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The DSEI (Defence and Security Equipment International) Arms Fair is the largest arms fair in the world, and it happens in London in the second week in September, every 2 years. Opposition to this event is co-ordinated by Stop the Arms Fair https://www.stopthearmsfair.org.uk/ a network of groups and individuals campaigning to put a stop to arms fairs in the UK. A group of Quakers in Swindon plan to attend the 'No Faith in War Day' on Tuesday 3rd of September. As part of our preparations, Quakers around the UK, including Swindon Meeting, have been making 'mini-banners' which will be joined into a big tapestry to be used both on the day and afterwards, around London to highlight DSEI and the impact of the international arms trade. Mini-banners made by Swindon Meeting are pictured below.  And it was very nice to see this one also used as an illustration on an article about the resistance to the arms fair, on the Quaker website. https://www.quaker.org.uk/news-and-events/news/moved-by-faith-to-stop-the-global-arms-fair  On Sunday 3rd November we will hold our Alternative Remembrance Service at 10.30 a.m. in place of our usual Meeting for Worship. We will commemorate the victims of war, those who minister to them and all peacemakers in an hour's quiet music and readings, wrapped in silence. Tea and time to chat afterwards. All welcome.  On Sunday 13th October, following Meeting for Worship, Friends from Oxford Meeting will tell us about their building project to create a new garden room and Quaker centre at the Oxford Meeting House, 43 St Giles.
On Saturday 7th September Swindon Quakers will host a meeting of Quakers from the nine local Quaker Meetings which make up the Oxford and Swindon Area Meeting. The morning will be devoted to business. After lunch, we will hear from Heather Redington, Teacher of Heart Rhythm Meditation.
On Sunday 29th September after Meeting for Worship we will have a shared lunch and show a film of the 2019 Swarthmore Lecture given by Eden Grace.
Elspeth Wollen has written an article about her recent visit to Brussels to learn about the EU and Quaker witness in Europe.
Reflections on the Brexit Study Tour 26 – 31 March 2019 Quaker diplomacy at the heart of Europe was how Andrew Lane, director of the Quaker Council for European Affairs (QCEA), summarised the role of the team at Quaker House, Brussels, on the first morning of the special ‘Brexit’ Study Tour. With thirty participants, this was the largest tour run by QCEA and was timed to cover the day the UK was to leave the European Union after over 40 years of membership. We had come to learn more about the work of the EU in the current political context, to reflect on European cooperation and to be together to witness against the separation, isolation and hate crime that is on the rise across Europe. Leading our sessions and outings were Andrew Lane and Martin Leng from QCEA, and Maud Grainger, Woodbrooke’s Faith in Action Tutor. On 26th June 2019 Swindon Quakers and others took part in the mass lobby of Parliament to urge action on the climate emergency.  Wednesday 24th October 2018 Swindon Quakers meeting the 'Peace Train': a group of peace campaigners travelling from Hope in Wales to London, bringing letters and petitions urging the Government to sign the Nuclear Ban Treaty.
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