and Markey are both co-sponsors. Dan will make the presentation, in consultation with David, and others of the committee will help with the letter writing.

5. Diane asked for help with the meeting fundraiser on February 10, part of the P&SC concert series.

6. We closed with a time of silence.