Content in this edition:

1.     A new Peace resource – what can you do to stop war?

2.     Animation Committee at the World Social Forum.

3.     News from the Conferences.

Other news: 1) Animation Committee report; 2) Juvenile death penalty in the US; 3) Bethlehem Urgent Action Appeal.

 

JPIC office Web page: Please visit our web page at: www.ofm-jpic.org or through the Curia page www.ofm.org and click on to the Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation office marker. There is a section entitled “What’s new?”, where all the latest items in different languages are placed. All back issues of Contact are also available on the page. We are interested in any suggestion to improve our service.

 

A Peace Resource! What you can do to stop war!

So much is happening around the world to stop a war in Iraq. Here are some ideas on what you can do. Please take a couple of them into consideration and ACT NOW FOR PEACE.

 

Candlelight vigil for peace: Plan a candlelight vigil for peace in your area on Sunday, March 16 at 7 pm. MoveOn.org and the Win Without War coalition, together with Archbishop Desmond Tutu and many faith-based organisations, are calling this vigil, and seek out your help. Please visit http://www.globalvigil.org Beginning in New Zealand, this will be a rolling wave of candlelight gatherings that will quickly cross the globe.

 

101 ways to win the war: For more details go to: www.earthfuture.com

Here’s a summary of some main ideas:

1.     Some of the recommended 10 ways to win via e-mail:

v       Send an e-mail to every member of the UN Security Council at the same time, urging them to vote against war: www.voice4change.org/stories/mailUNSC.asp. See also www.cta-usa.org/iraq.html

v       Send an e-mail to Saddam Hussein in Iraq, urging him to comply with the UN Inspectors' demands: press@uruklink.net

v       Sign an on-line petition against the war. There are many good on-line petitions and pledges that are properly designed. Try these sites for a valid petition: The Iraq Peace Pledge: www.peacepledge.org

v       Send 400 e-mails all at once to UN members, the US government and the Canadian government:

g-macagainstwar@mcmaster.ca.

2.     Ways to stop the war with your signs:

v       Light a candle and leave it in your window, with the word PEACE written large beneath it.

v       Buy a Peace Flag, and fly it. Wear a Peace T-shirt and Organise an “Art for Peace” event

3.     Ways to stop the war with your body:

v       Use your voice! Phone your Senator or government representative, and tell them what you feel. Pay them a visit. Organise a carload of people to visit the offices of your politicians.

v       Distribute flyers. Go to www.unitedforpeace.org  and print a ready-made flyer.

v       Fast for some time and Perform a silent vigil somewhere in public, with a placard. Invite people to join you.

v       Go on strike. Refuse to work for fifteen minutes every day.

4.     Ways to stop the war with your spirit:

v       Pray for Peace. Find a beautiful collection of prayers for peace from every religion at www.peaceprayer.org/iraq.html.

v       Join the “100 days towards a culture of peace” initiative: (available in different languages at http://www.gerhardinger.org/English/Shalom/100Days/Letter_for_100_days.htm and

www.buonpastoreint.org

v       Study Scripture and the Church’s Social Teaching on war and peace: John Paul II’s statements, as well as your Congregation’s charism in this respect. www.vatican.va

v       Organise a Prayer Service for peace. Dance, sing, paint and share poems for peace.

5.     Ways to stop the war with your mind:

v       Educate yourself. Your arguments will be more powerful if you study what’s happening. The New Oil Order - Washington's War on Iraq is the Lynchpin to Controlling Persian Gulf Oil from Foreign Policy in Focus: www.corpwatch.org/issues/PID.jsp?articleid=5529

v       Analyse the situation: A good analysis of the lead-up to the current situation is contained in Le Monde Diplomatique: http://mondediplo.com/focus/iraq/

v       Develop Clear Arguments: Fifteen Arguments Against the War on Iraq: www.eclipse.co.uk/exeter/stopwar/15args.shtml Put time aside in community meetings.

v       Explore the Internet. One useful resource: TruthOut: www.truthout.org 

6.     Ways to stop the war with your organisation:

v       Clarify that your congregation/organisation is against the war.

7.     Ways to stop the war with your friends:

v       Write letters together and persuade your city and collect signatures

v       Discuss what you can do together.

 

Participation by the Animation Committee at the World Social Forum (WSF) 2003: The Social Forum in Porto Alegre evolved as a response to the Economic Forum held in Davos by the most powerful political and economic players in the world. The Alternative Forum brings together over 5000 NGOs from all over the world. They are committed to working for a world that is not led by “big capital”. It is a movement, without a hierarchy, committed to overcoming hunger and inequality, working together on concrete alternative proposals. From its initiation three years ago it has grown from 15,000 to 100,000 participants. Some of the proposals are: regulation of the financial markets; distribution of riches, starting with a renegotiation of the external debt for the Southern nations; freedom to use and produce generic drugs; a democratic and international regulation of conflict; peace brought about by cooperation; rejection of the pre-emptive war theory; democratisation of national and international institutions, with the participation of civil society, and a sustainable development for future generations.

 

The Animation Committee shared their experience in an open letter to the Order, available on the office web page, in the hope that Franciscans and other religious men and women can accompany in civil society this process of the Spirit. Religious were present massively, but as a leaven, accompanying many popular organisations and NGOs. The Animation Committee thinks there is a place for a more visible and organised participation in the upcoming meetings. They detected a profound thirst and openness to the spiritual dimension of the struggle for a better world.

What are the issues that we must become involved in as Franciscans? This is a question for our local, provincial and upcoming General Chapter. What can be bring to these meetings and what can we learn from them? The Animation Committee encourages Franciscans to become part of this process, locally, nationally and internationally. More local events are being organised. Perhaps we can be a leaven locally to bring civil society together to reflect on how to build a better and more just world. Few will be able to participate in the next Forum in India 2004, but many can be part of the process and be enriched by it. What about bringing themes as mysticism and militancy, spirituality and development, faith and politics, spirituality and non-violence/ecology to the next Forum? Our Franciscan Universities and Research centres could make very positive contributions. What could they be? For copies of the letter, go to the Curia Web page and the JPIC office or www.ofm-jpic.org and click on “What’s new”. Alternatively, write to the JPIC office at pax@ofm.org

 

 

Japan: The bishops' Council for Justice and Peace had its annual meeting of JPIC promoters. One of the good things about the organisation is that the diocesan promoters and the promoters of the religious congregations come together. The OFM provincial and the JPIC promoter participated. The OFMs have organised a public meeting to propagate the global warming booklet on March 14 in Tokyo, now published in the Japanese language.

Hong Kong: In December, in conjunction with the Diocesan JP Commission, Franciscans in Hong Kong organised a Peace Crib Design Competition to enhance the awareness of justice and peace issues. See http://www.ofm.org.hk/800-JPIC/821-crib/crib.htm. The Friars also initiated an interfaith peace prayer in response to the Iraqi Crisis.

 

JPIC commission South Africa: They had the first meeting of the new JPIC provincial commission. There are five friars on the commission, with two new members, Sizwe and Mbulelo. Teddy Lennon reported that there was a lot of enthusiasm and a number of good ideas expressed. A suggestion was made to have the JPIC Sub-Saharan meeting in Pretoria  in the week beginning 24 Nov, 2003 to follow up on the Nairobi meeting, September 2002.

 

JPIC in Egypt: In March the province invited Francisco O’Conaire to help with a reflection for the Franciscan Family on the incorporation of JPIC into their lives and ministries, with particular emphasis on parish ministry and inter-religious dialogue. Manuel Corullón Fernández ofm, JPIC conference coordinator, Marco Malagola, JPIC Holy Land and Jal Maldith, JPIC Egypt were also involved with input. Three seminars were organised in Cairo, Alessandria and Luxor. A substantial number of Franciscans, among them many OFMs, participated with a particularly strong lay involvement in Luxor. The time was short, but the general feeling was that it served as a good general introduction to JPIC issues. Follow up will be the responsibility of the new recently appointed JPIC animator, a young Sudanese friar, supported by the Provincial Government. After the seminars a historic meeting took place. It was the first ever JPIC Conference meeting for COMONA, to take place on Conference soil. Some of the Brothers met during the Vossenack Congress. The two day meeting dealt with issues relating to the internal organisation of the commission, devising a plan of action, working on a draft proposal for Statutes to be presented to the Ministers Provincial, presentation of JPIC resources and familiarisation with the International Council proposals, among them the five proposals presented to the General Chapter. Jal works with the Sudanese community in exile in Egypt. The Church where he works in Alexandria is mostly frequented by Sudanese. In Cairo the commission visited another parish run by the Comboni missionaries, who have a particularly strong presence in Sudan, in fact, they are the pioneer missionaries to the country. At this time the Order is investigating the possibility of opening a presence in Sudan, ad two of our friars recently completed a visit to investigate the possibilities of starting a presence there. There are several Sudanese friars in the Egyptian Vice-Province, eager to return to their native land and accompany their people, long suffering from the effects of war. It is estimated that over two million have already lost their lives.

Religious leaders in Papua renew publicly their commitment to build peace in Papua: On the 5^th of February two thousand people filled the sports-hall to mark the start of the Protestant Mission in Papua back in 1855. The most important event during the celebration was the ecumenical gathering attended by leading local government officials, a representative of the central government and representatives of the five main religions. The key note address was given by  the Bishop of Jayapura, Mgr. Leo Laba Ladjar OFM. He dwelt largely on the actual situation in Papua, on one hand drawing attention to the potential sources of conflict (economical disparity, difference of political aspirations, questionable security actions, tension among ethnical groups, tension among religious groups, the lack of justice done related to several cases of gross human rights violations and conflicting central government policies including a proposal to divide the Papua Province. He also underlined the basic will of the Papuan community to have their problems handled in a peaceful and democratic way. After the bishop’s reflection, the religious leaders expressed their common commitment to build “Papua Tanah Damai” - Papua, Land of Peace.

Asylum Seekers in Australia:  Matthew Beckman ofm, informed the office informally about his work with asylum seekers. The Government abolished permanent visas three years ago for most asylum seekers, as such they only obtain three year permits that must be renewed regularly.  Each renewal requires a complete rehearing of their claims for protection under the UN convention.  Before when a visa was obtained the file on that person’s case could be closed, now they never close. Mathew assists about 2,500 people a year and can handle no more - but from now on they keep getting the 2,500 new cases each year - plus a few thousand extra cases coming back for renewals.  They do not have staff, space, time or even stationery to assist. 

 

JPIC-ESC Council Meeting Feb. 23-27, 2003: a) The commission visited the US Congress and were particularly interested in finding out about the National Security Strategy (NSS). They are currently working on a document to be circulated in the Congress. b)The Council also committed themselves to circulate the Sub-Saharan Conference document with regard to HIV/AIDS. c) They thanked David Moczulski ofm for the good work he has done as the Washington office director (FWOFLA) and agreed to look for a replacement by June. d) Larry Bernard gave a report on his participation at the World Social Forum and encouraged participation at next year’s meeting in India e) Three friars visited Colombia in March as a result of an invitation by the JPIC animator of the San Pablo province, in order to secure the safe return of displaced civilians by war to their places of origin. f) the Council will organise a day of fasting and prayer for peace for all US. Franciscans. g) Some members of the Council will participate at the formation seminar in Brazil, October 2003, organised by the Brazil JPIC commission. h) the next JPIC meeting will take place on Nov 4-9, 2003.

Problems for tribal people on the Mexican/US border: Edgar ofm sends us information about the Franciscan ministry to the native American people, the Tohono O'oddam or desert people in English, in Tucson, AZ. They are facing problems with the border between the US. and Mexico.  Some of the tribe members wandered between Mexico and Arizona, and were never consulted about the border. Therefore, some of them never became US. citizens, and so have problems moving in their own land.  They have resisted the government’s efforts to take over the reservation, or to build a wall along the border.  Since September 11 many immigrants particularly from Latin America are entering the US. through the reservation because of the inhospitable nature of the desert. The Immigration Service (INS) has driven the immigrants toward these areas, away from more traditional crossing points like Tijuana.  Edgar asks for our prayers that during this summer people will not continue to die in the desert. 

Lobby project of the United States Congress and House: The English Speaking JPIC council planned to meet in Washington during the week of 22^nd of February and as part of the meeting to lobby Senators and House representatives on Franciscan opposition to the concept of a “pre-emptive military strike”, a doctrine now being proposed by the Bush administration. The previous doctrine only envisaged war being declared when first attacked. Due to unforeseen circumstances the meeting took on a different form. Bobby Vadakall, JPIC India, contributed a paper relating a point of view from the Indian sub-continent to a study session on US National Security Strategy (NSS). Bobby stated that the “NSS is the US recipe for HOT PEACE after the Cold War epoch.” Afterwards six people, including a woman from Hebron and a man from Colombia met three staff representatives of Senators.

Farm workers evicted in California: In January 15 Franciscan friars from the Province of Santa Barbara, meeting at Mission San Luis Rey, paid a visit to the evicted strawberry farm workers in Carlsbad. The friars brought food and water, then accompanied about 15 farm workers to Pilgrim United Church of Christ in Carlsbad where they held an informal ecumenical prayer service. The friars have supported farm workers and their cause since the 1960s. The friars signed and delivered two letters after their visit to the camp:  One was addressed to the local Mayor, who authorised the Carlsbad police to evict the strawberry workers from their dwellings and the other was addressed to the ranch manager whose foremen assisted in the evictions.

 

Animation Committee Meeting: Sao Paulo, Jan. 30 – Feb. 3: After the World Social Forum, the members of the Animation Committee met. Here are some of the most important ideas shared and commitments made:

1.     Evaluation of the ICJPIC meeting. The Committee made its own evaluation and the recommendations are in the minutes of the meeting. The evaluation made by the participants is available in the full report (hard copy and on file). It will be automatically sent to the members of the Council. Copies may be requested from the office. Most of the report is in English, with the exception of the Conference reports which are mostly in the original languages.

2.     Open letter against the war in Iraq: The Animation Committee spent time drafting and distributing a letter expressing its rejection of the concept of a “pre-emptive” strike and encouraged the Security Council to look for a negotiated solution.

3.     Publication of Materials:

v       Continental meetings: a compendium of the important materials of the three continental meetings will be published. Francisco will draw up a list, following some ideas and criteria given by the Animation Committee, and in consultation with the ICJPIC. Articles will be published in the original languages.

v       JPIC Prayers and Liturgies: Franciscans and others will be invited to send prayers and liturgies to the JPIC office by June. These may be liturgies and prayer services already used, or to be created as a result of this appeal. An expert in liturgy will be invited to help in the elaboration of the book. Please send useful information to the office as soon as possible.

4.     Review of ICJPIC proposals: The first five proposals are those presented to the General Chapter. The animation committee reflected on ways to implement them, making some concrete suggestions, available in the minutes – to be taken up after the General Chapter.

v       The book on non-violence: Alejandro Castillo will have 2000 copies printed in Mexico; a thousand in the Spanish and a thousand in English. They will be distributed in the USA and in Latin America. Other Conferences, in Latin America and elsewhere, are encouraged to print their own editions and promote translations into their own languages. The Italian, German and Portuguese translations are underway. Bobby Vadakkal will try to have an Indian version printed for use in Asia and Africa.

v       “Spirit of Assisi” on October 27: The members of the new dialogue commission will be asked to prepare a prayer and if this is not possible the committee will undertake this task.

v       Important days on civil calendar for promotion of JPIC consciousness: For 2003 the decision was to promote the “Spirit of Assisi”. For March 20^th, 2004 the theme will be water, even though this is the International Year for fresh water.

v       JPIC Resource people: A list will be drawn up of Franciscans or those who work closely with Franciscans who have specific competencies, like in economics, environment, etc., and will include a small CV with indications of areas in which the person is expert. JPIC animators are asked to send this information to the office later when a more formal request is made. The list of names could be placed onto the web site, a resource material for those preparing seminars.

v       Continental meetings: The Europeans are already speaking in terms of organising a meeting within the next two years. The possibility exists that the next ICJPIC meeting could take place at the same time as a continental meeting, similar to that in San Luis Rey.

v       Other recommendations: The Animation Committee agree that each continent needs to organize itself so as to facilitate communications and greater collaboration. The committee is interested in knowing more about the proposed formation seminar, to take place in the Philippines, for JPIC animators of the East Asia Conference, open to members of the SAAO and friars interested in learning more about JPIC. They also agree with the proposal that another International Congress should be organised by 2006.

v       Follow up to carry over proposals from Vossenack:

a)     Urgent Action Network (new number, proposal 21). Francisco met with MZF and Franciscans International in Bonn. It was a good meeting but did not lead to anything concrete with regard to the urgent action. MZF are interested, and want to follow up. It is the slowest Urgent Action network ever contemplated!

b)    Colombia (new number, proposal 22). Francisco will participate at their conference meeting in March in La Paz, Bolivia.

c)     Nuclear Disarmament (new number, proposal 23). This is referred back to English-speaking conference

d)    Inserted Fraternities (new number, proposal 24). Information in Contact 2, 2003.

5.     Next animation committee meeting: Provisionally, it has been scheduled for November 1-8, 2003, in Rome.

 

A Delegation against the Juvenile death penalty met JPIC promoters in Rome. A delegation of thirty people from the US: parents of juveniles on death row, parents who have had a child executed, lawyers, human rights advocates, victims against capital punishment, concerned citizens and a protestant pastor came seeking John Paul II’s support. They also met JPIC promoters, March 27, 2003, who listened to many stories of the barbarity, inhumanity and injustice suffered by juveniles and by their families during the harrowing months of trial and during the subsequent years working for justice for their children. There are 16,000 juveniles in prison in the US; 80 are on death row and in 2002 the USA was the only country in the world to execute juveniles. Twenty two of the States have the possibility of executing juveniles on their statute books, where as, in reality, only six States have actually executed, with Texas (surprise!) taking the number one position. This is despite a 69% rejection of the death penalty for juveniles in the US. If juveniles commit a felony they can be tried in an adult court and treated as adults. The juvenile court system in the United States celebrated its 100^th anniversary recently, an initiative set up to protect children, but which has now been used to work against the very people it was founded to protect. Young people are being sentenced without the possibility of parole, which means they will never be released. The philosophy/theology behind this system is one based on vengeance, with no concern for rehabilitation. What in reality is happening is that the door is being locked and the key thrown away. How can we help these good people? i) Work to change the law in the 22 States where capital punishment for children is on the statute books, targeting in particular the three States where the practice is common, ii) Make people aware that children and juveniles are in adult prisons in the US, with all the tragic consequences this brings, iii) Write clemency letters to Governors when asked by support organisations, iv) Encourage the Vatican to publish its opposition to the death penalty for juveniles v) Connect with and support local organisation working for justice in this area (if you live in the US) and v) Become an intern with an organisations working for this cause, like for example, the Justice Centre of Louisiana (billys@thejusticecenter.org). See the following web pages for more information: www.underourwings.org www.justicepolicy.org

 

Reports from Bethlehem: Louis Bohte ofm, Netherlands, has been living and working in Betlehem for the last few months. He works with Palestinian refugees. He was a member of a Dutch NGO delegation last year and asked to return again this year to continue his work and support for the refugees. He has faithfully sent regular reports about his work and experiences. If anyone wishes copies of his reports please contact Louis at: louisbohte@hotmail.com

 

Bethlehm Urgent Action Appeal: The JPIC office wishes to thank all those who have written to Mr. Sharon about the encirclement of sixty Christian families in Bethlehem. If you have not already written, it is still timely. The relevant information is available in Contact 2, February 2003 and is on the JPIC office web page http://www.ofm-jpic.org/ofmjpic/contact/index.html A copy of the letter sent by the office is also on the site. We were happy to see the timely response from the Franciscan Family in Vietnam.

 

Victory for protests in Vieaques: US Navy carried out its 'last' Vieques military exercise in January. Vieques' 8,000 residents have long objected to the use of their island as a bombing range, especially as depleted uranium shells have been linked to soaring cancer rates on the island. The protests intensified after a Puerto Rican security guard was hit by a stray bomb in 1999. Franciscans had been involved in the campaign, including the Archbishop who is a Franciscan.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/2655633.stm

 

New JPIC animators/ change of contact information:

v      Luciano Bruxel ofm, Brazil: lucianobruxel@terra.com.br

Conference and Provincial JPIC publications:

Gearóid Francisco Ó Conaire, OFM

OFM JPIC Office

Via S. Maria Mediatrice 25

00165 Rome, ITALY

E-mail: pax@ofm.org Web: http://www.ofm.org/

Tel: (+39-06) 6849-1218       Fax: (+39-06) 6849-1266