Purpose

How did QCOP start?

Following the Canterbury commitment in 2011, a group of Friends concerned about the omission of population from environmental discussions set up Quaker Concern over Population, for more details see here. QCOP aims to spread the message that population is a real cause for concern, and an important driver of climate change, but there are things which can be done. 

The purpose of QCOP is to:

• help Friends in Britain Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) to appreciate the dangers of global over-population.
• identify this as an appropriate area of interest for Friends through developing and delivering workshops, a website, literature and other suitable means of spreading our Concern.

What are QCOP's messages?

• a lower population achieved through choice - we are totally opposed to coercion
• human rights and the empowerment of women and the most vulnerable
• a change in behaviour of the rich world, including choosing smaller families – these countries have a disproportional environmental impact and poor countries pay the price
• education about population growth and how it makes environmental problems worse and people poorer
• an understanding that fewer consumers helps to bring down consumption
• “smaller family size” can fix it

QCOP would always like to hear from anyone who has comments about Quaker involvement with population issues. Please send us an email to   qcop.contact@gmail.com