|
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. 162~ July 2007
~ In this issue ~
Claudette Werleigh: New Secretary
General of Pax Christi International
2
The World Always
Needs Peace and Reconciliation.
2
Africa.
2
Uganda: Peace Talks
Resume.
2
Pax Christi Germany
on Raw Materials in DRCongo.
2
Americas & Caribbean.
2
Land Rights in Brazil
2
Asia & Pacific.
2
Sri Lanka: Alleged
Illegal Detention and Torture.
2
NCJP staff saved from
fabricated charges.
2
Middle East
2
Promoting Middle East
Peace: Ending the Occupation.
2
Break the Deadlock!
2
Pax Christi UK Joined
Thousands in London at a Rally for
Palestine.
2
Week of Church Witness for Peace in
Israel & Palestine.
2
Churches together for Peace and Justice
in the Middle East
2
Europe, Help Prevent Civil War in Gaza!
2
Urgent Call from Head of Churches to
Fatah and Hamas.
2
Europe.
2
Pax Christi Germany Present at the 31st
German Evangelical Church Days.
2
Summer Camp in Riga on Dealing with the
Past
2
Flemish volunteer to Moscow.
2
7th Gniezno Convention.
2
Rights for the Victims in Srebrenica.
2
Disarmament & Demilitarisation.
2
Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons.
2
Week of Action against SALW..
2
Governments Show Overwhelming Support
for Arms Treaty.
2
Week of Action in Cambodia.
2
Pax Christi Negros Youth Group supports
the People’s Consultation on the Arms
Trade Treaty.
2
Peace Bureau Deplores Military Spending
Rise, Urges Investments to Counter
Poverty.
2
New Debate on the Continuation of the
German Army's Presence in Afghanistan.
2
Solidarity with Italian Relief Workers
in Afghanistan.
2
Netherlands Suspends Use of Cluster
Munitions.
2
Human Rights, the Rule of Law and
Violent Conflict
2
Institution Building Human Rights
Council
2
Ending Torture – Today!
2
Peace Building.
2
Creation of Networks on Peace and
Environment
2
UN International Day for Peace.
2
Peace Awards Pax Christi UK.
2
Catholic Peace Builders Gather in
Colombia.
2
Education & Youth Work for Peace.
2
International Coalition for the Decade.
2
Non-Violent Social Change.
2
Franz Jägerstätter to Become Martyr for
Peace.
2
Catholic Organisations to Eliminate
Racism in the Church, USA.
2
Non-violence Training for Chechen
Refugees in Belgium..
2
Interfaith and Intercultural Cooperation
for Peace.
2
Dialogues of Cultures for Peace at
UNESCO..
2
Training course on Religious Diversity
and Anti-Discrimination.
2
Developing Peace Spirituality and
Theology.
2
Between the Past and the Future: Pax
Christi Retreat in Auschwitz.
2
Networking.
2
Life and Peace Institute Board of
Directors.
2
International Calendar
2
After
eight years as the Director of the
Conflict Transformation Programme at the
Life & Peace Institute, Claudette
Werleigh moves on to the position as
Secretary General of Pax Christi
International. She describes herself as
“a black woman with origin and cultural
legacy from America and Africa”. With
her experiences and knowledge she leaves
a deep impact on LPI and will continue
to be a bridge-builder in her new
context. Claudette will take office
early November 2007. Read the article
written by Kristina Lundqvist published
in New Routes 2/2007 (read in
07-0657).
TOP
Africa
Uganda: Peace Talks Resume
The ceasefire between the Lord’s
Resistance Army (LRA) and the government
of Uganda is extended until the end of
June 2007; while peace talks are set to
resume in Juba. The talks are
facilitated by Dr. Simon Simonse of
IKV/Pax Christi Netherlands. Since 1998
Pax Christi has been involved in the
search for a negotiated settlement of
the conflict in Northern Uganda. Read an
article taken from NewsNotes (Maryknoll
Office for Global Concerns) of June 2007
in
07-0634.
TOP
Pax Christi
Germany on Raw
Materials in DRCongo
“Yes to the export of raw materials from
the DRCongo – but for heaven’s sake just
to promote peace!” is the title of a
statement by Pax Christi Germany
(Solidarity with Central Africa), dated
4th May 2007. If the DR Congo
wants to achieve the transition from war
to peace, the entire raw material sector
must be reorganised – a demand which is
repeatedly being voiced by Congolese
NGOs too. For years Pax Christi Germany
and the Ecumenical Network Central
Africa have released letters and
statements to point to the necessity of
international action in order to
transform the war economy into a peace
economy. Hardly anything has been done
so far. Read the statement in
07-0643.
TOP
“Notícias da Terra e da Agua” is the
e-Newsletter of the Pastoral Land
Commission, CPT, a member organisation
of Pax Christi International in Brazil
since 1991. The Newsletter offers news
of the last two weeks and notifies its
members about the ongoing projects. CPT
is active in most of the dioceses in
Brazil and gives pastoral assistance to
the landless in the country. Read the
latest Newsletter in Portuguese in
07-0665. More at
www.cptnacional.org.br
TOP
Sri Lanka:
Alleged Illegal Detention and Torture
The Human Rights and Media Resource
Centre, a member organisation of Pax
Christi International in Sri Lanka,
informed the International Secretariat
about two alleged torture cases
committed by Sri Lankan police and
requested an urgent action. In one case,
the 17-year-old victim was illegally
arrested by the Special Investigation
Unit (SIU) of the Vavuniya police on 22
May 2007, and subjected to torture. Pax
Christi International sent letters to
local authorities in Sri Lanka demanding
the prompt and thorough investigation
into the alleged two torture cases and
to take action against those police
officers responsible for these acts.
This action was done in collaboration
with the Asian Human Rights Commission (ahrchk@ahrchk.org).
TOP
Mr. Naeem Asgar of the National
Commission for Justice and Peace (NCJP -
a member organisation of Pax Christi
International in Pakistan) assigned to
work for farmer's rights in Muzaffargarh
district was entangled in a fabricated
case on 11 June 2007. A case No. 168/07
was registered against him by a land
grabber Mr. Haider Shah who accused him
of being involved in theft and causing
injury or hurt. Mr. Naeem was pursuing a
case against the land grabber at Lahore
High Court Bench Multan. A bail before
arrest was secured for Mr. Naeem by
NCJP. On 19th June 2007,
police informed the court that they
wished to close the case, as the accused
had been found innocent after the
investigation.
TOP
Promoting
Middle East Peace:
Ending the Occupation
Pax Christi USA supported major
mobilisation in the USA (10 – 11 June
2007) to bring the Israeli – Palestinian
issue to the forefront of policy makers’
agendas. The organisers also called for
an end to America’s support of Israel’s
occupation and a commitment to work
towards a just peace. The rally in
Washington, DC was held on June 10 and
11th June was the day of
lobbying for peace in the Middle East.
TOP
“Forty Years of Occupation of the
Palestinian Territories: Break the
Deadlock” is a statement by IKV/Pax
Christi and Cordaid (the CIDSE partner)
in the Netherlands. The statement was
signed by 50 prominent persons and was
published in Dutch in different national
Newspapers on 9 June 2007. An English
version was sent to the ambassadors of
Israel, some Arabic countries and the
countries of the European Union in the
Netherlands. Read in English,
07-0586.en and Dutch
07-0586.
TOP
Pax Christi
UK Joined
Thousands in London at a Rally for
Palestine
People from around the UK came to London
on 9th June 2007 in support
of the “Enough: End the Israeli
Occupation of Palestine” rally. The week
of 3 – 9 June 2007 marked the
40th anniversary of the six-day war
and the subsequent Israeli occupation of
Palestine. Similar events took place
around the world. On Pentecost Sunday,
Church leaders of Jerusalem issued the
following statement about the
anniversary:
“This year marks the 40th
anniversary of occupation by the
Israelis of land previously held by
Palestinians. It is totally
unacceptable for the situation to
continue where Palestinians endure daily
hardships and humiliations as well as
deprivation of international human
rights, allegedly to ensure the safety
and security of the Israelis, whereas we
believe the security of Israel is
dependent on the freedom and justice of
the Palestinians.” A host of
speakers urged those taking part to work
for dialogue and political change to
bring justice for the people of
Palestine. Read a report in
07-0594 or go directly to
http://www.paxchristi.org.uk/press.HTML
TOP
Pax Christi International and its member
organisations were active before and
during the event: International Church
Action for Peace in Palestine and
Israel, 3 – 9 June 2007. The issue of
the Week was “End 40 Years of Illegal
Occupation. Negotiate a just peace now!”
This Week of Action was a joint event
with the World Council of Churches
(WCC). Read the overview of actions in
07-0613 or go to
http://www.oikoumene.org/en/events-sections/icappi-2007.html
TOP
WCC member churches and related
organisations from various regions of
the world came together with churches
from the Middle East in Jordan's capital
to inaugurate the Palestine/Israel
Ecumenical Forum. The pilot conference
was an occasion for the Middle Eastern
churches to lay out their expectations
for a just peace and their experiences
of conflict. Churches from other regions
made an important contribution by
sharing lessons they had learned during
deeply rooted conflicts such as in
Colombia, South Africa or the
Philippines. The conference took place
from 17 – 21 June 2007, as churches and
civil society groups around the world
remembered the start of the occupation
of East Jerusalem, the West Bank and
Gaza in 1967. The Palestine/Israel
Ecumenical Forum will coordinate
existing advocacy work carried out by
WCC member churches and promote new
joint efforts for peace. Pax Christi
International was present with H.B.
Michel Sabbah, Latin patriarch of
Jerusalem and President of Pax Christi
International; Fuad Giacaman, Arab
Educational Institute (member
organisation of Pax Christi
International in Bethlehem) and Fr. Paul
Lansu of the International Secretariat.
An “Amman Call” has been adopted. Read
in English
07-0639, in French
07-0639.fr and in German
07-0639.de.
TOP
In a press release issued on 13 June
2007, Pax Christi Flanders urged Belgian
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Karel De
Gucht, to take the lead in a European
Union initiative to stop the increasing
level of violence in the Gaza Strip. The
section also called upon the EU to
normalise its relationship with the
Palestinian Authorities and end its
boycott against Hamas. Read in Dutch,
07-0608.
TOP
On 14 June 2007, the Head of Churches of
Jerusalem, including H.B. Michel Sabbah,
issued an urgent call to the members of
Fatah and Hamas urging them to end the
domestic fighting immediately, to return
to the path of dialogue and to
concentrate on ending the Occupation in
a peaceful manner. Read the call in
English
07-0609.and in German
07-0609.de.
TOP
Europe
Pax Christi
Germany Present at the 31st German
Evangelical Church Days
In continuation of their participation
in ecumenical platforms, such as Forum
Civil Peace Service and the Ecumenical
Network in Germany, the German section
was present at the 31st German
Evangelical Church Days, 6 – 10 June
2007, in Cologne. Specific activities
included a liturgical day on "Overcoming
Violence", and the three-day "Centre for
Nonviolent living and action - here and
in the Middle East". One of the key
lectures, a "Plea for a Return to Peace
Politics in the Middle East", was given
by Prof. Rolf Verleger, member of the
board of the Jewish Central Committee
(Lübeck). A full overview of activities
can be found in document
07-0570.
TOP
Summer Camp
in
Riga on Dealing with the Past
Pax Christi Germany, in co-operation
with the youth department of the German
War Graves Service, is organising a
youth camp in Latvia, 13-27 July 2007.
During the camp, young people
from Germany, Austria, Latvia and Russia
will reflect on the Second World War and
the holocaust together, look for ways to
work towards a peaceful future in Europe
and to develop efforts against racism
and anti-Semitism. The camp will be a
combination of discussion and debate and
work in the memorial sites of Rumbula
and Salaspils (a former concentration
camp and graveyard for prisoners of
war). This camp was prepared during a
'team weekend', 4-6 May, at the Youth
Meeting Centre in Ysselsteyn, the
Netherlands, where the German War Graves
Service has an educational centre
located next to the German war cemetery.
Michael Roekaerts of the International
Secretariat participated in this
preparatory weekend.
TOP
Bart
Fierens is a volunteer who is being sent
by Pax Christi Flanders to work for six
months at the Moscow-based human rights
organisation "Memorial", in particular
at Memorial's European Human Rights
Advocacy Centre. The main aim of Bart's
work will be to explore ways of
involving more Russian youth in NGO work
and human rights issues. He will post
updates on his work on the website of
Pax Christi Flanders (www.paxchristi.net).
For more information on Memorial, please
consult
www.memo.ru
TOP
7th
Gniezno Convention
Members
of Pax Christi in Poland participated in
the 7th Gniezno Convention, 15-17 June
2007. The Gniezno Convention is a unique
meeting place for political authorities,
diverse religious communities, people of
culture, and the common Man. This year’s
Convention focussed on issues such
as “How to make our world more humane?”
Who is the human being; to what extent
does the human person continue to be the
foundation of the civilization of
Europe? How shall we build the European
Union so that it may be the "Europe Of
the Human Being" rather than an
institution of heartless bureaucracy?
The Club for Catholic Intelligentsia of
Warsaw, a new Partner Organisation of
Pax Christi International in
Poland, organised a college on "What is
the Human Being: Christianity, Judaism,
Islam". The Centre for Dialogue and
Prayer in Auschwitz, a partner of the
German section in Poland, organised
a college on "Human Being? - After
Auschwitz and Gulag". Dr Agata
Skowron-Nalborczyk, a member of Pax
Christi Warsaw, moderated a debate on
"Christianity and Islam and the Future
of Europe". More information is
available on
www.euroforum.pl
TOP
More than 8.000 people were killed in
the Bosnian enclave Srebrenica in 1995.
On 11 July 2007, these victims will be
buried in Potocari. The theme is
“Srebrenica: never forgot!” A
commemorative event will take place in
The Hague on 11 July and a Dutch
delegation, headed by IKV/Pax Christi
will attend the ceremony in Potocari,
Srebrenica.
TOP
The Africa – Europe Faith and Justice
Network, AEFJN, held its annual “contact
persons day” in Rome on 1 June 2007. The
AEFJN is a faith-based international
network mandated by 48 Catholic
Religious and Missionary Institutes
working in Africa and Europe that
promotes equitable economic relations
between Africa and Europe. One of the
four issues AEFJN is dealing with is
“Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons”
(SALW). On 1 June, Mark Barwick and Paul
Lansu of the International Pax Christi
Secretariat gave a presentation on the
work of Pax Christi International on
this issue, especially in Africa, and on
advocacy in general. Read the
contribution of Paul Lansu in
07-0536.
TOP
The international week against violence
caused by small arms and light weapons,
SALW, took place from 11 – 17 June 2007.
The main issue of this Week for World
Action was to create awareness among
people about the problems of armed
violence using national and
international media. Last year,
activities were organised in more than
60 countries, and Parliamentarians, UN
Agencies, women’s groups as well as
Peace Activists, including member
organisations of Pax Christi
International, were involved. Press
conferences, Press releases, public
gatherings, interviews and posters and
slogans kept alive the attention of
people on this issue. You can find
examples of some previous activities on
this site:
http://www.iansa.org/control_arms/100days/activities.htm
TOP
Campaigners around the world are
celebrating a significant victory after
more than 80 governments participated in
the UN consultation process on an Arms
Trade Treaty.
The arms trade has no effective global
controls at present. The proposed treaty
would establish global standards that
could save thousands of lives and hold
irresponsible arms dealers accountable
for their actions. Read the press
release in
07-0655
TOP
The Working Group for Weapons Reduction
(WGWR), member organisation of Pax
Christi International in Cambodia,
organised a workshop on National and
Global Action against Gun Violence on 15
June 2007.The aim was to raise awareness
about gun proliferation and misuse and
to highlight the need for a global Arms
Trade Treaty, ATT. The workshop took
place at the Russian Centre of Science
and Culture with around 100 students,
NGO representatives, journalists and
government officials participating. The
WGWR issued a press release “Campaigner
encourages continuation of government’s
actions against Gun Violence” on 15 June
2007 and is available in
07-0633.
TOP
Last March 20-24, 2007, Pax Christi
Negros Youth Group and the Philippine
Action Network on Small Arms (PhilANSA)
joined efforts for the success of the
People’s Consultation on the Arms Trade
Treaty. Based in Bacolod City, Pax
Christi Negros Youth Group provided the
necessary assistance and coordination
with local contacts for the Visayas leg
of the said consultation. Read the
report in
07-0614.
TOP
In a press release issued on 12 June
2007, the
International Peace Bureau expressed
profound concern at the announcement by
the Stockholm International Peace
Research Institute (SIPRI) that world
military expenditures in 2006 reached a
new high of $1204 billion. The
announcement was made at the launch of
SIPRI’s annual Yearbook (www.sipri.org).
This represents an increase of 3.5% over
the 2005 figures for military
expenditure, and is 37% more than a
decade ago. The USA accounted for nearly
half the total, with $529 billion. These
amounts constitute a huge treasury that
should be re-directed to the fight
against mass poverty and the threat of
climate change. Pax Christi
International is a member organisation
of IPB. Read in
07-0605.
TOP
In
a statement dated 24 May 2007, Reinhard
Voss, Secretary General of the German
section, deplored the attacks against
German soldiers and civilians in Kunduz.
The soldiers who were killed were
engaged in an effort for national
reconstruction (ISAF). This attack
proves that the spiral of violence is
getting bigger and bigger. In this
respect, the logic of this military
deployment can be questioned again. What
Afghanistan needs is a broad concept for
peaceful development and reconstruction,
national negotiations involving all
parties, a reduction of drugs
harvesting, and an encouragement of the
economy and educational system. The full
statement can be found here in German:
07-0636.
TOP
On 31st May 2007, Pax Christi
Italy, jointly with the Union of Islamic
Communities and the Federation of
Protestant Churches in Italy, made a
public statement for the protection of
those people who are doing emergency
relief in situations such as those in
Afghanistan and elsewhere. The Italian
government has been urged to intervene
in some specific cases with the
government of Afghanistan. More via
e-mail:
info@paxchristi.it
TOP
Netherlands
Suspends Use of Cluster Munitions
On 27th June 2007, the Dutch
government announced a moratorium on the
use of cluster munitions, as the
Parliamentary Commission on Defence held
a hearing on the weapon. However, the
government has left the door open to
possible use in the future. The
Netherlands is one of a growing group of
75 states participating in an
international process to conclude a new
treaty by 2008 prohibiting cluster
munitions that cause unacceptable harm
to civilians. The process was launched
in Oslo, Norway in February 2007.
IKV/Pax Christi is the coordinator of
NGO-Coalition in the Netherlands on
cluster munitions. Read the press
release in
07-0664.
TOP
Institution
Building Human Rights Council
Enrique Sierra, delegate of Pax Christi
International at the Human Rights
Council in Geneva, attended the NGO
meeting with the President of the
Council on 6th June 2007. The
discussion focussed on the mechanisms
and institution-building of the Council
and the role of the NGO related to
that. The fifth session of the Council
took place in Geneva from 11 – 18 June
2007. On 26th June 2007, the
Special Committee of NGOs on Human
Rights, held a debriefing on the outcome
of the institution-building process in
the UN Human Rights Council.
TOP
Pax Christi USA continues its work to
end torture and support torture
survivors through the relationship with
the Torture Abolition and Survivors
Support Coalition, TASSC. June was the
“Torture Awareness Month.” Members of
Pax Christi USA have been invited to
join different actions against torture.
More at
www.paxchristiusa.org
TOP
Peace
Building
At the request of Pax Christi France,
Pax Christi International invited its
member organisations to help with the
creation of different networks of
Christians and Christian organisations
in their countries on the issue of
“peace and environment.” Such a
development of networks could be carried
out on the occasion of the 3rd
Ecumenical Assembly in Sibiu, Romania, 4
– 8 September 2007. In France, a
Christian Network “Peace, Environment
and Lifestyle” has already been formed
by the Protestant Federation of France,
the National Commission Justice and
Peace and Pax Christi France. They
developed a charter, which can be read
in French,
07-0580. The proposal for the
creation of networks in Europe can be
read in French,
07-0579. A second proposal is
related to “Migration and the
Environment.” Read in French,
07-0663.
TOP
WCC member churches and member
organisations of Pax Christi
International worldwide are invited to
pray for peace on 21st
September 2007. The International Day of
Prayer for Peace offers an opportunity
for church communities in all places to
pray and act together to nurture lasting
peace in the hearts of people, their
families, communities and societies. The
idea was proposed in 2004 during a
meeting between WCC general secretary
Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia and UN Secretary
General Kofi Annan (press
release), and coincides with the UN
International Day of Peace. The Day of
Prayer is one of the initiatives of the
WCC's Decade to Overcome Violence in
which Pax Christi International
participates. Let the WCC know if you
will be taking part on this day by
sending an email to Susan Lee at
sle@wcc-coe.org. You can now
download the brochure of the
International Day of Prayer for Peace
(IDPP) 2007 here:
http://overcomingviolence.org/en/about-the-dov/international-day-of-prayer-for-peace/resources.html
TOP
On 17th June 2007, at a
packed meeting in Central London, Pax
Christi members and supporters honoured
and acknowledged six peacemakers of our
time whose work spans several
continents: from Northern Ireland and UK
to Iraq. Pax Christi instituted the
award, given every two years, in 2001,
to acknowledge the steadfast commitment
of grass-roots peace work. Those
receiving the award from
Bishop Malcolm McMahon,
President of Pax Christi, were
Brian Wicker, Sr Lelia Newman op,
Patricia and Michael Pulham, Tom Mallon
and
Milan Rai.
Read more in
07-0647.
TOP
Bogota, Colombia, has been the site of
this year’s Catholic Peacebuilding
Network conference. Church leaders,
scholars and peacebuilding practitioners
from around the world gathered during
the week of 24 to 29 June 2007, to share
wisdom and focus on solutions for
achieving a just and lasting peace. The
delegation of Pax Christi International
consisted of Marie Dennis, new elected
Co-President Pax Christi International,
Claudette Werleigh, new Secretary
General, Martha Inés Romero, new elected
member of the ExCom from CRS Colombia,
and Msgr. Antonio Ledesma, Bishop
President of Pax Christi Philippines.
Read the press release in
07-0662.
TOP
The General Assembly of the
International Coalition for the Decade
took place in Paris on 5th
June 2007. The ExCom of the Coalition
also met on Monday 4th and
Tuesday 5th June 2007 in
Paris. Pax Christi International is a
member of this Coalition and Colette
Petit is the representative of the
movement in the ExCom. Paul Lansu of the
International Secretariat attended the
meetings. The Coalition issues a
Newsletter in English and French twice a
year. The 3rd International Salon for
Peace will be held in Paris 30 May – 1
June 2008. More at
www.nvpdecade.org
TOP
On 1st June 2007, the
Congregation for the Causes of Saints
announced its plans for beatification of
Franz Jägerstätter, the Austrian farmer
who was beheaded in Brandenburg,
Germany, on 9 August 1943, having
refused to fight in Hitler’s army. Pax
Christi member organisations have been
promoting the beatification for a long
time. Pax Christi sections commemorate
the anniversary of Franz Jägerstätter
with ecumenical services and have
organised pilgrimages to St. Radegund
for many years. Read the press release
of Pax Christi UK in
07-0566. More at
www.jaegerstaetter.at
TOP
During the weekend of 17 – 19 May 2007,
Pax Christi USA was the host of an
historic gathering on anti-racism within
the American Catholic Church. Over 25
national Catholic organisations joined
together to analyse racism within the
Church and society and begin the process
of network building toward transforming
the Church into a truly anti-racist,
multicultural institution. Read the
press release in
07-0576.
TOP
Pax Christi Flanders is organising a
one-week training course between 9 and
13 July 2007 on "assuring your rights
without resorting to violence". During
the training, the second one in two
years, 20 Chechen youth living in
Belgium will receive information on the
importance of human rights, the Belgian
juridical system, the relation between
the police and the citizens, and how to
lodge a complaint when your rights are
violated. For more information contact
annemarie.gielen@paxchristi.be
TOP
Colette Petit, delegate of Pax Christi
International at UNESCO in Paris, made
an intervention at the Commission
“Dialogue between Cultures for Peace” on
26th April 2007. The
contribution refers to actions of Pax
Christi International and some of its
member organisations in favour of a
dialogue among different cultures. Read
the statement in
07-0560.
TOP
On 4th and 5th
June 2007, Michael Roekaerts of the
International Secretariat participated
in a training course dealing with
religious diversity. This
training, organised by CEJI, used highly
interactive and participatory methods to
deal with general prejudice and
discrimination. The training seeks to
provide adult educators with tools to be
used in situations where religious
diversity and discrimination are
concerns.
TOP
Pax Christi Aachen, in collaboration
with Pax Christi Germany, Pax Christi
members in Poland and the Center for
Dialogue and Prayer in Oswiecim, is
planning a retreat with reflections,
prayers, guided visits and meetings in
Auschwitz from 28th December
2007 to 2nd January 2008.
“Between the Years” is the title of the
programme and refers to the past and the
future. More via e-mail:
pax-christi.aachen@t-online.de
TOP
The 15-member LPI Board of Directors,
representing Asia, Africa, the Americas
and Europe, assembled in June 2007 in
Nairobi, Kenya, for its annual meeting.
In addition to regular matters, the
board members attended a variety of
seminars; for example “Christian –
Muslim-Dynamics.” A special round table
with a selective group of participants
was arranged to review peacebuilding
work in Africa by LPI and other
ecumenical organisations. Etienne De
Jonghe, Secretary General of Pax Christi
International attended as a member of
the Board. Peter Brune, Director of LPI
and Consultant of the Executive
Committee of Pax Christi International
was facilitator at the meetings. More at
www.life-peace.org
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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