Newsletter As of 7-11.Pub

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Newsletter As of 7-11.Pub SUMMER 2014 Thank You, Summer Interns! Kelsey Howard will be starting her Ryan Murphy is a rising junior sophomore year at Mount Saint at Xavier University, majoring Joseph University in the fall major- in Business, and is the co- ing in Social Work and Criminology with minors in Socio-Psychology as president of Boyz II Men Men- well as Leadership and Civil En- toring and Tutoring Program. gagement. While in school she He is interning at IJPC this plans on joining AmeriCorps Sum- summer through Xavier’s mer Associates Program and joining AmeriCorps Summer Service Internship VISTA upon graduating. She began interning at IJPC as part of MSJ’s summer employment pro- Program. He has been focus- gram and works with Nathan Ruggles on Peace ing on IJPC’s Immigration Program this sum- and Nonviolence focusing on the Dialogue Pro- mer, particularly working to compile college gram. Though Kelsey has only been with IJPC a application information for DACA students in short amount of time it has made a large impact Cincinnati. on her life views and she hopes to continue Inside this issue… working with IJPC in the future! Flying Pig 2014 = SUCCESS! Thank You, Summer Interns. …. You may have already heard the news, but we are so excited 1 we just have to share it again; IJPC not only reached, but surpassed Flying Pig 2014 Success!. 1 our $10,000 Flying Pig fundraising goal! We’d like to take this moment to publish a great big THANK YOU to all of our participants, sponsors Letter from Sr. Alice. .. 2 and supporters; we couldn’t have done it without you! Letter from Sr. Monica. 3 Immigration Program Update…….. 4-5 Human Trafficking Report……. 5 Death Penalty Program . .. .. 6 Peace Program Update. .7 News from Northern KY. Back cover Relay runner Dan Dery passing the torch off to Penny Tullis. 1 2 Founding Sponsors: A Letter From Sisters of Charity Sisters of St. Joseph of Medaille Sr. Alice Gerdeman Sisters of Mercy When I hear someone say “twenty-two” Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur years it seems like a long time and it is a Sisters of St. Francis, Oldenburg long time by some perspectives. But sit- ting at my desk during these final days at Sponsors: IJPC, twenty – two years doesn’t seem so Anawim Community long. In many ways, I don’t feel all that Cincinnati Mennonite Fellowship different from what I did in July of 1992. Maybe a bit older! Surely much richer! At this point in life, as I move Cincinnati Friends Meeting on to a very different position, my overwhelming sentiment is that of Comboni Missionaries gratitude. Dominican Sisters of Hope Every year, every month, everyday has been full and filled with di- Franciscans, St. John the Baptist verse experiences and simply phenomenal people. It is true, there Province are many more good people trying to make the world better than there are hurting folks causing discord and violence. Without doing Glenmary Home Missioners real research I can recall people from 51 one countries who have Institute of Secular Missionaries passed through IJPC’s door or I met somewhere along the way – all Sisters of Divine Providence good. Right here in Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky there are thousands of IJPCers of all faiths, all races, all neighborhoods, all Sisters of Notre Dame of skills, all ages, diverse philosophies and theologies and all have Covington blessed my life. St John Unitarian Universalists I’ve talked and laughed and shouted and sung and clapped and New Jerusalem Community marched and walked and stood together and sat in circles. I mourned friends that moved on or died and welcomed new friends Ursulines of Brown County and new lives. All of this is blessing. Together we wore out two bull- Ursulines of Cincinnati horn systems and carried hundreds of signs. So blessed am I. Staff: Even when the events aren’t about positive things – war, KKK on Maggie Behan Fountain Square, TransAtlantic Business Dialogue in town, execu- Sarah Madrigal tions, immigration raids, etc. – wonderful people, thousands of us, collaborated and some good came of it. This I trust. Monica McGloin, OP Nathan Ruggles Will I miss IJPC? Oh Yes! The staff, volunteers, board members, com- mittee members, colleagues, and visitors are friends. But I’m not go- Interns: ing away. I’ll see you at Fountain Square, Washington Park, Garfield Kelsey Howard, MSJ Place, The International Friendship Park, at your church, at a meet- ing. I must admit, I am addicted to peace and justice and the people Ryan Murphy, XU determined to make it our reality. Contact Us: 215 East 14th Street The staff at IJPC thanks Sr. Alice for everything she has Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 done, and wishes her all the best as she continues on to a Phone: 513.579.8547 new chapter as Provincial for the Congregation of Divine E-mail: info@ijpc-cincinnati.org Providence! 3 “Chaos really is a saving grace…” -Ilia Dio Monica McGloin In the book Presence, co-author C. Otto time, in light of our new understandings, our re- Scharmer recounts his experience as a sixteen sources and the needs of the universe? The year old of seeing the 350 year old farmhouse board has delegated the task of designing a pro- where his family had lived for 200 years re- cess to engage our sponsors, supporters and, co duced to ashes. He remembers how his initial -workers in this re-visioning to a committee com- sense of devastation was transformed to a reali- posed of Louise Lears SC, Carren Herring, RSM zation that all the things he had become at- and, Wes Ernst. tached to over the years had weighed him down. The Board has also hired Kay Brogle and He experienced a feeling of release which set Monica McGloin OP as interim co-coordinators. him free to encounter the future that would un- Kay has been the executive director of Healthy fold through his life. Otto also recalled the ad- Moms and Babes for the past 25 years. She has vice his 87 year old grand father gave to his son, also served on the IJPC Board and been in- “Keep your head up, my boy. Look forward”. This volved in many local activities. Monica has been experience evoked a question in him that re- involved with a number of organizations all fo- mained with him throughout his life: What does cused on justice and empowering the poor. it take to connect to that other stream of time, Most recently she has been working with the the one that gently pulls me toward my future Cincinnati Interfaith Committee for Worker Jus- possibility? tice. Both Kay and Monica are part of the Nuns The changes that have occurred at IJPC on the Bus Ohio. Kay, Monica and Nathan along (Kristen and Eunice taking on new positions, Al- with volunteers and interns are available to an- ice being elected as her Congregation’s Provin- swer your questions and respond to requests for cial, Sarah receiving a scholarship and, Maggie services. leaving AmeriCorps) though not as disastrous as the fire Otto described, have the capacity to ei- ther unsettle and de-energize us or to invite us Stay Tuned to hear how you can be involved in to, “keep our heads up and look forward”. The this stage of IJPC’s development. good news is that the IJPC Board has decided to see this moment as an opportunity to re-build or re-imagine IJPC. Who are we called to be at this Thank you, Sarah Madrigal! Maggie Behan will also be taking her leave from After two wonderful years working with the YES IJPC. Having started at IJPC during the summer of Committee and the immigrant community, I will be 2012 as a student intern, she realized just how stepping down as Immigration Program Coordina- much she had to learn about social justice issues tor. I will be focusing more fully on the remaining and how much IJPC had to offer. After her sum- year of my MSW program and working within the mer was up, she decided to stay and volunteer College of Social Work at UC. My live has been during her senior year at Xavier University, eventu- made richer by all of the wonderful people that I ally taking over as the Notre Dame AmeriCorps full have had the pleasure of working with, and I am time volunteer after graduation. IJPC has given her confident that I will take all that I have learned and so much by way of knowledge, experience, friend- put it to good use wherever I end up after gradua- tion. Thanks to everyone for the wisdom, laughter ship and growth. She is so grateful to everyone and passion you have shared with me. she has met throughout her journey with IJPC, and wishes everyone the absolute best! 4 Immigration Programs “You tell us that to love God and neighbour is not something abstract, but profoundly con- crete: it means seeing in every person the face of the Lord to be served, to serve him con- cretely. And you are, dear brothers and sisters, the face of Jesus.” (5/21/13) Pope Francis In the past few months, much of what When 20% of people living in Lebanon has been reported in mainstream media has are Syrian refugees, one would hope that the pertained to the increased number of unac- United States, as the leader of the free world, companied minors coming to America. Most would could show similar compassion. Espe- of these children are coming from Latin Amer- cially because the unaccompanied children ican countries such as Honduras, Guatemala, that came to the U.S.
Recommended publications
  • Unarmed Civilian Peacekeeping
    Nr. 52 September 2016 ISSN 1439-2011 Unarmed Civilian Peacekeeping: Effectively Protecting Civilians Without Threat of Violence Ellen Furnari, Rachel Julian and Christine Schweitzer Herausgeber: Bund für Soziale Verteidigung e.V. Unarmed Civilian Peacekeeping: Effectively Protecting Civilians Without Threat of Violence By Ellen Furnari, Rachel Julian and Christine Schweitzer Editor: Bund für Soziale Verteidigung Schwarzer Weg 8 32423 Minden Hintergrund- und Diskussionspapier No 52 September 2016 ISSN 1439-2011 3,- Euro Photo on page 1: Dialogue ending communal violence in South Sudan 2011, facilitated by Nonviolent Peaceforce. Photo: Christine Schweitzer 2 Contents Introduction ................................................................................................................ 4 Terminology ................................................................................................................ 5 What is Unarmed Civilian Peacekeeping? ..................................................................... 6 Who are the Unarmed Civilian Peacekeepers? .............................................................. 8 How Does It Work? ..................................................................................................... 9 Example 1: Colombia ............................................................................................ 10 Example 2: South Sudan ........................................................................................ 11 Example 3 Kosovo Verification Mission ..................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Summer 2015 Edition of the Peace Current
    The National Catholic Peace Movement Reflection for the First Sunday of Advent, November 29, 2015 t by Rev. John Rausch, glmy, Pax Christi USA Teacher of Peace en Pax Christi USA r Jeremiah 33:14-16 | 1 Thessalonians 3:12–4:2 | Luke 21:25-28, 34-36 r Summer 2015 u C e “But when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads, because your redemption is at hand.” (Lk 21:28) c Pea Advent allows a step back from our preoccupation with economic worries and the cares of the world. It raises our eyes to The see the new liturgical year as the hopeful dawn of salvation that will ultimately reach completion with our participation. Fear Letter from the Executive Director about the “end of the world” gets replaced by excitement about the fullness of God’s Reign. Your “ransom,” “liberation,” and “redemption” are at hand! Dear Companions on the Journey, “wherever two or three of you Fear sells newspapers and grabs our attention with every news broadcast. Terrorists might attack, hackers may control the eace and blessings. are gathered Internet, a gallon of gas may double in price! Shrill talking heads on TV and radio constantly inflate every troublesome situa- On June 18, 2015, two together in My tion into catastrophic tragedy. The gullible get scared. People of faith, by contrast, click the “off” button. seemingly paradoxical events For faithful disciples, the right agenda drives out fear. We know concerns like immigration, poverty, torture, capital punish- P Name, there am occurred: 1) the publication of Pope I in the midst of them” (Matthew 8:20).
    [Show full text]
  • PEC-Newsletter Summer 2021
    SUMMER 2021 Ma$$ive mon$oon $ea$on for military $pending PEC Board of Directors Becky Payne · CO-CHAIR By Terry Link Nelson Brown · CO-CHAIR Jim Detjen · SECRETARY We are entering the season of wrestling over the federal budget and nowhere are the John Masterson · TREASURER vested interests more active than in the military spending sector. It makes up half of PEC Board all non-discretionary federal spending. Various committees and subcommittees in Terry Link both houses of Congress are having hearings with generals and admirals and Pentagon Paul Brun Del Re lobbyists trying to sell their new toy list. The vast majority of the public remains ignorant Petra Daher Nate Jemison of these skirmishes. Individual members of Congress, besides accommodating visits Thasin Sardar from the lobbyists, are trying to determine which new gizmos will bring home the bacon John Metzler to their district or state. These proponents of additional funding cloak themselves in the PEC Office Coordinator mantra of rising fears – not of climate change or increasing inequality or gun violence, Samantha Dillon but of the old recycled boogeymen of Russia and China, sometimes including the evil twins of Iran and North Korea. (www.pogo.org/analysis/2021/06/inflating-china-threat- PEC Work Groups to-balloon-pentagon-budget) Media Activism Research and Study Group Sponsoring Organizations Edgewood United Church of Christ Spirit of Peace Church of the Brethren Red Cedar Friends Meeting University United Methodist Church Islamic Center of Greater Lansing Mennonite Fellowship Affiliated Organizations Greater Lansing Network Against War & Injustice Meta Peace Team Greater Lansing United Nations Association Michigan Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence Peace Notes Editorial Board: Between June 21 and June 25 there were at least seven different Congressional hearings Samantha Dillon, Editor related to defense spending.
    [Show full text]
  • Volume 7, Issue 3 December 2014
    Volume 7, Issue 3 December 2014 Peace Studies Journal ISSN: 2151-0806 Vol. 7, Issue 3 December 2014 ______________________________________________________________________________ Guest Editors: Dr. Laura Finley Peace and Justice Studies Association and Dr. David Ragland Peace and Justice Studies Association Special Issue: Courageous Peace: Exploring Innovative, Diverse, and Inclusive Efforts in Peace, Social Justice and Conflict Studies ______________________________________________________________________________ Table of Contents ARTICLES Introduction Laura Finley and David Ragland………………………………………………………………….3 In Keeping with the Teaching of Scripture”: Jimmy Carter, Religious Faith, and the Search for Peace in the Middle East. D. Jason Berggren…………………………………………………………………………………6 Transforming Cultures, Growing Substantive Peace: Francis of Assisi, Pope Francis and a Green Peace Christopher Hrynkow…………………………………………………………………………….25 Target the 90 Percenters: Comedian Todd Glass’s Social Justice Crusade Ruth Tallman…………………………………………………………………………………….39 Shifting Practices of Peace: What is the Current State of Unarmed Civilian Peacekeeping? Randy Janzen…………………………………………………………………………………….46 Volume 7, Issue 3, December 2014 Page 1 Peace Studies Journal ISSN: 2151-0806 Talking to Cartels? The Catholic Church’s Response to Drug War Violence in Acapulco Julie Ethan……………………………………………………………………………………….61 Dictatorship Declassified: Latin America’s “Archives of Terror” and the Labors of Memory Betsy Konefal and Silvia R. Tandeciarz…………………………………………………………75 “Whose
    [Show full text]
  • Shifting Practices of Peace: What Is the Current State of Unarmed Civilian Peacekeeping?
    Shifting Practices of Peace: What is the current state of Unarmed Civilian Peacekeeping? Randy Janzen, PhD Mir Centre for Peace Selkirk College Castlegar, BC, Canada V1N 4L3 rjanzen@selkirk.ca Abstract Shifting Practices of Peace: What is the current state of Unarmed Civilian Peacekeeping? Unarmed civilian peacekeeping (UCP) has grown in recognition and practice in the past several decades. Evidence suggests that UCP is as effective as traditional military peacekeeping operations, but is more cost-effective and more likely to assist local civil society organizations to build long lasting peace. However, a comprehensive account of the state of UCP, including location, organizations, activities, training and risks remains elusive. This paper offers a description and analysis of unarmed civilian peacekeeping activities from 1990 to the present, by gathering information from the literature, organizational websites and from a survey sent to organizations. Notable findings include: UCP has grown significantly since 1990, as evidenced by widening geographical presence and growth of UCP organizations. Additionally, while there have been injuries and fatalities, the rate is lower than for traditional military peacekeeping. Finally, information regarding training, principles and activities prompts reflections on issues such as appropriate and best practices, challenges in defining UCP, and the implications of core values. Shifting Practices of Peace: What is the current state of Unarmed Civilian Peacekeeping? Introduction Unarmed Civilian Peacekeeping (UCP) is a concept that has grown in theory and practice over the past several decades. Perhaps known best by the activity of providing protective accompaniment to civilians in situations of potential violence, UCP has evolved from several small organizations to a large array of groups that implement a wide spectrum of sophisticated and evidence-based activities with international influence.
    [Show full text]
  • Statement of the Peace Education Center Calling on the United States
    Statement of The Peace Education Center calling on the United States to adopt an evenhanded approach to support a settlement of the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians As the world watches in horror as casualties and destruction mount daily in Israel, on the West Bank and 1120 S. Harrison in Gaza, the time has come for the United States East Lansing, Michigan 48823 517.515.5634 government to confront the fundamental causes of the peaceedcenter@gmail.com www.peaceedcenter.org violence that have plagued Palestine since the creation of Israel in 1948 and since the occupation of the West PEC BOARD OF DIRECTORS Bank and the Gaza Strip in 1967. The current spate of Becky Payne and Terry Link (Co-chairs) Jim Detjen (Secretary) violence between Palestinians and Israelis highlights the John Masterson (Treasurer) Nelson Brown failure of Israel -- with the tacit and sometimes open Paul Brun Del Re Petra Daher approval of the United States -- to seriously negotiate Nate Jemison Kathie Kuhn with Palestinians by accepting their right to territorial John Metzler Thasin Sardar integrity and national identity. Nola Warner Under both Democratic and Republican leadership, the SPONSORING ORGANIZATIONS Edgewood United Church of Christ United States has turned a blind eye to Israel’s Islamic Center of East Lansing Spirit if Life Church of the Brethren suppression of Palestinian cries for justice, whether Mennonite Fellowship Red Cedar Friends Meeting University United Methodist Church peaceful or violent, by supplying it with an endless array of military weapons; by acceding to domestic pressure to AFFLIATED ORGANIZATIONS support Israel no matter whatever violent measures it Greater Lansing Network Against War & Injustice Greater Lansing United Nations Association commits against Palestinians; by supporting peace plans Meta Peace Team Michigan Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence that give Israel everything and the Palestinians hardly even token relief; and, by shielding Israel from world pressure at international forums, like the United Nations.
    [Show full text]
  • Board Minutes 5-20-14
    FILE: DOCID Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom United States Section Minutes of Board Meeting May 20, 2014 Facilitator: Mary Hanson Harrison Note Taker: Deb Holley Time Keeper: LaShawndra Vernon Board Members in Attendance: Altaira Hatton, Barbara Nielsen, Deb Garretson, Deb Holley, LaShawndra Vernon, Laura Roskos, Mary Hanson Harrison, Millee Livingston, Nicole Scott, Odile Hugonot Haber; both Sara Tess Newmann and Peggy Luhrs joined the call later Staff in Attendance: Ria Kulenovic, Director of Operations Board Members Not in Attendance: None Operating the new switchboard console: Ellen Schwartz, assisted by Darien De Lu, operated the new switchboard system. The first fifteen minutes were spent identifying all board members’ telephone numbers and going over the specifics of the system. Everyone’s ability to “raise their hand” was also tested. Meeting called to order: The meeting was called to order at 7:47 CDT by Mary Hanson Harrison, President. Expression of care and concern offered to Ria: Mary first offered her thoughts and prayers to Ria Kulenovic, saying she hoped Ria’s family was safe and secure from the flooding going on in her home country of Bosnia. Summarizing the agenda: Mary then quickly summarized the items on the agenda prior to beginning discussion. She listed two changes: number 4 should be a Director of Operations report, not the Treasurer’s report, and number 6 would be presented by Darien De Lu, not Barbara Nielsen. Approval of the minutes and related questions: The approval of the minutes followed. Laura Roskos had two questions: Referring to the “List of Action Items” at the end of the minutes, she wanted to know the status of numbers 1, 3, 5, and 6 on the list.
    [Show full text]
  • Constructive Program
    Volume Three : February, 2014 EMERGENCE Metta Center for Nonviolence ....................In Focus.................Constructive Program.......................... e d i t o r i a l 0 2 Michael Nagler p r e s i d e n t Gems of Constructive Program (CP) Nonviolence is an inherently positive force therefore constructive work fits it best CP can GO ON — . when resistance isn’t possible In addition to continuity it builds community NOTHING bonds like working together NOTHING bonds lastingly like working together for a positive end CP does not rouse a repressive response On the other hand, it can be highly revolutionary, striking the system at a leverage point “ Therefore it can have both ‘stealth’ and ‘keystone’ potential CP reassures the reference public that resistors are not just destroyers of order CP builds the new society so the collapse of the old does not leave a dangerous power vacuum. note from executive director STEPHANIE VAN HOOK Re s i s t a n c e in El Salvador Multinational corporations are seeking the rights, through trade agreements like the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), to sue governments that get in the way of making profits - off a country’s natural resources. The people can influence the policies of corporations. Bechtel, for example, was defeat- - ed in Bolivia in the 1990s. It is possible. Today in El Salvador, gold mining has led to the poisoning of valuable waterways, - making the color of water coming from mined mountains into towns at times orange at other times cranberry red. Corporations responsible for the poisoning of water, such as Canada’s Pacific Rim Mining - Corporation and OceanaGold, refuse to clean up the mess, and have instead sued the Salvadorian government for loss of mining rights in the country.
    [Show full text]
  • Peacemaking: Inside and Out
    Peacemaking: Inside and Out WSU Center for Peace and Conflict Studies Talk by Kim Redigan at Peacemaker Awards Ceremony October 7, 2016 I am deeply honored and humbled to be here today at Wayne State University’s Center for Peace and Conflict Studies to receive this award and say a few words about peacemaking. The Center is an inspiration for many of us who understand that the work of peace is not something abstract or sentimental or passive. Rather, it is often excruciatingly difficult work that engages head, heart, and hands. I applaud the Center for taking on the tough and often thankless work of peacemaking in a world that does not yet understand the things that make for peace and for graduating scholar-activists. I come to this work as a mother, teacher, and peace educator who dreams of the day when money wasted by the Pentagon is spent on the pursuit of peace . when resources that are squandered on war are redirected to the work of rebuilding our communities. It is a sin and a scandal that we spend prodigious amounts of money on weapons while denying babies water. That we tolerate armaments being shipped around the world while families around the block are having their taps shut off. That we live in a culture that fails to see the ugly and dangerous triplets – so named by Dr. King - of materialism, racism, and militarization that threaten to the cut the thin thread of democracy from which our nation dangles during this dangerous period of demagoguery and dog whistle politics.
    [Show full text]
  • Unarmed Civilian Protection
    UNARMED CIVILIAN PROTECTION STRENGTHENING CIVILIAN CAPACITIES TO PROTECT CIVILIANS AGAINST VIOLENCE NP Photo / Women Collecting Firewood in Bentiu, Unity State, South Sudan / August 2015 UNARMED CIVILIAN PROTECTION STRENGTHENING CIVILIAN CAPACITIES TO PROTECT CIVILIANS AGAINST VIOLENCE A joint project of: TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 2 MODULE 1 MODULE 2 INTRODUCTION TO UNARMED CIVILIAN UNARMED CIVILIAN PROTECTION: PROTECTION OBJECTIVES, PRINCIPLES AND SOURCES OF GUIDANCE 26 Overview and 74 Overview and 9 Preface learning objectives learning objectives 11 Acknowledgements 28 Introduction to UCP 75 Key objectives and 13 Acronyms 39 Definition of terms strategies of UCP 47 The spectrum of 84 Key principles of 15 Introduction UCP UCP 50 UCP, nonviolence, 96 Key sources of and peacekeeping guidance for UCP 58 UCP actors 108 Summary of key 64 Summary of key messages messages 109 Bibliography 65 Bibliography 4 3 4 5 MODULE 3 MODULE 4 MODULE 5 UNARMED CIVILIAN UNARMED CIVILIAN UNARMED CIVILIAN PROTECTION: KEY PROTECTION IN PROTECTION IN METHODS PRACTICE: KEY PRACTICE: LIVING COMPETENCIES IN AND EXITING THE NEEDED WHEN COMMUNITY ENTERING THE COMMUNITY 116 Overview and 170 Overview and 220 Overview and learning objectives learning objectives learning objectives 118 Proactive 171 Core competencies 222 Context analysis engagement of UCP 226 Security 130 Monitoring practitioners management 142 Relationship 180 Conflict analysis 230 Exit strategies building 186 Types of conflict 234 Development of 151 Capacity and their relevance a comprehensive development
    [Show full text]
  • Good Practices in Nonviolent, Unarmed, Civilian to Civilian Protection Documentation of the Workshop in Beirut, 18 – 20 June 2018
    Good Practices in Nonviolent, Unarmed, Civilian to Civilian Protection Documentation of the Workshop in Beirut, 18 – 20 June 2018 Christine Schweitzer 1 Nonviolent Peaceforce Documentation of Workshop on Good Practices in Nonviolent, Unarmed, Civilian to Civilian Protection; 18-20 June 2018 in Beirut Author: Christine Schweitzer Photos: Christine Schweitzer Hamburg, September 2018 2 Executive Summary Accompaniment or Unarmed Civilian Protection (UCP) is the practice of deploying specially trained unarmed civilians before, during, or after violent conflict in order to prevent or reduce violence, to provide direct physical protection to civilian populations under threat, and to strengthen or build resilient local peace infrastructures. This paper is the documentation of a workshop that took place in Beirut/Lebanon between the 18th and 20th of June, 2018. It convened Unarmed Civilian Protection (UCP) practitioners, field partners, beneficiaries and academics from the Middle East, (or whose work concerns the Middle East) –namely: Palestine, Iraq, Syria and Lebanon - to reflect on their work. This was the second of a total of six planned regional workshops, the first having taken place in Manila/Philippines in December 2017. 1 The workshops follow on from stage one of a good practices process initiated by Nonviolent Peaceforce, a case studies research project which was concluded in 2016. Their findings were published in the book “Wielding Nonviolence in the Midst of Violence”2 (2016), edited by Ellen Furnari. Methodology The participants of the workshop were carefully chosen for their current or previous work doing civilian to civilian protection; receiving protection from such organizations; and/or their academic research and writing on the topic.
    [Show full text]
  • Nonviolence, Would Be Making Su- Domestic Teams Like Meta Peace Team Atic, Diligent Learning That Goes on in Perb Use of the “New Science” Today
    A publication of the INTERCOMMUNITY PEACE & JUSTICE CENTER NO. 105 / WINTER 2015 Unlocking a Nonviolent Future by Michael N. Nagler, PhD communal violence and now seems to some (including the present author) to be a nonviolent answer to war. erek Oakley and Andres Gutierrez ducked into a As Derek explains, “If we had had weapons we would not hut where they found five women and nine children be alive today,” and neither would the women and children; also hiding. On April 17, 2014, gunmen invaded and “Andres and I survived unharmed through a combination of Dstarted shooting unarmed men, women and children in the nonviolent training methods focused on strategy in dealing Protection of Civilians (POC) compound of the United Na- with violent conflict and ethnic tensions. tions Mission in South Sudan. They eventually killed at least UCP represents one of five qualitative changes—growth 58 people—most of them internally displaced people (IDPs) points—that have emerged in the development of nonvio- of the Nuer ethnic group who had been staying in the POC lence worldwide in the years since Gandhi and King. They since the civil war in South Sudan erupted in December 2013. are: Soon enough the militia burst into their hut, armed with as- 1. New Institutions. Along with more formal institutions sault weapons, axes and sticks. Somewhat startled to find such as the International Criminal Court (arguably nonvi- two non-Sudanese there, they roughly ordered them out. But olent in that it removes impunity from certain very violent Derek and Andres were well trained. Glancing at one anoth- crimes) and legal protocols like the “Right to Protect,” civil- er, they turned to the gunmen and calmly explained that they society organizations like UCP have come onto the world were humanitarian workers and would not leave without the stage to reduce and forestall conflict by creative, nonviolent others, who were anyhow innocent women and children who means.
    [Show full text]