For the latest JPIC updates visit: www.ofm-jpic.org Invite people to visit and use our resources.

 

Content: i) JPIC and the General Chapter; ii) Action Alert on Global Warming; iii) 8^th European meeting of inserted fraternities; iv) G8 and cancellation of Debt; v) FI and Human Rights Commission; vi) JPIC issues in Central America; vii) Americas Free Trade Agreement; viii) Booklet for religious on Water; ix) JPIC formation material; x) Vatican Document on Ecology and; xi) Book from S. Africa.

Quotes:

• ``Already, we have seen a rise in worldwide arms expenditure, from $761 billion in 2000 to $839 billion in 2002.'' (Germany's Economic Cooperation and Development Minister Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul.)

§      The violets in the mountains have broken the rocks.-Tennessee Williams, dramatist (1911-1983).

§      “Charity offends almost no one; at one point or another, justice offends practically everyone” – author unknown

§      “only 10% of resources available for health research were spent on diseases that affected 90% of the world’s population” – Global Forum for Health Research.

 

GG.CC.

§             Article 71

Following closely in the steps of Saint Francis, the friars are to maintain a reverent attitude towards nature, threatened from all sides today They thus restore nature in its entirety to its status of brother and sister, useful to all people for the glory of God the Creator.

§             Article 87 # 3.

The brothers should establish fraternities in poor areas and among secularized groups of people and consider these fraternities privileged means of proclaiming the gospel. The church may thus be seen more clearly as a sacrament of salvation for our time.

 

JPIC and the General Chapter: All JPIC animators should have received copies of the following documents to share with their Provincials and General Chapter delegates: JPIC proposals for the General Statutes (five languages); five JPIC proposals (three languages), an article supporting the continuation of an independent JPIC office (five languages) and the JPIC office report (four languages). It is also part of the JPIC animation work to inform, clarify and encourage the leadership to live and incorporate JPIC values into the ministry of the Order. The General Chapter is one of the most important moments in the life of the Order. The more clarity the delegates have about the proposals in general and JPIC proposals in particular, hopefully, the better for the decision making processes. For details: http://www.ofm-jpic.org/ofmjpic/index.html#hermanos

 

Action Alert on Global Warming: One million people, one goal: Stop Global Warming. Encourage our brothers and sisters to support Environmental Defense's campaign to influence legislators in the United States to support international initiatives to reduce global warming. Sign their online petition today:
http://actionnetwork.org/campaign/globalwarming_petition?source=alternet2

 

8^th European meeting of inserted fraternities: This meeting will take place in Frankfurt from June 6-9, 2003. The meeting will reflect on the progress made and difficulties encountered over the years, with particular attention given to the issue of International inserted fraternities. Contributions will be given to the international study on Franciscan inserted fraternities, promoted at the meeting in San Luis Rey, November 2002. For further details contact Markus Heinz ofm at: Markus.Heinze@t-online.de

 

Write to the G8 for cancellation of the foreign debt: The Coalition of Religious Congregations against the foreign debt, of which the Rome JPIC office is member, has asked religious to write the leaders of the G8 before their next summit on 1-3 June, in Evian, France. The world's richest governments are resisting cancellation of the debt, fearing it would cost too much. According to CAFOD, the British Church aid agency, if all the debts of the poorest countries in Africa were to be cancelled, the cost to creditors would be about US$6 billion over 5 years. If that cost was shared between the world's 10 richest creditors, it would be about $120 million per year - about two thirds of the cost of a jumbo jet. From CAFOD's ongoing meetings with G8 officials it is clear that the only thing stopping those governments agreeing to further debt relief is a lack of political pressure. You can help by sending a letter to one or all of the leaders of the G8 countries. Model letters are available on our web page, http://www.ofm-jpic.org/otherjpic/index.html in English, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese and German. The addresses of the G8 leaders are also available. Fifteen brothers of the General Curia supported a petition directed to the Italian Prime Minister asking him to support debt cancellation. A copy is also available on the web.

 

Franciscans International – Human Rights Commission meeting: This March and April, Franciscans International participated in the UN Commission on Human Rights (CHR), for the seventh consecutive year, both advocating for the rights of the poor and marginalized and forming Franciscan brothers and sisters in human rights mechanisms. OFM friars from all over the world played an integral part in providing testimony on varied human rights issues at the Commission.

Among the many Franciscans participating in the CHR was Br. Theo van den Broek OFM who came from Indonesia to speak on the rights of Papuan people. One of the preeminent spokespersons for peace and human rights in the West Papua, Indonesia, a region of growing concern as a result of ongoing human rights violations, Br. Theo’s advocacy at this year’s Commission drew much needed international attention to the region. This is Br. Theo’s second time to participate in the CHR.

 

Based on his direct experience working with trafficked women and domestic girls in Togo, Br. Joseph Koffi Sewedjro Legonou OFM participated in the CHR, paying particular attention to human trafficking, especially in West African countries. He also met with officials from UNAIDS to explore a possible partnership.

Br. Samson Shukardin OFM is working as a lawyer in the Pakistani court system. He knows first-hand the reality of administration of justice in the region, where people suffer due to the lack of effective implementation of human rights. He delivered a statement during the Commission on religious discrimination.

Br. Franjo Radman OFM works on healing and reconciliation between people in conflict in the former Yugoslavia. He has collaborated with Franciscans International for the past several years. Br. Franjo shared his experiences of conflict situations with Commission members and other participants.

The former Executive Director of Franciscans International, Br. Augustinus Diekmann OFM attended the CHR as well. He is currently preparing for his future ministry as Mission Director of the Saxonia Province (OFM). The Province continues to support Franciscans International. Following his 20 years working in Northeastern Brazil, Br. Augustinus now works in Berlin and has close contact with Missionszentrale der Franziskaner (MZF), which lobbies the German government on issues of concern to Franciscans worldwide. 

For more information on this year’s Commission, including all official FI statements and a complete list of our delegation, see www.FranciscansInternational.org.

 

Franciscan Minister General and Master of the Dominican Order visit FI/Geneva: "FI's ministry at the United Nations is a new contribution to our contemporary Franciscan charism. It challenges us to better understand what it means to be a Franciscan in the world today by reminding us of the strongest elements of our spirituality: respect for the dignity of the human being and care for the environment," said Fr. Ilija Zivkovic TOR, Minister General of the Franciscan Friars Third Order Regular. Fr. Ilija met with FI staff and participated in the UN Commission on Human Rights during a visit FI's Geneva office, which began on Mar. 27. Also Fr. Carlos Azpiroz Costa OP, Master of the Order of Preachers and his Vicar, Fr. Dominique Renouard OP, participated during some of the UN Commission on Human Rights

For complete info see http://www.franciscansinternational.org/news/article.php?id=125 and http://www.franciscansinternational.org/news/article.php?id=113

 

Ecology Seminar for the Franciscan Family – Central America: Two women, Pati and Xiomara, working in the JPIC office in El Salvador, conducted a seminar on environmental issues. They gave an analysis of the international ecological situation. They explained the Environmental Education programme they are developing in one of the Vicariates of the diocese of San Salvador, called Mons. Romero, which has about 20 parishes. The objective of this programme is to train local leaders on environmental themes. They have successfully concluded a pilot programme of one year in seven parishes. This has been expanded to a further ten parishes in 2003. They also gave a practical demonstration on how to recycle paper by hand. There were about 20 representatives present from Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala and the Franciscan Centre based in Guatemala. JPIC office email: bienjpe@navegante.com.sv

 

Poor people confront logging companies: Santos Ramos, local minister in a small community in Olancho, Honduras, gave a testimony to a gathering of the Franciscan Family about how the people in the area are trying to counteract the destruction of trees by logging companies. The peaceful protests are organised with the help of P. Andres Tamayo, parish priest of one of the largest parishes in Olancho. The strategy of blocking the road only prevents the large logging trucks from proceeding for the duration of the protest. They have managed to stop indiscriminate logging in about ten communities. Also, the government vigilance in the area has been stepped up. However, the government has largely ignored the protests, despite being presented with concrete demands. Among these demands are: a) Enforce the existing government legislation on the control of logging in Olancho; b) Nominate to the different government controlling boards people who really have the interest of the community at heart; and c) Investigate the titles of companies and individuals who claim to have logging rights, with a view of detecting and eliminating fraudulent claims as regards these rights. A decision was taken to send a letter to the Honduran government in support of the demands. At a later date Franciscans around the world will be asked to write letters of support. The Rome JPIC office will keep you updated.

 

Free Trade Agreement of the Americas (ALCA): The Spanish/Portuguese/Italian language group of International JPIC promoters, based in Rome, have published a short and concise popular document on the proposed Free Trade agreement of the Americas. It can be accessed on the Rome office web page in Spanish. An English language version will shortly be available. The JPIC animators meeting in San Luis Rey, November 2002 agreed to prioritize this issue. They will alert the brothers to the negative consequences on the poor of such an agreement and encourage reflection on and support for alternative proposals.

Go to: http://www.ofm-jpic.org/otherjpic/other/jpicalca.pdf

 

Booklet on Water: 2003 has been declared the International Year of Fresh Water by the United Nations. About two thirds of our globe is covered with water. Yet, 97.5% is salty. Effectively then, less than one percent of freshwater is usable. According to the UN's 1998 Human Development Report, three-fifths of the 4.4 billion people in the developing world lack access to basic sanitation and almost a third have no access to clean water. By 2025 two thirds of the world population will be facing water shortage. This booklet will be published shortly on the JPIC internet page at, www.ofm-jpic/aqua It is one in a series on environmental issues, written by a working group of International JPIC promoters based in Rome. The first was dedicated to Climate Change and Global Warming (www.ofm-jpic.org/globalwarming). There is already a wealth of information available on water. The group does not propose to give an exhaustive exposé on all aspects of the theme. Their objective is to stimulate interest among religious men and women towards this vital issue, thus helping to deepen their journey along the road of “environmental conversion”. The following web page provides 110 concrete examples on how to conserve water: http://www.wateruseitwisely.com/waterSavingTips/100tips.html (English)

 

Formation on JPIC: Donal O Mahony Ofm Cap, former JPIC international coordinator, made a presentation to some of his brothers in 1993 concerning the formation of Franciscans on issues relating to Justice, Peace and the Integrity of Creation. It is still a timely article and is available in the English language at: http://www.ciofs.org/doc/ef93enp1.htm#3

 

Vatican Ecology Document: The Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace has published a book entitled “From Stockholm to Johannesburg – An historical overview of the concern of the Holy See for the Environment, 1972-2002”. It is an invaluable document outlining the Church’s Social Teaching on the Environment as seen from statements made over the years. Hard copies are available in English, and Spanish. Cost per copy is 8 Euro approx.

Copies can be ordered as follows:

English:  Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, Palazzo S. Calisto, 00120 Vatican City. E-mail: pcjustpax@justpeace.va      Att. Sra. Anne Hild                         

Spanish:   PPC, Agastia, 80, 28043 Madrid.  e-mail: ppcedit@ppc-editorial.com

 

Publication of a book “They’re Burning the Churches”: Paddy Noonan ofm, an Irish Franciscan, a member of the South African province and the JPIC commission, who lived in the townships in the eighties during the most difficult years of the apartheid regime, has written his account of what happened, to be shortly published. It was a time of police brutality, buildings in flames, necklace killings, evictions, and supercharged political funerals. The names of at least twelve Franciscans of various nationalities appear in these pages. The book has taken thirteen years to complete, is a record of history, documentation, spirituality, controversy, violence, street theology, people telling their stories and religious and clergy accompanying change. It will be published on September 3, 2003. The web site of the publisher is: www.jacana.co.za Paddy’s email address is: pnoon@metroweb.co.za

 

Change of Addresse:

§       Manuel Alvarado ofm, Chile: nemasofm@yahoo.es

JPIC Conference meetings:

• Italian JPIC Conference meeting: Assisi, June 2-5, 2003. - It a joint meeting with other conference commissions on the theme of immigration .

Web sites:

§       Earth Light – a magazine of spiritual ecology : www.earthlight.org

- On this website you will find many articles from Thomas Berry and others that you can print.

• An executive summary of the Hidden Costs of war:

           http://www.fourthfreedom.org/pdf/Hartung_exec_summary.pdf (English)

• The Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace: http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/justpeace/index.htm
• The San Damiano Foundation: www.SanDamianoFoundation.Org

 

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-jpic.org

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