As the government prepares for its first  ‘Armed Forces Day’, Quakers are calling for an ‘Unarmed Forces’ Day, in recognition of the essential work carried out by peacebuilders around the world.0

Quakers advocate putting energies and resources into developing and training for non-military ways of solving conflicts and averting wars. Kat Barton of Quaker Peace and Social Witness said "It is widely agreed that conflict prevention is more cost-effective than sending in the armed forces. At a time when public finances are under enormous pressure, instead of celebrating ‘Armed Forces Day’ the government  should be investing in conflict prevention and championing the work of the ‘unarmed forces’ who work tirelessly to build the conditions for peace."

Quakers believe there is always a choice between working for war and working for peace. Quaker work in Britain includes providing school children with the skills to deal with conflict, working with communities in the north of England to tackle racism and build peace, and supporting the next generation of workers in peacebuilding organisations.

British Quakers work overseas to accompany Palestinians and Israelis in their nonviolent actions, to support local peacebuilding organisations in Burundi and to create non-violent peaceful solutions to often bitter and entrenched local conflicts in South Asia.

Quaker Peace and Social Witness http://www.quaker.org.uk/qpsw

Peace resources for Armed Forces Day www.ekklesia.co.uk/resources/armed_forces_day 

Armed Forces Day 2009 http://www.armedforcesday.org.uk/