Keeping Up with Friends

Jerusalem Declaration
In a previous issue of Quaker Concern we expressed misgivings about the IHRA working definition of antisemitism. CFSC recently decided to use the clearer Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism to inform our work.

Ancestors Voice podcast
Ancestors Voice is a new podcast hosted by Orrie Charleyboy and supported by CFSC’s Reconciliation Fund. Orrie’s vision for Ancestors Voice is to educate listeners about the history of Canada’s residential schools and to share some of his personal story.

Indigenous rights and sustainable development
CFSC is active in the Coalition for the Human Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The Coalition has released two new educational fact sheets:

  1. Indigenous Peoples and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
  2. The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the UN Sustainable Development Goals

The sheets explain what the Sustainable Development Goals are, where they came from, and their relevance to Indigenous peoples (in particular in Canada).

Working to stop gender-based violence in Burundi
A three minute video from our partners at Friends Women’s Association describes their work, with the assistance of CFSC, to address gender-based violence.

Together against apartheid
In a previous issue we wrote about the situation in Israel being recognized by human rights groups as apartheid. Since then Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have released further reports. There is now near-global consensus among human rights experts that Israel is committing apartheid. Our friends at Independent Jewish Voices have launched a new campaign to educate about what this means and to call on Canada to accept this reality and respond accordingly.

Newest posts for Psychology Today
CFSC’s Communications Coordinator Matt Legge continues to blog for Psychology Today. His most recent posts are:

Thich Nhat Hanh, quantum physics, and relationships
Picked by Psychology Today’s editors as “essential reading” on the topics of religion, ethics and morality, and relationships, this post looks at an inspiring shift in understanding that can help to transform conflicts.

“Freedom Convoy” and the impacts of victimhood narratives
This post looks at research on both the benefits and drawbacks of feeling like a victim and how this relates to the “Freedom Convoy” that occupied Ottawa.

Humour and humiliation
Following a surprise act of violence at the Oscars this year, this post shares research on humiliation and on humour. The focus is on how to use humour nonviolently to deescalate (instead of fueling) conflicts.