Sarasota Meeting Action Updates
The recent Peace & Social Concerns news from Sarasota Meeting addresses two concerns Friends share—the militarization of the police, and plastic pollution of our oceans—and highlights how two young adults are making a difference.
Kate Thurston visits Sarasota Meeting. photo: Nancy Corindia
Kate Thurston, a student at New College and member of FCNL’s Advocacy Corps for 2018-2019, spoke to Sarasota Friends after a potluck lunch on September 23rd. This year, the Advocacy Corp’s focus is on efforts to demilitarize the police. Kate certainly held the group’s attention as she described the Pentagon’s program to gift surplus weapons, helicopters, tanks, and other military equipment to federal, state, and local law enforcement—militarizing the police. For most Sarasota Friends, this was new information. She suggested Friends take action by writing letters to the editors, lobbying their legislators, and calling or emailing their offices. Learn more about the Pentagon’s ‘1033 Program & Militarization of the Police’>
Mitchell Farmer’s video, screenshot
Mitchell Farmer, of Sarasota Meeting, is a college student finishing his degree at USF. He is working with Mote Marine Laboratory and the Save Our Seabirds bird hospital next door. He has created a video, “Plastic World: The Concern of Microplastics,” to show how single-use plastics end up as plastic waste that causes incredible damage to marine life, and what we can do about it. See his video on youtube>
Mitchell also has a gofundme page to enable him to conduct more research: www.gofundme.com/stop-using-plastic
—-contributors: Nancy Corindia, Frederick Farmer
Learn more
• FCNL (Friends Committee on National Legislation) has 4 exciting opportunities for Young Adults: Advocacy Corps, Spring Lobby weekend, Summer Internships, and a Young Fellows Program. Read more>
How has your Meeting been active with Social Justice, Peace, Earthcare, Equality, or other concerns? Friends would like to know!
Send your news to office@seym.org