|
The International Catholic
Peace Movement with Members
Worldwide.
A financial contribution to
support our work is truly
appreciated and is a
concrete way you can
contribute to helping to
create a culture of peace
and nonviolence.
Visit our document archive
and search through 1000s of
documents by Subject,
Keyword, or Reference
Number.
Pax Christi International is
a network made up of
National Sections,
Affiliated Groups,
Associated Groups, and
Partners. Click below for a
complete list.
Throughout 2005 Pax Christi
members have celebrated the
60th anniversary
of the movements founding.
Visit our website to see
details about events that
were held.
The International Catholic
Peace Movement with Members
Worldwide.
A financial contribution to
support our work is truly
appreciated and is a
concrete way you can
contribute to helping to
create a culture of peace
and nonviolence.
Visit our document archive
and search through 1000s of
documents by Subject,
Keyword, or Reference
Number.
Pax Christi International is
a network made up of
National Sections,
Affiliated Groups,
Associated Groups, and
Partners. Click below for a
complete list.
The International Catholic
Peace Movement with Members
Worldwide.
A financial contribution to
support our work is truly
appreciated and is a
concrete way you can
contribute to helping to
create a culture of peace
and nonviolence.
Visit our document archive
and search through 1000s of
documents by Subject,
Keyword, or Reference
Number.
Pax Christi International is
a network made up of
National Sections,
Affiliated Groups,
Associated Groups, and
Partners. Click below for a
complete list.
Throughout 2005 Pax Christi
members have celebrated the
60th anniversary
of the movements founding.
Visit our website to see
details about events that
were held.
The International Catholic
Peace Movement with Members
Worldwide.
A financial contribution to
support our work is truly
appreciated and is a
concrete way you can
contribute to helping to
create a culture of peace
and nonviolence.
Visit our document archive
and search through 1000s of
documents by Subject,
Keyword, or Reference
Number.
Pax Christi International is
a network made up of
National Sections,
Affiliated Groups,
Associated Groups, and
Partners. Click below for a
complete list.
Throughout 2005 Pax Christi
members have celebrated the
60th anniversary
of the movements founding.
Visit our website to see
details about events that
were held.
The International Catholic
Peace Movement with Members
Worldwide.
A financial contribution to
support our work is truly
appreciated and is a
concrete way you can
contribute to helping to
create a culture of peace
and nonviolence.
Visit our document archive
and search through 1000s of
documents by Subject,
Keyword, or Reference
Number.
Pax Christi International is
a network made up of
National Sections,
Affiliated Groups,
Associated Groups, and
Partners. Click below for a
complete list.
Throughout 2005 Pax Christi
members have celebrated the
60th anniversary
of the movements founding.
Visit our website to see
details about events that
were held.
The International Catholic
Peace Movement with Members
Worldwide.
A financial contribution to
support our work is truly
appreciated and is a
concrete way you can
contribute to helping to
create a culture of peace
and nonviolence.
Visit our document archive
and search through 1000s of
documents by Subject,
Keyword, or Reference
Number.
Pax Christi International is
a network made up of
National Sections,
Affiliated Groups,
Associated Groups, and
Partners. Click below for a
complete list.
Throughout 2005 Pax Christi
members have celebrated the
60th anniversary
of the movements founding.
Visit our website to see
details about events that
were held.
The International Catholic
Peace Movement with Members
Worldwide.
A financial contribution to
support our work is truly
appreciated and is a
concrete way you can
contribute to helping to
create a culture of peace
and nonviolence.
Visit our document archive
and search through 1000s of
documents by Subject,
Keyword, or Reference
Number.
Pax Christi International is
a network made up of
National Sections,
Affiliated Groups,
Associated Groups, and
Partners. Click below for a
complete list.
Throughout 2005 Pax Christi
members have celebrated the
60th anniversary
of the movements founding.
Visit our website to see
details about events that
were held.
The International Catholic
Peace Movement with Members
Worldwide.
A financial contribution to
support our work is truly
appreciated and is a
concrete way you can
contribute to helping to
create a culture of peace
and nonviolence.
Visit our document archive
and search through 1000s of
documents by Subject,
Keyword, or Reference
Number.
Pax Christi International is
a network made up of
National Sections,
Affiliated Groups,
Associated Groups, and
Partners. Click below for a
complete list.
Throughout 2005 Pax Christi
members have celebrated the
60th anniversary
of the movements founding.
Visit our website to see
details about events that
were held.
The International Catholic
Peace Movement with Members
Worldwide.
A financial contribution to
support our work is truly
appreciated and is a
concrete way you can
contribute to helping to
create a culture of peace
and nonviolence.
Visit our document archive
and search through 1000s of
documents by Subject,
Keyword, or Reference
Number.
The International Catholic
Peace Movement with Members
Worldwide.
A financial contribution to
support our work is truly
appreciated and is a
concrete way you can
contribute to helping to
create a culture of peace
and nonviolence.
Visit our document archive
and search through 1000s of
documents by Subject,
Keyword, or Reference
Number.
The International Catholic
Peace Movement with Members
Worldwide.
A financial contribution to
support our work is truly
appreciated and is a
concrete way you can
contribute to helping to
create a culture of peace
and nonviolence.
|
Pax Christi International ~
Newsletter no. 157~ February
2007
~ In this issue ~
In Memoriam..
2
Former Bishop President of
Pax Christi Germany has Died.
2
Africa.
2
Acholi Religious Leaders
Call for Continued Dialogue.
2
Pax Christi Italy Urges More
Action on Uganda.
2
European Network on Zimbabwe
Formed.
2
Darfur Conference Appeals
for More Proactive European
Response to Crisis.
2
Great Lakes Regional
Consultation to Meet in
Kigali
2
Groupe Lotus Calls for
Higher Standard in DR Congo
Elections.
2
European Network Active on
Central Africa.
2
Justice and Peace Commission
Organises Week of Prayer for
Uganda.
2
Americas & Caribbean.
2
Activists and Pax Christi
USA Protest School of the
Americas.
2
Pax Christi Latin America
and the Caribbean
Consultation, Peru 2007.
2
Pax Christi USA Visits Haiti
2
Death Threats Made Against
Msgr. Erwin Kraütler in
Brazil
2
Asia & Pacific.
2
Sri Lanka: Civilians Killed
by Aerial Bombing.
2
ALAAP Organisation of
Pakistan visits
International Secretariat
2
Nobel Peace Prize Winners
Seek to Visit Aung San Suu
Kyi of Burma.
2
Middle East
2
Advent and Christmas Peace
and Justice Wishes and
Prayers for Bethlehem 2006.
2
New Ecumenical Accompaniers
Start Their Term..
2
Bishops Urge Christian
Presence in Holy Land to Aid
Peace Efforts.
2
Call for Greater Role for
Belgium in
Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
2
Sign-on Statement Published
to Mark Fourth Anniversary
of Iraq Invasion.
2
Europe.
2
European Development Days.
2
Serbian Delegation Visits
International Secretariat
2
Disarmament &
Demilitarisation.
2
Chemical Weapons
Convention’s Second Review
Conference.
2
Britain’s Bomb: What Next?.
2
NGOs and the NPT Review
Process.
2
Human Rights, the Rule of
Law and Violent Conflict
2
No Tornadoes to Afghanistan.
2
Human Security & Violent
Conflict
2
Letter Sent to US Congress
on Stopping Oil Subsidies.
2
Reflections on the Stern
Report
2
Nonviolent Social Change.
2
Gandhi 2008 International
2
Developing Peace
Spirituality and Theology.
2
Pax Christi UK Celebrates
Annual World Peace Day.
2
Kerry Diocesan Prepares
Liturgy for World Peace Day.
2
International Advocacy &
Campaigning.
2
NGO Meetings for Council of
Europe.
2
UNESCO NGOs Hold Meeting.
2
Networking.
2
World Social Forum in
Nairobi
2
International Calendar
2
Former Bishop President of
Pax Christi Germany (from
1989 to 2002), Bishop Dr.
Hermann Josef Spital, died
on 10 January 2007. He was
81 years old. From 1981 to
2001, he was also Bishop of
Trier. In a memorial
statement, Pax Christi
Germany expressed their
appreciation for the
bridge-building done by the
Bishop throughout his
tenure. For the German
section, the Bishop was not
only their President, he was
also a good friend. Read
more in
MO02G07.
TOP
Africa
The Acholi Religious
Leaders’ Peace Initiative, a
Member Organisation of Pax
Christi International, is
urging the Lord’s Resistance
Army and the Government of
Uganda to maintain dialogue
and make all efforts to
secure a lasting peace in
northern Uganda. "We urge
you to forgive and reconcile
with one another in order to
live in harmony,” said
Archbishop John Baptist
Odama of Gulu. To read the
article on the ongoing peace
process, see
AF01E07.
TOP
Pax Christi Italy Urges
More Action on Uganda
On 20 December 2006, Pax
Christi Italy, along with a
coalition of other
organisations, urged the
Italian Ministry of Foreign
Affairs to give greater
attention and support to the
peace process in northern
Uganda. The group proposed a
more proactive approach for
the Italian government,
including an offer to act as
mediator in the talks that
are currently taking place
in Juba, southern Sudan. To
read the letter (in
Italian), see
AF18I07.
TOP
On 10 January 2007, Mark
Barwick of the Pax Christi
International Secretariat
took part in a strategy
session in Brussels composed
of a network of over twenty
faith-based organisations,
to discuss the escalating
political crisis in
Zimbabwe. The network aims
to promote a coherent
approach for European
institutions in support of
nonviolent change in the
country’s governance. One
immediate goal was the
renewal of restrictive EU
measures against Zimbabwe
aimed at pressuring the
current regime to
discontinue its systematic
repression of human rights
and police actions against
the Zimbabwean people. To
read the text of the letter
addressed to the EU Minister
of Foreign Affairs on this
matter, see
AF03E07.
TOP
Darfur Conference
Appeals for More Proactive
European Response to Crisis
On 22 January 2007, Mark
Barwick participated in an
international conference in
Brussels entitled “Toward a
Comprehensive Settlement for
Darfur”. Since the Darfur
conflict erupted in 2003,
over 300,000 Sudanese have
died, 2 million have been
displaced and 3.5 million
are now reliant on
international aid for
survival. This dire
situation is now spreading
to neighbouring Chad and the
Central African Republic.
The aim of the Brussels
conference was to urge
European decision-makers to
be more proactive in
formulating and implementing
an international response to
the crisis. This is urgently
needed to ensure security
for the people of Darfur, by
reviving the political
process to achieve a
sustainable peace agreement
and supporting social
transformation in the years
ahead. For more information
on this event or Pax
Christi’s work in the
Greater Horn of Africa,
contact
mark@paxchristi.net.
TOP
Participants from Burundi,
Rwanda and the Democratic
Republic of Congo will
gather from 17 to 22
February 2007 for the Fourth
Regional Consultation of Pax
Christi in the Great Lakes.
The meeting will take place
at the Christus Centre in
Kigali, Rwanda.
Representatives from the
region’s Member
Organisations will discuss
the current situation of
peace and security in the
Great Lakes and formulate an
Action Plan for the coming
years. For more information
on this event and on Pax
Christi’s work in the Great
Lakes region of Africa,
contact
mark@paxchristi.net.
TOP
Member Organisation Groupe
Lotus appealed for a higher
standard of ethics in
January’s elections in the
DR Congo. Among their
concerns was that that both
the electors and the
candidates were motivated
mainly by self-interest and
that the voting polarised
the public. To read the
press release (in French)
see
07-0015.
TOP
Pax Christi International
has become a member of
the
European network of NGOs
active in Central Africa
(EurAC).
Pax Christi International
was accepted during the
General Assembly of 26
November 2006. EurAC is
composed of 46 member
organisations from 12
European countries, both
inside and outside the
European Union. Its two main
activities are advocacy
(regarding the political
situation in the Great Lakes
region and development
cooperation policies of the
EU and Member States towards
these countries) and
information about the
region. More information is
available at
http://www.eurac-network.org/web/choose_language.php?returnPath=%2Fweb%2Findex.php%3F
TOP
“Enough with war, peace is a
gift of God which we are
called to build day by day
with prayer, dialogue and by
accepting and forgiving our
brothers and sisters,” said
Archbishop Pierre Christophe
Apostolic Nuncio in Uganda,
during a special Mass on
Friday, 12 January to close
a Week of Prayer for Peace
in Northern Uganda. The
Justice and Peace Commission
of the Archdiocese of Gulu,
a Pax Christi Member
Organisation, co-organised
the week. To read the
article on this event, see
AF21E07.
TOP
Activists and Pax
Christi USA Protest School
of the Americas
On 19 November 2006 nearly
22,000 activists, including
members of Pax Christi USA,
gathered at the gates of the
U.S. military base, Fort
Benning, USA, to demand that
the School of the Americas (SOA)
be closed. The event drew
attention to the
U.S.-sponsored military
training of Latin American
soldiers carried out at the
SOA, and the numerous human
rights violations that these
soldiers committed after
receiving such training. To
date, more than 10,000
Colombians have been trained
at the SOA, making them the
largest contingent of
soldiers to pass through the
school’s doors. This year’s
event included talks by
Colombians Debora Barrios, a
Wayuu leader of the Guajira
region, and Renato Areiza of
San José de Apartadó. Prior
to the event, the U.S.
Office on Colombia made a
presentation on the impact
of U.S. military funding in
Colombia. More information
is available at
http://www.soaw.org/new/
TOP
The first Continental
Consultation of Pax Christi
in Latin America will take
place this August in
Chaclacayo, Peru. The goal
of the gathering is the
development of an open,
plural environment to
discuss challenges to peace
on the continent and to
explore peace-building
strategies from the
multidimensional framework
offered by the concept of
human security. The
Consultation will also
explore possibilities for
new regional partnerships
and building bridges through
the diversity of voices from
churches, lay organisations,
grassroots movements and
regional networks. The
Consultation will bring
together Member
Organisations from the
region and Northern Member
Organisations working in the
region, as well as guests
representing a cross-section
of organisations on the
continent. For more on the
Consultation, contact:
jose@paxchristi.net
TOP
Pax Christi USA is
organizing a delegation to
Haiti, from April 23 to 30,
2007. The trip will provide
an opportunity for the
delegation to learn about
the current social, economic
and political situation in
Haiti, and the impact of US
policies on the country. The
delegates will also learn
more about Pax Christi ‘s
work in Haiti with youth and
street children to curb
violence, and to deepen ties
of spirituality and
solidarity with these
friends of Pax Christi
working to build a culture
of peace. For more contact
Marvin Rodriguez via e-mail:
marvin@paxchristiusa.org
TOP
The International
Secretariat has been
informed that anonymous
death threats have been made
against Msgr. Erwin Kraütler,
the Austrian Bishop of Xingu
and President of the
Indigenous Missionary
Council (CIMI) in Brazil. On
24 January 2007, the
International Secretariat
sent a letter of concern to
H.E. Lula da Silva,
President of Brazil, to
express the need for
protection of the bishop and
to ensure in all
circumstances that respect
for human rights, and
especially for human rights’
defenders be upheld in the
country. Read more in
AM08E07.
TOP
Sri Lanka:
Civilians Killed by Aerial
Bombing
The International
Secretariat of Pax Christi
is closely following current
events and developments in
Sri Lanka. On 9 January
2007, a letter of support
was written by Etienne De
Jonghe, Secretary General,
to the Bishop of Mannar,
Msgr. Sgd Rayappu Joseph,
regarding the death of
civilians by aerial bombing
at Padahu Thurai, which
happened on the morning of 2
January in his diocese. The
Bishop wrote a letter of
concern about this incident
to the President of Sri
Lanka. Pax Christi
International remains
dedicated to supporting
efforts for justice and
peace in Sri Lanka. Read the
letter from Secretary
General, Etienne de Jonghe,
addressed to the Bishop in
AP01E07.
TOP
Mr. Shiraz Raj, Director of
the Pakistani organisation,
Ambassadors of Love, Arts &
Peace (ALAAP), paid a visit
to the Pax Christi
International Secretariat in
Brussels on 22 January 2007.
He was put in touch with the
office through another
Member Organisation, the
National Commission for
Justice and Peace, Pakistan.
ALAAP is a civil society
initiative for equal
cultural rights and communal
harmony in Pakistan. ALAAP
aims at narrowing the
existing, and alarmingly
deepening gulf which
presently separates the
different religious and
cultural communities of
Pakistan. As a cultural
response to increasing
social, political and
religious violence, ALAAP
emphasises linking the
cultural and intellectual
heritage of Pakistan with
peace activism. ALAAP
organises a number of
activities to bridge this
gap; some of them are:
Grassroots Interfaith
Transformation (GIFT),
Music as Peace Activism (MAPA)
and
Socio-Political Analysis for
Communal Harmony (SACH).
For more information, visit:
http://www.alaap.com.pk/
TOP
Nobel Peace Prize laureates
worldwide, from Seoul to
Washington, seek visas to
visit fellow laureate, Aung
San Suu Kyi, the only
imprisoned Nobel Peace
laureate. The day after
Burmese Independence Day,
thirteen Peace Prize
laureates submitted visa
applications in nine
different countries in a
collective effort to visit
Suu Kyi. In December 2006, a
draft resolution on Burma
was circulated in the UN
Security Council, calling on
the Burmese authorities to
end attacks against
civilians and to release
political prisoners. On 5
January, the Nobel Women’s
Initiative issued a press
release about this action.
Read more in
HR01E07.
TOP
Middle East
For the seventh consecutive
year, Christmas celebrations
took place in a difficult
climate for all peoples in
the Holy Land. Pax Christi
International, the
International Fellowship of
Reconciliation, Church and
Peace, the Justice and Peace
Commission of Jerusalem,
the Presidency of the
Conference of European
Justice and Peace
Commissions, and the Asian
Center for the Progress of
Peoples supported an
initiative put forth by
other partners in
Palestine—the Arab
Educational Institute,
Library on Wheels for
Non-violence and Peace, the
Centre for Conflict
Resolution and
Reconciliation, and the
Wi’am Center. More than 550
messages from all continents
with wishes and prayers for
peace and justice in
Bethlehem 2006 were
communicated to partners in
Bethlehem. The messages were
used during the peace vigils
at the end of the year in
Bethlehem. They have been
also printed in the format
of post cards.
TOP
A new group of 21 Ecumenical
Accompaniers (EAs) recently
began three months working
for the Ecumenical
Accompaniment Programme in
Palestine and Israel (EAPPI),
supported by Pax Christi
International. The new
arrivals bring the total
number of accompaniers to
have participated in the
programme to 346.
The twentieth group of
Ecumenical Accompaniers is
composed of 16 women and
five men, from 6 different
countries (Germany, Norway,
South Africa, Sweden,
Poland, and Switzerland).
The two Polish EAs in the
new group are the first from
their country to participate
in the programme. EAs from
the group are put in seven
placements: Bethlehem,
Hebron, Jayyous, Tulkarem,
Yanoun, Jayyous, and
Jerusalem.
Ecumenical Accompaniers, who
serve a minimum of three
months, work in various
capacities with local
churches, Palestinian and
Israeli NGOs, as well as
Palestinian communities, to
try to reduce the brutality
of the Occupation and
improve the daily lives of
both peoples. For further
information see:
www.eappi.org.
TOP
A greater Christian presence
in the Holy Land will aid
peace efforts, concluded a
meeting of bishops from
North America and Europe.
The eight-day gathering was
the sixth annual meeting of
the Coordination of
Episcopal Conferences in
Support of the Church of the
Holy Land, which seeks to
encourage the solidarity of
Catholics worldwide with
this area.
In a final statement issued
18 January 2007, the bishops
also appealed to the Israeli
government to implement the
Fundamental Agreement that
regulates its relations with
the Catholic Church, and
appealed to the Palestinians
to reject violence and
recognize the state of
Israel. “The Christian
presence is a moderating
influence and is essential
to achieving peace," said
the communiqué. The note
added: "Christians are small
in number but are an
integral part of the people
of Israel and the
Palestinian Territories.
"Their rights must be
guaranteed through
recognition of equality and
improved security, along
with religious rights
enshrined in law." The
prelates continued: "Clearly
something new is needed to
achieve justice and peace so
that Israelis can move
beyond fear, which drives
counterproductive security
policies that oppress the
Palestinian people." The
Palestinians will then be
able to "move beyond anger
and despair, which drives
violence that terrifies the
Israeli people," the
statement said.
The document appealed to
Catholics "to pray for
peace, come on pilgrimage
and undertake other
activities to support" the
Church in the Holy Land. In
addition to the bishops of
North America and Europe,
representatives of Caritas
Internationalis, Pax Christi
International (represented
by Fr. Paul Lansu), Vatican
Radio and the Holy Land
Christian Ecumenical
Foundation were also in
attendance. Read more in
English at
ME05E07
and in Dutch at
ME05D07.
TOP
In a statement issued 25
January 2007, Pax Christi
Flanders called upon the
Belgian government to play a
much stronger role within
the UN Security Council and
the European Union, to
encourage the different
parties involved in the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict
to respect international
law. The international
community should endorse a
Palestinian government which
has the confidence of the
Palestinian people and start
negotiations with Hamas.
Read more in Dutch at
07-0018.
TOP
In March 2007, Pax Christi
USA will be marking the four
years that have passed since
the USA invaded Iraq. An
ever-increasing number of
people are joining the call
to end this destructive war.
Pax Christi USA has
published a sign-on
statement in order to unify
all efforts to end the
occupation. To sign the
statement, which will be
published in the
National Catholic Reporter
during the week fo 19 March,
2007, go to:
www.paxchristiusa.org
TOP
Europe
Pax Christi International
had a stand at the
"Development Village" during
the European Development
Days, which took place in
Brussels, from 15 to 17
November 2006. This first
celebration of Development
Days focused on Africa.
Roundtable themes included:
Consolidation of Social
Rights, State
Rehabilitation, Building a
Culture of Democracy and
Voices of Civil Society. In
the future, the Development
Days will be a major event
of the European Commission
to enhance public awareness
on development cooperation
and to strengthen the
effectiveness of European
development assistance. At
the development village,
different NGOs and
government development
agencies of the 25 EU member
states presented their work.
A full report on the
development days can be
found at:
www.eudevdays.eu
TOP
Pax Christi Netherlands and
the Center for Development
of Serbia visited the Pax
Christi International
Secretariat on 27 November
2006 as part of a study
visit to the European Union
institutions, NGOs and lobby
organisations in Brussels.
Their intention was to raise
the lobbying capacity of
Serbian NGOs. Fourteen
representatives of Serbian
NGOs, many of whom also
attended the 2003 Pax
Christi International
Regional Consultation for
South East Europe,
participated in this visit.
The meeting at the
International Secretariat
focused on the role of Pax
Christi International as an
intermediary between its
Member Organisations and the
political decision-makers in
international institutions.
TOP
Weapons of mass destruction
(WMD) are one of the main
priorities in the field of
disarmament and
demilitarisation. In recent
past, Pax Christi
International has issued
statements and made public
actions on nuclear and
biological weapons. In 2007,
our movement plans to
further develop its position
on chemical weapons.
The Chemical Weapons
Convention requires its
States Party to hold regular
conferences to review the
operation of the Convention.
The First Review Conference
took place in April and May
2003. The Second Review
Conference will take place
from 7 to 18 April 2008. To
prepare for this Conference,
the States Party have
established a Working Group,
chaired by the Permanent
Representative of the United
Kingdom to the OPCW, H.E.
Mr. Lyn Parker, with the
collaboration of vice-chairs
representing the other
regional groups.
The First Review Conference
received input from
interested bodies outside
the Organisation for the
Prohibition of Chemical
Weapons (OPCW), including
NGOs, academics and chemical
industry representatives.
The States Party to the
Chemical Weapons Convention
wish to take advantage of
such input again, as they
prepare for the Second
Review Conference.
The Chairperson of the
Working Group has asked
interested bodies outside
the OPCW, including Pax
Christi International, to
submit views on the
operation of the Chemical
Weapons Convention. Any
interested Member
Organisation of Pax Christi
International is invited to
email the office in Brussels
any suggestions for a
possible written submission.
Please email your drafts and
/or papers to Fr. Paul Lansu,
at
paul@paxchristi.net,
preferably before 1 May
2007.
TOP
Britain’s Bomb: What
Next?
Britain’s
Bomb: What Next?
is a book for every
Christian concerned with the
actions of the current UK
government in relation to
the future defence of the
country. At this time, the
Labour government is likely
to support replacing the
nuclear capacity of the UK,
although there are many
formidable reasons against
such a decision. This book
presents advice and opinions
from experts across a range
of different disciplines on
the question of the future
of Britain’s nuclear
weapons. Brian Wicker of Pax
Christi UK has edited the
book. For further
information or to purchase
the book, email Brian at:
brianwicker@btinternet.com
TOP
The next Review Conference
for the Treaty on the
Non-Proliferation of Nuclear
Weapons (NPT) will take
place in 2010. Leading up to
this Conference, annual
meetings of the Preparatory
Committee of the state
parties will be held. The
first such PrepCom is
scheduled for 30 April to 11
May 2007 in Vienna. NGOs
will have the opportunity to
address the delegations and
distribute their proposals.
The NGO Committee for Peace
met on 17 January 2007 to
prepare the PrepCom. Felix
Bertram, delegate of Pax
Christi International, will
attend the NGO meetings as
well as parts of the PrepCom.
Fr. Paul Lansu, as part of
the Executive Committee of
the International Peace
Bureau, will also be in
Vienna from 4 to 6 May 2007.
For more information email:
Thomas.Schoenfeld@univie.ac.at
TOP
On 23 January 2006, Pax
Christi Germany wrote an
open letter to German
Chancellor Merkel and
Defence Minister Jung asking
to withdraw plans in the
parliament for the
deployment of German
Tornado-planes in South
Afghanistan. Instead, the
situation in Afghanistan
could serve as a basis for a
fundamental debate about the
sense and meaning of foreign
missions of the German army.
At the same time, an exit
strategy for this country
needs to be developed. The
full letter, in German, can
be found at
07-0007.
TOP
Every year, the United
States provides hundreds of
millions of dollars in
subsidies to the
international operations of
oil corporations. These
subsidies are provided
directly through US foreign
assistance and export credit
agencies and indirectly
through institutions like
the World Bank Recent
elections in the United
States have opened up the
possibility that the US
Congress will end tax breaks
to large oil companies.
In December 2006, the
American NGO, Oil Change
International, called on
groups around the world to
endorse a letter pressuring
the US Congress to end both
domestic and international
subsidies in 2007. Foreign
assistance should not be
used to subsidize one of the
most profitable industries
in the world. Marie Dennis,
Vice President of Pax
Christi International, and
Etienne De Jonghe, Secretary
General, endorsed the
letter. For more see:
www.priceofoil.org/
TOP
The recent Stern Report is
not the first text which has
alerted us to the threat to
the planet from climate
change, caused mainly by
unsustainable lifestyle
choices. However, this
report does not adopt the
grimly prophetic tone of
many recent climate studies,
which often prompt
backlashes and the
questioning of their
disastrous predictions. The
Stern report does not hide
the seriousness of the
situation or the profound
risk faced by the planet,
however it places trust in
human logic, instead of
preying on fear. Msgr. Marc
Stenger, Bishop of Troyes
and President of Pax Christi
France wrote some
reflections on the report,
which are available in:
07-0012.
TOP
The “Gandhi 2008
International” event will
bring together
representatives of various
international organisations
working for peace,
nonviolence and social
transformation,
commemorating the 60th
anniversity of Gandhi’s
death. The organisations
that are already involved in
Gandhi 2008 International
are: the Communities of the
Arch of Lanza del Vasto, the
University of Terre du Ciel
(France), the CCFD (Catholic
Committee against Hunger and
for Development, France),
Pax Christi International,
the Shanti Association, and
more. H.B. Michel Sabbah,
Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem
and President of Pax Christi
International, and Etienne
De Jonghe, Secretary General
of Pax Christi
International, also support
this event.
The Gandhi 2008
International Association
and the Gandhi 2008 Indian
Coordination group cordially
invite organisations and
individuals interested in
the Gandhian experience to
honour what he brought to
humanity by participating in
the International Congress
on Peace and Nonviolence in
Sewagram and Wardha, India,
from 29 to 31 January 2008,
or to organize programmes
and meetings in their own
country or region. For more
information email:
gandhi2008@gmail.com
TOP
Pax
Christi UK Celebrates
Annual World Peace Day
A number of Pax Christi
Member Organisations,
including Pax Christi UK,
celebrated the Annual World
Peace Day on 1 January 2007.
The liturgy included the
Message of Pope Benedict
XVI, entitled: “The Human
Person, the Heart of Peace.”
This message was celebrated
in England and Wales on 14
January 2007. Since it was
first introduced in 1967,
Pax Christi has encouraged
parishes and communities to
celebrate the message as one
way of taking up the task of
peacemaking.
In their resource booklet
for parishes, Pax Christi UK
offered homily notes, ideas
for working with children,
and other creative ways of
marking the day. The aim was
to help communities reflect
on all those things that
threaten life: war, poverty,
the death penalty, and the
destruction of creation, and
to uphold the values that
support the gift of life:
peace, nonviolence, respect
and justice. Pax Christi UK
have noted a marked increase
over the past years in
enquiries about Christian
peacemaking, and a demand
for resources and
campaigning materials on
issues ranging from
Trident-replacement to the
plight of Christians in the
Holy Land. Web resources can
be found at:
http://www.paxchristi.org.uk/PeaceSunday.html
TOP
The Kerry Diocesan Justice,
Peace and Creation Committee
of Ireland, a Pax Christi
Member Organisation, also
prepared a liturgy in
celebration of World Peace
Day, which was circulated
around their diocese and
made available on their
website at:
www.dioceseofkerry.ie.
The Message of Pope Benedict
XVI can also be downloaded
from the website of the Holy
See at:
www.vatican.va. On 27
January 2007, the Committee
held also held a seminar on
the Trafficking of Women for
Sexual Exploitation.
TOP
The International European
NGO community with status at
the Council of Europe in
Strasbourg met from 29
January to 1 February 2007.
The delegation of Pax
Christi International
consisted of Jean Pierre
Ribaut, Gérard Valette and
Fr. Paul Lansu. The meeting
of the Catholic NGOs
focussed mainly on
preparation for the upcoming
Third European Ecumenical
Assembly, which will take
place in September 2007 in
Sibiu, Romania. The meeting
of the Conference of INGOs
of the Council of Europe met
on 30 January. For more
information email:
NGO-Unit@coe.int
TOP
Colette Petit moderated the
NGO consultants’ meeting at
UNESCO on 11 January 2007.
Colette Petit and Alain
Thellier de Poncheville
represented Pax Christi
International at the
meeting, which was devoted
mainly to the issue of the
future of the NGO Conference
and the different working
groups. The next meeting is
scheduled for 8 March 2007.
TOP
Approximately 100,000
members of civil society
organisations and local
groups attended the 7th
World Social Forum in
Nairobi, Kenya, which took
place from 20 to 25 January
2007. The Forum opened with
a peace march starting from
Nairobi’s Kibera shantytown,
Africa’s largest slum. This
2007 edition of the Forum
focussed on Africa,
specifically: its
inequalities; its forgotten
wars; the violation of human
rights; and the economic
contradiction that most of
its 830 million-person
population still live below
the poverty line, despite
being a continent rich in
natural resources. Over
1,200 initiatives were
launched, also focussing on
peace, human rights and
health.
Jos De la Haye and Etienne
De Jonghe from the
International Secretariat,
and Marie Dennis, Vice
President of Pax Christi
International, attended
different sessions. In
addition, Social Alert and
Pax Christi joint-hosted a
seminar on human security,
and published a reader on
the topic, which is
available from the
International Secretariat.
TOP
Click here to view the
International Calendar of
upcoming events:
http://storage.paxchristi.net/calendar.pdf.
To unsubscribe from this
list contact
library@paxchristi.net
or write to us
at:
Pax Christi Newsletter, Pax
Christi International, 21
Vieux Marché aux Grains,
B-1000 Brussels, Belgium.
Pax Christi is the
International Catholic Peace
Movement with members
worldwide
For more information visit
our website:
www.paxchristi.net
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