Semana por la Paz in Colombia

Idea exchange
September 2005

All they are saying . . . on September 24

Semana por la Paz in Colombia
Pax Christi USA, together with Catholic Relief Services and others, is promoting "Semana Por La Paz," an annual week (Sept. 11-18) of U.S. solidarity with the Colombian Church and civil society groups who are elevating peaceful and lasting alternatives to the deepening violence in their country. Pax Christi USA requests local communities in the United States to organize prayer services and advocacy activities, including a September 15th “call in” day to Congress. See the following Web sites for resources, bulletin inserts, and advocacy suggestions: www.lawg.org, www.lwr.org/colombia/, and www.peaceincolombia.org.

Background: The U.S. House of Representatives held a heated debate in July on a bill containing military aid to Colombia and passed a massive aid package that ignored the well-documented ties between the military and the brutal paramilitary groups, according to Pax Christi USA. It is anticipated that the Senate will debate their version of the bill in September. According to the Catholic peace group, it is time to call for major changes in U.S. policy toward Colombia, "away from the emphasis on military aid and instead on supporting human rights and resolution to the poverty at the roots of the conflict."

Also, for an excellent conference on Colombia that will focus on fostering relationships of support and solidarity between U.S. and Colombian Churches, Pax Chrisiti USA suggests attending “Partnering for Peace: An International Conference on Colombia,” October 21-23, 2005, in Chicago.

At a time when the crisis in Colombia is worsening and U.S. military aid is fueling the fires of the conflict, this Conference will focus on fostering sister relationships and other relationships of support and solidarity between U.S. and Colombian churches and communities, offering a critical means for expressing our faith, values and accompaniment. More information on this Conference, co-sponsored by Catholic Relief Services, Fellowship of Reconciliation, the Mennonite Central Committee and others, can be found at www.chicagoans.net/conference2005.

All they are saying . . . on September 24
The United for Peace and Justice (UFPJ) Coalition, in which Pax Christi USA and hundreds of other organizations participate, will hold an anti-war march and mobilization against the war in Iraq, from September 24-26, in Washington, D.C. International ANSWER is also participating.

Pax Christi USA is urging its members and friends who can travel to Washington to march and participate in the weekend’s events, and particularly, to march with others of Clergy and Laity Concerned about Iraq (CALC-I), the faith-based coalition of UFPJ members, of which Pax Christi USA was a founding member. A brief schedule of activities follows:

Saturday, September 24, 2005: At 10:00 AM, an all-day peace and justice festival will begin on the Washington Monument Grounds. At 11:30 AM, a brief rally will begin at the Ellipse, followed by a massive march beginning at 12:30 PM. At 3 PM that afternoon, an “Operation Ceasefire” concert will take place, featuring Gold Star Mother Cindy Sheehan and others.

March with Pax Christi!
Let’s stand together as Catholics committed to peace and justice to cry out, “The War in Iraq Remains a Defeat for Humanity!” Members of Pax Christi will meet at the Smithsonian Metro Station, outside the Independence Avenue exit, at 10:45 am. Look for the Pax Christi banner “Violence ends where love begins.” We'll then walk together to the 11 am rally at the Washington Monument.

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