QUAKER STORIES
The aim of the Quaker Stories series is to describe how individual Australian Quakers are applying their Quaker beliefs in their lives.
 | ''I thought that we were pretty good with regards to plastic: we use reusable shopping bags; buy our fruit & veg loose; and much of our food is from bulk food shops where we use glass and reusable plastic containers. Giving up plastic for the month of January 2013 was an exercise in plastic awareness. It was a bit expensive and it was more time consuming; however, it opened our eyes to the large amount of plastic we acquire on a weekly basis. Our plastic consumption for the month was greatly reduced." Susan Hill |
 | 'When people hear about the problems with the environment, they often start to feel hopeless: powerless, overwhelmed, that the problem is too big, there are too many issues, how will their children cope, and where would they start. I suggest we start where we are at, and when we get stuck, use strategies to get unstuck: silence, going inward, dealing with our feelings. Sharing our feelings with another person can be very helpful to free us up again; sharing our emotions with a group is even more powerful.' Margaret Emily Whittle |
 | ‘What contribution can Quakers uniquely and powerfully make in regards to Earthcare?' Friends’ experience of consensus decision making is a way of doing things—not just the practicalities of making decisions but a frame of mind towards individuals in a community and the whole way a community moves forward on all manner of issues—that isn’t widely practiced or understood in mainstream Australian society. Peggy Storch |
 | 'I had a boss who used to refer to me as the "last of the amateur naturalists". In fact, "amateur naturalists" were the start of a whole new breed of people interested in the environment as a whole, rather than different aspects of it ... I've been very fortunate. People are prepared to pay me for what I'm interested in doing--providing environmental services.' Peri Coleman |
 | 'The initial concept of Sustainable Communities South Australia was that people would work together in community groups to reduce their ecological footprint. We worked on the basis that if people are going to make changes in behaviour, they need a support group. We focused on five areas: energy, food, transport, waste and water. Food often comes up first. Even when you do your ecological footprint, food is the biggest component. In the beginning, we decided to start with individual household behaviour change.' Beth and Ray Mylius |
 | 'I am a founding member of the Devonport Worshipping Group and this commitment is important in building a personal base from which to work towards peace and sustainability ... But the main way I work to support a peaceful and sustainable Australia is in my home. We have a big garden and we grow most of our own vegetables and fruit ...' Sally O'Wheel |
