Pax Christi International ~
Newsletter no. 166~ November 2007
~ In
this issue ~
Triennial World Assembly.
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Triennial World Assembly: Pax Christi International
PAGEREF _Toc182730993 \h 2
Farewell Etienne De Jonghe.
PAGEREF _Toc182730994 \h 2
New Presidency.
PAGEREF _Toc182730995 \h 3
New Members Executive Committee.
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New Vice Presidents.
PAGEREF _Toc182730997 \h 3
Outcome of TWA.
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Resolutions passed at the TWA.
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New Member Organisations.
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Visit to Ypres and War Cemeteries.
PAGEREF _Toc182731001 \h 4
Obituary.
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Africa. PAGEREF
_Toc182731003 \h 4
Burundi President Honours IPI Leader’s Peace Work.
PAGEREF _Toc182731004 \h 4
DRC Member Organisation Joins in Campaign against Death Penalty.
PAGEREF _Toc182731005 \h 5
Sudan’s Oil Industry.
PAGEREF _Toc182731006 \h 5
Americas & Caribbean.
PAGEREF _Toc182731007 \h 5
Regional Elections in Haiti
PAGEREF _Toc182731008 \h 5
Violations of Human Rights in Port-au-Prince Reported.
PAGEREF _Toc182731009 \h 5
Activities of Pax Christi Port-au-Prince.
PAGEREF _Toc182731010 \h 5
Failing to comply with the IACHR recommendations on Msgr. Romero’s case.
PAGEREF _Toc182731011 \h 6
Called Together to be Peacemakers.
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Asia & Pacific. PAGEREF
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Another Religious Leader / Aid Worker Killed in Sri Lanka.
PAGEREF _Toc182731014 \h 6
Challenges and Responses Pakistan.
PAGEREF _Toc182731015 \h 6
NCJP Urges Pakistani Government to Take Steps to Curb Religious
Extremism..
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Call for Immediate Withdrawal of Emergency in Pakistan.
PAGEREF _Toc182731017 \h 7
Justice, Peace and Development in South Asia.
PAGEREF _Toc182731018 \h 7
Article 9 in Japan.
PAGEREF _Toc182731019 \h 7
The Courage of the People of Burma is an Example for our Leaders.
PAGEREF _Toc182731020 \h 8
Middle East PAGEREF
_Toc182731021 \h 8
Palestine-Israel Ecumenical Forum - PIEF.
PAGEREF _Toc182731022 \h 8
Seminar Hopes for Peace in Middle East
PAGEREF _Toc182731023 \h 8
Open the Doors of Gaza!
PAGEREF _Toc182731024 \h 8
Civil Peace Service in Palestine and Israel
PAGEREF _Toc182731025 \h 9
Diary Report of Pax Christi UK’s Visit to Israel and Palestine.
PAGEREF _Toc182731026 \h 9
Interfaith Fast to End Iraq War in USA.
PAGEREF _Toc182731027 \h 9
Dialogue and Diplomacy with Iran Urgently Needed.
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Europe. PAGEREF
_Toc182731029 \h 10
Pax Christi Ireland.
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Health Care and Undocumented Migrants.
PAGEREF _Toc182731031 \h 10
Remember Anna Politkovskaja in Russia.
PAGEREF _Toc182731032 \h 10
Alfons Erb Anniversary in Germany.
PAGEREF _Toc182731033 \h 10
Disarmament & Demilitarisation.
PAGEREF _Toc182731034 \h 10
Survivors and States Join Forces against Cluster Bombs.
PAGEREF _Toc182731035 \h 10
Global Day of Action Against Cluster Bombs.
PAGEREF _Toc182731036 \h 11
Geneva Briefing: Addressing the Humanitarian Impact of Cluster Munitions.
PAGEREF _Toc182731037 \h 11
Change Strategy in Afghanistan!
PAGEREF _Toc182731038 \h 11
Armament or Disarmament?.
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Human Rights, Rule of Law & Violent Conflict
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Human Rights Council Geneva.
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Human Dignity and Humanitarian Law and Role of Religions in Rome.
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Human Security & Violent Conflict
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Books or Bombs?.
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IPB Award for Disarmament Diplomat
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No Solution to Climate Change without Reclaiming Resources Spent on the
Military.
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Peace Building. PAGEREF
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UNESCO Paris.
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PeaceNet meeting at the Pax Christi International Office in Brussels.
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Interfaith and Intercultural Cooperation for Peace.
PAGEREF _Toc182731050 \h 14
Developing Peace Spirituality and Theology.
PAGEREF _Toc182731051 \h 14
Beatification of Franz Jägerstätter in Austria.
PAGEREF _Toc182731052 \h 14
Advent Prayers Pax Christi USA.
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Marie Dennis awarded by the Franciscan Missionary Service of North
America.
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International Calendar
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“Remember – Reaffirm – Renew: Acting together for Peace” was the theme
and appeal of the Triennial World Assembly of Pax Christi International.
The assembly took place in the cities of Torhout and Bruges, Belgium
from the 30th of October to the 4th of November
2007. Over 100 delegates representing different Member Organisations
from more than 50 countries across the world were in attendance.
Participants reflected on the vision and mission of Pax Christi
International on numerous global concerns. The assembly also gave
participants a chance to discuss and agree upon a strategic framework
for the Pax Christi Movement for the period of 2008- 2010.
TOP
The Triennial World Assembly also provided delegates with an opportunity to bid a fond farewell to Etienne De Jonghe, who retired as Secretary General of Pax Christi International after 29 years of dedicated service. A number of formal messages of thanks and farewell were presented to Etienne during the TWA, including an official recognition from Church authorities.
Pax Christi International has grown considerably under Etienne’s leadership - from the relatively small number of national sections in existence when he assumed office to the worldwide network of Member Organisations, which now define the movement. Etienne has been the dynamic force behind this transformation, assisted of course by a dedicated team of staff and international volunteers in Brussels, and especially by his wife, Magda Van Damme - all of whom have played a key part in bringing about such positive development.
On Sunday, 4th November, a special Eucharistic celebration was held at St. Salvators Cathedral, and was presided by the Bishop of Bruges, Msgr. Roger Vangheluwe, in concelebration with all the bishops present. In the afternoon, a Round Table entitled “Pax Christi: The Journey Continues!” was held at the Provincial Hof, followed by a goodbye party for Etienne in the evening.
Claudette Werleigh officially accepted her new responsibilities as Secretary General of Pax Christi International on the 3rd of November 2007. Claudette has been involved with the Pax Christi movement for many years.
TOP
The TWA was also an opportunity to
for Pax Christi International to welcome Archbishop Laurent Monsengwo
and Marie Dennis as the new Presidents of the movement. Their 3-year
mandate as co-presidents begins with this TWA. H.B. Michel Sabbah, the
Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, has been International President since
June 1999.
TOP
A special word of welcome was given
to the new members of the Executive Committee (Martha Iñes Romero,
Colombia; Hans Kruijssen, the Netherlands; Kevin McBride, Aotearoa/New
Zealand; Bishop Marc Stenger, France; Maria Luisa Da Silva Gregório
Francisco, Portugal; Hana Nassif, Lebanon; and Katarina Kruhonja,
Croatia). A word of thanks was addressed to the outgoing members of the
ExCom in particular the outgoing President, H.B. Michel Sabbah.
TOP
Loreta Castro from the Philippines,
Laura Vargas from Peru and Bishop Kevin Dowling from South Africa were
elected by the AGM as the new Vice Presidents of Pax Christi
International.
TOP
Participants discussed the Strategic
Framework of Pax Christi International and identified major concerns and
strategies which offer a guide to action on both the international as
well as on the regional (continental) level.
TOP
Resolutions were adopted on the urgent matters of Iraq (English
07-01109, French
07-01109.fr and Spanish
07-01109.es) and Burma (English
07-01113 and French
07-01113.fr). Other issues reflected on Rwanda (French
07-01105 and English
07-01105.en); Conscientious Objection (English
07-01110 and Spanish
07-01110.es); Peace and the Environment (French
07-01114.fr and English
07-0114); Economic Violence (French
07-01118 and English
07-01118.en); Endorsement of the UN Declaration on Rights of the
Indigenous Peoples (English
07-01121 and French
07-01121.fr), and An appeal to the UN to include in the agenda of
the 2008 General Assembly the discussion of Puerto Rico’s colonial
situation (English
07-011126 and Spanish
07-01126.es).
TOP
On
the 29th of October 2007, the ExCom accepted three new member
organisations: Family Mediation and Conciliation (FAMEC) in Kenya;
Centre de Recherche et d’Action pour la Paix (CERAP) in the Ivory Cost;
and the Lebanese Association for Civil Rights, Lebanon. This brings the
total number of Member Organisations of Pax Christi International to
104.
TOP
Visit to
Ypres and War Cemeteries
On
Friday 2nd November (All Souls Day), participants visited the
peace museum of Flanders Fields in Ypres and held meditation/prayers for
peace at the different war cemeteries of World War I. The press release
is available in English
07-01098 and French
07-01098.fr.
TOP
We have heard the sad news of the
passing away of Hans Anton Ederer who died on
Wednesday 7th November 2007 at a
hospital in Brugge, Belgium. His wife Monika was with him when he died.
Hans Anton was with us on Sunday, 4th November to celebrate
and to thank Etienne De Jonghe and Magda Van Damme. Hans Anton has been
an active member in Pax Christi Austria and also in the regional group
of Pax Christi in Graz. He participated in the European Ecumenical
Assembly in Sibiu in early September 2007, and on the 26th of
October 2007, he attended the beatification of Franz Jägerstätter in
Linz, Austria. The International Secretariat of Pax Christi wants to
offer its sincere condolences and Christian prayers. We pray that God
will bless him with eternal life. May he rest in peace.
Messages
from the Co-Presidents of Pax Christi International
Moved by the sad news of passing away
of our brother and friend Anton, I offer to his wife Monika and the
whole family as well as our friends of Pax Christi Austria my sincere
and prayerful condolence. May God reward him eternal salvation and the
peace for which he dedicated his life on earth.
L. Monsengwo Pasinya
Co-President
of PCI
I join
Archbishop Monsengwo in sending my very deepest sympathy to the family
of Hans Anton Ederer, especially to his wife, Monika. I will remember
Hans Anton, his family and all of Pax Christi Austria in prayer in the
coming weeks. May God grant him eternal rest.
In Peace,
Marie Dennis
Co-President of PCI
TOP
Africa
Burundi President Honours IPI Leader’s Peace Work
President Pierre Nkurunziza has appointed Mussie Hailu as Honorary
Ambassador-at-large of the Republic of Burundi, in order to promote
peace, national reconciliation and development in Africa. Mussie Hailu
is the Board chair for the Interfaith Peacebuilding Initiative (IPI), a
Member Organisation in Ethiopia. For more information on IPI, please
contact
IPI@ethionet.et.
TOP
Arche
d’Alliance, a Member Organisation in DR Congo, is part of a national
campaign to abolish the death penalty in the Democratic Republic of
Congo (DRC). The Congolese association joined with others in Bukavu and
Uvira in activities to commemorate the 10th of October, World
Day against the Death Penalty. Conferences, radio programmes and other
public educational events were planned in an effort to press the DRC
government to declare a national moratorium on the use of capital
punishment. The neighbouring country Rwanda abolished the death penalty
in July this year. For more information, please write to
archedalliance@yahoo.fr.
TOP
Sudan’s Oil Industry
The European Coalition on Oil in Sudan, ECOS, has
produced a fact sheet with the latest information on the economy of
Sudan's oil industry, which can now be accessed on the website
www.ecosonline.org under the
sections oil reports and news. PCI is a member of ECOS. For further
information, please contact Egbert Wesselink at
wesselink@ecosonline.org
TOP
Americas &
Caribbean
The
Executive Committee of the National Commission for Justice and Peace, a
Member Organisation in Haiti, met from the 1st to the 5th
of October 2007 in Port-au-Prince. The members represented the different
regions of the country. The ExCom issued a press release on the 4th
of October expressing concern over the possible institutional crisis,
which may occur by not proceeding towards elections for new assemblies
and councils for the different regions. The press release is available
in Creole and French, Ref:
07-01062.
TOP
The
National Commission for Justice and Peace, Haiti, has also published a
report of human rights violations in the metropolitan region of
Port-au-Prince. The report covers the period from July – September 2007
and is published mainly in Creole with a French summary. The report is
addressed to the political authorities and to the police. The report is
available in Creole and French, Ref:
07-01107.
TOP
Junior St Vil, Executive Director of Pax Christi in Haiti, attended Pax
Christi International’s First Regional Consultation for Latin America
held in Peru, in August 2007. Junior presented the history and
activities of the Pax Christi group such as promoting peace through
social projects and workshops with youth groups. He also explained the
process of disarming, demobilisation and re-integration in his country.
Read a short note in Ref:
07-01068.
TOP
Eighty-two civil society organisations sent a letter to Msgr. Fernando
Saenz Lacalle, President of the Bishops Conference of El Salvador,
asking him to support the recommendations made by the Inter-American
Commission of Human Rights (IACHR) to the Salvadoran government in 2000
regarding the case of Msgr. Oscar Romero (murdered in 1980). During a
follow-up hearing in Washington D.C, on October 10th, the
IACHR received a report from the Salvadoran government, and also a
report presented by the petitioners: the Legal Protection Office of the
Archdiocese of San Salvador – a Member Organisation– and CEJIL (Center
for Justice and International Law). The Salvadoran State does not accept
responsibility at all in this case and it has not complied with IACHR
recommendations either. It is a matter of concern that, during the
hearing, the government affirmed having conversations with diocesan
authorities regarding the case. Please read the IACHR report (in
English) at
http://www.cidh.org/annualrep/99eng/merits/elsalvador11.481.htm.
The letter of the civil society
organisations is available at Ref:
07-01164.
TOP
Pax Christi USA Bishop-President
Gabino Zavala participated in the "Called Together to Be Peacemakers"
conference on the 30th and 31st of July 2007. The
Conference was a dialogue between Mennonites and Catholics at the
University of Notre Dame. In his presentation entitled "Our Commitment
to Peace," Bishop Gavala elevated the call to abolish war. For more
information log on to:
http://www.bridgefolk.net/theology/colloquia.php
TOP
Asia & Pacific
It is
with deep sadness that we heard of the killing of Rev. Fr. Nicholas
Pillai Pakiaranjith, a Catholic priest from the Diocese of Mannar. He
had been working to assist and protect internally displaced peoples (IDPs)
in and around Mannar, as the District Coordinator of the international
church agency Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS). The Human Rights and Media
Resource Center, a Member Organisation in Sri Lanka, has called for all
parties involved in the violent conflict to respect international
humanitarian law. The press release is available in Ref:
07-01031 and the letter
to the President of Sri Lanka is available in Ref:
07-01058.
TOP
Challenges and Responses Pakistan
In
view of the prevailing situation in Pakistan, the National (Catholic)
Commission for Justice and Peace (NCJP) and the Christian Study Centre
(CSC), held a National Consultation entitled “Challenges and Responses –
2007” at Rawalpindi on the 2nd and 3rd of October,
2007. The religious leadership of the Catholic Church of Pakistan, human
rights activists, educationists and the representatives of the Christian
community organisations were invited to participate in the consultation.
The content of the consultation covered Religious extremism and response
of the Churches / bodies; Democracy and General Elections – 2008
minorities’ perspective; Civil society in Pakistan; Blasphemy laws and
Education reforms. NCJP is a Member Organisation in Pakistan.
TOP
NCJP Urges Pakistani Government to Take Steps to
Curb Religious Extremism
The
NCJP in Pakistan has condemned the bomb attacks in Karachi that resulted
in 139 casualties and several hundred injured during a welcome
procession (18th October, 2007) for the former Prime Minister
Benazir Bhutto. A joint statement issued on the 19th of
October 2007 by Archbishop Lawrence J. Saldanha and Mr. Peter Jacob,
Chairperson and Executive Secretary of NCJP said, “We strongly condemn
this loss of innocent lives and express solidarity and condolences with
the families of the deceased.” The press release is available in Ref:
07-01111.
TOP
The world is holding its
breath in view of the developments in Pakistan.
There are
fears that Pakistan may be heading
towards a civil war. The International Peace Bureau, IPB, of which Pax
Christi International is a member, has called for attention and actions
from human rights and peace organisations all over the world. The IPB
issued a statement, which is available in Ref:
07-01154.
Claudette Werleigh, Secretary General of Pax Christi International,
wrote a letter of concern to President General Pervez Musharraf to urge
his government to abide by the rule of law and respect the bounds of the
Constitution of Pakistan (read in Ref:
07-01153).
An overview of the situation after the emergency has been prepared by
the NCJP, a Member Organisation in Pakistan, which is available in Ref:
07-01155.
TOP
Control of the
Pro-Taliban Militants’ Increase as the Government Concentrates on
Crushing the Voice of Civil Society
Pro-Taliban militants took control of a police station, paramilitary
forces camp, and other government buildings in Kalam on November 7th,
extending their hold over Swat valley, as the government machinery
carried out a crack down on the lawyers, human rights activists and the
politicians of Pakistan. The NCJP
issued an update on
these developments, dated the 8th of November 2007, which is
available in Ref:
07-01171.
TOP
The
First ever South Asian Colloquium of the Commissions for Justice and
Peace was held in Bangalore from the 16th to the 19th
of September, 2007. The Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Lopez Quintana
inaugurated the Colloquium while the valedictory address was given by
the President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, His
Eminence Cardinal Renato Martino. There were 70 delegates from the South
Asian countries, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and India. The
organiser of the meeting was the National Commission for Justice, Peace
and Development, a Member Organisation in India. The report is available
in Ref:
07-01041.
TOP
The
Catholic Council for Justice and Peace, a Member Organisation in Japan,
made an update of the international campaign and plea to peace loving
people around the world to protect and keep Article 9 of Japan’s Peace
Constitution. The government seeks to revise Article 9 in order to
permit Japan to maintain de jure military forces to be dispatched
anywhere in the world. Sr. Filo Hirota made a short presentation of the
campaign at a Special Session on Disarmament held at Pax Christi
International on the 5th of November 2007 in Brussels. More
information is available in English in Ref:
07-01082, in Spanish in
Ref:
07-01082.es and in
French in Ref:
07-01082.fr.
TOP
Pax
Christi Wallonie-Bruxelles, together with the Justice and Peace
Commission and Entraide et Fraternité in Belgium, issued a press
statement on the 16th of October 2007 concerning the brutal
oppression of the nonviolent civilian protesters, amongst thousands of
monks and nuns, by the military dictatorship in Burma/Myanmar. They
regret that the international community is not putting enough pressure
on the junta which continues being in power since 1962. The three NGOs
are calling Belgian authorities to put pressure on the junta, and have
appealed to some key countries such as India, Russia and China to
condemn the dictatorships’ policies. The press release is available in
French, Ref:
07-01093.
TOP
Middle East
The
core-group of PIEF met at the World Council of Churches in Geneva on the
17th and 18th of September 2007. PIEF intends to
be an instrument that will bring about and coordinate new and existing
church advocacy for peace. It is an expression of the churches’
commitment to inter-religious action for peace and justice that serves
all the people in the region. The Forum is a participatory group of
churches and organisations meeting, interacting and cooperating in order
to further a common cause. PIEF is working on both, immediate-action
oriented strategies and long-term transformative strategies pointing
towards healing and reconciliation in the context of a just peace. Fr.
Paul Lansu of the International Secretariat is member of the WCC core
group, which will meet next in Jerusalem from the 16th to the
19th of January 2008. The PIEF Assembly is scheduled for
December 2008. The Holy Land Co-ordination that brings together Roman
Catholic bishops from North America and Europe will meet in the Holy
Land from the 12th to the 17th of January 2008.
TOP
The
German section of the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine
and Israel, EAPPI, is planning a seminar about the future and hopes for
the Middle East, especially in Israel and Palestine. The seminar took
place in the Katholische Akademie in Aachen, Germany, from the 2nd
to the 4th of November 2007. Fuad Giacaman, Director of the
Arab Educational Institute, a Member Organisation in Palestine, was one
of the main speakers. Pax Christi Germany is part of the EAPPI.
E-mail:
gisela.koechig@bistumaachen.de
TOPP
In a
press release issued on the 15th
07-010922.
TOP
From
January 2008 onwards, Jochen Stoll from Pax Christi Diocese
Rottenburg-Stuttgart (Germany) starts his Civil Peace Service in
Palestine and Israel. The main task is to stimulate the inter-religious
dialogue in the context of human rights and international law. Jochen
works closely with member organisations of Pax Christi International in
Palestine (Arab Educational Institute and the Centre for Conflict
Resolution and Reconciliation in Bethlehem) as well as with the Rabbis
for Human Rights in Israel. For more information please e-mail:
paxchristi.rs@gaia.de
TOP
Pat
Gaffney, Secretary General, and Ann Farr, member of the Executive
Committee of Pax Christi UK paid a visit to Israel and Palestine from
the 1st to the 10th of October 2007. The purpose
of this visit was primarily to renew contact with partners and friends
in Bethlehem at the Arab Educational Institute. Their work has expanded
with a new project, the Peace-Sumud House. They wanted to discover how
Pax Christi UK might better cooperate with this work. In addition, Pat
and Ann wanted to learn about the work of the Israeli Committee Against
House Demolitions, and of the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in
Palestine and Israel (Pax Christi International – and a number of
national Pax Christi sections support this programme) in order to better
promote their work within the membership network and church groups in
the UK. The Diary report is available in Ref:
07-01104.
TOP
Religious leaders representing tens of millions of Americans stood in
the shadow of the U.S. Capitol and called religious communities of
various traditions to a day of fasting and prayer to end the Iraq war on
the 30th of September 2007. Members of Pax Christi USA
participated. The press article is available in Ref:
07-01035.
TOP
On
the 3rd of November 2007, the Executive Committee of Pax
Christi International issued a statement “Dialogue and Diplomacy with
Iran Urgently Needed. Do not Rely on Military Solutions.” The statement
is addressed to the Secretary General of the United Nations, to the
President of the USA and to all Heads of States of the European Union.
Read the statement in English in Ref:
07-01158 and in French
in Ref:
07-01158.fr. The
International Peace Bureau, IPB, of which Pax Christi International is a
member, also issued a statement. The IPB Statement can be found in Ref:
07-01160. A “Statement
of US Catholic Leaders in Iran” co-signed by Dave Robinson, Executive
Director, and Jean Stokan, Policy Director of Pax Christi USA, is also
available in Ref:
07-01167.
TOP
Europe
Pax Christi’s annual peace mass took place on the 30th
of September 2007, close to the feast of St. Francis of Assisi. Work
continues on a variety of issues including armaments matters and
Northern Ireland. The annual retreat took place on the 21st
of October. There will be an Advent Mass on Sunday 2nd
December in the Good Shepherd Church, in Dublin for UN Human Rights Day.
TOP
The
Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants (PICUM),
with the support of Eurocities, held a two-day conference on the 28th
and 29th of June 2007 in Brussels, Belgium. The conference
focussed on access to health care for undocumented migrants in Europe.
The conference brought together nearly 200 participants which included
representatives of NGOs, local authorities, health care providers,
policy makers, researchers, undocumented migrants, and other actors to
share experiences and discuss ways to address the problems associated
with insufficient access to health care services for undocumented
migrants. Pax Christi International is a member of the PICUM Coalition.
Read the report of the conference at
www.picum.org.
TOP
On
the 16th of October 2007, Pax Christi Flanders participated
in a commemorative event in Brussels in honour of the Russian journalist
Anna Politkovskaja, who was killed one year ago. Anna fearlessly
reported about the violations of human rights in Chechnya and her
killing is seen as a political murder. Read more about this Dutch in
Ref:
07-01066.
TOP
Johannes Schnettler, Vice
President of Pax Christi Germany, issued a statement on the 100th
anniversary of the birthday of Alfons Erb, one of the founding fathers
of Pax Christi Germany. Alfons has been Vice President of Pax Christi
Germany from 1957 till 1970 and Vice President of Pax Christi
International from 1965 till 1971. Alfons Erb became a pioneer for peace
and reconciliation in the period after the Second World War in Germany.
He also became one of the founders of Misereor, the Third World Aid
Organisation of the Catholic Church in Germany. More information is
available in German, Ref:
07-01148.
TOP
Disarmament &
Demilitarisation
Cluster bomb survivors gathered in Serbia during the first week of
October to ensure their rights were at the heart of international
efforts to ban the weapon by 2008. Twenty-two of the 26 affected states
participated in the Belgrade Conference of States Affected by Cluster
Munitions, the latest development in the Oslo Process for a new treaty
banning these weapons, which has gathered the support of 82 countries in
just seven months. The Cluster Munition Coalition, CMC, of which Pax
Christi International is a member, made a statement and issued a press
release on the 4th of October 2007. The statement is
available in Ref:
07-01054.
TOP
The
toolkit for the Global Day of Action to Ban Cluster Bombs on the 5th
of November 2007 is now online and available at the following link:
http://www.stopclustermunitions.org/dokumenti/dokument.asp?id=152
The toolkit contains some ideas and suggestions for activities and
events, including an idea for a campaign slogan: CLUSTER BOMBS CAN BE
BANNED: MAKE IT HAPPEN. This is an idea and general framework for action
on this day, but is by no means the only way to participate. Feel free
to adapt and use these ideas as you think is appropriate to your
national campaigning work on the Global Day of Action and on an ongoing
basis. The main aim for the day is to get media coverage of the
campaign, specifically focusing on the Vienna conference which will take
place exactly one month after the Global Day of Action. Pax Christi
International, member of the Cluster Munitions Coalition, would like to
call upon all of its Member Organisations worldwide to participate in
this Global Day of Action.
.
TOP
Geneva Briefing: Addressing the Humanitarian
Impact of Cluster Munitions
The
Geneva
Forum
and the International Campaign to Ban Landmines co-organised a forum on
the 9th of October 2007 in Geneva entitled “Addressing the
Humanitarian Impact of Cluster Munitions.” The event sought to inform
states that were outside of, or new to, the
Oslo
Process on cluster munitions
about the
extent of the cluster munitions problem, the political activities that
have occurred to date to address the problem, and the plans in place for
developing a new treaty on cluster munitions. Speakers included
representatives of three affected states – Lebanon, Serbia, and Uganda –
as well as some of the leading experts on cluster munitions. The
audience included representatives of the Geneva Missions to the United
Nations from over 20 states, plus representatives from UN agencies and
civil society in Geneva.
Cluster
Munition Coalition
coordinator Thomas Nash provided participants with a thorough background
on cluster munitions, including for what military purposes they were
originally designed, how they have been used in past conflicts, and the
potential threat from states’ stockpiles around the world. The briefing
ended with a set of presentations on the next steps in the Oslo Process.
The next international meeting of the Oslo Process will take place in
Vienna from the 5th to the 7th of December 2007.
Pax Christi International is a member of both the Cluster Munitions
Coalition, CMC, as well as with the International Campaign to Ban
Landmines. On the 7th of November 2007, the CMC made a
statement at the “2007 Meeting of States Parties to the Convention on
Certain Conventional Weapons.” The statement is available in Ref:
07-01170.
TOP
Different member states of NATO including Germany are involved in the
NATO operations, ISAF, in Afghanistan. The discussion about possible
renewing of the German military commitment within ISAF is taking place
in the German Parliament. NATO is in Afghanistan since October 2001 and
no fundamental change for the better took place. The operation Enduring
Freedom does not respond to the expectations of the Afghan people. In a
press release issued on the 10th of October 2007, Dr.
Reinhard Voss, Secretary General of Pax Christi Germany, is urging for
more civilian contributions in these kinds of operations. Civil peace
services in Afghanistan for instance should be strongly supported by the
German government. More information is available in German in Ref:
07-01063.
TOP
On
the 8th of November 2008, Pax Christi Wallonie-Bruxelles held
a study session on the issue of “Armament or Disarmament? Dilemma’s and
Dialectics.” The two main speakers were General Coelmont, Permanent
Military Representative at the Military Comite of the European Union,
and Federico Santopinfo, researcher with the Groupe de Recherches et
d’Informations sur la Paix et la Sécurité (GRIP). The session was
moderated by Ignace Berten of Espace. More information is available at:
www.paxchristiwb.be
TOP
Human Rights,
Rule of Law & Violent Conflict
Enrique Sierra and Paul Lansu attended the NGO debriefing session to the
6th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva on the 28th
of September 2007. The HRC held its 5th Special Session on
the 2nd of October 2007 on “The Human Rights Situation in
Myanmar”. There was an open-ended informative consultation before that
session took place on the 1st of October 2007. The letter of
Pax Christi International to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon of the 27th
of September was forwarded to the Human Rights Council as well. Read
more in Ref:
07-01026. More
information about this Special Session is available at
http://www.ishr.ch/hrm/council/
TOP
The
Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, in conjunction with the
Congregation for Bishops, the Pontifical Council for Inter-Religious
Dialogue and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity held a
two-day seminar on the issue of “Human Dignity and Humanitarian Law: the
Role of Religions”. The seminar took place in Rome, at the Palazzo San
Calisto on the 12th and 13th of October 2007. The
different sub-themes were related to “Humanitarian law and the
contemporary world”, “Human dignity and war”, and “The cooperation
between religions and civil society.” Fr. Paul Lansu of the
International Secretariat attended the seminar. The press release is
available in Ref:
07-01095.
TOP
The
International Peace Bureau, IPB, of which Pax Christi International is a
member, will hold its annual seminar in Alexandria, Egypt on the 11th
and 12th of November 2007, on the issue of “Sustainable
Disarmament for Sustainable Development.” More details of the programme
are available at the website
www.ipb.org. Linked to
this seminar is the ExCom on the10th of November and the annual IPB
Council meeting on the 13th of November 2007. Etienne De
Jonghe, former Secretary General of Pax Christi International will
attend. Paul Lansu of the International Secretariat attended the IPB
ExCom meetings in Geneva from the 28th to the 30th
of September 2007.
TOP
The
International Peace Bureau (IPB) awarded the organisation's annual Peace
Prize to Jayantha Dhanapala, a highly-respected Sri Lankan
diplomat, who has devoted his career to disarmament and global justice.
The
award was presented during the international seminar entitled Books
or Bombs? Sustainable Disarmament for Sustainable Development. This
seminar was held in collaboration with the Institute of Peace Studies at
the Bibliotheca Alexandrina on the 11th and 12th
of November 2007. More information is available on the website
www.ipb.org
TOP
The
International Peace Bureau (IPB) of which Pax Christi International is a
member, issued a press release to congratulate the Inter-governmental
Panel on Climate Change and Al Gore on the award of the 2007 Nobel Peace
Prize. The IPB makes the link between climate change and military
spending. IPB also issued a paper “A Climate of War.” More information
is available on the new website
www.ipb.org
TOP
Peace Building
The
34th General Assembly of UNESCO took place in Paris from the
16th of October to the 3rd of November 2007. NGOs
with a consultative status were invited. Pax Christi International was
represented by Colette Petit and Alain Thellier de Poncheville. The
International Catholic NGOs (CCIC) met on the 13th of
September in order to prepare for the General Assembly. The session was
moderated by Colette Petit. The next CCIC meeting will be on the 15th
of November 2007.
TOP
Pax
Christi International hosted the yearly meeting of the PeaceNet-work on
the 5th of October 2007. Representatives from the Life and
Peace Institute, Aprodev, EED, Cordaid, Church of Sweden, FCA, CIDSE and
Pax Christi International exchanged information on their current work
and discussed the EU policy towards Southern Sudan (based on an
introduction of the findings of a research initiated by Aprodev). In the
afternoon Mr. Van Bellingen and Mr. Byrne from the European Commission
explained the new established Stability Framework as well as the
Peacebuilding Partnership as two instruments of the EU to deal with
conflict prevention. Claudette Werleigh, Etienne De Jonghe and Jos De la
Haye of the International Secretariat attended.
.
TOP
On
the 31st of October 2007, Colette Petit, representative of
Pax Christi International, made an oral intervention at the General
Conference of the UNESCO taking place in Paris. The statement dealt with
the actions of Pax Christi International in support of a dialogue among
different cultures. Different examples of actions for peace in the
different continents were mentioned. The statement is available in
French in Ref:
07-01152.
TOP
The
beatification of Franz Jägerstätter took place on the 26th of
October 2007 in Linz, Austria. Many friends from Pax Christi Austria,
UK, USA, Ireland, Italy and Germany, as well as from other Member
Organisations attended the different events organised in conjunction
with this beatification. A background article is available in German in
Ref:
07-01106. The press release from Pax Christi UK is available in Ref:
07-01112; from Pax Christi Italy in Ref:
07-01130, and from Pax Christi Germany in Ref:
07-01120.
TOP
Last year during the first week of Advent, Pax
Christi USA Bishop-President Gabino Zavala, in a
homily given at the Catholic University of America, said: "I
would offer that our presence in Iraq has long passed a capacity to
contribute anything positive. Our 140,000 troops in Iraq are unable to
stop the deepening spiral of violence. Last week we witnessed the
bloodiest attacks since the U.S. invasion almost 4 years ago. It is time
to bring our occupation of Iraq to an end."
Sadly, we are still waiting for peace to be born into
our world, especially in Iraq. This Advent offers us the time and space
to pray, study, and act for peace and to connect our witness with the
natural cycle of our church year. Advent signifies a time of new
beginnings. Let us make this Advent truly a new beginning - the dawning
of peace in Iraq and throughout the world.
Pax Christi USA provides resources for prayer, study and action
throughout the Advent season. Please look for more Advent program
information on the Rapid Response Network and new additions to the
website throughout November and December. More information is available
at
www.paxchristiusa.org
TOP
Marie Dennis Awarded by the Franciscan Missionary
Service of North America
On
the 13th of October 2007 the Franciscan Missionary Service of
North America (FMS) presented Marie Dennis, Co-President of Pax Christi
International, its 3rd Annual Award. This award is named
after Fr. Anselm Moons ofm, Dutch Franciscan founder of the FMS in 1989.
The award was created to recognise an individual who exemplifies the
organisation’s mission. Marie exemplifies one of Fr. Anselm’s principal
objectives in founding FMS: Reverse Mission. He was convinced that the
missionary task of the church extends not only to impoverished areas of
the world but to places of power, affluence and privilege as well. Marie
has spent the major part of her life living that vision. After receiving
the award, Marie shared some reflections with those present, titled
“Mission and the Community of Life”. This can be read in Ref:
07-01165.
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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