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No Return the Civilian Impact of Turkey’S Operation Claw-Lightning

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No Return the Civilian Impact of Turkey’S Operation Claw-Lightning vol.xxxi, No.2; JUL - SEP 2021 No Return The Civilian Impact of Turkey’s Operation Claw-Lightning 35th Anniversary Peacemaker Congress DETAILS INSIDE p. 10 Read about the work of CPT Resurrection Peacemaking: Plowsharing the Tools of War: Thirty Years with Christian Peacemaker Teams Cliff Kindy Resource Publications, 2020 "I wrote Resurrection Peacemaking as a story of my experiences with CPT. I wanted my grandchildren to know some of this history. Other nonviolent practitioners have the documents that add to my story and confirm the strengths of nonviolence in the face of violence. There are many other stories, but Resurrection Peacemaking adds to the amazing collection that exposes the futility of war and violence." In Harm's Way: A History of Christian Peacemaker Teams Kathleen Kern Cascade Books, 2017 Hostage in Iraq (Biography Series Book 2) Norman Kember Darton Longman Todd, 2010 Captivity: 118 Days in Iraq and the Struggle for a World Without War James Loney Knopf Canada, 2011 Iraq: A Journey of Hope and Peace Peggy Gish Wipf & Stock Publishers, 2015 Letter from the editor We certainly need to rely on the traditions reader of this publication and another 1941 of our prophets: the ordinary people who supporters, contributed to our work last year, keep standing up to repressive and oppressive affirming that you stand with our partners and structures. What makes these ordinary people with us. On 25 September we'll be celebrating extraordinary is the courage to repeatedly and our anniversary and hosting a half-day online tirelessly hold to account their governments, congress. Consider joining us. You can find who have habitually failed them and unjustly more about it on page 10. denied them their rights. In these last few The relationship between climate change, months, we have seen people protesting in justice and decolonization has never been Palestine and Colombia, while Land Defenders more evident. And it has become even more and Water Protectors on Turtle Island have pertinent that we think about it as a global made it clear, "honor the treaties." Migrants organization. Many of the asylum seekers and asylum seekers fleeing neocolonialism that CPT accompanies on the US/Mexico keep arriving in the Greek isles despite the Border or on the island of Lesvos in Greece possibility of criminal prosecution. And in Iraqi are often fleeing circumstances exacerbated Kurdistan, defiance is to stay put in the rugged by poisoned rivers, monoculture farming and mountains even as Turkey invades (p.12). To wars that have diminished the possibilities be a prophet is to speak truth to power even of living healthy lives in their environment. when no one is watching. It may even cost We accompany partners at the forefront, you your life. This is where CPT comes in: to challenging both economic and governmental build partnerships with local changemakers callousness on consideration for a sustainable threatened for being prophets in their own world. We cannot talk about sustainability land. In collaboration and through coalition- if we do not talk about borders, migration, building, we strive to create space for the local capitalism and economic colonization. How work of peace and justice to thrive. For the then do we talk about sustainability when last thirty-five years, we've been learning from privilege exists? Rest assured, there are no these prophets; learning for us has meant easy answers. Still, we are committed to a unlearning, growing, and relearning. sustainable CPT, and it will influence our In May, in our growth and commitment decision making on how we contribute to to "transforming oppression not only in sustainable justice (p.6). the places we work but also within the We are grateful to have you on this journey organization itself," we decided to implement with us. Write to us and let us know what a living wage model. It took us a while to sustainability means to you. reach the decision. It was scary. Would it be a viable decision? Looking back thirty-five years, we can say with confidence, yes. You, the In kindness, Caldwell Manners Communications Coordinator SPONSORS OF CPT USA P.O. Box 6508, Chicago, IL 60680 Church of the Brethren / On Earth Peace +1-773-376-0550 Friends United Meeting [email protected] Mennonite Church Canada Mennonite Church USA CANADA Congregation of St. Basil (Basilians) 103 Bellevue Ave, Toronto, ON MST 2NB Deutsche Mennonitische Friedenskomitee +1-647-339-0991 Presbyterian Peace Fellowship [email protected] JULY - SEPTEMBER 2021 3 CPT celebrates May Day by implementing living wage. 4 CHRISTIAN PEACEMAKER TEAMS CPT INTERNATIONAL May Day is a day we celebrate workers their work. around the world and their struggle for For decades CPT has operated on a stipend rights and fair compensation. In the spirit of system to compensate its workers, with every solidarity and in Christian Peacemaker Team’s worker receiving approximately the same commitment to undoing oppressions, it is amount of money no matter their location. with great excitement that we announce that Yet, we know ‘the same’ does not always CPT will be implementing a living wage model mean equal, and some CPTers were struggling in how we compensate CPTers with no CPTer to cover their basic expenses. As CPT strives receiving a pay deduction. to transform oppression within our world, Thirty-five years ago, CPT was formed to we admit we need to transform how we bring nonviolent change to lethal conflicts compensate CPTers. around the world. Over the decades, CPT has Choosing to shift our model to one that grown and shifted, recognizing that violent provides a living wage was not an issue, but conflict is rooted in oppression. In this spirit, having the financial resources to pay the living CPT has dedicated itself to be an organization wage was the challenge. After thoughtful committed to transforming violence and conversation and pouring over spreadsheets, oppression. This means transforming we knew we had to take the step; the oppression not only in the places we work but pandemic had reminded us again of why also within the organization itself. systemic fairness is vital in the work of justice. In today’s world, oppression takes on many In a capitalist society, the value of labour is forms, including the oppression in how expressed through financial compensation. workers are compensated for their labor. Yet, at CPT, we want to acknowledge that Pivotal in bringing an end to violence is bringing the work of every CPTer is invaluable. There an end to economic oppression experienced is no monetary amount that could represent by so many. As we express our solidarity with the quality of this work. So while we do not workers worldwide and advocate for workers’ compensate for the value of labour, we want rights, we look within our organization to see to compensate so that CPTers can live a how we can better compensate CPTers for healthy life. █ JULY - SEPTEMBER 2021 5 Toward a more sustainable future. Pledge with us. The new CPT Global Sustainability Working honouring the Earth´s waters and supporting Group (GSWG) hopes to support and others who work to protect water and their encourage existing CPT engagement on community’s access to it. The Iraqi Kurdistan environmental and climate issues and develop CPT team has acted concretely on this new initiatives. For decades, environmentally commitment, purchasing a water filter that destructive practices and corporate interests was costly but will allow the team to drink have been directly impacting every area where clean water without generating plastic bottle CPT works. CPTers have collaborated with waste. And CPTers are continuing to partner communities that experience oppression with Land Protectors and Water Protectors at the hands of extractive corporations on Turtle Island, who are facing down massive supported by armed actors. Climate change fossil fuel pipelines. patterns disproportionately impact CPT’s CPTers are also reflecting on fossil fuel partner communities. Many existing CPT consumption, calculating and considering the delegates and workers have a passion for impacts of individual programs. This research addressing climate justice, indigenous land is prompting consideration into how CPT can rights, environmental racism, and many seek savings from energy costs – mitigating other areas of environmental justice. The environmental impacts and conserving new working group wants to highlight all the financial resources as well. excellent work that has already been done. A focus for the GSWG has also been There is fortunately much to highlight, even considering how CPT´s investments can better just within the last year! CPT is promoting reflect and reinforce CPT´s anti-oppression The Water Pledge, providing resources lens and a commitment to environmental and encouraging individuals to commit to practices. We’re also considering the 6 CHRISTIAN PEACEMAKER TEAMS This year I pledge to make a practice of honoring the Earth’s waters. I will bring attention to the ongoing water crisis and global wars fueled by water extraction. My actions will honor the courageous actions of the Earth’s Water Protectors Use your phone camera scanner and make your pledge at cptaction.org possibility that some CPT funds could also be invested directly into concrete, exciting, Members of the Global Sustainability environmentally and socially sustainable Working Group: projects rather than in stocks and bonds. One goal of the GSWG is to highlight Mohammed Salah, CPT Iraqi Kurdistan individuals and programs that may inspire Program (Kurdistan) interest and collaboration across the CPT Milena Rincon, Program Director network. Stay tuned for inspiring stories in (Colombia) future newsletter issues! We in the GSWG are excited to look at Muriel Schmid, Administrative Director various ways that CPT can better support (Turtle Island – United States) its workers and partners who are moving Steve Heinrichs, Steering Committee in sustainable directions.
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