Resources Page

CFSC brochure

An informative brochure setting out CFSC's vision and principles and a short description of our work (and how you can support it) is available here.

Quaker Concern. Quaker Concern is CFSC's newsletter. Recent issues are available here in PDF.

For earlier issues, see the Archives section.

2010 Winter |

2009 Winter | Spring | Summer

2008 Winter | Spring | Summer

CFSC grants

CFSC offers project grants to individuals and Meetings to undertake peace and justice work. Detailed information on the different types of grants is available here.

Oil/tar sands discernment materials (February 16, 2010)

Last summer, Canadian Yearly Meeting requested that CFSC consult with Meetings and Worship Groups about the tar sands so that CYM can better articulate Friends' view on this issue, as this issue moves forward within KAIROS and potentially among Friends. Materials have been sent to Meetings with a request that responses come to CFSC no later than 1 June 2010. The materials are posted here for ongoing access to Friends for this discernment: Cover Letter; Report on Church Leaders' Delegation; KAIROS Reflection Paper; CYM Minute; Resource List.

Report on KAIROS Delegation to the Tar Sands (July 2009)

Dana Bush (Calgary MM) was the CYM-appointed Quaker delegate on the May 2009 church leader's delegation to the Athabasca tar sands. Read her report, which will be discussed this summer at Canadian Yearly Meeting's annual sessions. Dana's participation was made possible through funding from CFSC and CYM

"Considering Joining the Military?" brochure (March 2009)

CFSC has produced this educational brochure as a counter-balance to information available to young people who are considering a career in the military. The brochure encourages reflection and research by those interested in the military as it is not just any career choice. As General Rick Hillier (ret.) said in 2005, "We are the Canadian Forces and our job is to kill people." If you are involved in a local group working on educating young people about the alternatives to the military, contact us about ordering hard copies of this brochure for use at events, etc.

Resource Handout for Contacting Elected Officials

There are a number of policy issues that concern Friends. In order to promote positive changes, we are often asked to contact our elected officials. This resource handout offers general principles, preparation pointers and advice for conversations with elected officials.

Papers

Update on situation of US "war resisters" in Canada (June 27, 2007) This

communiqué provides an update on the status of court cases and other matters for the war resisters and highlights the need to press for a political solution to their immigration status in Canada.

Resource List—Bicentenary of End of British Slave Trade. March 25, 2007 marked the 200th anniversary of the abolition of British involvement in the transatlantic slave trade. Quakers and other people of faith, enslaved peoples themselves, and free people of African descent played a critical role in ending the slave trade. To remember this significant marker in history, in our history as Friends, CFSC has prepared a Resource List to encourage people to access some of the many resources available (books, websites, resource packs that include information for children’s programs, etc.).

The Responsiblity to Protect: Perspectives and Alternatives on the Protection of Civilians. This paper, written by Gianne Broughton, presents a selection of resources and queries to assist Quaker Meetings in Canada to discuss the international policy theme “The Responsibility to Protect” (commonly referred to as R2P). In his 2000 report to the General Assembly, then UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan challenged the international community to forge a consensus on the basic questions of principle and process: when should intervention occur, under whose authority, and how.

Canadian Mining and Oil and Gas Interests Overseas: violating their responsiblitiy to protect? CFSC is a member of the Militarized Commerce Working Group of the Canadian Council for International Cooperation. This article by Gianne Broughton provides insights into this growing concern and offers a way to become engaged with the current petition campaign spearheaded by the Halifax Initiative. See also Quaker Concern, Winter 2007 issue.

Afghanistan: From good intentions to sustainable solutions (August 2006) This briefing paper is one of a series produced by Project Ploughshares. Ernie Regehr addresses the "growing doubts about the effectiveness of Canada's military-centric Afghanistan mission."

New "war resisters" counseling resource (May 2006)

The War Resisters Support Campaign, of which CFSC is a part, has produced a definitive Counseling Memo for individuals and groups that may have occasion to talk to American GIs and their families about their options for avoiding war.

Books and Videos | Top of Page

There are a number of books and videos in the CFSC office which can be borrowed without cost. An annotated Resource List is available in PDF format.

Links | Top of Page

Canadian Yearly Meeting

Quaker International Affairs Program

American Friends Service Committee

Quaker Service Australia

Quaker Earthcare Witness

Friends World Committee for Consultation

Quaker United Nations Office

Canada Food Grains Bank

Canadian Council of Churches

Canadian Council for Refugees

Canadian International Development Agency

KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives

Project Ploughshares

World Council of Churches

Maher Arar Support Committee

Archives | Top of Page

Quaker Concern

2009 Winter | Spring | Summer

2008 Winter | Spring | Summer

2007 Winter | Spring | Summer

2006 Winter | Spring | Summer

2005 Winter | Spring | Summer

2004 Winter | Spring | Summer

2003 Winter | Spring | Summer | Fall

E-Newsletter

2009 January | February | March | April | May | June | July | September

October | November | December

2008 January | February | March | April | May | June | July | September

October | November | December

2007 June | July | August | September | October | November | December

CFSC presentation on conscientious objection to House of Commons' Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration (December 6, 2007)

This CFSC brief provides a very good generalist understanding of Canadian and international law as it applies to conscientious objectors, particularly those seeking to access refugee status under the terms of the UNHCR Handbook (the standard-bearer for assessment). CFSC was invited to present to the Standing Committee which was considering a motion in support of US war resisters in Canada who are seeking asylum. This motion was passed and subsequently presented to and passed by the House of Commons on June 3, 2008 and again on March 30, 2009, illustrating the support of the majority of Parliamentarians for conscientious objectors to have greater access to protection in Canada.

CFSC Discussion Paper: Rethinking Security (January 2006)

The security agenda that has arisen since 2001 has had a disproportionate impact on vulnerable populations. This briefing paper will outline some of the issues that affect refugees who seek asylum in Canada.

Shaking the Foundations: A Call to Prophesy in the Society of Friends (June 2005)

This Plenary Message by Jane Orion Smith, CFSC General Secretary, was delivered at the Inter Mountain Yearly Meeting.

CFSC submission on proposed Civil Marriage Act (April 10, 2005)

The Same-Sex Marriage Working Group of CFSC has submitted a Brief on the proposed Civil Marriage Act (C-38) to the Legislative Committee on C-38 which is studying the Bill.

CFSC Policy, Organization and Procedure Manual

CFSC By-laws and Letters Patent

Memorandum of Understanding between CYM and CFSC