Peace making at Home and Abroad
Friends oppose and refuse to engage in war and violence. In pursuit of lasting, sustainable peace, they seek to eliminate causes of violent conflict, such as poverty, exploitation, and intolerance.
In renouncing war and violence, Friends embrace the transforming power of love and the power of nonviolence, striving for peace in daily interactions with family, neighbors, fellow community members, and those from every corner of the world.
Friends endeavor to see “that of God” in every person, regardless of nationality, race, gender, sexual orientation, age, ability, or social status.
The AFSC community is called to be a practical expression of the Quaker peace testimony in our individual relations, our local communities, our countries, and our approach to global politics.
We oppose violence in all forms. Our work addresses its root causes by forthrightly and nonviolently confronting evil and oppression, whether expressed overtly as physical aggression or covertly as economic injustice. We are called to transform the institutions of society into instruments of peace and to be ourselves transformed.
For us, peace is not just ending war or violence, but nurturing the capacity of individuals, communities, and societies to sustain harmonious relationships based on mutual respect and caring for the welfare of all.
We seek to reconcile enemies and serve the needs of all sides torn by violent strife.
Peace comes from being able to contribute the best that we have, and all that we are, toward creating a world that supports everyone.
HAFSAT ABIOLA, NIGERIAN HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST
Peace, in the sense of the absence of war, is of little value to someone who is dying of hunger or cold. …Peace can only last where human rights are respected, where people are fed, and where individuals and nations are free.
TENZIN GYATSO, 14TH DALAI LAMA
Peace is not the product of terror or fear. Peace is not the silence of cemeteries. Peace is not the silent result of violent repression. Peace is the generous, tranquil contribution of all to the good of all.
OSCAR ROMERO, CATHOLIC ARCHBISHOP
If we are serious about peace, then we must work for it as ardently, seriously, continuously, carefully, and bravely as we have ever prepared for war.
WENDELL BERRY, AUTHOR AND ACTIVIST
Peace in ourselves, peace in the world.
THICH NHAT HANH, BUDDHIST MONK AND PEACE ACTIVIST
How can I nurture the seeds of peace within myself, my community, and the world?
How can I work to eliminate hatred, injustice, and both physical and institutional violence?
How can I be more open to seeking the goodness in people who act with violence and hatred?
How can I work to settle disputes within the organization and the community with love and sensitivity for all involved?
How can I increase my understanding of nonviolence and use it in all my interactions?