Africa.
New Archbishop of
Kinshasa - Laurent
Monsengwo Pasinya
installed with solemn
Eucharistic Celebration
Zimbabwe Coalition
Braces for National
Elections.
EurAC’s Letter to the EU
Slovenian Presidency on
Security in Eastern
DRCongo.
EurAC Considers Fragile
States.
TOP.
Maryknoll Sisters
Express Concern as Bush
Visits Africa.
PAGEREF _Toc192482660 \h
3
Americas & Caribbean.
PAGEREF _Toc192482661 \h
3
Report
on Violence in
Metropolitan Zone of
Port-au-Prince.
PAGEREF _Toc192482662 \h
3
Colombia: Redepaz Calls
for Release of all
Hostages.
PAGEREF _Toc192482663 \h
4
Defend Human Rights
Activists in Colombia.
PAGEREF _Toc192482664 \h
4
Asia & Pacific.
PAGEREF _Toc192482665 \h
4
Youth of India &
Pakistan for Peace and
Progress.
PAGEREF _Toc192482666 \h
4
South Asia Peace
Building Training.
PAGEREF _Toc192482667 \h
4
Monitoring Elections in
Pakistan.
PAGEREF _Toc192482668 \h
4
Global Article 9
Campaign to Abolish War
PAGEREF _Toc192482669 \h
5
Closing Down of Two
Immigration Centres in
Papua New Guinea.
PAGEREF _Toc192482670 \h
5
More Belgian Military
for Afghanistan
Questioned.
PAGEREF _Toc192482671 \h
5
About the Presence of
Canadian Forces in
Afghanistan.
PAGEREF _Toc192482672 \h
5
Middle East
PAGEREF _Toc192482673 \h
5
International Church
Action for Peace in
Palestine and Israel: 4th
–10th June
2008.
PAGEREF _Toc192482674 \h
5
5th
Anniversary War with
Iraq.
PAGEREF _Toc192482675 \h
6
Churches Plan a Day of
Remembrance of the Iraq
invasion.
PAGEREF _Toc192482676 \h
6
Iraqi Christians in Need.
PAGEREF _Toc192482677 \h
6
Bishop Marc Stenger with
Pax Christi in
Solidarity with Iraqi
Christians.
PAGEREF _Toc192482678 \h
6
End the War in Iraq.
PAGEREF _Toc192482679 \h
7
Solidarity Visit to Iraq.
PAGEREF _Toc192482680 \h
7
Christian Peace Witness
for Iraq.
PAGEREF _Toc192482681 \h
7
Europe.
PAGEREF _Toc192482682 \h
7
Pax Christi Germany
Celebrates its 60th
Anniversary.
PAGEREF _Toc192482683 \h
7
Annual General Assembly
Pax Christi France.
PAGEREF _Toc192482684 \h
8
Disarmament &
Demilitarisation.
PAGEREF _Toc192482685 \h
8
Cluster Munitions Oslo
Process Briefing Geneva.
PAGEREF _Toc192482686 \h
8
Report on Cluster
Munitions: “The Devil is
in the Detail”
PAGEREF _Toc192482687 \h
8
Cluster Munitions Ban
Treaty: a step further
towards the Wellington
Conference.
PAGEREF _Toc192482688 \h
8
Call for Action on
Cluster Munitions.
PAGEREF _Toc192482689 \h
9
Global Summit for a
Nuclear Weapon-Free
World.
PAGEREF _Toc192482690 \h
9
Disarmament, Development
and Peace.
PAGEREF _Toc192482691 \h
9
Nuclear
Non-Proliferation and
Complex 2030.
PAGEREF _Toc192482692 \h
9
Non-Proliferation Treaty
(NPT) PrepCom 2008 –
Information for NGOs.
PAGEREF _Toc192482693 \h
9
Former Prime Minister
Active in Dutch Peace
Movement
PAGEREF _Toc192482694 \h
10
International Action
Network Against Small
Arms.
PAGEREF _Toc192482695 \h
10
The Global Week of
Action Against Gun
Violence: 2nd – 9th June
2008.
PAGEREF _Toc192482696 \h
10
The Biennial Meeting of
States (BMS) on the
Implementation of the UN
Programme of Action on
Small Arms: 14th
to 18th July
2008.
PAGEREF _Toc192482697 \h
10
On Military and
Humanitarian
Interventions.
PAGEREF _Toc192482698 \h
11
Human Rights, Rule of
Law & Violent Conflict
PAGEREF _Toc192482699 \h
11
7th Session
of the Human Rights
Council
PAGEREF _Toc192482700 \h
11
Peace as a Solidarity
Right
PAGEREF _Toc192482701 \h
11
Universal Declaration on
the Human Right to Peace.
PAGEREF _Toc192482702 \h
11
Children’s Rights at the
Human Rights Council
PAGEREF _Toc192482703 \h
11
Pakistan NGO Support
Group.
PAGEREF _Toc192482704 \h
12
52nd
Commission on the Status
of Women.
PAGEREF _Toc192482705 \h
12
Human security & violent
conflict
PAGEREF _Toc192482706 \h
12
Security and Development
PAGEREF _Toc192482707 \h
12
Peace Building.
PAGEREF _Toc192482708 \h
12
Live Simply Event in
Manchester
PAGEREF _Toc192482709 \h
12
Nonviolent Social Change.
PAGEREF _Toc192482710 \h
13
Conscientious Objection
in Italy.
PAGEREF _Toc192482711 \h
13
Education and youth work
for peace.
PAGEREF _Toc192482712 \h
13
Peace Education Network
in United Kingdom..
PAGEREF _Toc192482713 \h
13
Interfaith and
intercultural
cooperation for peace.
PAGEREF _Toc192482714 \h
13
Understand and Act in an
Inter-cultural Society.
PAGEREF _Toc192482715 \h
13
World Religion Day in
Kerry.
PAGEREF _Toc192482716 \h
13
Inter-faith Peace
Pilgrimages to the Holy
Land.
PAGEREF _Toc192482717 \h
14
Developing peace
Spirituality and
theology.
PAGEREF _Toc192482718 \h
14
Repentance and
Resistance at Ash
Wednesday.
PAGEREF _Toc192482719 \h
14
International Advocacy
and Campaigning.
PAGEREF _Toc192482720 \h
14
NGO Representatives at
the UN in New York.
PAGEREF _Toc192482721 \h
14
NGO Committee on Peace
in Vienna.
PAGEREF _Toc192482722 \h
15
International Calendar
PAGEREF _Toc192482723 \h
15
TOP
Africa
New Archbishop of
Kinshasa - Laurent
Monsengwo Pasinya
installed with solemn
Eucharistic Celebration
On the 2nd of
February 2008 Pax
Christi International
celebrated the
installation of Msgr
Laurent Pasinya
Monsengwo as the
Archbishop of Kinshasa,
Democratic Republic of
Congo. Msgr Monsengwo
is President of the
Bishops' Conference of
Congo and International
Co-President of Pax
Christi International.
“Kinshasa, arise and
shine in the light of
Christ”. With these
words addressed to the
faithful, Msgr. Laurent
Monsengwo led the solemn
Mass in Notre Dame de
Congo Cathedral on the 2nd
of February 2008.
Addressing combatants
still fighting in the
east of the country, the
new Archbishop of
Kinshasa said: “Stop the
conflict, liberate peace
at last. Promote a
process of
reconciliation in the
truth”.
TOP
Zimbabwe Coalition
Braces for National
Elections
The Ecumenical Network
on Zimbabwe, which
includes Pax Christi
International, has
organised
in their respective
countries, prayer vigils
and other actions in
light of the March 2008
elections. Violence and
fraud frequently
accompany elections in
Zimbabwe, where a
political and economic
crisis continues. To
read an article on the
coalition, please see
Ref.
2008-0200-en-af-CT.
TOP
The European Network for
Central Africa (EurAC)
has issued a letter in
which it urges the EU
Slovenian presidency to
make the issue of
security in the eastern
Democratic Republic of
Congo a priority. To
read this communication,
please see Ref.
2008-0187.
TOP
The European Network for
Central Africa (EurAC)
brings together 46
non-governmental
organisations in Europe
including Pax Christi
International, that are
concerned with peace,
democracy and
sustainable development
in Central Africa.
At the General Meeting
held on the 26th
and 27th of
November 2007, EurAC
members considered the
current debate on
‘fragile states’ by
European policy-makers,
and how its outcome
could affect future
engagement in the
region. The gathering
also included a seminar
at the European
Parliament on the
struggle against
impunity in the Great
Lakes region as a
pre-condition for a
sustainable peace. For
more information on
EurAC, visit the website
at
www.eurac-network.org.
The Maryknoll Sisters
welcome US President
George W. Bush to
Africa, while taking the
opportunity to express
their concern about the
legacy he will leave
behind. The Maryknoll
Office for Global
Concerns is a member
organisation of Pax
Christi International in
the USA. The statement
is available in Ref.
2008-0206-en-af-AC.
TOP
Americas & Caribbean
The Commission
Episcopale Nationale
Justice et Paix, (Jilap)
a member organisation in
Haiti, issued its 25th
report with statistics
and an evaluation of the
violence that took place
in the metropolitan zone
of Port-au-Prince from
October to December
2007. The evaluation
includes comments on the
daily insecurity, on the
environment and on the
efforts in advancing
social justice. The
report is available in
Ref:
2008-0115.
TOP
Colombia: Redepaz
Calls for Release of all
Hostages
Redepaz in Colombia
joined other NGOs on the
4th of
February 2008 in a
rallying call for the
immediate release of all
hostages held by
guerrillas. The
coalition called for the
implementation of a
humanitarian exchange
and prompt measures for
an international
sponsored peace process
to take place in
Colombia. Redepaz is a
member organisation in
Colombia. The statement
is available in Ref:
2008-0159
and/or visit
http://www.redepaz.org.co/Colombia-en-pie-por-la-libertad-el
TOP
In a press release
issued on the 16th
of February 2008,
Redepaz, a member
organisation in
Colombia, called upon
the Colombian
authorities to protect
the members of Redepaz
in their commitment for
justice and peace in the
department of Santander,
more particularly in
Bucaramanga. Members of
Redepaz are active in
the defense of human
rights and in the
juridical assistance of
victims of violence. The
press release is
available in Spanish in
Ref:
2008-0204-sp-am-HS
TOP
Asia & Pacific
Youth of India &
Pakistan for Peace and
Progress
The Commission for
Justice, Peace and
Development of the
Catholic Bishops'
Conference, a member
organisation in India,
organised a one-day
India and Pakistan
interactive conference
at the Vishwa Yuvak
Kendra, New Delhi on the
30th of Jan
2008. The conference on
"Youth of India and
Pakistan for peace and
progress” was held on
the occasion of the 60th
anniversary of the
martyrdom of Mahatma
Gandhi, the great
apostle of peace and
inclusive progress. The
press release is
available in Ref:
2008-0117
and more background
information is available
in Ref:
2008-0158.
TOP
South Asia Peace
Building Training
The Commission for
Justice, Peace and
Development in India is
planning a follow-up
event after the seminar
on India & Pakistan. The
South Asia Peace
Building Training will
be held in Chennai,
South India, from the 24th
to the 26th
of May 2008. The
Training is being
co-organised with the
Gandhi Study Center in
Chennai and the Gandhi
Peace Foundation in New
Delhi. Youth from
different countries will
be invited to
participate - including
youth from Pakistan, Sri
Lanka, Nepal, Buttan,
Bangladesh and India.
For more information,
please email Fr. Nithiya
at:
nithiyas@gmail.com.
TOP
Monitoring Elections
in Pakistan
Parliamentary elections
took place in Pakistan
on the18th of February
2008. Marjan Lucas from
IKV/Pax Christi visited
the country in order to
monitor the election
process. A new
government has yet to be
formed, and there is a
possibility that more
stability in the region
could be created. The
press release is
available in Dutch in
Ref:
2008-0217-nl-ap-HR.
TOP
The Global Article 9
Campaign (based in
Japan) urges civil
society across the world
to adopt the “No war, No
military” message, and
push for this concept to
be included in their own
countries’
constitutions. In order
to inform supporters
about the Article 9
debate and the upcoming
Article 9 Conference
(from the 4th to the 6th
of May 2008), a new
newsletter has been
launched. In order to
be added to the mailing
list, please send an
email to
article-9@peaceboat.gr.jp.
The campaign website can
be found at the
following address:
http://www.article-9.org/.
The Catholic Council for
Justice and Peace
(JCCJP), a Member
Organisation in Japan is
also campaigning very
strongly on this issue.
The Pax Christi
International
Secretariat continues to
invite Member
Organisations to act
towards keeping the
existing Article 9 in
the Japanese
Constitution.
TOP
The Editorial in the
February 2008 edition of
Pax Christi Australia’s
newsletter – Disarming
Times – welcomes the
closing down of the two
immigration Centres
built on Nauru and Manus
Island in Papua New
Guinea to detain illegal
asylum seekers. The
editorial is available
in Ref:
2008-0211-en-ap-HR.
TOP
Pax Christi Flanders is
unhappy with the Belgian
Government’s decision to
send additional troops
and F16 airplanes to the
dangerous zone of
Kandahar in Afghanistan.
In a press interview,
dated the 4th of
February 2008, Gio De
Weerd, Secretary General
of Pax Christi Flanders,
said that it is not
exactly clear what the
Belgian troops are going
to do and that the
Belgian Government
should be more
transparent on its
Afghanistan policies. So
far, it seems that the
Belgian Government is
merely listening to the
requests from the USA
and other NATO partners
to be more involved.
More information is
available in Dutch in
Ref:
2008-0176-nl-ap-SD.
TOP
Antennes de Paix
Montréal, a member
organisation in Canada,
has been in dialogue
with the Canadian
Bishops’ Conference
concerning the presence
of Canadian troops in
Afghanistan. On the 11th
of February 2008, Gisèle
Turcot, President of
“Antennes de Paix” has
written a letter of
concern to the President
of the Canadian Bishops
Conference, Msgr. V.
James Weisgerber. On the
13th of February 2008,
the Bishops Conference
published a statement
calling for the
parliament and civil
society in Canada to
stimulate the debate on
the conflict in
Afghanistan, also
referring to the
fundamental needs of the
people of Afghanistan.
In a letter dated
the15th of February
2008, Antennes de paix
thanked the Bishops’
Conference for its
position taken. This
correspondence is
available in French in
Ref:
2008-0202-fr-ap-SD
TOP
Middle East
International Church
Action for Peace in
Palestine and Israel: 4th
–10th June
2008
With over 450 former
Ecumenical Accompaniers,
including members of Pax
Christi, back in their
home countries in mid
2008, it is hoped that
as many former EAs as
possible will be active
during the week. Current
EAs serving in the field
will be joining
initiatives of local
Church communities and
Church Related
Organisations. Pax
Christi International
will participate in the
Week of Action.
The Week of Action is
part of the Palestine
Israel Ecumenical Forum,
PIEF (a WCC initiative
that was launched in
June 2007). It is
oriented toward
peacemaking. The goal is
to build a tradition
around the 4th
to the 10th
of June. The hope is
that the week will be a
landmark that draws us
forward and becomes
linked to year-round
actions. Watch the EAPPI
website for links to the
ICAPPI information. Pax
Christi International is
active within the PIEF
Core Group. More
information is available
on the website:
http://eappi.org
TOP
The 5th
anniversary of the start
of the Iraq war falls on
the 20th of
March 2008. Pax Christi
members are invited to
mark the eve of this
anniversary. Join with
other Christians in the
UK, the USA and
elsewhere, in recalling
the suffering of the
people of Iraq, in
repenting for the role
these nations have
played, in praying for
forgiveness and healing
and in committing
ourselves to action for
peace with justice for
the people of Iraq and
its neighbouring
countries.
TOP
Christians in the UK
have been urged to hold
a day of remembrance,
prayer and action on the
19th of March
2008, the eve of the
anniversary of the war
with Iraq. The call is
one of the responses
following an ecumenical
seminar held in London
on the 12th
of February 2008.
Representatives of
Christian peace
organisations, including
Pax Christi UK, Justice
and Peace networks and
social responsibility
groups gathered to
discuss ways in which
Christians might respond
to the war and the
on-going occupation of
Iraq. More information
is available in Ref:
2008-0192-en-me-HS.
TOP
Suah Rassam, the author
of “Christianity in
Iraq”, is involved in a
newly formed
organisation called
“Iraqi Christians in
Need.” At the Pax
Christi UK seminar held
in London on the 12th
of February 2008, Suah
reflected upon the
situation of the
Christians in Iraq. Many
of them left the country
or are planning or
forced to do so. As a
minority community,
Christians have suffered
from targeted attacks on
churches and religious
leaders. By the end of
June 2007, the number of
displaced Christian
families from the
Baghdad area reached
1,200. The Iraqi
Christian community of
800,000 has been reduced
to between 400,000 and
600,000. UNHCR and its
partners estimate that
out of a total
population of 26
million, some 4.4
million Iraqis are still
uprooted, including 2.4
million displaced inside
Iraq and 2 million
outside - mainly in
Syria and Jordan.
TOP
The Italian religious
news service, SIR,
reported on the 12th
of February 2008 that
Bishop Louis Sako of
Kirkuk, Iraq, met with a
delegation from Pax
Christi France headed by
Msgr. Marc Stenger. The
delegation had travelled
to Iraq on a solidarity
visit to the Christian
community from the 11th
to the 19th
of February 2008.
The visit was prepared
in collaboration with
Patriarch Delly, the
Chaldean Patriarch in
Iraq.
Msgr. Marc Stenger is
the bishop president of
Pax Christi France and
member of the Executive
Committee of Pax Christi
International. More
information is available
in Ref:
2008-0193-en-me-RV.
TOP
On the 25th
of February 2008, during
the annual
Catholic Social Ministry
Gathering (CSMG)
in Washington, D.C., Pax
Christi USA hosted a
programme entitled "Why,
How and When to End the
War in Iraq."
In his Easter 2007
address, Pope Benedict
XVI stated:
"In the Middle East,
besides some signs of
hope in the dialogue
between Israel and the
Palestinian Authority,
unfortunately, nothing
positive come from Iraq,
torn apart by continual
slaughter as the civil
population flees."
Reports from human
rights groups,
government watchdogs,
and friends on the
ground in Iraq undermine
any rosy picture of
"progress." The refugee
situation is
overwhelming and the
Bush Administration has
failed to even meet the
quotas it set for
allowing Iraqi refugees
into the U.S.; the
number of U.S. soldiers
dead will go over 4,000
at any moment now;
reports of abuses by
both military personnel
and hired mercenaries
like Blackwater continue
to come to light;
President Bush continues
to push for long-term
bases in Iraq and is
currently trying to pass
legislation that will
tie the hands of future
administrations from
changing the course of
such decisions. It seems
that there is no end in
sight.
The programme, featuring
a panel with expertise
on U.S. foreign policy,
Middle East policy, and
personal involvement in
the war and occupation
in Iraq addressed these
and other issues as they
articulated what could
be done now to bring the
war and occupation to an
end. More information is
available at
www.paxchristiusa.org
TOP
Naglaa Elhag, Senior
Programme Officer at
IKV/Pax Christi in the
Netherlands recently
visited Iraq, and has
written an article (in
Dutch) on the situation
of the Christians in
Iraq, based on her
observations. Naglaa is
planning a visit of
Church leaders to the
area. For more
information, please
email:
Elhaij@ikvpaxchristi.nl
TOP
Pax Christi USA members
are invited to join
thousands of Christians
in Washington, D.C. and
across the country to
Witness for Peace and to
participate in the
National Service for
Peace in Iraq on the 7th
of March 2008. More
information is available
at the website:
http://www.christianpeacewitness.org/
Pax Christi Austria will
hold a vigil to
commemorate the
beginning of the Iraq
war at the start of
their Annual General
Meeting in Linz, on the
7th and 8th
of March 2008. The vigil
will take place in the
centre of Linz.
TOP
Europe
Pax Christi Germany
Celebrates its 60th
Anniversary
Pax Christi Germany will
celebrate its 60th
anniversary in April
2008. On the 3rd
of April, participants
will meet in Kevelaer,
the birth city of the
section. A national
congress and festive
liturgy will take place
in Berlin, from the 4th
to the 6th of
April 2008. The National
Secretariat in Bad
Vilbel has provided
several tools and
symbols for celebrating
the anniversary, such as
a DVD and special candle
lights. Marie Dennis,
Co-President, Etienne De
Jonghe and Claudette
Werleigh, former and
present Secretary
General, will attend.
Members of our Executive
Committee will also be
present: Bishop Marc
Stenger, Bishop
President of Pax Christi
France, and Georg
Hörnschemeyer from Pax
Christi Germany. More
information is available
via email:
sekretariat@paxchristi.de
TOP
On the 29th
of March 2008, Pax
Christi France will have
its annual national
study day on the issue
of “Emigration as a
challenge for peace in
the world.” On the 30th
of March, members of the
General Assembly will
discuss and vote on
reports, elections and
discuss the future of
the movement in France.
The Eucharistic Liturgy
will close the two days.
More information is
available at
www.paxchristi.cef.fr.
TOP
Disarmament &
Demilitarisation
On the 7th of
February 2008, the
Geneva Forum hosted a
briefing at the UN in
Geneva in order to
update missions on the
Oslo process and the
Wellington Conference on
cluster munitions. There
were over 90
participants from States
and organisations. A
number of international
coalitions like the
Cluster Munitions
Coalition, the
International Campaign
to Ban Landmines and the
International Peace
Bureau attended the
briefing. Pax Christi
International is a
member of the
abovementioned
coalitions. More
information is available
at
www.stopclustermunitions.org.
TOP
A recent report by
IKV/Pax Christi, issued
on the 12th
of February 2008 shows
that the position of the
Dutch government in the
international debate on
cluster munitions is
less progressive than
generally assumed. While
the Netherlands used to
be a leading country in
support of the ban on
landmines, they lack
prominence in the issue
on cluster munitions.
The report entitled “The
Devil is in the Detail”
includes some
conclusions and
recommendations
addressed to the Dutch
government and can be
downloaded from the
website:
www.stopclustermunitie.nl
TOP
The Wellington
Conference on Cluster
Munitions took place in
New Zealand/Aoteoroa,
from the 18th
to the 22nd
of February 2008. The
draft of the Cluster
Munitions Convention
dated 21st
January 2008 has been
posted on the official
Wellington Conference
website. It is available
together with
explanatory notes at
http://www.mfat.govt.nz/clustermunitionswellington/
The meeting was attended
by Kevin McBride,
Secretary General of Pax
Christi New
Zealand/Aoteoroa and
ExCom members of Pax
Christi International,
as well as by Tony
D’Costa, Secretary
General of Pax Christi
Ireland and Mirjam
Struyk, Desk Officer on
Cluster Munitions at
IKV/Pax Christi in the
Netherlands. Read more
about the Wellington
Conference at the
website:
www.stopclustermunitions.org
TOP
One of the major actions
after the Wellington
Conference on Cluster
Munitions will be to get
as many governments as
possible to endorse the
Wellington Declaration.
Only Governments that
formally endorse the
Wellington Declaration
will be able to
participate fully in
treaty negotiations at
the Dublin Diplomatic
Conference from the 19th
to the 30th
of May 2008. Governments
that do not endorse the
Wellington Declaration
will only be able to
attend the conference as
observers. Observers
will not be eligible to
vote and will not be
able to table proposals.
The Global Day of
Action to Ban Cluster
Bombs on the 19th
of April 2008
will be an opportunity
to call on governments
that have not yet
endorsed the Wellington
Declaration. To read the
declaration visit the
website:
http://www.mfat.govt.nz/clustermunitionswellington/.
TOP
Global
Summit
for a Nuclear
Weapon-Free World
Members of Pax Christi
UK have been involved in
the “Global Summit for a
Nuclear Weapon-Free
World: Laying the
Practical, Technical and
Political Groundwork”.
The programme was held
in London on the 16th
and 17th of
February 2008. The
seminar took place on
the 50th
anniversary of the
founding of the Campaign
for Nuclear Disarmament,
CND. In addition to
keynote speeches,
delegates participated
in roundtable
discussions on Devaluing
Nuclear Weapons, Nuclear
Disarmament Priorities
and Timelines, Building
an International
Campaign for a Nuclear
Weapon Convention, and
on mobilising the
movement and building
effective national and
international
strategies. Bruce Kent,
Vice Chair of Pax
Christi UK and of CND,
formulated conclusions
in the plenary. More
information is available
at the website:
www.cnduk.org
TOP
The Pontifical Council
for Justice and Peace is
planning an
International Seminar on
“Disarmament,
Development and Peace:
Perspectives for an
Integral Disarmament,”
in Rome, on the 11th
and 12th of
April 2008. The aim is
to promote a broad
reflection on the
question of disarmament
in the contemporary
world. Claudette
Werleigh, Secretary
General, and Fr. Paul
Lansu of the
International
Secretariat will attend.
TOP
The
issue of weapons of mass
destruction and their
non-proliferation will
be an important item on
the agenda for the G8
Summit taking place in
July in Sapporo, Japan.
The Catholic Council for
Justice and Peace, a
member organisation in
Japan, sponsored a
statement addressed to
the World Conference of
Religions for Peace,
WCRP, which is preparing
its statement to be
submitted to the G8
Summit. The Bush
administration has a
multi-billion dollar
plan to rebuild the
nation’s nuclear weapon
production capabilities,
the so-called “Complex
2030.” The WCRP is
invited by Japanese NGOs
to urge the G8 Summit to
articulate its
commitment to the
concrete implementation
of the Non-Proliferation
Treaty by asking the USA
government to abandon
“Complex 2030”. For more
information see Ref:
2008-0203-en-ap-RV.
TOP
Non-Proliferation Treaty
(NPT) PrepCom 2008 –
Information for NGOs
In order to receive
updates and stay
informed throughout the
upcoming weeks about the
preparation of the
upcoming NPT PrepCom to
be held in Geneva from
the 28th of April to the
8th of May 2008, be sure
to register for Reaching
Critical Will’s general
E-news service by
sending an email to the
Project Associate at the
following email address:
ray@reachingcriticalwill.org.
For practical and
substantive matters
please visit their
website:
http://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/legal/npt/2008index.html
Marie Dennis,
Co-President of Pax
Christi International
will participate in an
advocacy programme
organised in Geneva by
the World Council of
Churches, from the 28th
of April to the 1st of
May 2008. Prior to the
NPT PrepCom, Fr. Paul
Lansu of the
International
Secretariat will
participate in the
Executive Committee
meeting of the
International Peace
Bureau.
TOP
Ruud Lubbers, former
Prime Minister of the
Netherlands, has joined
a working group of
IKV/Pax Christi to
explore and offer advice
on steps that could be
taken towards a
realistic nuclear
disarmament process.
IKV/Pax Christi is
planning to publish a
report in a couple of
months and will also
start a new campaign for
a nuclear weapons-free
world.
TOP
IANSA members are asked
to mark their calendars
with two vital dates for
2008! The Global Week of
Action Against Gun
Violence will be
observed from the 2nd
to the 9th of
June 2008, and the
Biennial Meeting of
States (BMS) on the
Implementation of the UN
Programme of Action on
Small Arms will take
place in New York from
the 14th to
the 18th of
July 2008. Pax Christi
International is a
member of IANSA.
TOP
The Global Week of
Action Against Gun
Violence highlights the
international campaign
to stop the
proliferation and misuse
of small arms. Each
year, activists around
the world use the Week
of Action to raise
awareness, campaign for
better gun laws and push
for stronger regulation
of the international
arms trade. In 2007
events were held in more
than 60 countries,
ranging from a workshop
in Cambodia to a rap
concert in Mali, a
football match in El
Salvador and a photo
exhibition in the Czech
Republic. The Global
Week of Action gets
bigger every year. As a
member of the
International Action
Network Against Small
Arms, IANSA, Pax Christi
International promotes
the Week of Action and
member organisations
participate on the
national level. More
information is available
at the website:
www.iansa.org
TOP
The BMS is the major
event on the small arms
calendar this year.
Governments will send
their representatives to
the UN in New York to
deliver their progress
reports on the
implementation of the
Programme of Action
(PoA). This is also a
chance for governments
and civil society to
share information,
exchange ideas and make
plans for the next two
years.
The BMS creates a lot of
opportunities for IANSA
members, whether in New
York or around the
world. Civil society can
make significant
contributions to each
country’s national
progress report, as well
as raise local media
awareness. Civil society
organisations can also
apply for accreditation
to attend the Biennial
Meeting itself.
IANSA will help to
develop policy
positions, information,
media contacts and other
resources to maximise
the effectiveness of its
members’ participation
in this important event.
The representative of
Pax Christi
International at the UN
and delegates of Pax
Christi’s member
organisations will be
present in New York. For
more information please
visit the website:
www.iansa.org
TOP
On the 23rd
of February 2008, the
peace movement in the
Flanders, Belgium, held
its 4th peace
conference. The title of
the conference was
“Interventions: Military
and Humanitarian?”
Participants reflected
upon different
interventions made in
the past and on “What
could be called a
successful intervention?
Interventions: pro and
contra.” A delegate of
Pax Christi Flanders
participated in the
debate.
TOP
Human Rights, Rule of
Law & Violent Conflict
The 7th
session of the UN Human
Rights Council, will
take place in Geneva
from the 3rd
to the 28th
of March 2008. Pax
Christi International
will be represented by
Trevor Griffiths, Victor
Santiapillai, Enrique
Sierra and Raul Todea.
More information is
available on the
following website:
http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil
TOP
“The eradication of
extreme poverty as a
condition to the full
and effective enjoyment
of the human right to
peace” is the title of
the joint written
statement issued by
different NGOs on the
occasion of the 7th
session of the Human
Rights Council that will
take place in Geneva in
March 2008. The issue is
on item 3 of the
provisional agenda,
proposed by the
International Society
for Human Rights, which
was supported by Pax
Christi International.
For more information see
Ref:
2008-0104.
TOP
The Expert Consultation
to develop a consensual
proposal for a “UN
Universal Declaration on
the Human Right to
Peace” took place on the
29th of
February 2008 at the UN
in New York. Madeline
Labriola, delegate of
Pax Christi
International at the UN,
participated in the
closing debate.
TOP
Pax Christi
International, together
with other International
Catholic NGOs active at
the UN in Geneva and New
York submitted a written
statement on Children’s
Rights to the Human
Rights Council, 7th
Session. The
International Convention
on the Rights of the
Child has played a
positive role in raising
awareness among States
and peoples. However,
this process needs to be
further developed and
therefore, the NGOs wish
to call the attention of
the Human Rights Council
to the promotion and
protection of the
dignity and rights of
children, specially
those who have been
exploited at work and
those in conflict with
the law – both
situations that are a
source of grave
violations and for which
the Council has not
taken any proportional
measures that respond to
the seriousness of these
phenomena. The joint
statement is available
in English – Ref:
2008-0194-en-xx-CT,
French – Ref:
2008-0194-fr-xx-CT
and Spanish – Ref:
2008-0194-es-xx-CT.
TOP
The meeting of the
Pakistan NGO Support
Group (PSG), which
includes the National
Commission for Justice
and Peace in Pakistan
and Pax Christi
International, will take
place during the last
week of the 7th
session of the Human
Rights Council on the 25th
of March 2008 in Geneva.
The PSG is a platform of
NGOs from Europe and
North America that work
together with and in
support of human rights
organisations in
Pakistan. Trevor
Griffiths, delegate of
Pax Christi
International at the UN,
will attend. There will
also be a public meeting
at the Palais des
Nations on the 26th
of March 2008.
TOP
The 52nd
session of the
Commission on the Status
of Women is being held
at the
UN headquarters in New
York from the 25th
of February to the 7th
of March 2008. Madeline
Labriola and Betty
Begley, representatives
of Pax Christi
International at the UN
in New York, will attend
the sessions.
TOP
That peace and
development are two
sides of the same coin
is not a new discovery.
From a moral
perspective, development
is another word for
peace. Without security,
development is
impossible, and without
justice there is no
peace. Answering the
question as to how
security and development
can strengthen one
another is less simple
when viewed against the
background of daily life
in countries where human
security is imperilled.
The answer to this
question depends heavily
on the circumstances in
local contexts. Pax
Christi in the
Netherlands has
published a report
available in Dutch and
English. Read more at
www.ikvpaxchristi.nl
TOP
Peace Building
On the15th of March
2008, Pax Christi UK
together with other NGOs
is planning an event to
celebrate the
“Livesimply” challenge.
The day, which takes
place in Manchester, is
an opportunity to
celebrate, debate, and
share what Livesimply
means to you. There will
be workshops, stalls and
liturgies run by some of
the top people in their
field. Livesimply
brings together over 50
Catholic organisations
in England and Wales.
More information is
available at the
website:
www.paxchristi.org.uk
– or via email:
info@livesimply.org.uk
TOP
Pax Christi Italy held a
seminar on the issue of
conscientious objection.
The seminar took place
in Bolzano, from the 22nd
to the 24th
of February 2008.
Examples have been given
about non-violent
resistance against
Nazism, on nonviolence
and politics, and on
conscientious objection
in Afghanistan or in
Israel and Palestine.
More information is
available at
www.peacelink.it/paxchristi/a/24760.html
TOP
Pax Christi UK will
organise the annual
conference of its Peace
Education Network on the
1st of March
2008. “Tools for Peace
Education – sharing
successful strategies”
is the title of the
conference, which
includes workshops on
issues such as
Anti-racism work,
developing children’s
skills for a peaceful
classroom, exploring
nuclear issues in the
class room, teaching the
ethics of war, learning
from the peace partners
project and more. For
more please email:
education@paxchristi.org.uk.
TOP
Pax Christi
Wallonie-Bruxelles, in
collaboration with the
Centre El Kalima,
published a dossier on
the issues of
inter-cultural and
inter-religious
dialogue. The dossier
offers different
practical steps to work
on these subjects. At
the same time the
dossier offers an
evaluation of the work
done so far. The dossier
was presented at a press
conference that took
place on the 13th
of February 2008 in
Brussels. At the
meeting, the follow-up
of this theme was also
presented. Many priests,
religious and lay people
demonstrated their
interest on the issue.
Claudette Werleigh,
Secretary General of Pax
Christi International,
attended. More
information is available
at:
www.paxchristiwb.be
TOP
On the 24th
of February 2008,
the Kerry Diocesan
Justice, Peace &
Creation Committee, a
member organisation in
Ireland, held a
celebration with an hour
of readings, music and
prayers from the major
world faiths: Hindu,
Islam, Buddhist, Bahá’í,
Judaism and
Christianity, on the
theme of
hope
within these great
religious traditions. It
was organised together
with Tralee Inter-faith
Group and the Tralee
Bahá’í Community. The
Kerry Earth Day is being
planned on the10th
May 2008. Keep up to
date via the Justice,
Peace and Creation pages
on
www.dioceseofkerry.ie
and follow links to
‘Justice Peace’ under
‘Organisations’.
TOP
The Holy Land is
considered a sacred
place by Jews,
Christians and Muslims,
as well as by other
religious groups such as
the Druze and Bahà’i.
Pax Christi
International promotes
peace pilgrimages to the
Holy Land. In 2008, Pax
Christi member
organisations in
Flanders, Austria,
Italy, Germany and the
Netherlands are planning
a Peace Pilgrimage.
Depending on the
composition of the
group, the pilgrimage
could be called an
“ecumenical peace
pilgrimage” or a
“contact pilgrimage.”
The pilgrims believe in
the sanctity of all
human life as it is
expressed in the Jewish,
Christian and Islamic
faiths and in the
vocation of all humans
to overcome violence
through the power of
truth, love and
forgiveness. These
pilgrimages are a sign
of solidarity,
encouragement and hope
for all those who,
through prayer and
action are patiently,
and often with great
sacrifices, promoting
peace for both
Palestinians and
Israelis. The
pilgrimages combine both
the biblical and
historical dimension of
the visit (for instance
Nazareth, Bethlehem,
Hebron and Jerusalem),
as well as contacts with
Church leaders,
politicians, analysts
and peace and human
rights promoters.
TOP
The Annual Liturgy of
Repentance and
Resistance to nuclear
war preparations at the
Ministry of Defence in
London took place on the
6th of
February 2008. The
liturgy involved
prayers, songs and
symbolic actions using
the symbols of the day.
People could also
participate in the
nonviolent civil
disobedience action at
the Ministry of Defence.
Catholic Peace Action,
Christian CND and Pax
Christi UK supported the
event. More information
is available at
www.paxchristi.org.uk
or in Ref:
2008-0151.
TOP
The Pax Christi
International delegates
at the UN in New York
are Madeline Labriola,
Betty Begley and Mary
McDonald. In 2007,
Madeline attended
several briefings and
special meetings as well
as a few sessions during
the Commissions on
Sustainable Development
and on the Status of
Women. The subject of
the DPI/NGO Conference
in 2007 was on Climate
Change. Betty Begley is
also the Chair of the
NGO Committee on
Disarmament Peace and
Security. Mary McDonald
mainly follows the NGO
Committee on Indigenous
Issues. The Committee on
NGOs will continue its
review of the
Quadrennial Report of
Pax Christi
International during its
2008 Resumed session
scheduled from the 29th
of May to the 6th
of June 2008.
TOP
An information and
discussion meeting on
new trends in armament
was held on the 13th
of February 2008 at the
NGO Committee on Peace
in Vienna. Felix
Bertram, delegate of Pax
Christi International,
and Martin Luger of Pax
Christi Austria,
attended. The minutes of
the meeting are
available in Ref:
2008-0208-en-xx-SD.
The next meeting is
scheduled for the 26th
of March 2008.
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
Top of the Document
