Silent protest against fracking

More than a hundred Quakers climbed windswept Pendle Hill in Lancashire on Saturday. For half an hour, they held a meeting for witness to protest against fracking. Only the skylarks and one or two friendly dogs interrupted their stillness.

It was in 1652 on top of Pendle Hill that George Fox was inspired to build a movement of people. He had a vision of "great many people to be gathered' and, with others, founded the Quaker Church.

Now Pendle Hill is in the midst of an area licensed for fracking. Quakers are calling for fracking to be banned – globally, not just in Lancashire – because the process damages the land, water and potentially food supplies.

Quakers in Britain are motivated by faith to cherish the earth for future generations and to speak out against climate injustice that causes huge inequalities across the world.

Stephen Lee, one of the organisers from Pendle Hill Area Meeting said he felt heartened and empowered by people's efforts to be there. They had come from far afield, from Scotland, Wales, Devon, Yorkshire, Cornwall and Cambridge, Lancashire and London. They included 89-year-old Brian, an environmental scientist from Chichester. Some were from Friends of the Earth. Some spoke of their concerns about the environmental impact of fracking and possible seismic activity.

Stephen Lee said: "My faith led me to do this. We have been inspired to make a difference."

One moved by the experience said: "Silent protest is the ultimate in nonviolent direct action. Who can object to that?"

In 2011 Quakers made a commitment to take action to become a low-carbon, sustainable community.

Quakers across Britain are engaging with the general election, called for Thursday 8 June. The general election is an opportunity to highlight Quaker concerns, particularly on important topics like climate change, nuclear weapons, immigration and human rights.

In 2013 Quakers in Britain became the first church in Britain to divest their centrally held funds from fossil fuel extraction. In doing so, they announced that, "investing in companies who are engaged in fossil fuel extraction is incompatible with Quakers' commitment to become a low-carbon community."

Read more about the Quakers here: www.quaker.org.uk