I am a twenty-year-old Israeli citizen, who is very active against the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian people. In my opinion it is important for Albertans and Canadians in general to know about the Israeli occupation. The occupations effects on the state of human rights in Palestine and of security in Israel, is in your interest to know about, because the Canadian government has supported Israel almost completely in the past decades. It is my opinion, that supporting the current Israeli government and the ongoing occupation and military control and robbery of the Palestinian people is not beneficial to the Israeli people. Besides the daily human right violations that the Israeli military engages in, and besides the disappearing moral spine of Israel, the occupation is spreading more hate and anguish that will eventually ricochet back at Israeli civilians. Secondly, I believe a country that presents itself as modern, liberal and democratic does not withhold equality, independence and freedom from an entire nation living under it. A democratic country does not fire rubber bullets and live ammunition at demonstrators on a regular basis.
In my work with the human rights organization, Rabbi’s for Human Rights I have learnt about the mass land expropriations from Palestinian civilians in favor of Jewish settlements. I have witnessed house demolitions as a form of collective punishment, aimed at getting Palestinians to abandon their lands, which they own, but are not allowed to build on. I have suffered with my neighbor Palestinian Jerusalemites, whose ongoing discrimination in municipal resources can only be described at exploitation. Pushing Palestinians to desperation while using every governmental tool in order to despair them into immigrating is a crime that continues to be carried out now by privileged Israeli’s, and that with the financial and political support of your governments and others, is sure to leave my future children victims of the violence and the vengeance which are sure to come.
.GIF)
Friday, September 3, 2010
Planting Peacer Profile: Rosemary Kojoki
Kojoki RoseMary, a 25 year old hails from the Northern part of Uganda, which is located in the Eastern part of Africa. Uganda is also known as the “pearl of Africa” because of its all year round green vegetation cover and beautiful sunlight. I come from a family of eleven and we live in Kampala (capital city of Uganda). I studied social sciences particularly Administration and Gender studies from Makerere University in Kampala.
Between 2003 and 2009 I felt an inner urge to work in St. Monica Girls Tailoring Center in Gulu (Northern Uganda), a school that warmly receives formerly abducted girls, women and children who have been tortured, traumatized by the LRA rebels as well as rejected by their families and communities thus leaving them very vulnerable. This school therefore helps to restore the dignity of these disadvantaged girls, give them love so that they are able to give love to the children of these rebels, give them psycho-social support, and impart basic skills of tailoring, computer, beads making, secretarial, home care management and cake making so they are able to rebuild their lives, restore their dignity, cope with the future and are given a chance to survive and succeed.
I have personally contributed to this institution and particularly to these disadvantaged women by listening to their stories, encouraging them to forgive the rebels, counseling some of them, opening my heart and life to them, showing them and their children love and teaching them how to make beads as well as baking cakes inorder to make a living. This gives them a sense of hope.
Living in a conflict free world maybe a dream- but we must dream towards it: it is only the dead that do not dream. I have a dream to create a conflict free world, a passion deep within me that made me take up my job with Mennonite Central Committee Uganda as a logistics officer. Together, horizons will never be infinite.
Passionately Ugandan I remain.
Between 2003 and 2009 I felt an inner urge to work in St. Monica Girls Tailoring Center in Gulu (Northern Uganda), a school that warmly receives formerly abducted girls, women and children who have been tortured, traumatized by the LRA rebels as well as rejected by their families and communities thus leaving them very vulnerable. This school therefore helps to restore the dignity of these disadvantaged girls, give them love so that they are able to give love to the children of these rebels, give them psycho-social support, and impart basic skills of tailoring, computer, beads making, secretarial, home care management and cake making so they are able to rebuild their lives, restore their dignity, cope with the future and are given a chance to survive and succeed.
I have personally contributed to this institution and particularly to these disadvantaged women by listening to their stories, encouraging them to forgive the rebels, counseling some of them, opening my heart and life to them, showing them and their children love and teaching them how to make beads as well as baking cakes inorder to make a living. This gives them a sense of hope.
Living in a conflict free world maybe a dream- but we must dream towards it: it is only the dead that do not dream. I have a dream to create a conflict free world, a passion deep within me that made me take up my job with Mennonite Central Committee Uganda as a logistics officer. Together, horizons will never be infinite.
Passionately Ugandan I remain.
Planting Peacer Profile: Nicolas Attallah
My name is Nicolas Atallah, I am a Palestinian living in East Jerusalem, an occupied territory by Israel. I am 25 year old, I have a B.A in Communication and Political Science, and now working in Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation theology Center, that seeks a Just Peace for the Palestinians who suffers daily from the Occupation, we work with the community and especially the young adults who suffers the most from the 43 year old occupation.
Being a Palestinian living in Jerusalem is not an easy life at all, we face daily obstacles, enormous ones, when I step out of my house every day I am usually not sure that I am coming back, its a daily battle for surviving, I start my regular days with checkpoints that are monitored by Israeli soldiers that prevents us the Palestinians from easy traveling all around the West Bank or Even inside Jerusalem, after standing in line for hours waiting to pass these checkpoints, another obstacle will appear directly, now I need to deal and face the discrimination, the stereotypes built upon me as a Palestinian living in Jerusalem, the Government doesn’t even recognize me as a citizen, I am just a resident, that must pay more taxes for the same services that other Israeli gets, and with a bunch more taxes just to get the privilege that I am living in Israel, and if I can’t afford, my Identity as a Jerusalemite resident will be taken away, and I will be another refugee suffering from the lake of services, and unrecognized by other countries, eventually to be added to the huge number of Palestinian refugees living in misery and in refugee camps. If I survived all of the above, it’s still not the end, when the dark comes, and sun falls from the sky, another nightmare starts, Palestinians living in Jerusalem, suffers also from Home Demolition, and the occupation Bulldozers usually comes after midnight to demolish a house in the Palestinian neighborhood, so every morning we thank God that we still have a roof above our heads, and a place to sleep in the cold nights, while an unfortunate Palestinian family just lost their house that other night.
However, I usually find my comfort zone in my work, when I work with the young adults living in Jerusalem, that usually faces the loss of Identity, high rates of unemployment, Poverty, Discrimination, Homeless. When I look at their eyes, and I can see the fear of the future, it even encourages me more to show them the way to find a better understanding of the future, by giving them the right tools to discover a new system of living and new opportunities to explore in their own messed up world, to reach their inner peace.
In the end, I would like to say that the solution for every conflict in this world is in the hands of the peacemakers of this world, they need to enlighten all the nations and speak up about the importance of Peace and Harmony, and to bring the concept of sharing into the surface, in order to put pressure on every government in this world, who are usually the benefiters of other nations conflict.
Being a Palestinian living in Jerusalem is not an easy life at all, we face daily obstacles, enormous ones, when I step out of my house every day I am usually not sure that I am coming back, its a daily battle for surviving, I start my regular days with checkpoints that are monitored by Israeli soldiers that prevents us the Palestinians from easy traveling all around the West Bank or Even inside Jerusalem, after standing in line for hours waiting to pass these checkpoints, another obstacle will appear directly, now I need to deal and face the discrimination, the stereotypes built upon me as a Palestinian living in Jerusalem, the Government doesn’t even recognize me as a citizen, I am just a resident, that must pay more taxes for the same services that other Israeli gets, and with a bunch more taxes just to get the privilege that I am living in Israel, and if I can’t afford, my Identity as a Jerusalemite resident will be taken away, and I will be another refugee suffering from the lake of services, and unrecognized by other countries, eventually to be added to the huge number of Palestinian refugees living in misery and in refugee camps. If I survived all of the above, it’s still not the end, when the dark comes, and sun falls from the sky, another nightmare starts, Palestinians living in Jerusalem, suffers also from Home Demolition, and the occupation Bulldozers usually comes after midnight to demolish a house in the Palestinian neighborhood, so every morning we thank God that we still have a roof above our heads, and a place to sleep in the cold nights, while an unfortunate Palestinian family just lost their house that other night.
However, I usually find my comfort zone in my work, when I work with the young adults living in Jerusalem, that usually faces the loss of Identity, high rates of unemployment, Poverty, Discrimination, Homeless. When I look at their eyes, and I can see the fear of the future, it even encourages me more to show them the way to find a better understanding of the future, by giving them the right tools to discover a new system of living and new opportunities to explore in their own messed up world, to reach their inner peace.
In the end, I would like to say that the solution for every conflict in this world is in the hands of the peacemakers of this world, they need to enlighten all the nations and speak up about the importance of Peace and Harmony, and to bring the concept of sharing into the surface, in order to put pressure on every government in this world, who are usually the benefiters of other nations conflict.
Planting Peacer Profile: Dina Sha’er
My name is Dina Shaér, I’m twenty two years old, I live in Amman, the capital of Jordan, I’m fresh finance graduate from the University of Jordan which is also in the capital Amman, i have one brother who is 28 and one married sister who is 27.
I am a representative of Jordan; my duty is to tell more about my country in order to replace the wrong stereotypes with the right ones and present the problems that faces Jordan, at least that’s what I thought I’ll be doing, then I recognized that my duty is not just to tell about myself and my country but to learn about countries I’ve never heard about, to hear the other side of the single story that the media present and to open my eyes more about issues I’ve thought about before!
The reason behind me being in Canada is because I’m a participant in a program called IVEP; International Volunteer Exchange Program, this program is cultural exchange young youth from all over the world to serve in Canada and the US, however, I’ve been placed to serve in Calgary, Canada for one year in the Mennonite newcomers centre.
Jordan is very peaceful place to live in; this became a target for the refugees to settle down in although it’s a small country. The problem of poverty, homeless and lack of water existed long time ago, but it was controlled and minor, but the big issue started after the United States invaded Iraq, and the rich Iraqis started to immigrate to Jordan, they came with a lot of money because of the resources they own like oil and fuel, so they took over the industry as they can afford to pay, as a consequence, the prices, mortgages and life became so expensive and unaffordable according to the Jordanians, moreover, the financial crisis was like cherry on top for this problem; low salaries and high prices.
There used to be three layers of people’s financial situation; rich, middle and poor, but now it’s either rich or poor, the middle layer is about to be diminished.
Most Jordanian citizens love show off in term of cars, houses and the brand names even if they live in hell and they don’t have money to eat, they think by doing that they will be accepted in the community and otherwise they won’t. This is a huge problem because admitting the problem is a part of solving it, however, the government is trying to solve this problem but not as effective as if the people strike or demonstrate peacefully to push the prices and inflation down.
At the end, i would like to thank MCC who gave me the opportunity to be part of this wonderful peace implanting team.
I am a representative of Jordan; my duty is to tell more about my country in order to replace the wrong stereotypes with the right ones and present the problems that faces Jordan, at least that’s what I thought I’ll be doing, then I recognized that my duty is not just to tell about myself and my country but to learn about countries I’ve never heard about, to hear the other side of the single story that the media present and to open my eyes more about issues I’ve thought about before!
The reason behind me being in Canada is because I’m a participant in a program called IVEP; International Volunteer Exchange Program, this program is cultural exchange young youth from all over the world to serve in Canada and the US, however, I’ve been placed to serve in Calgary, Canada for one year in the Mennonite newcomers centre.
Jordan is very peaceful place to live in; this became a target for the refugees to settle down in although it’s a small country. The problem of poverty, homeless and lack of water existed long time ago, but it was controlled and minor, but the big issue started after the United States invaded Iraq, and the rich Iraqis started to immigrate to Jordan, they came with a lot of money because of the resources they own like oil and fuel, so they took over the industry as they can afford to pay, as a consequence, the prices, mortgages and life became so expensive and unaffordable according to the Jordanians, moreover, the financial crisis was like cherry on top for this problem; low salaries and high prices.
There used to be three layers of people’s financial situation; rich, middle and poor, but now it’s either rich or poor, the middle layer is about to be diminished.
Most Jordanian citizens love show off in term of cars, houses and the brand names even if they live in hell and they don’t have money to eat, they think by doing that they will be accepted in the community and otherwise they won’t. This is a huge problem because admitting the problem is a part of solving it, however, the government is trying to solve this problem but not as effective as if the people strike or demonstrate peacefully to push the prices and inflation down.
At the end, i would like to thank MCC who gave me the opportunity to be part of this wonderful peace implanting team.
Planting Peacer Profile: Diana Patrah Karungi
I am Diana Patrah Karungi. I come from Masindi in the western part of Uganda and a graduate from Gulu University which is located in the northern part of Uganda and waiting upon graduation come January next year. Uganda is a conflict prone country with a history of ethnic, political and cultural violence which has escalated due to stigma, stereotype and discrimination. I work with the youth in helping them have good life skills, good relationships with themselves, with others and relationships with the environment. This is done through a program known as “Living with Shalom” which means living with peace. This is done by bringing youths from various parts of Uganda who have different backgrounds, different tribes, different religions and different cultures, who spend three weeks under intensive training practicing together and learning from each other which helps in the treatment of trauma, stereotyping and stigma, and transforms communities in which these youths come from. Living with Shalom actually shaped me into what I am and it has empowered many youths into transforming society in the name of Jesus Christ the prince of peace. Amen.
Planting Peacer Profile: Daniel Serrano Bernal
My name is Daniel Serrano, I’m Colombian and I’m philosophy student. It’s hard to see people suffering for hunger and pain for their families looses for our hidden civil war. The peacemakers in Colombia, have to affront a lot of faces of the conflict and we have to see how the conflict and the violence hide in every corner and transform in something new, but there’s always hope for work for each other. I’m going to tell you a story that shows you how we can walk and make food together for the justice and the dignity of the human being.
There is in Colombia a town called San Pablo in a zone with a lot of natural resources, water, petroleum, gold, silver, platinum, natural gas, etc, this is a very conflictive place because everyone wants everything only for himself. In this town you can find the Police, the Army, the Guerrilla (Leftist Extreme, Rebels) and the Paramilitares (Ride Wind) in the same place. Every group thinks only about his own good and development and the rest of the people always suffers because nobody cares about them.
One day, Some of the social organization that works with community development decided to celebrate women’s day with a communitarian soup in the central square in San Pablo specially for women, and they didn’t have enough money to buy the ingredients for the soup, so we decided to walk to the stores to ask for contributions in order to get to our gathering celebration with three enormous pots at 6 p.m. We ask and walk in all stores and at 1 p.m. we collected like 50 kg of food (). At 2 p.m. we decided to start peeling the potatoes, cut the vegetables and we invited the police and the army to help us. We told to them “you can’t bring your guns with you because this is a peaceful meeting in honor of women”. Some didn’t agree and a few accepted our advice to cook the soup and so we built a community in that circumstance. At 4 p.m. everyone was working and helping each other to prepare the dinner. At 6 p.m. we started to serve the soup, but the servers were a hip hop and break dancing youth group who have a bad reputation just because they’re young people and they wear different clothes, the mothers and all of the whole neighborhood couldn’t believe that this was happening, everyone said “we never imagined they will serve the people that’s quite impossible, but it’s happening”. That’s the second shocking moment.
Before 8th of March with these young people we made 200 paper flowers for the women and before the dinner start the 12 b-boys gave the flowers. That was the first socking moment. When the dinner finished we realized that the soup was enough for more than 400 people in the town, that was the third socking moment for the town and the first shocking moment for the people who was in charge of the meeting, us. At 9 p.m. we talked to the town’s people and we said “you always can use a public place to share something like this”. This was a small step to build a new future with peace and justice, only if we work together like, wonderful things can happen. That is the beginning for a peaceful revolution. That is an example about peace building.
That’s a cruel reality because in Colombia we spilled and still spilling a lot of blood, but we can’t always think for the destruction or the hidden civil war in Colombia because maybe you can’t find a peaceful way to walk. We have to know the background where we are living but we have to think of different ways to build peace, hearing each other and respecting the opinions but we have to try making the conversation provocative which seduces you to make some proposals, things to help the people who are living near and far away of you.
We have a beautiful country with a lot of nature and you can find the weather of the four seasons in Colombia. Not everything is war and suffering because of people’s warmth and we like to laugh a lot, the 90% of Colombians is good but the other 10% gives the country a bad reputation because of the drugs and the bad government, but you can always find a kindly face and good things to build a peace in the community.
There is in Colombia a town called San Pablo in a zone with a lot of natural resources, water, petroleum, gold, silver, platinum, natural gas, etc, this is a very conflictive place because everyone wants everything only for himself. In this town you can find the Police, the Army, the Guerrilla (Leftist Extreme, Rebels) and the Paramilitares (Ride Wind) in the same place. Every group thinks only about his own good and development and the rest of the people always suffers because nobody cares about them.
One day, Some of the social organization that works with community development decided to celebrate women’s day with a communitarian soup in the central square in San Pablo specially for women, and they didn’t have enough money to buy the ingredients for the soup, so we decided to walk to the stores to ask for contributions in order to get to our gathering celebration with three enormous pots at 6 p.m. We ask and walk in all stores and at 1 p.m. we collected like 50 kg of food (). At 2 p.m. we decided to start peeling the potatoes, cut the vegetables and we invited the police and the army to help us. We told to them “you can’t bring your guns with you because this is a peaceful meeting in honor of women”. Some didn’t agree and a few accepted our advice to cook the soup and so we built a community in that circumstance. At 4 p.m. everyone was working and helping each other to prepare the dinner. At 6 p.m. we started to serve the soup, but the servers were a hip hop and break dancing youth group who have a bad reputation just because they’re young people and they wear different clothes, the mothers and all of the whole neighborhood couldn’t believe that this was happening, everyone said “we never imagined they will serve the people that’s quite impossible, but it’s happening”. That’s the second shocking moment.
Before 8th of March with these young people we made 200 paper flowers for the women and before the dinner start the 12 b-boys gave the flowers. That was the first socking moment. When the dinner finished we realized that the soup was enough for more than 400 people in the town, that was the third socking moment for the town and the first shocking moment for the people who was in charge of the meeting, us. At 9 p.m. we talked to the town’s people and we said “you always can use a public place to share something like this”. This was a small step to build a new future with peace and justice, only if we work together like, wonderful things can happen. That is the beginning for a peaceful revolution. That is an example about peace building.
That’s a cruel reality because in Colombia we spilled and still spilling a lot of blood, but we can’t always think for the destruction or the hidden civil war in Colombia because maybe you can’t find a peaceful way to walk. We have to know the background where we are living but we have to think of different ways to build peace, hearing each other and respecting the opinions but we have to try making the conversation provocative which seduces you to make some proposals, things to help the people who are living near and far away of you.
We have a beautiful country with a lot of nature and you can find the weather of the four seasons in Colombia. Not everything is war and suffering because of people’s warmth and we like to laugh a lot, the 90% of Colombians is good but the other 10% gives the country a bad reputation because of the drugs and the bad government, but you can always find a kindly face and good things to build a peace in the community.
Planting Peacer Profile: Beatriz Alejandra Romero
“Swimming Against the Current”
Sometimes the kingdom of the darkness seems very strong, but there are those, who, from many parts of the world, are lighting lights of hope, bringing happiness in the middle of pain and peace in a world of turbulence. This is what I have come to learn here, in “planting peace”. This time has served me to learn to know how other hands work for justice and peace in this world.
My name is Alejandra. I live in Cali, Colombia and work in the Fundacion de Educacioin for Peace, and Conflict Resolution (EDUPAZ). Through this foundation I develop a program of conflict resolution in two schools. The students are between 5 and 18 years old. Every day they fight to survive in a hostile world. In their communities there are gangs now that have territorial control. The young people that belong commonly consume and sell drugs, and walk around with knives and guns.
One day, upon arriving at class, Martin, one of the children, told me that Felipe had gone to buy some Caramellos to fill his album. He approached some young people who were in the corner to ask where they sold the Caramelos. You have money?... they asked him, showing him a knife, and telling him to give them the money. Felipe only had 12 years, and began to cry, which one should never do in front of their peers at school, to avoid the jokes, but at this moment, the fear invaded him and the tears were inevitable. Martin began to laugh, and said, “don’t touch that boy; he studies in my school. Felipe left, but Martin stayed with the gang. They are his friends. In the school, Martin and Felipe meet in a room for mediation to talk about the conflict that exploded in the street. Felipe, Martin said, I won’t be protecting you. Be careful where you go. These streets belong to those boys. Here in the school we can talk if we have a problem. But there on the street, things are different, and things are resolved in different ways.
Nonetheless, inspite of the harshness of the words of Martin, these boys are friends from that day. In my context working for peace is to swim against the current. It is not easy to commit to live in peace when there are people there are people willing to harm you, and when It may be necessary to defend yourself to protect your life. There are young people who use knives to go to study. They fear that in their walk, there are boy who may hurt them. This is very sad … this situation that includes now, many children in my community.
I wanted to talk with you about my country to be able to tell you also about lovely things that are there, tell you that not all is drugs and war, that there are lovely people, diverse people, honestly moving forward. But it is also my job to denounce the injustices that are committed in my community, those that don’t make the press, that are hidden because of a homogenous power. And to do that, I will review my time at University.
The public university in Colombia is a conflictive and you can see represented the political conflicts that exist in the country. During my 5 years of study, one could say that the state repressed different manifestations which opposed the privatization of the University, health and public service, and the public peace and order officers threw tear gases on the crowd of students that were protesting, and some students launched bombs and rocks at the police. This situation repeats itself over and over, in a dance where the countries know the steps.
Really, my heart wanted to comprehend more than the ideologies and discourses that I heard. It wanted to know what motivated my friends to confront the government, and for that reason I looked for spaces to dialogue with them and frequently, while having a drink of coffee we do dialogue about the social problems of this country, and the reason for being of these insurgent groups.
I remember between the shadows and the pain, one day, when a friend came and confessed that he was a spy for the military, that his work at the University was to identify guerrillas, and that with this information the dark forces of the state make sure that the ones the consider inconvenient just disappear. I knew that they had already assassininated 3 people, but I have always thought that because I am a pacifist, none of this will apply to me.
Nonetheless, that day, my friend told me that I was on a list. They have seen you talking with them, and they think you are part of that group, she said to me. I still don’t understand why we live thinking that he who is not for me is against me. I don’t want to live under that logic, and because of that, daily I teach the children that there is another way, that war is not a game, and that we need to respect the sacred character of life, even though the adults are not doing so.
Upon formation of the children and adolescents as peace builders, we teach them that peace is not a state of animation, but that it has to do with the possibilities of studying, with having good food to eat, with protection for your family, with being well treated by your parents, with having medical attention when your sick, and that this peace is built in the careful relations when talking with your companions to solve a problem and also to take care of the planet. Peace in integral and if you want peace, don’t prepare for war; work for peace.
Sometimes the kingdom of the darkness seems very strong, but there are those, who, from many parts of the world, are lighting lights of hope, bringing happiness in the middle of pain and peace in a world of turbulence. This is what I have come to learn here, in “planting peace”. This time has served me to learn to know how other hands work for justice and peace in this world.
My name is Alejandra. I live in Cali, Colombia and work in the Fundacion de Educacioin for Peace, and Conflict Resolution (EDUPAZ). Through this foundation I develop a program of conflict resolution in two schools. The students are between 5 and 18 years old. Every day they fight to survive in a hostile world. In their communities there are gangs now that have territorial control. The young people that belong commonly consume and sell drugs, and walk around with knives and guns.
One day, upon arriving at class, Martin, one of the children, told me that Felipe had gone to buy some Caramellos to fill his album. He approached some young people who were in the corner to ask where they sold the Caramelos. You have money?... they asked him, showing him a knife, and telling him to give them the money. Felipe only had 12 years, and began to cry, which one should never do in front of their peers at school, to avoid the jokes, but at this moment, the fear invaded him and the tears were inevitable. Martin began to laugh, and said, “don’t touch that boy; he studies in my school. Felipe left, but Martin stayed with the gang. They are his friends. In the school, Martin and Felipe meet in a room for mediation to talk about the conflict that exploded in the street. Felipe, Martin said, I won’t be protecting you. Be careful where you go. These streets belong to those boys. Here in the school we can talk if we have a problem. But there on the street, things are different, and things are resolved in different ways.
Nonetheless, inspite of the harshness of the words of Martin, these boys are friends from that day. In my context working for peace is to swim against the current. It is not easy to commit to live in peace when there are people there are people willing to harm you, and when It may be necessary to defend yourself to protect your life. There are young people who use knives to go to study. They fear that in their walk, there are boy who may hurt them. This is very sad … this situation that includes now, many children in my community.
I wanted to talk with you about my country to be able to tell you also about lovely things that are there, tell you that not all is drugs and war, that there are lovely people, diverse people, honestly moving forward. But it is also my job to denounce the injustices that are committed in my community, those that don’t make the press, that are hidden because of a homogenous power. And to do that, I will review my time at University.
The public university in Colombia is a conflictive and you can see represented the political conflicts that exist in the country. During my 5 years of study, one could say that the state repressed different manifestations which opposed the privatization of the University, health and public service, and the public peace and order officers threw tear gases on the crowd of students that were protesting, and some students launched bombs and rocks at the police. This situation repeats itself over and over, in a dance where the countries know the steps.
Really, my heart wanted to comprehend more than the ideologies and discourses that I heard. It wanted to know what motivated my friends to confront the government, and for that reason I looked for spaces to dialogue with them and frequently, while having a drink of coffee we do dialogue about the social problems of this country, and the reason for being of these insurgent groups.
I remember between the shadows and the pain, one day, when a friend came and confessed that he was a spy for the military, that his work at the University was to identify guerrillas, and that with this information the dark forces of the state make sure that the ones the consider inconvenient just disappear. I knew that they had already assassininated 3 people, but I have always thought that because I am a pacifist, none of this will apply to me.
Nonetheless, that day, my friend told me that I was on a list. They have seen you talking with them, and they think you are part of that group, she said to me. I still don’t understand why we live thinking that he who is not for me is against me. I don’t want to live under that logic, and because of that, daily I teach the children that there is another way, that war is not a game, and that we need to respect the sacred character of life, even though the adults are not doing so.
Upon formation of the children and adolescents as peace builders, we teach them that peace is not a state of animation, but that it has to do with the possibilities of studying, with having good food to eat, with protection for your family, with being well treated by your parents, with having medical attention when your sick, and that this peace is built in the careful relations when talking with your companions to solve a problem and also to take care of the planet. Peace in integral and if you want peace, don’t prepare for war; work for peace.
Planting Peacer Profile: Aylam Bar-Shalom
I was invited to fly this summer to Calgary, Alberta, in Canada as a young adult from Israel, and meet with a group of eight young internationals from across the world. The program, which we were invited to attend was called “Planting Peace” and was run by MCC Alberta (Mennonite Central Committee). The program was led by Kim Thiessen and Abe Janzen, who had invited us and stayed in contact with each of us through the whole process of travel which included for some of us complicated visa arrangements. At last we met in Calgary, a group of representatives from Jordan, Palestine, Israel, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Nigeria and Uganda.
Our group has already bonded and become friendly very quickly and has been enjoying each other’s company very much. This success is thanks to the winner combination of such a group of warm, open mindedness and hearty people alongside a good, relaxed setting outside the busy and stressful worlds we come from. Kim and Abe were very supportive and took care to notice our needs and take good care of us. So were the rest of our hosts. It was good that we bonded so successfully. It gave us the energy to really have a key role in the social and educational aspects of Camp Valaqua.
Camp Valaqua, which is held yearly for several weeks every summer, has been taking place in the same beautiful forest for about fifty years now. We arrived at the camp just before the campers began to arrive, and went to put our luggage in the cabins we were to spend our nights in. We were given one cabin for men and another for women. Surprisingly for me, I had found myself enjoying the time I spent with the other men in our cabin. This was unlike many of my past experiences of gender separation. Actually, being separated from the girls gave us a chance to get much closer and bond as men. On a separate issue, I was also very surprised to see how well Camp Valaqua operated, how much cooperation took place and how nice everyone was to one another, staff and campers. Also, as a vegan, I was so relieved and happy to find the kitchen staff prepared special food for me including some excellent desserts!
The camp consists of a number of large wood paned buildings and cabins surrounded by a gorgeous spruce and pine forest. There was so much wild life to see, and I enjoyed especially an early morning walk I had on the second day on which I spotted a pair of fawns in the meadow who walked very close to me. I was fascinated by all the huge colorful mushrooms, and the lush moss, that cover the damp forest floor. A nice wide river flows just a few minutes walk away from the center of the camp.
As internationals from conflict struck regions of the world we were invited to the camp to share our stories with campers and the staff. We had been asked to tell our personal stories, share hopes, and political information about the countries we came from, regarding the hardships we have seen. As a very colorful group of activists, peace workers, victims of oppression, and oppressors we had a very rich and complex collective story to tell. We had several campfire sessions in which each of us was interviewed live, in front of the campers about ourselves. In my turn I told the campers about El-Araqib, a Bedouin village which is now struggling against ongoing destruction. I told of my experiences there as an activist and a little about my vision for struggling towards the end of all forms of oppression – Sexism, Racism, Classism, Ageism, Specisism and so forth.
Unfortunately, and to my disappointment there was no formal attempt to make connection between our stories and the responsibility the 1’st world; Canada included, has in creating and feeding those conflicts. Israel, for example is supported quite blindly by the American and Canadian rich governments and attempts to speak against that support are regarded as anti-Semitic and as attempts to support Terror organizations. Nothing was mentioned about the Native Canadian Indians, who too have suffered so much oppression and poverty, under the rule of Colonialist Europe and ever since. After all they are human victims of oppression who live just around the corner. I can only hope we will be able to take a step up in the facing these facts, this week when we get together with other Canadians our age.
Anyhow, each day, after breakfast, we all walked down a path leading to an open chapel in the woods for a morning ceremony, which included singing, dancing and short educational sessions with Gopar and Sani, partner peacemakers from Nigeria. Gopar is a Christian, and Sani is a Muslim and they work together in their home land, trying to ease the tension and establish peaceful relationships between Christian and Muslim communities, in a land that has seen much violent conflict between these two groups.
Our group was asked to put on short skits, as interludes into the lessons the Nigerians were to lead. We put together funny little acts of children stories such as “Ferdinand the Bull” and “The Giving Tree” by Shel Silverstein and made the campers laugh. I accompanied these skits with my guitar. The main subject chosen for the lessons, led mostly by Gopar, was “Journey on the mountain”, seeing as that was to be the main activity in the fifth day of camp. On a mountain shaped cardboard module, boxes were inserted with words on either side. Each pair of words symbolized an obstacle and a positive solution which was to be unveiled at the end of the session.
It felt strange being a secular Jew in an almost entirely Mennonite Christian atmosphere, especially during Chapel. I took part in the singing and dancing, which generally was fun, sometimes hushing in the parts which were strange for me, such as “There’s no god like Jehovah” and “Jesus loves us”.
After Chapel, each day, we were separated into activities, such as camping skills, Archery (no live targets here), Wall climbing, canoeing, swimming, etc. I mostly enjoyed climbing the professional climbing wall they had set in the middle of the forest. I became friendly with a certain camper who later on turned out to be teased a lot for his difficulties to fit in. He really reminded me of myself at his age, but he does not have a supportive family to lie back on, living in a foster group home. I was asked to stay close to him and take part in the activities he was to take part in, and I did so gladly. I especially enjoyed canoeing with him and playing pirate wars with the other boys in the river.
I had a great time getting to know the other internationals and their stories. I will tell of a few. Daniel, from Colombia is such a nice, warm guy and we had loads of laughs together. He has told me of the fight against militarism in Colombia, which is split up into governmental army forces and Guerilla warriors, who all strike terror across the country. Diana and Rosemary, come from two different parts of Uganda, which suffer from of an unsteady shifting economical favoritism, depending on the current ruler’s origin.
Rosemary is one of the most warm and outspoken women I’ve yet to meet. She had told us so beautifully about her work with girls, who ran away from “the bush”, where they were abducted as children by the rebels. These girls, who escaped after years of rape and brutality, after being forced to become children warriors and sometimes kill their own family members and friends, in threat of their own lives, have a long way to go in reclaiming their freedom and building their own lives again from the rubble. Rosemary works with these girls in a special educational center in which she teaches simple basic skills, such as cooking, baking, sewing, housekeeping and even jewelry making. Rosemary brought with her a big sack full of the jewelry these girls have made, in order to sell it in Canada and send the rest to sell in the US. The money made from these sales could help start out these girls lives.
Alejandra, whose mother tongue and sole spoken language is Spanish, needs regular translators with her throughout the whole event. She is from Colombia and she works with children in a beautiful city divided by gangs and street wars. She told several stories of success she had with these kids. In one account, one of the kids she works with was walking home from school, through a neighborhood ruled by a gang known to bully people who didn’t ask passage permission from them. He was surrounded by the gang who bullied him and told him to take all his clothes off. He was about to do so, when one of the gang members, who recognized him from a conflict resolution workshop held at the school told them to let him go and not harm him.
Our group has already bonded and become friendly very quickly and has been enjoying each other’s company very much. This success is thanks to the winner combination of such a group of warm, open mindedness and hearty people alongside a good, relaxed setting outside the busy and stressful worlds we come from. Kim and Abe were very supportive and took care to notice our needs and take good care of us. So were the rest of our hosts. It was good that we bonded so successfully. It gave us the energy to really have a key role in the social and educational aspects of Camp Valaqua.
Camp Valaqua, which is held yearly for several weeks every summer, has been taking place in the same beautiful forest for about fifty years now. We arrived at the camp just before the campers began to arrive, and went to put our luggage in the cabins we were to spend our nights in. We were given one cabin for men and another for women. Surprisingly for me, I had found myself enjoying the time I spent with the other men in our cabin. This was unlike many of my past experiences of gender separation. Actually, being separated from the girls gave us a chance to get much closer and bond as men. On a separate issue, I was also very surprised to see how well Camp Valaqua operated, how much cooperation took place and how nice everyone was to one another, staff and campers. Also, as a vegan, I was so relieved and happy to find the kitchen staff prepared special food for me including some excellent desserts!
The camp consists of a number of large wood paned buildings and cabins surrounded by a gorgeous spruce and pine forest. There was so much wild life to see, and I enjoyed especially an early morning walk I had on the second day on which I spotted a pair of fawns in the meadow who walked very close to me. I was fascinated by all the huge colorful mushrooms, and the lush moss, that cover the damp forest floor. A nice wide river flows just a few minutes walk away from the center of the camp.
As internationals from conflict struck regions of the world we were invited to the camp to share our stories with campers and the staff. We had been asked to tell our personal stories, share hopes, and political information about the countries we came from, regarding the hardships we have seen. As a very colorful group of activists, peace workers, victims of oppression, and oppressors we had a very rich and complex collective story to tell. We had several campfire sessions in which each of us was interviewed live, in front of the campers about ourselves. In my turn I told the campers about El-Araqib, a Bedouin village which is now struggling against ongoing destruction. I told of my experiences there as an activist and a little about my vision for struggling towards the end of all forms of oppression – Sexism, Racism, Classism, Ageism, Specisism and so forth.
Unfortunately, and to my disappointment there was no formal attempt to make connection between our stories and the responsibility the 1’st world; Canada included, has in creating and feeding those conflicts. Israel, for example is supported quite blindly by the American and Canadian rich governments and attempts to speak against that support are regarded as anti-Semitic and as attempts to support Terror organizations. Nothing was mentioned about the Native Canadian Indians, who too have suffered so much oppression and poverty, under the rule of Colonialist Europe and ever since. After all they are human victims of oppression who live just around the corner. I can only hope we will be able to take a step up in the facing these facts, this week when we get together with other Canadians our age.
Anyhow, each day, after breakfast, we all walked down a path leading to an open chapel in the woods for a morning ceremony, which included singing, dancing and short educational sessions with Gopar and Sani, partner peacemakers from Nigeria. Gopar is a Christian, and Sani is a Muslim and they work together in their home land, trying to ease the tension and establish peaceful relationships between Christian and Muslim communities, in a land that has seen much violent conflict between these two groups.
Our group was asked to put on short skits, as interludes into the lessons the Nigerians were to lead. We put together funny little acts of children stories such as “Ferdinand the Bull” and “The Giving Tree” by Shel Silverstein and made the campers laugh. I accompanied these skits with my guitar. The main subject chosen for the lessons, led mostly by Gopar, was “Journey on the mountain”, seeing as that was to be the main activity in the fifth day of camp. On a mountain shaped cardboard module, boxes were inserted with words on either side. Each pair of words symbolized an obstacle and a positive solution which was to be unveiled at the end of the session.
It felt strange being a secular Jew in an almost entirely Mennonite Christian atmosphere, especially during Chapel. I took part in the singing and dancing, which generally was fun, sometimes hushing in the parts which were strange for me, such as “There’s no god like Jehovah” and “Jesus loves us”.
After Chapel, each day, we were separated into activities, such as camping skills, Archery (no live targets here), Wall climbing, canoeing, swimming, etc. I mostly enjoyed climbing the professional climbing wall they had set in the middle of the forest. I became friendly with a certain camper who later on turned out to be teased a lot for his difficulties to fit in. He really reminded me of myself at his age, but he does not have a supportive family to lie back on, living in a foster group home. I was asked to stay close to him and take part in the activities he was to take part in, and I did so gladly. I especially enjoyed canoeing with him and playing pirate wars with the other boys in the river.
I had a great time getting to know the other internationals and their stories. I will tell of a few. Daniel, from Colombia is such a nice, warm guy and we had loads of laughs together. He has told me of the fight against militarism in Colombia, which is split up into governmental army forces and Guerilla warriors, who all strike terror across the country. Diana and Rosemary, come from two different parts of Uganda, which suffer from of an unsteady shifting economical favoritism, depending on the current ruler’s origin.
Rosemary is one of the most warm and outspoken women I’ve yet to meet. She had told us so beautifully about her work with girls, who ran away from “the bush”, where they were abducted as children by the rebels. These girls, who escaped after years of rape and brutality, after being forced to become children warriors and sometimes kill their own family members and friends, in threat of their own lives, have a long way to go in reclaiming their freedom and building their own lives again from the rubble. Rosemary works with these girls in a special educational center in which she teaches simple basic skills, such as cooking, baking, sewing, housekeeping and even jewelry making. Rosemary brought with her a big sack full of the jewelry these girls have made, in order to sell it in Canada and send the rest to sell in the US. The money made from these sales could help start out these girls lives.
Alejandra, whose mother tongue and sole spoken language is Spanish, needs regular translators with her throughout the whole event. She is from Colombia and she works with children in a beautiful city divided by gangs and street wars. She told several stories of success she had with these kids. In one account, one of the kids she works with was walking home from school, through a neighborhood ruled by a gang known to bully people who didn’t ask passage permission from them. He was surrounded by the gang who bullied him and told him to take all his clothes off. He was about to do so, when one of the gang members, who recognized him from a conflict resolution workshop held at the school told them to let him go and not harm him.
Planting Peacer Profile: Sani Suleiman
Sani Suleiman is from Jos, Nigeria, West Africa, a country of over 150 million people with over 300 ethnic nationalities
with large adherents of Islam and Christian religion, there also exist traditional religious followers mostly found in
rural areas, these people have greatly decreases because many have either converted to Islam or Christianity. Mr.
Suleiman works with the Justice Development and Peace Commission of the Catholic Arch Diocese of Jos. He is also
the Peace and Emergency Response Program Manager of the MCC supported Interfaith and Inter ethnic Emergency
Preparedness and Response Team in Nigeria.
Mr. Suleiman is a trained Social Worker, Peace builder and Administrator. He has worked as a teacher and
administrator with both local and state government of Plateau state. He also had a glimpse of the Nigerian local and
national politics, and is currently the Coordinator of the National Council of Muslim Youth Organizations Plateau State
Chapter.
Mr. Suleiman has received his schooling and trainings at the Plateau State Polytechnic Barkin Ladi, University of Jos,
Africa Peace Building Institute Zambia, Dispute Resolution Program of the University of Massachusetts USA, and
the International Center for Reconciliation UK. His Peace work involve working with communities, schools, youth
and women groups in Jos, Plateau State and other parts of Nigeria building bridges of trust and confidence as well
as promoting justice and dialogue across conflict divide. He also coordinates networks of Peace agents and conflict
monitors as well as the emergency relief interventions especially to the Internally Displaced Persons as a result of
the violent conflicts and or due to natural disaster. He is actively involve with young people that are experiencing
delinquency, those on the street and also those taken to Remand Home (Young Peoples Home) in Jos. He has assisted
several groups and communities set peace and conflict monitoring structures. He is married and blessed with two
beautiful girls Aishah and Rahima.
with large adherents of Islam and Christian religion, there also exist traditional religious followers mostly found in
rural areas, these people have greatly decreases because many have either converted to Islam or Christianity. Mr.
Suleiman works with the Justice Development and Peace Commission of the Catholic Arch Diocese of Jos. He is also
the Peace and Emergency Response Program Manager of the MCC supported Interfaith and Inter ethnic Emergency
Preparedness and Response Team in Nigeria.
Mr. Suleiman is a trained Social Worker, Peace builder and Administrator. He has worked as a teacher and
administrator with both local and state government of Plateau state. He also had a glimpse of the Nigerian local and
national politics, and is currently the Coordinator of the National Council of Muslim Youth Organizations Plateau State
Chapter.
Mr. Suleiman has received his schooling and trainings at the Plateau State Polytechnic Barkin Ladi, University of Jos,
Africa Peace Building Institute Zambia, Dispute Resolution Program of the University of Massachusetts USA, and
the International Center for Reconciliation UK. His Peace work involve working with communities, schools, youth
and women groups in Jos, Plateau State and other parts of Nigeria building bridges of trust and confidence as well
as promoting justice and dialogue across conflict divide. He also coordinates networks of Peace agents and conflict
monitors as well as the emergency relief interventions especially to the Internally Displaced Persons as a result of
the violent conflicts and or due to natural disaster. He is actively involve with young people that are experiencing
delinquency, those on the street and also those taken to Remand Home (Young Peoples Home) in Jos. He has assisted
several groups and communities set peace and conflict monitoring structures. He is married and blessed with two
beautiful girls Aishah and Rahima.
Planting Peacer Profile: Gopar Tapkida
Gopar Tapkida, and his family reside in Abuja, the Federal Capital of Nigeria. He currently serves as the Regional
Peace Adviser (RPA) for the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) in West and Central Africa. He oversights and
provides Peace- building support to MCC Reps; MCC peace-building partners; and peace practitioners in Six countries
– Nigeria, Chad, Burkina Faso, Congo DRC, Rwanda and Burundi.
He facilitates interfaith bridge-building among Muslims, Catholics and the Evangelical in Nigeria and Chad, as
well as serving as the technical advisor for the Emergency Preparedness and Response Teams in Plateau state of
Nigeria. EPRT is a network organization cutting across gender, faith and agencies. He is also an instructor at Africa
Peacebuilding Institute in Zambia, Great Lakes Peacebuilding Seminar in Burundi and Jos ECWA Theological Seminary
in Nigeria, focusing on issues of ethnic, religious and identity conflicts.
Gopar had his pastoral theology from ECWA Theological Seminary Jos in 1998 and was ordained in 1989 with the
Evangelical Church of West Africa (ECWA). He had his graduate studies in Peace and Conflict Transformation from
CJP, Eastern Mennonite University USA. He is married with three daughters.
Peace Adviser (RPA) for the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) in West and Central Africa. He oversights and
provides Peace- building support to MCC Reps; MCC peace-building partners; and peace practitioners in Six countries
– Nigeria, Chad, Burkina Faso, Congo DRC, Rwanda and Burundi.
He facilitates interfaith bridge-building among Muslims, Catholics and the Evangelical in Nigeria and Chad, as
well as serving as the technical advisor for the Emergency Preparedness and Response Teams in Plateau state of
Nigeria. EPRT is a network organization cutting across gender, faith and agencies. He is also an instructor at Africa
Peacebuilding Institute in Zambia, Great Lakes Peacebuilding Seminar in Burundi and Jos ECWA Theological Seminary
in Nigeria, focusing on issues of ethnic, religious and identity conflicts.
Gopar had his pastoral theology from ECWA Theological Seminary Jos in 1998 and was ordained in 1989 with the
Evangelical Church of West Africa (ECWA). He had his graduate studies in Peace and Conflict Transformation from
CJP, Eastern Mennonite University USA. He is married with three daughters.
Highlights and Goodbyes
Hello all...
Yesterday, we said goodbye to two people from MB, 4 from Sask, about 18 from Alberta, and 10 from 5 different countries. Today and tomorrow, they all fly home. Some left this morning early. Some stay an extra day. About 6 weeks ago we were still not sure if Planting Peace would happen, when we ran into one rejection after another ... regarding visas. They all did arrive, thanks to the inteventions of a wonderfully helpful office and one woman, at CIC, and now, it is over. Here are a few images of the past 3 days that come to mind:
Forty people sitting in a large circle, through two, lengthy sessions each of the last 3 days. Breaking off into smaller working or discussion groups.
There never being quite enough time to finish ... too much discussion and lots of questions ... everytime.
Last night, each of the guests was given 10 minutes (way too short) to tell us something about their country, their situation, their work. Stunning stories. Alejandra, in Colombia, became friends with a group of activists, whose work she admired, Her close friend had introduced her to this group. A little later, someone told her that she had now been listed as a guerrilla, because this group, were guerrillas. She was horrified and terrified. Her story ended well for her, but it doesn't for most who are caught in that trap and many similar traps that often lead to indiscriminate killings. Daniel was such a victim, tortured in the forests of Colombia, for a month. He was also here, and he was one of the fortunate ones.
Usama and Nicolas, from West Bank, Bethlehem and East Jerusalem, in their quiet but determined way, trying to tell us, as if almost desperately, how relentlessly the Israeli government is driving the Palestinians off the land that is called Palestine. It seems pretty obvious that they have this as a very calculated, very long-term objective and every move that is made, is towards that end. To rid Palestine of Palestinians. 600 checkpoints. To get to school, Usama has to give himself 3 hours ... because he knows that at any of the checkpoints, young Israeli soldiers will do what they want to delay passage. Water access is given to only some. Permits to add another room and roof to the house of Nicolas, has been in process for 7 years. Were they Israelis, the same government would give the permit, and probably provide funds. As someone said, "they would build it for an Israeli", but a Palestinian waits, and waits and waits, despite doing everything legally and in order. It is insane, and given its so seemingly obvious objective, and given that Israel has such enormous resources and power, why, ever, would they seriously negotiate a peace settlement.
Diana of Uganda, talked about Living With Shalom, and how participating in that program, which was all about unravelling stereotypes among the tribes of Uganda, changed her life completely.
The final session on Forgiveness, with pretty strong discussion on whether that is helpful, why it is or isn't, what some of the ingredients that are of a process that may make forgiveness more possible. Our group divided itself into three possibilities: Not Sure. Forgive but don't forget. Forgive and forget. Most people chose the middle position. Some questioned whether the Bible really teaches the "forgetting" part. Others were certain that it does. Some, who have experienced and seen more than anyone ever should as a human being, said, it is not possible.
The second last night, the entire group hosted a public event at First Mennonite church. It was a simple event, with about 60 to 70 people attending, besides the PP People. Gopar and Sani spoke for about 30 minutes, about Peace Making, and about Nigeria. They could have spoken longer. What was interesting was that Gopar, the Evangelical and Committed Christian of the two, almost seemed to press Sani, the Muslim colleague, to do most of the talking. Sani did a great job, and while he was introduced as Muslim, and quoted from the Koran, and spoke very matter of factly of his Islamic faith and of our faith, it seemed as if the people in the pews appreciated the entire program, a lot. And then, we all sang, "with my own two hands" a folk song off Kim's Fourth CD, that illustrates what has been central to this Planting Peace Seminar: we, each of us, has a role to play, with our own two hands, and that is how peace will come, to so many situations that seem to almost avoid it. Lots of really positive feedback.
Graduation: each of the about 38 participants got a Certificate, a framed photo of the whole group, a photo and writing booklet prepared with the photos and written articles of each of the 12 guests. And lots of hugs.
Will we do it next year? We believe we should, and without exception, the participants strongly encouraged this.
Do we include the same countries? The same international visitors? Will it become a Canada-wide Annual Peace event? Esther is suggesting we need to find a way to make this happen broadly. Will we be able to access CIDA money again?
There is lots to do now in wrapping up, but the two seminars are done, along with the public event. If we achieved one thing, we brought 12 international guests together with 30 Canadians, for a week at a youth camp, 3 days of work in Calgary, discussion, and rest and eating. They are all changed. We are all changed. Our world is bigger, and more inclusive. One person, a translator, who moved here 6 years ago from Colombia, barely escaping with his life, said he has been completely changed. He lost, he said, his anger, his need for revenge, during the week and a half of working as translator, in this messy exercise of "Planting Peace" Peace making is not a recipe, it is about building a character, as Sani said to me yesterday. I was, admittedly, hoping for a blueprint, a recipe. But by day two, I was realizing that this would not ever happen. Nor should it. It's about us ... becoming people who just are peacemakers.
-Abe
Yesterday, we said goodbye to two people from MB, 4 from Sask, about 18 from Alberta, and 10 from 5 different countries. Today and tomorrow, they all fly home. Some left this morning early. Some stay an extra day. About 6 weeks ago we were still not sure if Planting Peace would happen, when we ran into one rejection after another ... regarding visas. They all did arrive, thanks to the inteventions of a wonderfully helpful office and one woman, at CIC, and now, it is over. Here are a few images of the past 3 days that come to mind:
Forty people sitting in a large circle, through two, lengthy sessions each of the last 3 days. Breaking off into smaller working or discussion groups.
There never being quite enough time to finish ... too much discussion and lots of questions ... everytime.
Last night, each of the guests was given 10 minutes (way too short) to tell us something about their country, their situation, their work. Stunning stories. Alejandra, in Colombia, became friends with a group of activists, whose work she admired, Her close friend had introduced her to this group. A little later, someone told her that she had now been listed as a guerrilla, because this group, were guerrillas. She was horrified and terrified. Her story ended well for her, but it doesn't for most who are caught in that trap and many similar traps that often lead to indiscriminate killings. Daniel was such a victim, tortured in the forests of Colombia, for a month. He was also here, and he was one of the fortunate ones.
Usama and Nicolas, from West Bank, Bethlehem and East Jerusalem, in their quiet but determined way, trying to tell us, as if almost desperately, how relentlessly the Israeli government is driving the Palestinians off the land that is called Palestine. It seems pretty obvious that they have this as a very calculated, very long-term objective and every move that is made, is towards that end. To rid Palestine of Palestinians. 600 checkpoints. To get to school, Usama has to give himself 3 hours ... because he knows that at any of the checkpoints, young Israeli soldiers will do what they want to delay passage. Water access is given to only some. Permits to add another room and roof to the house of Nicolas, has been in process for 7 years. Were they Israelis, the same government would give the permit, and probably provide funds. As someone said, "they would build it for an Israeli", but a Palestinian waits, and waits and waits, despite doing everything legally and in order. It is insane, and given its so seemingly obvious objective, and given that Israel has such enormous resources and power, why, ever, would they seriously negotiate a peace settlement.
Diana of Uganda, talked about Living With Shalom, and how participating in that program, which was all about unravelling stereotypes among the tribes of Uganda, changed her life completely.
The final session on Forgiveness, with pretty strong discussion on whether that is helpful, why it is or isn't, what some of the ingredients that are of a process that may make forgiveness more possible. Our group divided itself into three possibilities: Not Sure. Forgive but don't forget. Forgive and forget. Most people chose the middle position. Some questioned whether the Bible really teaches the "forgetting" part. Others were certain that it does. Some, who have experienced and seen more than anyone ever should as a human being, said, it is not possible.
The second last night, the entire group hosted a public event at First Mennonite church. It was a simple event, with about 60 to 70 people attending, besides the PP People. Gopar and Sani spoke for about 30 minutes, about Peace Making, and about Nigeria. They could have spoken longer. What was interesting was that Gopar, the Evangelical and Committed Christian of the two, almost seemed to press Sani, the Muslim colleague, to do most of the talking. Sani did a great job, and while he was introduced as Muslim, and quoted from the Koran, and spoke very matter of factly of his Islamic faith and of our faith, it seemed as if the people in the pews appreciated the entire program, a lot. And then, we all sang, "with my own two hands" a folk song off Kim's Fourth CD, that illustrates what has been central to this Planting Peace Seminar: we, each of us, has a role to play, with our own two hands, and that is how peace will come, to so many situations that seem to almost avoid it. Lots of really positive feedback.
Graduation: each of the about 38 participants got a Certificate, a framed photo of the whole group, a photo and writing booklet prepared with the photos and written articles of each of the 12 guests. And lots of hugs.
Will we do it next year? We believe we should, and without exception, the participants strongly encouraged this.
Do we include the same countries? The same international visitors? Will it become a Canada-wide Annual Peace event? Esther is suggesting we need to find a way to make this happen broadly. Will we be able to access CIDA money again?
There is lots to do now in wrapping up, but the two seminars are done, along with the public event. If we achieved one thing, we brought 12 international guests together with 30 Canadians, for a week at a youth camp, 3 days of work in Calgary, discussion, and rest and eating. They are all changed. We are all changed. Our world is bigger, and more inclusive. One person, a translator, who moved here 6 years ago from Colombia, barely escaping with his life, said he has been completely changed. He lost, he said, his anger, his need for revenge, during the week and a half of working as translator, in this messy exercise of "Planting Peace" Peace making is not a recipe, it is about building a character, as Sani said to me yesterday. I was, admittedly, hoping for a blueprint, a recipe. But by day two, I was realizing that this would not ever happen. Nor should it. It's about us ... becoming people who just are peacemakers.
-Abe
Planting Peacer Profile: Elimer Peña Cruz
Elimer Peña Cruz
Republica Dominicana.
Every day I believe that hope can exist for my country and for the world. I believe that God never leaves us. He is always with us even in the most difficult moments of our lives.
In my country poverty reigns, and it is very shameful to see people living under bridges or on river shores and they are waiting for a miracle to happen but natural disasters always strike destroying their houses and sometimes taking their lives.
In desperate moments people affected by the river have to take all their belongings from their houses because if they don’t do that, the river will destroy everything and they will be left without anything. Sometimes we have to take them to our houses because in moments like this they have no place to go while they wait until the emergency passes so they can return to their homes. Many times they find out that they are left without home.
I believe that God inspired the President of my country to build houses for this people, and they were relocated in a better place where they are safe. I will never stop believing in God. I know that He is the sustainer of life, the same way His spirit inspired the president of my country. God can do it with everyone of us, I surely believe that there is hope for everyone.
Republica Dominicana.
Every day I believe that hope can exist for my country and for the world. I believe that God never leaves us. He is always with us even in the most difficult moments of our lives.
In my country poverty reigns, and it is very shameful to see people living under bridges or on river shores and they are waiting for a miracle to happen but natural disasters always strike destroying their houses and sometimes taking their lives.
In desperate moments people affected by the river have to take all their belongings from their houses because if they don’t do that, the river will destroy everything and they will be left without anything. Sometimes we have to take them to our houses because in moments like this they have no place to go while they wait until the emergency passes so they can return to their homes. Many times they find out that they are left without home.
I believe that God inspired the President of my country to build houses for this people, and they were relocated in a better place where they are safe. I will never stop believing in God. I know that He is the sustainer of life, the same way His spirit inspired the president of my country. God can do it with everyone of us, I surely believe that there is hope for everyone.
Planting Peacer Profile: Usama Rock
My Name is Usama Rock. I’m 25 years old, I live in Palestine in Bethlehem City. Bethlehem is the City of Jesus. It is the City where he was born. It is the City of Peace. However, this city as all the Palestinian Cities, is not peaceful at all. We as Palestinians are living under the Israeli occupation since 1948, the year of Al Nakba (catastrophe).
I’d like to talk about the Palestinians who live in Palestine (West Bank) not about the Palestinian in the diaspora.
We as Palestinian who live in Palestine are suffering from:
• Restrictions on movement
Israel has imposed itself on the Palestinian population in the occupied territories. Israel uses a number if means to restrict Palestinian movement in the West Bank, which they adjust to their needs, such as;
1. Permanent and temporary checkpoints. Over 600 in the West Bank.
2. Physical obstructions.
3. Forbidden roads or/and roads with restrictions on the Palestinian use.
4. Separation wall.
By implementing these means Israel has split the area into Six Geographical areas: North, Center, South, the Jordan Valley and northern Dead Sea.
The movement between the six Geographical areas and within each area has become hard, slow and complicated. may I say and not to forget that Israel completely forbids the movement of Palestinians between the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
• Settlements
From 1967 to the end of 2007 Israel established 121 settlements in the West Bank, and more than 100 outposts, which are “unrecognized settlements”.
These settlements are built on thousands of dunams (measure of land) stolen from the Palestinians, and the Palestinians are no longer able to use their lands.
• Closure of Jerusalem to the Palestinians who live in the West Bank
The Palestinians who live in West bank with a Palestinian ID are no longer able to enter Jerusalem, which leads the Palestinian to face a high rate of unemployment, poverty, hunger, and a lot of people lost their connection with their families.
I can say that hope for me is the kind of work I do under all the facts above:
I work in an organization called "Wi`am" , the Palestinian Conflict Resolution Center. Wi`am has been a place for conflict transformation, restorative justice and mediation. We have Different Departments and Programs:
• Sulha-Mediation and Conflict Resolution, Sulha is the traditional Arabic form of mediation.
• Chlidren’s Department, We provide children recreational and educational activities.
• Women’s Department, where women receive civil and vocational training.
• Citizen Diplomaacy and advocacy, this department encourages people not just to visit the Holy Land but to hear and witness the stories of the people living in it.
But for me I work with the Youth, where young people from all over the West Bank have access to a safe place where they can share there thoughts, ideas, and talk about their daily life and we on the other hand, try to inject them with hope.
They are able to attend many workshops done by Wi`am on Different topics such as; Gender, Human Rights, International Law, Peace and Peace Building, Nonviolence, and alot of other topics wich they really like to know about.
I’d like to talk about the Palestinians who live in Palestine (West Bank) not about the Palestinian in the diaspora.
We as Palestinian who live in Palestine are suffering from:
• Restrictions on movement
Israel has imposed itself on the Palestinian population in the occupied territories. Israel uses a number if means to restrict Palestinian movement in the West Bank, which they adjust to their needs, such as;
1. Permanent and temporary checkpoints. Over 600 in the West Bank.
2. Physical obstructions.
3. Forbidden roads or/and roads with restrictions on the Palestinian use.
4. Separation wall.
By implementing these means Israel has split the area into Six Geographical areas: North, Center, South, the Jordan Valley and northern Dead Sea.
The movement between the six Geographical areas and within each area has become hard, slow and complicated. may I say and not to forget that Israel completely forbids the movement of Palestinians between the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
• Settlements
From 1967 to the end of 2007 Israel established 121 settlements in the West Bank, and more than 100 outposts, which are “unrecognized settlements”.
These settlements are built on thousands of dunams (measure of land) stolen from the Palestinians, and the Palestinians are no longer able to use their lands.
• Closure of Jerusalem to the Palestinians who live in the West Bank
The Palestinians who live in West bank with a Palestinian ID are no longer able to enter Jerusalem, which leads the Palestinian to face a high rate of unemployment, poverty, hunger, and a lot of people lost their connection with their families.
I can say that hope for me is the kind of work I do under all the facts above:
I work in an organization called "Wi`am" , the Palestinian Conflict Resolution Center. Wi`am has been a place for conflict transformation, restorative justice and mediation. We have Different Departments and Programs:
• Sulha-Mediation and Conflict Resolution, Sulha is the traditional Arabic form of mediation.
• Chlidren’s Department, We provide children recreational and educational activities.
• Women’s Department, where women receive civil and vocational training.
• Citizen Diplomaacy and advocacy, this department encourages people not just to visit the Holy Land but to hear and witness the stories of the people living in it.
But for me I work with the Youth, where young people from all over the West Bank have access to a safe place where they can share there thoughts, ideas, and talk about their daily life and we on the other hand, try to inject them with hope.
They are able to attend many workshops done by Wi`am on Different topics such as; Gender, Human Rights, International Law, Peace and Peace Building, Nonviolence, and alot of other topics wich they really like to know about.
A Journey on the Mountain - Nicolas Attallah
The world is a place for billions of human beings, people living in tribes, nations, countries, every human being belongs to a certain group, tradition, faith, culture, and even a unique cuisine.
So imagine that you invite people from 7 different countries to put them together in a Senior high summer camp, giving them small cabins to sleep in, inside the bush, and apparently abandon them with the forty young teenager campers .
A new relationship started at the moment when the participants gathered up, they felt close to each other, they start seeing the similarities between them, they share the same age, same reason, similar stories from back home, they still have language and cultural differences, but now they are trying to step over them to start to bond and to create a beautiful friendship among each other, thanks to the Mennonite Central Committee, Alberta, that sponsored this program by bringing 12 participants from Nigeria, Uganda, Colombia, Jordan, Dominican Republic, Palestine and Israel. Some of these countries suffer from intense violence, conflict, occupation, civil wars, etc.
Day one started at 8:00 am, the bell rang, time to wake up, the sun was rising up in the sky, breakfast was waiting, so we made our way out from the bush to reach the lodge, we gathered around the table with our Cabin mates, shared together how cold the night was, thanking God we made it through the first night. The young campers were already energized and waiting for the activities to start, another bell rang and here we go, we gathered up for the morning devotions to discuss the theme of Camp Valaqua, “ Journey on the Mountain” with a Nigerian pastor called Gopar Tapkida , who started telling us how to change our Burdens into tools, by sharing a wonderful story about how to carry our cross, without asking God to shorten it. We can keep running away from our burdens, but we will never reach happiness, because in order to reach that point we need to learn how to change our burdens into a stepping stone to pass through the river, so sometimes we need to suck it up and to walk bravely with our cross that will lift us in the end to a better way of living, as Jesus told us that the path is not easy, but the reward is for those who reach the end of it.
The days continued with bells ringing over and over again, announcing the start of a new learning day and new fun activities, awakening our sense of adventure in the wild nature, three activities a day, either camp skills, sky swing, nature, wall climbing, canoeing, crafts, archery. Every activity makes us feel how little we know in this world, and each minute we spent at the camp was a learning journey.
The Assistant Director, a young lady called Heather, would ring the bell announcing time for lunch, along with other announcements for the day, like how to clean our plates and to scrape them before they enter the washing machines, and put our chairs in the right place, at the mean time, Mateas, a young boy originally from Liberia was fooling around, while the counselors were trying to put him back in his chair. These joyful moments we spent with the campers lifted our souls up knowing that the new generation in Canada is hungry for a world ruled by peace and harmony.
It was amazing to see how all the international participants stepped in to help the counselors with organizing and watching over some of the campers who needed more patience, support, motivation, and to stop acting in a violent way. One of the stories that touched my heart was when Sani, a Muslim peace worker from Nigeria, asked Mateas to sing with him in front of everybody during chapel. This “small” action changed his attitude for the rest of the camp.
Each morning during the chapel time, us internationals acted out a skit in front of the young campers, one of these stories consisted of Mr. And Mrs. Porcupine and their son Fluffy. Fluffy wasn’t fluffy at all, he had spiky hair, he tried a lot to believe that he was literally fluffy, and failed, so he faced a lot of troubles, and sadness, since he was trying to become someone else, instead of embracing his own nature. On his journey he meets a Rhinoceros who was named Hippo, and who was facing similar troubles. Both Fluffy and Hippo were lonely, unhappy creatures, and there were barriers pulling them away from their societies, and when they were together they found the strength to crash it down, and move on with their lives without denying their own identity, and characteristics.
All the days felt so right, there is a system going on, a journey we need to take in order to get to the top of the mountain, a time for healing and cleaning our souls from all the burdens we carried from home by sharing our stories with the campers sitting in the dark around the fire, liberating ourselves from our Monsters that only bring fear, and distract us from our vision.
So imagine that you invite people from 7 different countries to put them together in a Senior high summer camp, giving them small cabins to sleep in, inside the bush, and apparently abandon them with the forty young teenager campers .
A new relationship started at the moment when the participants gathered up, they felt close to each other, they start seeing the similarities between them, they share the same age, same reason, similar stories from back home, they still have language and cultural differences, but now they are trying to step over them to start to bond and to create a beautiful friendship among each other, thanks to the Mennonite Central Committee, Alberta, that sponsored this program by bringing 12 participants from Nigeria, Uganda, Colombia, Jordan, Dominican Republic, Palestine and Israel. Some of these countries suffer from intense violence, conflict, occupation, civil wars, etc.
Day one started at 8:00 am, the bell rang, time to wake up, the sun was rising up in the sky, breakfast was waiting, so we made our way out from the bush to reach the lodge, we gathered around the table with our Cabin mates, shared together how cold the night was, thanking God we made it through the first night. The young campers were already energized and waiting for the activities to start, another bell rang and here we go, we gathered up for the morning devotions to discuss the theme of Camp Valaqua, “ Journey on the Mountain” with a Nigerian pastor called Gopar Tapkida , who started telling us how to change our Burdens into tools, by sharing a wonderful story about how to carry our cross, without asking God to shorten it. We can keep running away from our burdens, but we will never reach happiness, because in order to reach that point we need to learn how to change our burdens into a stepping stone to pass through the river, so sometimes we need to suck it up and to walk bravely with our cross that will lift us in the end to a better way of living, as Jesus told us that the path is not easy, but the reward is for those who reach the end of it.
The days continued with bells ringing over and over again, announcing the start of a new learning day and new fun activities, awakening our sense of adventure in the wild nature, three activities a day, either camp skills, sky swing, nature, wall climbing, canoeing, crafts, archery. Every activity makes us feel how little we know in this world, and each minute we spent at the camp was a learning journey.
The Assistant Director, a young lady called Heather, would ring the bell announcing time for lunch, along with other announcements for the day, like how to clean our plates and to scrape them before they enter the washing machines, and put our chairs in the right place, at the mean time, Mateas, a young boy originally from Liberia was fooling around, while the counselors were trying to put him back in his chair. These joyful moments we spent with the campers lifted our souls up knowing that the new generation in Canada is hungry for a world ruled by peace and harmony.
It was amazing to see how all the international participants stepped in to help the counselors with organizing and watching over some of the campers who needed more patience, support, motivation, and to stop acting in a violent way. One of the stories that touched my heart was when Sani, a Muslim peace worker from Nigeria, asked Mateas to sing with him in front of everybody during chapel. This “small” action changed his attitude for the rest of the camp.
Each morning during the chapel time, us internationals acted out a skit in front of the young campers, one of these stories consisted of Mr. And Mrs. Porcupine and their son Fluffy. Fluffy wasn’t fluffy at all, he had spiky hair, he tried a lot to believe that he was literally fluffy, and failed, so he faced a lot of troubles, and sadness, since he was trying to become someone else, instead of embracing his own nature. On his journey he meets a Rhinoceros who was named Hippo, and who was facing similar troubles. Both Fluffy and Hippo were lonely, unhappy creatures, and there were barriers pulling them away from their societies, and when they were together they found the strength to crash it down, and move on with their lives without denying their own identity, and characteristics.
All the days felt so right, there is a system going on, a journey we need to take in order to get to the top of the mountain, a time for healing and cleaning our souls from all the burdens we carried from home by sharing our stories with the campers sitting in the dark around the fire, liberating ourselves from our Monsters that only bring fear, and distract us from our vision.
Hello all... a few notes about today, with Gopar and Sani leading us: The sessions began with a couple of rousing camp songs that got the group up and moving. Followed by a devotional, in which I talked about "listening" (theme for this morning), based on Samuel, hearing something, but not sure what... and ending with a story about listening and peace work, being corporate. We do things together ... we need each other, even to listen. Samuel needed Eli. Peter and Cornelius in Acts 10 needed each other ... to figure out that the Gospel was for gentiles and jews alike.
Our first session was about listening. Gopar and Sani are excellent teachers. Very engaging, very quick with exercises and engaging conversations. Just before lunch, we took both of them to the CBC for a live interview that went for 30 minutes, in which there were asked questions about their work, about Nigeria, about why Peace Making events are needed in Alberta, about what we are hoping to accomplish with "Planting Peace". Really good, sympathetic interviewer and Gopar and Sani did a very classy job. They don't stumble, and speak with such conviction.
Afternoon session, on "speaking/intervention" included a lengthy discussion on "every conflict is nurtured and fed". The graph shows a latent stage, followed by escalation, then crisis (where people may shoot at each other), then a frozen conflict and post violence period. Conflicts can continue to run through this cycle, or then can be interccepted at any point, with a problem solving approach.
There was quite a bit of discussion around the question of whether all conflict needs to reach that crisis point and if that is the case, what does that mean for peaceful conflict resolution. Gopar did make that comment that the community in the crisis stage is close to a peaceful settlement than where the conflict sits, for long periods of time, in a latent stage. Gopar said finally, that "violence can bring fast change. But that change does not last".
We watched a documentary, which was really a speech by a young woman from Nigeria, who has become a successful writer, and who talks about the "Dangers of the Single Story", and what it means to the world when a population or a person are distinguished by only one characteristic that happens to be a characteristic of only a few in that group. But it sticks, and quickly, the entire group has the same image. After reading a book about an American young man, who was a serial killer, she thought that if she was stereotyping with only one story, she would consider that all American young men are serial killers. A very compelling speech. I suspect it can be easily downloaded, with a "live" performance.
This evening, most of the group went to the Alpha House, and from there, we split into 4 groups, and went for a 2-hour walk through an area where homeless people tend to sleep ... and walk... and become victims of pimps, and thieves. Very amazing people that work at the Alpha house. We are attaching a story written by Aylam, of Israel, about their group's interaction and walk, this evening, for your enjoyment and encouragement.
Abe
Our first session was about listening. Gopar and Sani are excellent teachers. Very engaging, very quick with exercises and engaging conversations. Just before lunch, we took both of them to the CBC for a live interview that went for 30 minutes, in which there were asked questions about their work, about Nigeria, about why Peace Making events are needed in Alberta, about what we are hoping to accomplish with "Planting Peace". Really good, sympathetic interviewer and Gopar and Sani did a very classy job. They don't stumble, and speak with such conviction.
Afternoon session, on "speaking/intervention" included a lengthy discussion on "every conflict is nurtured and fed". The graph shows a latent stage, followed by escalation, then crisis (where people may shoot at each other), then a frozen conflict and post violence period. Conflicts can continue to run through this cycle, or then can be interccepted at any point, with a problem solving approach.
There was quite a bit of discussion around the question of whether all conflict needs to reach that crisis point and if that is the case, what does that mean for peaceful conflict resolution. Gopar did make that comment that the community in the crisis stage is close to a peaceful settlement than where the conflict sits, for long periods of time, in a latent stage. Gopar said finally, that "violence can bring fast change. But that change does not last".
We watched a documentary, which was really a speech by a young woman from Nigeria, who has become a successful writer, and who talks about the "Dangers of the Single Story", and what it means to the world when a population or a person are distinguished by only one characteristic that happens to be a characteristic of only a few in that group. But it sticks, and quickly, the entire group has the same image. After reading a book about an American young man, who was a serial killer, she thought that if she was stereotyping with only one story, she would consider that all American young men are serial killers. A very compelling speech. I suspect it can be easily downloaded, with a "live" performance.
This evening, most of the group went to the Alpha House, and from there, we split into 4 groups, and went for a 2-hour walk through an area where homeless people tend to sleep ... and walk... and become victims of pimps, and thieves. Very amazing people that work at the Alpha house. We are attaching a story written by Aylam, of Israel, about their group's interaction and walk, this evening, for your enjoyment and encouragement.
Abe
Homeless tour, Calgary – Aylam Bar Shalom
I just had the greatest experience today, touring Calgary (Alberta, Canada) along with two people who used to be homeless, just a short while ago. One of them is named Joseph, and he spent six years of his life on the street. He was addicted to drugs and alcohol, and is still facing a daily craving to go back to his addictions. He is such on honest and good man and I really appreciated is openness to tell us everything, down to the ugliest facts about his life.
The other person, with whom I talked in person for most of the tour, is named Elizabeth. She is now married to Joseph, whom she met on the street in her couple of months of homeless experience. Joseph was our official guide and Elizabeth hadn’t planed to talk at all on the tour. However, I can notice someone interesting and passionate when I see one, and had asked her a few questions. Soon I was listening to her while she went on and on about her story.
I was shocked at how much hope this girl, my age BTW, has within her eyes and heart. When she first started living on the street, she honestly believed all the homeless people she was going to meet were going to be nice and friendly people, like the native aboriginal and poor kids she used to go to school with. She soon discovered that people who lived on the street and were addicted to drugs could be really cruel and hard. She told me of so many hard situations she witnessed and went through, but never did she loose her childish taste for fun.
Elizabeth loves jumping into every puddle on the street, supporting other people and her dreams include that some day she will have enough resources to make a home for some homeless people to come to and start their lives over. However, as she was telling me, she does not want it to be like one of the governmental organization, which as she says are attempting to help homeless people, many of whom have lost hope in their lives, only with money and housing, which is a big part of the solution but doesn’t answer to their emotional needs. She told me that a lot of people who live on the street and who are drug addicts get used to the idea that they are worthless. They end up feeling that they have no purpose in life and the only thing that keeps them going is the next stash.
However, Elizabeth would like to give a few people, she believes she can reach out to, the type of human support and encouragement that they will need to give up their addictions because they have better, more positive and constructive things to do. In short, to make homeless people feel worthy and worthwhile. She holds on to an ideal of grass-root mutual support that is based on the assumption that if each and every one of us took care of one other person, and were looked after by one other person as well, we would have solved so many problems. She is so smart!
So, how does she plan to do it? Well, by the end of the tour we started brainstorming on how she could get her dream project on the road even before getting any outside financial support for it. We came up with an idea of holding a bottle-collecting contest (it has been one of her sources of income for years now) in which homeless and non-homeless people would participate, and all the money would go to helping start off her “Homeless” home. She suggested street art and performances to raise money, after which I had told her about Rosemary and the Jewelry she teaches the escaped kidnapped girls to make in Uganda.
All in all, Elizabeth and I had an excellent time together. I got to know a wonderfully warm and courageous person with a narrative I have yet to hear, while she got to meet a person who’d gladly listen to her stories for over an hour with wide keen eyes and true curiosity. I don’t know how common that is for her. I just love the way she is a bit weird like me, and how with all the reasons she might have to give up, she is so ambitious!
I do hope for a better future for homeless and poor people, and I was glad to hear that things are getting gradually better in Calgary. I also know now more than ever that we have so much learn about faith and hope from the misfortunate people who have suffered and survived such cruel lives, and continue to seek better futures. Elizabeth is now carrying her second child. She has told me she lets her four-month-old son cry when he needs to and be true with his feelings. I think he is really lucky to have such a Mama as Elizabeth, even though she may not have much money, she has a gold mine of a heart. I am so very happy I had the chance to meet her. I am truly a bit more hopeful J
The other person, with whom I talked in person for most of the tour, is named Elizabeth. She is now married to Joseph, whom she met on the street in her couple of months of homeless experience. Joseph was our official guide and Elizabeth hadn’t planed to talk at all on the tour. However, I can notice someone interesting and passionate when I see one, and had asked her a few questions. Soon I was listening to her while she went on and on about her story.
I was shocked at how much hope this girl, my age BTW, has within her eyes and heart. When she first started living on the street, she honestly believed all the homeless people she was going to meet were going to be nice and friendly people, like the native aboriginal and poor kids she used to go to school with. She soon discovered that people who lived on the street and were addicted to drugs could be really cruel and hard. She told me of so many hard situations she witnessed and went through, but never did she loose her childish taste for fun.
Elizabeth loves jumping into every puddle on the street, supporting other people and her dreams include that some day she will have enough resources to make a home for some homeless people to come to and start their lives over. However, as she was telling me, she does not want it to be like one of the governmental organization, which as she says are attempting to help homeless people, many of whom have lost hope in their lives, only with money and housing, which is a big part of the solution but doesn’t answer to their emotional needs. She told me that a lot of people who live on the street and who are drug addicts get used to the idea that they are worthless. They end up feeling that they have no purpose in life and the only thing that keeps them going is the next stash.
However, Elizabeth would like to give a few people, she believes she can reach out to, the type of human support and encouragement that they will need to give up their addictions because they have better, more positive and constructive things to do. In short, to make homeless people feel worthy and worthwhile. She holds on to an ideal of grass-root mutual support that is based on the assumption that if each and every one of us took care of one other person, and were looked after by one other person as well, we would have solved so many problems. She is so smart!
So, how does she plan to do it? Well, by the end of the tour we started brainstorming on how she could get her dream project on the road even before getting any outside financial support for it. We came up with an idea of holding a bottle-collecting contest (it has been one of her sources of income for years now) in which homeless and non-homeless people would participate, and all the money would go to helping start off her “Homeless” home. She suggested street art and performances to raise money, after which I had told her about Rosemary and the Jewelry she teaches the escaped kidnapped girls to make in Uganda.
All in all, Elizabeth and I had an excellent time together. I got to know a wonderfully warm and courageous person with a narrative I have yet to hear, while she got to meet a person who’d gladly listen to her stories for over an hour with wide keen eyes and true curiosity. I don’t know how common that is for her. I just love the way she is a bit weird like me, and how with all the reasons she might have to give up, she is so ambitious!
I do hope for a better future for homeless and poor people, and I was glad to hear that things are getting gradually better in Calgary. I also know now more than ever that we have so much learn about faith and hope from the misfortunate people who have suffered and survived such cruel lives, and continue to seek better futures. Elizabeth is now carrying her second child. She has told me she lets her four-month-old son cry when he needs to and be true with his feelings. I think he is really lucky to have such a Mama as Elizabeth, even though she may not have much money, she has a gold mine of a heart. I am so very happy I had the chance to meet her. I am truly a bit more hopeful J
Monday, August 30, 2010
Back to the City
Hi all,
We left Camp Valaqua on Friday evening and took the participants to the FCJ Centre, where they welcomed the running water, electricity and warm beds with open arms. We were all tired from the week, but along with the fatigue was an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the experience and involvement with Valaqua staff and campers. The Planting Peace participants went out of their way to get to know and spend time with some difficult campers during camp activities, and provided a much needed distraction and support for the staff. Their involvement, spirit, kindness, enthusiasm and stories during the week was infectious. We were worried that the presence of 10 international people would be more of a distraction than it would be helpful. But that was not the case. We are very grateful for the partnership with Camp Valaqua, and excited that they are interested in doing this again next year!
Tonight we began round two of Planting Peace at the FCJ Centre in Calgary. Along with the 10 international participants, there are 20 Alberta participants, 3 folks from Saskatchewan and 2 from Manitoba, along with 6 MCCA staff. It was a good evening, beginning with welcomes and registration at 8:00pm, and moving into introductions, games, walking through the schedule for the next three days. Gopar and Sani led us through a helpful introduction of what to expect from the sessions, and to close the evening Sani led us in a song about peace, and Gopar closed with prayer. We have three days left together. It is too short. We are getting to know amazing individuals whose experiences and lives offer us rich and difficult glimpses into their lives and the conflicts and barriers that they are confronted with daily.
Some snapshots from the past week and this evening:
-two young women, one from Jordan, one from Colombia, who do not speak the same language, walk arm in arm on day one, and communicate acceptance and understanding that transcends culture and language
-a young woman who had never in her life encountered a "pure Israeli", as she put it, was visibly upset and unsettled by the presence of the Israeli's
-the same young woman, two days later, was laughing and enjoying spending time with the two Israeli participants
-an Israeli young man, a vegan, who was having difficulty watching the consumption of animal foods at Camp Valaqua, admits that he is also finding it difficult to confront this issue because he is being treated with so much kindness and acceptance
-two Palestinian participants whose lives and experiences are very different in terms of access to basic resources....health, education, travel, safety. One lives in East Jerusalem, the other in Bethlehem (West Bank). They share a common history of oppression, but live in two very different worlds. One week before coming to Calgary, Usama, who lives in the West Bank, was in danger of being arrested for his work at Wi'am. At 2:00 AM, Israeli military banged on the door of his family home and demanded to see him. His father, a human rights lawyer, met them at the door and challenged their presence. It took some convincing and a phone call to their superior before the officers left the house without Usama.
-on Friday, I left camp with five international visitors in a separate vehicle from my husband; before leaving I asked him to pick up some groceries on the way home. An hour and a bit later, when we arrive in Calgary, Usama asks me why my husband has not called me to make sure that I am ok. I do not know how to answer his question. He said that in the West Bank, if he were married, he would call his wife every few minutes on her cell phone to make sure that she was safe. The assumption of safety, basic safety, is something that I totally take for granted.
-watching the international participants interact with the Canadian participants...what a very rich evening. There was so much laughter and visiting and mixing. Peace building is relational. What a blessing it is to be a part of this.
Kim
We left Camp Valaqua on Friday evening and took the participants to the FCJ Centre, where they welcomed the running water, electricity and warm beds with open arms. We were all tired from the week, but along with the fatigue was an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the experience and involvement with Valaqua staff and campers. The Planting Peace participants went out of their way to get to know and spend time with some difficult campers during camp activities, and provided a much needed distraction and support for the staff. Their involvement, spirit, kindness, enthusiasm and stories during the week was infectious. We were worried that the presence of 10 international people would be more of a distraction than it would be helpful. But that was not the case. We are very grateful for the partnership with Camp Valaqua, and excited that they are interested in doing this again next year!
Tonight we began round two of Planting Peace at the FCJ Centre in Calgary. Along with the 10 international participants, there are 20 Alberta participants, 3 folks from Saskatchewan and 2 from Manitoba, along with 6 MCCA staff. It was a good evening, beginning with welcomes and registration at 8:00pm, and moving into introductions, games, walking through the schedule for the next three days. Gopar and Sani led us through a helpful introduction of what to expect from the sessions, and to close the evening Sani led us in a song about peace, and Gopar closed with prayer. We have three days left together. It is too short. We are getting to know amazing individuals whose experiences and lives offer us rich and difficult glimpses into their lives and the conflicts and barriers that they are confronted with daily.
Some snapshots from the past week and this evening:
-two young women, one from Jordan, one from Colombia, who do not speak the same language, walk arm in arm on day one, and communicate acceptance and understanding that transcends culture and language
-a young woman who had never in her life encountered a "pure Israeli", as she put it, was visibly upset and unsettled by the presence of the Israeli's
-the same young woman, two days later, was laughing and enjoying spending time with the two Israeli participants
-an Israeli young man, a vegan, who was having difficulty watching the consumption of animal foods at Camp Valaqua, admits that he is also finding it difficult to confront this issue because he is being treated with so much kindness and acceptance
-two Palestinian participants whose lives and experiences are very different in terms of access to basic resources....health, education, travel, safety. One lives in East Jerusalem, the other in Bethlehem (West Bank). They share a common history of oppression, but live in two very different worlds. One week before coming to Calgary, Usama, who lives in the West Bank, was in danger of being arrested for his work at Wi'am. At 2:00 AM, Israeli military banged on the door of his family home and demanded to see him. His father, a human rights lawyer, met them at the door and challenged their presence. It took some convincing and a phone call to their superior before the officers left the house without Usama.
-on Friday, I left camp with five international visitors in a separate vehicle from my husband; before leaving I asked him to pick up some groceries on the way home. An hour and a bit later, when we arrive in Calgary, Usama asks me why my husband has not called me to make sure that I am ok. I do not know how to answer his question. He said that in the West Bank, if he were married, he would call his wife every few minutes on her cell phone to make sure that she was safe. The assumption of safety, basic safety, is something that I totally take for granted.
-watching the international participants interact with the Canadian participants...what a very rich evening. There was so much laughter and visiting and mixing. Peace building is relational. What a blessing it is to be a part of this.
Kim
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Come here to be friends.
Hello all ...
Yesterday, Friday, marked the end of the week at Camp Valaqua with the Planting Peace International Guests. Today, they had the day off. This evening, Diego, our translator, was taking most of them on an evening excursion in Calgary. Gopar is visiting some friends. Tomorrow, they have most of the day off, but by about 6 pm, we will be setting up for the evening opening event, which will have all 12 international guests, (Uganda, Nigeria, Palestine/West Bank, Colombia, Israel, plus one IVEPer from each of the Dom Republic and Jordon) present, along with 2 people from MCC Canada in Wpg, 4 from MCC in Sask, and about 20 from Alberta, including MCC staff. We will work together (we hope) for 3 days, including also one public event hosted at First Menn Church in the evening.
The theme continues to be "How do we stop killing each other", with sub themes for each of 6 sessions. Monday, "Listening, and "Speaking/Intervention". Tuesday, "Cross Cultural Dynamics" both sessions. Wednesday, "Understanding", and "Forgiveness". We are proposing that each of the first 4 sessions be shortened by 30 minutes, and that 30 minutes will be taken up by each of the "Planting Peace" Countries to tell us Canadians and each other about the situation in their countries. Uganda, Colombia, Paletine/West Bank, Israel. During this past week, each evening, at campfire, we would interview several of the guests, and, in about 5 minutes, they would all do a really good job of introducing the campers to the situations from which they have come. The last day fireside, (which I missed) introduced Nicolas from East Jerusalem, Usama from West Bank/Bethlehem, and Diego (our translator, originally from Colombia). At the end of their 20-minute interview, the campers, a bunch of tired, often unruly older teenagers with all kinds of dysfunctioning issues, cheered and clapped. (Kim will summarize those interviews when she gets a chance and we will send them to you as well.)
The camp director told us yesterday that the impact of this group of visitors, led in the sessions by Gopar and Sani from Nigeria, has been very significant. There has never been, she said, such a marked improvement in behaviour of some campers, at Valaqua, over such a short and intense period of time. As I mentioned earlier, we have a strong invitation to repeat this next year. Would we do it the same way? Would we bring as many guests? Would we bring them a week earlier so they could get to know each other and be more adequately introduced to the Camp Agenda and the Camp personnel? Perhaps all of those.
A few of us visited for an hour or so with Usama and Nicolas last night, after returning to Calgary, where the group is now, in the cold of Calgary (down to 15 degrees today, and colder tomorrow) snuggled into normal beds at the FCJ (Faithful Companions of Jesus) Center. Usama lives in Bethlehem and works with Wi'am, a social organization working with young people. He cannot travel freely, and has not, he said, in about 22 years. He is 25. A Palestinian living in East Jerusalem has privileges and can travel quite easily. Nicolas can travel to see Usama, but Usama can not ever get permission to leave the West Bank to go anywhere. And yet, when someone asked if he could get permit to move away permanently, he said that in that case, the Israeli Government would go out of its way to get him that permit quickly. The relentless pressure that Israel puts on Palestinians living in the West Bank, the always increasing Settlements that take up all the hilltops and are populated with subsidized Jewish mostly brought in from Europe and the United States, the road system that now makes sure they never meet each other as people .. (.the only Israeli the average Palestinian ever sees these days, is a young man or woman at the end of a big gun, at any of the 600 checkpoints that keep Palestinians from going to their jobs on time, from visiting their families, from running their businesses) ... that pressure, which changes forms all the time as the Israelis invent new and subtle ways to create frustration, seems clearly designed to provoke, to mock, to humiliate, and in the end, to drive them out.
At huge risk of misrepresenting entire and very complicated Conflicts, Colombia has a kind of violence that seems to be almost randomly indiscriminate. People with any property are victims of extortion, kidnapping, murder, all the time. And if you are living in a community where either the army, or the Paramilitary or the Guerrillas occupy, then the others assume that all citizens living in that place, have become sypmathizers, and they become targets of the other two armed groups. Uganda ... the LRA and the violence to children and that long-term trauma suffered by the entire country comes quickly to the center of that story along with immense poverty, the presence of a military and neighboring militaries, and a long history and capacity for brutality. Israel/Palestine ... so very complicated with Zionism, Christian Zionism, the immense power and self assured "righteousness" of the Israelis, who seem wiling to oppress, humiliate, persecute relentlessly, as they have themselves been victims and who have a zealousness that comes from a profound understanding of their own "being chosen" status. And, as Aylam says, from their capacity to keep reminding themselves and the entire world, that they are victims. And that that history justifies a lot of oppressive and brutal violence to other people now. Rob Baerg, our Board member, after visiting the West Bank 3 years ago, said that they seem now to be willing to do to the Palestinians what the Germans did to them. Aylam and Sharon say that some of the Peace Searching people in Israel don' t even use the word peace anymore, It is a search for Justice. They are not sure that just bringing people together to meet each other as human beings and then learning to talk together, will resolve anything. But many others, experienced leaders, say that that basic principle is the one that will, in the end, lead to any kind of peace in the Middle East, and anywhere else. Nigeria ... the north, being mostly Muslim, and the South, with its advantaged history of English schooling ... from which comes a constant imbalance of power, that looks, or can look like a religious war, but which often degenerates (as if war can degenerate any further) into mobs running through the towns and killing the"other" people. And then we have Canada, where we throw more young people into jail than any other country in the world, per capita, as if somehow, we are going to eliminate unruly behaviour by locking them up. I wonder what the other countries would say to us about that. In every case, people are suffering, and in every case, peace making work, and peace seeking people ... are needed ... to live lives that bless rather than curse their neighbors. Elias Chacour, the Bishop in Haifa said to us, sternly last year ... don't come here to pick sides. Come here to be friends. That is our hope, he said. He is a Palestinian.
Yesterday, Friday, marked the end of the week at Camp Valaqua with the Planting Peace International Guests. Today, they had the day off. This evening, Diego, our translator, was taking most of them on an evening excursion in Calgary. Gopar is visiting some friends. Tomorrow, they have most of the day off, but by about 6 pm, we will be setting up for the evening opening event, which will have all 12 international guests, (Uganda, Nigeria, Palestine/West Bank, Colombia, Israel, plus one IVEPer from each of the Dom Republic and Jordon) present, along with 2 people from MCC Canada in Wpg, 4 from MCC in Sask, and about 20 from Alberta, including MCC staff. We will work together (we hope) for 3 days, including also one public event hosted at First Menn Church in the evening.
The theme continues to be "How do we stop killing each other", with sub themes for each of 6 sessions. Monday, "Listening, and "Speaking/Intervention". Tuesday, "Cross Cultural Dynamics" both sessions. Wednesday, "Understanding", and "Forgiveness". We are proposing that each of the first 4 sessions be shortened by 30 minutes, and that 30 minutes will be taken up by each of the "Planting Peace" Countries to tell us Canadians and each other about the situation in their countries. Uganda, Colombia, Paletine/West Bank, Israel. During this past week, each evening, at campfire, we would interview several of the guests, and, in about 5 minutes, they would all do a really good job of introducing the campers to the situations from which they have come. The last day fireside, (which I missed) introduced Nicolas from East Jerusalem, Usama from West Bank/Bethlehem, and Diego (our translator, originally from Colombia). At the end of their 20-minute interview, the campers, a bunch of tired, often unruly older teenagers with all kinds of dysfunctioning issues, cheered and clapped. (Kim will summarize those interviews when she gets a chance and we will send them to you as well.)
The camp director told us yesterday that the impact of this group of visitors, led in the sessions by Gopar and Sani from Nigeria, has been very significant. There has never been, she said, such a marked improvement in behaviour of some campers, at Valaqua, over such a short and intense period of time. As I mentioned earlier, we have a strong invitation to repeat this next year. Would we do it the same way? Would we bring as many guests? Would we bring them a week earlier so they could get to know each other and be more adequately introduced to the Camp Agenda and the Camp personnel? Perhaps all of those.
A few of us visited for an hour or so with Usama and Nicolas last night, after returning to Calgary, where the group is now, in the cold of Calgary (down to 15 degrees today, and colder tomorrow) snuggled into normal beds at the FCJ (Faithful Companions of Jesus) Center. Usama lives in Bethlehem and works with Wi'am, a social organization working with young people. He cannot travel freely, and has not, he said, in about 22 years. He is 25. A Palestinian living in East Jerusalem has privileges and can travel quite easily. Nicolas can travel to see Usama, but Usama can not ever get permission to leave the West Bank to go anywhere. And yet, when someone asked if he could get permit to move away permanently, he said that in that case, the Israeli Government would go out of its way to get him that permit quickly. The relentless pressure that Israel puts on Palestinians living in the West Bank, the always increasing Settlements that take up all the hilltops and are populated with subsidized Jewish mostly brought in from Europe and the United States, the road system that now makes sure they never meet each other as people .. (.the only Israeli the average Palestinian ever sees these days, is a young man or woman at the end of a big gun, at any of the 600 checkpoints that keep Palestinians from going to their jobs on time, from visiting their families, from running their businesses) ... that pressure, which changes forms all the time as the Israelis invent new and subtle ways to create frustration, seems clearly designed to provoke, to mock, to humiliate, and in the end, to drive them out.
At huge risk of misrepresenting entire and very complicated Conflicts, Colombia has a kind of violence that seems to be almost randomly indiscriminate. People with any property are victims of extortion, kidnapping, murder, all the time. And if you are living in a community where either the army, or the Paramilitary or the Guerrillas occupy, then the others assume that all citizens living in that place, have become sypmathizers, and they become targets of the other two armed groups. Uganda ... the LRA and the violence to children and that long-term trauma suffered by the entire country comes quickly to the center of that story along with immense poverty, the presence of a military and neighboring militaries, and a long history and capacity for brutality. Israel/Palestine ... so very complicated with Zionism, Christian Zionism, the immense power and self assured "righteousness" of the Israelis, who seem wiling to oppress, humiliate, persecute relentlessly, as they have themselves been victims and who have a zealousness that comes from a profound understanding of their own "being chosen" status. And, as Aylam says, from their capacity to keep reminding themselves and the entire world, that they are victims. And that that history justifies a lot of oppressive and brutal violence to other people now. Rob Baerg, our Board member, after visiting the West Bank 3 years ago, said that they seem now to be willing to do to the Palestinians what the Germans did to them. Aylam and Sharon say that some of the Peace Searching people in Israel don' t even use the word peace anymore, It is a search for Justice. They are not sure that just bringing people together to meet each other as human beings and then learning to talk together, will resolve anything. But many others, experienced leaders, say that that basic principle is the one that will, in the end, lead to any kind of peace in the Middle East, and anywhere else. Nigeria ... the north, being mostly Muslim, and the South, with its advantaged history of English schooling ... from which comes a constant imbalance of power, that looks, or can look like a religious war, but which often degenerates (as if war can degenerate any further) into mobs running through the towns and killing the"other" people. And then we have Canada, where we throw more young people into jail than any other country in the world, per capita, as if somehow, we are going to eliminate unruly behaviour by locking them up. I wonder what the other countries would say to us about that. In every case, people are suffering, and in every case, peace making work, and peace seeking people ... are needed ... to live lives that bless rather than curse their neighbors. Elias Chacour, the Bishop in Haifa said to us, sternly last year ... don't come here to pick sides. Come here to be friends. That is our hope, he said. He is a Palestinian.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Planting Peacer Profile: Sharon Casper
Sharon Casper is a human rights activist in Israel and is one of our Planting Peace participants. We are very excited and lucky to have her with us for the few weeks.
This is the link to the interview i did with Tommy Sands, an Irish musician and peace activist, who performed in Sheikh Jarrah. the interview was done in the context of his show in SJ. it begins in hebrew but changes very fast to english and the whole hour is in english.
thanx, sharon
http://2nd-ops.com/editors/?p=5028
This is the link to the interview i did with Tommy Sands, an Irish musician and peace activist, who performed in Sheikh Jarrah. the interview was done in the context of his show in SJ. it begins in hebrew but changes very fast to english and the whole hour is in english.
thanx, sharon
http://2nd-ops.com/editors/?p=5028
Thursday August 26 - Vegetable Soup and Hebrew Rap
Hello all...
A number of you are reading these updates, so we will keep sending them as there is time to do this. The primary reason for sending them is that we think that peace comes, from at the very least, getting people into the same room together. Around the same pot of soup together. Into the same discussion together. And emailing as many people as might be interested in thinking about this as "Planting Peace" takes its various courses here in Alberta, is our way, an effort to "bring us into the same discussion". Messy as it all is. Tomorrow, the campers, including our international guests, are climbing a small mountain. A 5 to 6 hour walk, up and down. The camp itself is, as any camp near the end of summer, delightful, and also filled with tensions, some conflicts, volunteers and counselors who are tired, senior teens who are pushing some limits. Two troubled teens needed some attention yesterday, which was only our second day actually at camp. After meeting with Camp Leaders it was suggested that Aylam, from Israel, become a big brother, for this week, to a young, troubled boy. And that Diana from Uganda do the same with another boy, whom she had befriended,, who had brought with him from Liberia, his own trauma. So, now, two our our 10 guests make sure they are at every activity in which those young teens are involved, to provide encouragement, coaching, and also some guidance as necessary to camp counsellors. Odd surprize, but I suspect that most good things that we plan for, bring with them some elements of surprize ... some presence of the Holy Spirit. (We have been hearing from the staff and director of the camp, that the presence of our group, messy and a bit tense as it has been, and the presentations of Gopar and Sani (a wise muslim man), and the interviews we do with the other international guests each night ... has had a completely positive impact on the campers. They are more attentive. They are more respectful. There is less violence. One counselor, when we asked yesterday if this was working, said, without hesitation ..."this is great. We have to do this again". These are young adults, with full workloads dealing with often unruly campers, now working with the surprizing presence of young adults whose first language is not English, from 5 different countries ... and after 4 days, they are saying... "we have to do this again". Whatever peace work is ... I think this is at least a small part of it. )
Gopar and Sani did the morning chapel again, this time with the theme of "valleys and views". In all our situations and countries, we approach valleys with perhaps some trepidation and maybe fear. But around those situations there is always a possibility of a changed view, a different perspective that begins, in that moment, to heal and rehabilitate relationships. Gopar told the story of Amina, the Muslim woman who, in Jos, Nigeria, lost her brother and her uncle and her home to the mobbing Christians in 2001. She organized a group of fundamentalists, to fight back. They trained to kill. But somehow she ended up in a workshop that Gopar was implementing. She hid her gun inside the folds of her skirt assuming that Gopar, a Christian, would mess up and offend her or the Muslims in general, and then she would shoot him. He didn't, and to her credit, she gave up the gun, went home, and began a second group ... of Muslims working for peace. She was accused of being bribed by the Christians, and her life was not easy after that. A sudden surprize, a new view, and a whole world is a little bit changed.
This evening, we heard the stories of Alejandra, a social worker from Colombia, who works at peace education with children, ages 5 to 17. A little boy, she said, recently had his bike stolen. He and his friends decided quickly to find the other boy who did this, and then to kill him. But a little girl, whom Alejandra works with, intervened and told him that the boy who took the bike is worth more than the bike, and it stopped what might have been a tragic story, from happening.
Daniel, also from Colombia, told the larger group at campfire this evening, a litttle of his life. At 10 years of age, he already was conscious of the daily and horrible violence in Colombia. Violence which he saw routinely. And he decided that his life was going to be devoted to finding ways to make peace. He is now about 23 or 24 He talked about a group of volunteers who, in a town, not far from Bogota, decided to honor women on mothers day. They walked around to all the grocery stores and asked for eggs, and vegetables, and anything else needed to make a good soup. And the paramilitary and the soldiers threatened to interfere. They invited them to come and help them make the soup, but they had to leave their guns aside to do this. Some did, and in the end, they fed over 400 people, made flowers for a over 200 women ... and with this some of the fear has subsided. Not all the soldiers nor paramilitary personnel turned in their guns. But some did.
Sharon, one of two Israelis, performed at the Wed pm folk festival yesterday, at camp. She did two rap numbers. That is what she thrives on. She is a peace activist in Israel, who worries and frets about the injustice that is run over the Palestinians. When we asked what had been difficult yesterday, she said that she has a hard time being at camp, where little that is really tragic, happens. Her life is surrounded by death, by destruction, as, relentlessly, the Israeli army and leadership continues to demolish Palestinian villages, homes, trees. It has not stopped since 1948. She says that is why her rap songs are "rage songs", sung in Hebrew. She is very talented, and her songs are entirely improvised.
All for now. This morning, Thursday, Kim, Kari and I met with Gopar and Sani, to review our plans for the FCJ Center event, which begins Sunday evening here in Calgary, when 20 young adults from SK and AB and MB will join our 12 guests, under leadership of Gopar and Sani ... for 3.5 days of discussion and, "being in the same room" together.
-Abe Janzen
A number of you are reading these updates, so we will keep sending them as there is time to do this. The primary reason for sending them is that we think that peace comes, from at the very least, getting people into the same room together. Around the same pot of soup together. Into the same discussion together. And emailing as many people as might be interested in thinking about this as "Planting Peace" takes its various courses here in Alberta, is our way, an effort to "bring us into the same discussion". Messy as it all is. Tomorrow, the campers, including our international guests, are climbing a small mountain. A 5 to 6 hour walk, up and down. The camp itself is, as any camp near the end of summer, delightful, and also filled with tensions, some conflicts, volunteers and counselors who are tired, senior teens who are pushing some limits. Two troubled teens needed some attention yesterday, which was only our second day actually at camp. After meeting with Camp Leaders it was suggested that Aylam, from Israel, become a big brother, for this week, to a young, troubled boy. And that Diana from Uganda do the same with another boy, whom she had befriended,, who had brought with him from Liberia, his own trauma. So, now, two our our 10 guests make sure they are at every activity in which those young teens are involved, to provide encouragement, coaching, and also some guidance as necessary to camp counsellors. Odd surprize, but I suspect that most good things that we plan for, bring with them some elements of surprize ... some presence of the Holy Spirit. (We have been hearing from the staff and director of the camp, that the presence of our group, messy and a bit tense as it has been, and the presentations of Gopar and Sani (a wise muslim man), and the interviews we do with the other international guests each night ... has had a completely positive impact on the campers. They are more attentive. They are more respectful. There is less violence. One counselor, when we asked yesterday if this was working, said, without hesitation ..."this is great. We have to do this again". These are young adults, with full workloads dealing with often unruly campers, now working with the surprizing presence of young adults whose first language is not English, from 5 different countries ... and after 4 days, they are saying... "we have to do this again". Whatever peace work is ... I think this is at least a small part of it. )
Gopar and Sani did the morning chapel again, this time with the theme of "valleys and views". In all our situations and countries, we approach valleys with perhaps some trepidation and maybe fear. But around those situations there is always a possibility of a changed view, a different perspective that begins, in that moment, to heal and rehabilitate relationships. Gopar told the story of Amina, the Muslim woman who, in Jos, Nigeria, lost her brother and her uncle and her home to the mobbing Christians in 2001. She organized a group of fundamentalists, to fight back. They trained to kill. But somehow she ended up in a workshop that Gopar was implementing. She hid her gun inside the folds of her skirt assuming that Gopar, a Christian, would mess up and offend her or the Muslims in general, and then she would shoot him. He didn't, and to her credit, she gave up the gun, went home, and began a second group ... of Muslims working for peace. She was accused of being bribed by the Christians, and her life was not easy after that. A sudden surprize, a new view, and a whole world is a little bit changed.
This evening, we heard the stories of Alejandra, a social worker from Colombia, who works at peace education with children, ages 5 to 17. A little boy, she said, recently had his bike stolen. He and his friends decided quickly to find the other boy who did this, and then to kill him. But a little girl, whom Alejandra works with, intervened and told him that the boy who took the bike is worth more than the bike, and it stopped what might have been a tragic story, from happening.
Daniel, also from Colombia, told the larger group at campfire this evening, a litttle of his life. At 10 years of age, he already was conscious of the daily and horrible violence in Colombia. Violence which he saw routinely. And he decided that his life was going to be devoted to finding ways to make peace. He is now about 23 or 24 He talked about a group of volunteers who, in a town, not far from Bogota, decided to honor women on mothers day. They walked around to all the grocery stores and asked for eggs, and vegetables, and anything else needed to make a good soup. And the paramilitary and the soldiers threatened to interfere. They invited them to come and help them make the soup, but they had to leave their guns aside to do this. Some did, and in the end, they fed over 400 people, made flowers for a over 200 women ... and with this some of the fear has subsided. Not all the soldiers nor paramilitary personnel turned in their guns. But some did.
Sharon, one of two Israelis, performed at the Wed pm folk festival yesterday, at camp. She did two rap numbers. That is what she thrives on. She is a peace activist in Israel, who worries and frets about the injustice that is run over the Palestinians. When we asked what had been difficult yesterday, she said that she has a hard time being at camp, where little that is really tragic, happens. Her life is surrounded by death, by destruction, as, relentlessly, the Israeli army and leadership continues to demolish Palestinian villages, homes, trees. It has not stopped since 1948. She says that is why her rap songs are "rage songs", sung in Hebrew. She is very talented, and her songs are entirely improvised.
All for now. This morning, Thursday, Kim, Kari and I met with Gopar and Sani, to review our plans for the FCJ Center event, which begins Sunday evening here in Calgary, when 20 young adults from SK and AB and MB will join our 12 guests, under leadership of Gopar and Sani ... for 3.5 days of discussion and, "being in the same room" together.
-Abe Janzen
Wednesday August 25th - Camp Midweek
There are 40 Alberta campers and 12 people from various countries ... Uganda, Colombia, Nigeria, Palestine, Israel, Dominican Republic, Jordan. And some campers that were not born in Alberta but in Brazil, and some in Liberia. Amazingly, they are all finding ways to talk, to do activities, like crafts, climbing walls, sing, eat, canoe, swim ... together. As one of the guests said the end of day 1, this is a microcosm of the world, in a very small place an hour north of Calgary.
Camp Valaqua is running its normal, last-week-of-summer camp for high school teens. Forty or so. And MCC has brought in 12 guests from the various countries, as named. Ten with Planting Peace, and 2, who are early arrivals with IVEP. We arrived at Camp Valaqua, all 12 of them and some MCCA staff, on Sunday at 4 pm. None of us really knew each other. All 10, pretty much selected by Country reps of MCC. All, except one, working with MCC Partners. All, in one way or another, Peace workers, peace activists. Passionate, creative people. A journalist from Palestine. A young woman working with young adults who have survived the Lord's Resistance Army in Uganda, having been abducted as children. Rosemary is a gifted, articulate, pastoral person who helps these young adults by teaching and encouraging them to become useful to themselves, making things as ordinary at cupcakes. Aylam, of Israel, has witnessed the repeated demolition of Bedouin Villages by the Israeli Army who come with bulldozers and SWAT Teams, by the hundreds, to demolish a village, "in seconds". He and others, not wanting violence, are left to watch, as this happens, though they protest, advocate, do what they can to stop this. And then they help the Bedouins rebuild that village, reerecting their tents and other makeshift homes. And then, the Israelis come again, and demolish it again. Diana, from Uganda, works as a volunteer with Living With Shalom, where, she says, the young adults, in a peace learning process that lasts for weeks, each year, begin to live and think, she says, at another level, as they learn, simply, to acknowledge the rightful existence of other tribes, other people groups, and to find ways to "be together", live together, work together. These stories, both informally and more formally are being presented to Alberta's teenagers and young adults. What is fascinating is that this group of visitors, in the middle of working with our Albertans, have bonded, including Diego, the translator for Alejandra, from Colombia, who speaks little English. Aylam, yesterday, said that "I have a human thirst; I know I could spend years with each of you, every one of you", and that, he said, is unusual for him. He, as most of us, enter a group situation and may seek out 2 or 3 people. In this case, he said, it has become the entire group.
Camp has its normal routine. But that routine of meals, sleep, activities and teaching sessions now includes a multicultural learning aspect. Today, when Kim and I met with the counselor and administrative staff, they said this is a hugely good opportunity for them, as staff and campers to learn, to be stretched, by this presence of this group of strangers from all over the world, who are passionate, who represent conflicts and pain that is immense, and who have come here, to this Camp Valaqua, to get to know the 40 Alberta Campers, to live, eat, play, interact with them. Gopar from the Nigerian Christian Community, and Sani, from the Muslim Community prepare and present the morning chapel with help from the rest of us in skits, organization, theme planning. All about our need to work together, to be together. Yesterday, Gopar told the story of a man, among many, carrying his cross through life, then having it cut shorter, to be lighter, apparently because he asked God for permission to do this. Sadly, near the end of the journey, the man was not able to cross an abyss, because he had too little cross left, to lay across it, while those who had carried their fuller burdens, crossed easily. Rosemary then asked why God would have allowed this man to cut short his burden, knowing all the while that this would prevent him reaching his assigned goal. He was "set up", she wondered, by God himself? This was discussed by other comments, until Sani, twice got up and offered his own explanation, based on their work as Muslims together with Christians in Nigeria. Gopar and Sani have written, in fact, a small book called "My Brother's Keeper" which talks about Muslims, hiding Christians as mobbing Muslim groups massacre the Christians. It also talks about Christians, hiding Muslims, as mobbing Christian groups massacre Muslims, a long conflict which began to erupt in 2001 and keeps repeating itself.
At the evening campfire, we interviewed two guests from Israel and two from Uganda, with questions placed so that they would be able to tell small portions of their stories, of the work they do, of the lives of their families. This morning, at the outside, hillside, in-the- forest Chapel, Sani talked about the Muslims and Christians in Nigeria, and finished with a song, asking "Camp Valaqua, what do you want" ... and it's "Peace" in the end, that everyone wants. Peace, at all levels of living. But as he sang it again, with us, he named a young, troubled teenage, 14, whom everyone knows already as a serious trouble making boy, and asked him what he wanted. And then he walked towards the boy, and pulled him onto the stage, and had him sing the song together wtih him. It was a lovely moment of redemption. The boy is quite violent, having survived serious trauma in Liberia, but later in the day, a Counsellor told us that that young teenage seemed to be having an improved and more positive and more participatory approach to things than he had had for some time at camp. While the risk is somewhat real here, of having a Muslim person talking to a large group of Alberta Christian (or not) young people, in the sense that their parents might have some concerns, this, among the campers, is being very, very well received. And among the leaders here too. They are seeing a person as a person, and hearing about how Christians and Muslims can actually solve problems.... working together.
By the way, on Monday, at 12:30, Sani and Gopar will be on CBC Radio, all over Alberta, for 30 Minutes, talking, being interviewed, and taking calls from the public. Very cool.
-Abe Janzen
Camp Valaqua is running its normal, last-week-of-summer camp for high school teens. Forty or so. And MCC has brought in 12 guests from the various countries, as named. Ten with Planting Peace, and 2, who are early arrivals with IVEP. We arrived at Camp Valaqua, all 12 of them and some MCCA staff, on Sunday at 4 pm. None of us really knew each other. All 10, pretty much selected by Country reps of MCC. All, except one, working with MCC Partners. All, in one way or another, Peace workers, peace activists. Passionate, creative people. A journalist from Palestine. A young woman working with young adults who have survived the Lord's Resistance Army in Uganda, having been abducted as children. Rosemary is a gifted, articulate, pastoral person who helps these young adults by teaching and encouraging them to become useful to themselves, making things as ordinary at cupcakes. Aylam, of Israel, has witnessed the repeated demolition of Bedouin Villages by the Israeli Army who come with bulldozers and SWAT Teams, by the hundreds, to demolish a village, "in seconds". He and others, not wanting violence, are left to watch, as this happens, though they protest, advocate, do what they can to stop this. And then they help the Bedouins rebuild that village, reerecting their tents and other makeshift homes. And then, the Israelis come again, and demolish it again. Diana, from Uganda, works as a volunteer with Living With Shalom, where, she says, the young adults, in a peace learning process that lasts for weeks, each year, begin to live and think, she says, at another level, as they learn, simply, to acknowledge the rightful existence of other tribes, other people groups, and to find ways to "be together", live together, work together. These stories, both informally and more formally are being presented to Alberta's teenagers and young adults. What is fascinating is that this group of visitors, in the middle of working with our Albertans, have bonded, including Diego, the translator for Alejandra, from Colombia, who speaks little English. Aylam, yesterday, said that "I have a human thirst; I know I could spend years with each of you, every one of you", and that, he said, is unusual for him. He, as most of us, enter a group situation and may seek out 2 or 3 people. In this case, he said, it has become the entire group.
Camp has its normal routine. But that routine of meals, sleep, activities and teaching sessions now includes a multicultural learning aspect. Today, when Kim and I met with the counselor and administrative staff, they said this is a hugely good opportunity for them, as staff and campers to learn, to be stretched, by this presence of this group of strangers from all over the world, who are passionate, who represent conflicts and pain that is immense, and who have come here, to this Camp Valaqua, to get to know the 40 Alberta Campers, to live, eat, play, interact with them. Gopar from the Nigerian Christian Community, and Sani, from the Muslim Community prepare and present the morning chapel with help from the rest of us in skits, organization, theme planning. All about our need to work together, to be together. Yesterday, Gopar told the story of a man, among many, carrying his cross through life, then having it cut shorter, to be lighter, apparently because he asked God for permission to do this. Sadly, near the end of the journey, the man was not able to cross an abyss, because he had too little cross left, to lay across it, while those who had carried their fuller burdens, crossed easily. Rosemary then asked why God would have allowed this man to cut short his burden, knowing all the while that this would prevent him reaching his assigned goal. He was "set up", she wondered, by God himself? This was discussed by other comments, until Sani, twice got up and offered his own explanation, based on their work as Muslims together with Christians in Nigeria. Gopar and Sani have written, in fact, a small book called "My Brother's Keeper" which talks about Muslims, hiding Christians as mobbing Muslim groups massacre the Christians. It also talks about Christians, hiding Muslims, as mobbing Christian groups massacre Muslims, a long conflict which began to erupt in 2001 and keeps repeating itself.
At the evening campfire, we interviewed two guests from Israel and two from Uganda, with questions placed so that they would be able to tell small portions of their stories, of the work they do, of the lives of their families. This morning, at the outside, hillside, in-the- forest Chapel, Sani talked about the Muslims and Christians in Nigeria, and finished with a song, asking "Camp Valaqua, what do you want" ... and it's "Peace" in the end, that everyone wants. Peace, at all levels of living. But as he sang it again, with us, he named a young, troubled teenage, 14, whom everyone knows already as a serious trouble making boy, and asked him what he wanted. And then he walked towards the boy, and pulled him onto the stage, and had him sing the song together wtih him. It was a lovely moment of redemption. The boy is quite violent, having survived serious trauma in Liberia, but later in the day, a Counsellor told us that that young teenage seemed to be having an improved and more positive and more participatory approach to things than he had had for some time at camp. While the risk is somewhat real here, of having a Muslim person talking to a large group of Alberta Christian (or not) young people, in the sense that their parents might have some concerns, this, among the campers, is being very, very well received. And among the leaders here too. They are seeing a person as a person, and hearing about how Christians and Muslims can actually solve problems.... working together.
By the way, on Monday, at 12:30, Sani and Gopar will be on CBC Radio, all over Alberta, for 30 Minutes, talking, being interviewed, and taking calls from the public. Very cool.
-Abe Janzen
Monday, August 23, 2010
Planting Peace Profile: Aylam Bar-Shalom
Out of interest, I googled Aylam Bar-Shalom (one of the Israeli Planting Peace participants) and found this article he wrote about witnessing the demolition of El Arakib, a Palestinian village. Devastating stuff. Quite a courageous young man.
Kim
By Aylam Bar-Shalom, submitted by Anonymous on רביעי, 28/07/2010 - 09:53
Yesterday I witnessed an entire village being demolished by the Israeli police force and Kakal.
It was four o'clock this morning. A few members of the Negev Co-existence forum, me included met in Be'er Sheva and rode off to El-Arakib, a Bedouin village just north of the city, fearing we were already too late. We rode off the main road to the rocky track that leads to the entrance of the desert village. We were temporarily pleased to find, that the huge expected police forces which were sighted in the nearby junctions were not there, yet.
We reached the village and parked the car near the cemetery, where we were told there would be less of a chance it would be towed away. In the village itself we met weary men in a state of restrained panic. Several tens of young boys came down to help during the next dreadful hours. Some twenty left wing activist, shook themselves awake from the blankets and mats that were laid down for them earlier at midnight when they arrived from Jerusalem and Tel-Aviv.
For a little while it wasn't clear what we were needed to do. Some men that we spoke with told us there was no plan made, no strategy, and that as far as they're concerned, every person or group should do what they think is right. At some point, however, one of the men had us gather round in a group and asked us to split up in to pairs and small groups and go sit in the different houses, holding on to the foundations when the cops arrive. Our Be'er Sheva team coincidently was asked to remain in the main Shig (a tent where the men gather and meet), which was to be the last of the evicted structures.
Around the tent, there were young planted olive trees and I think what was going to grow in to a fig tree. I went over to look at the trees, so timid and pretty in the cold desert air of dawn, unaware of the injustice they were about to be done. I touched the fig tree lightly and hoped, it would to survive this morning.
I went back inside the Shig and one of my companions suggested we prepare ourselves for a non-violent protest. We held our hands and feet tied together and decided how to respond if one of us is in pain and needs to be released of our grip. We then chatted in the strained relaxation, while the sun began painting the sky a lighter shade of blue, and showing its first rays. Many times did one of us go over to the entrance to see what was happening outside. Meanwhile, as was expected, police vans by the hundreds, Kakal Jeeps, buses filled with armed units, Bulldozers, Trailers and other vehicles came streaming to the entrance of the Village. A seemingly endless convoy of government law enforcers.
Hundreds of Cops and Yasam (special squat units used frequently to dispose of demonstrations), some of them riding horses, at standby, awaiting their orders. Quite swiftly the order to start evicting was given and the Yasam teams spread out through the small village like a black wave of uniformed robots, carrying hard rubber clubs and fortified plastic shields, they looked like they were prepared for a war zone. Swiftly they entered each of the tents and tin buildings, pulling out people of all ages with force. Screams could be heard from all over while we awaited in the main Shig for our turn to be washed out by the tide of black violence, like an angry wave may throw you back on the shore at storm, or carry you back with it.
There soon came the point when we were the last activist to remain holding on to a building. All the rest of them and a great number of the village men and boys were gathered together, against there will, trying to yell reason at the black still wall of cops that towered over them on the little hill. I came out for a moment, for it seemed rather ridiculous to remain inside the tent while all the other people seemed to be facing the cops outside. I asked one of the activist if she thinks there is any point of us staying in the tent and she said there is no point. That the rest of the village was already cleared out. That they are just too many. In the confusion of the moment, with a squat team rushing in the tent suddenly, we left without protest. It was a frustrating decision and hours later I went around with a feeling of worthlessness. In truth, what difference would it make if we'd put up a fight and would have been pulled out a few minutes later, like some others? But I still felt lousy for missing the only real opportunity to resist the terrible injustice that has been done to the villagers of El-Arakib.
About twenty impatient, violent Yasam cops pushed the last of the activist, down a steep gravel slide at the fringes of the village about to be destroyed. One of the activist tripped over a rusty metal container and cut his cheek. The Yasam pushed him on, regardless of his state. Another activist shouted at them that they have no right to be so violent and careless, to no avail. The class of black fish swam on with the current, riding over us.
The eviction was over, the Yasam units retreated and were replaced immediately by a circle of cops in blue. The diligent ushers of the El-Arakib horror show, stood like proud sentinels, securing the stage from the angry crowd's attempts to get back on it. Like a dark age ritual, the fruits of the poor villagers sweat, were to be sacrificed to the gods of politics, and squashed under cold metal shoes.
Now, there seemed nothing left for us to do, but watch. So we watched, helpless as homes, public tents, trees, animal shelters and so on, were crushed to dust and gravel under the bulldozers steel palms, heroes of the second act in this tragedy. I watched the young olive and fig trees fall, my wish no match for such indifferent cruelty. The whole show lasted about two hours. Expert's efficiency.
There was a terrible rumor, that later on was found to be true, that several farm animals (mostly chickens), which remained in the deconstruction site were crushed under the falling buildings. Others, chickens and geese, could be seen wondering around, too close to the bulldozers, searching for shelter and peace between the piles of wreckage. A goat, who seemed to have harmed her leg, was limping inside her broken mess of a pen.
One of my friends and I turned to a few of the guard cops, asking them permission to go up to the village and try to lead the miserable animals to safety. One said, we can't go in. Another suggested we talk to the commander. He didn't seem to know where his commander was, though. A third cop told us they had been ordered to scare all the animals away from the tents before destroying them, an order they obviously took half seriously.
The situation was so frustrating, but I couldn't think of anything more I could do. My hands were already numb from despair.
Calls of rage and anger from the Bedouin Villagers, uprooted from their rightful land, attracted the a Yasam unit to surround a large group of them. For several minutes it seemed as if they were all going to be arrested or detained, but finally they were left be. Waste of energy, they must have thought, their entire village was already being destroyed and left in rubble, a severe enough punishment for these Bedouin scum. I noticed an activist yelling at a cop who had apparently cursed her, insisting that he shows her his officer badge and give her his full name. By Israeli law, cops in duty are obligated to show their badges to civilians wishing to report them later. But now the demolishing warrants were done with, law finished his duty early and left home to have a coffee and a bagel.
A few minuted later the show was over. The little village, seemed now to be made out of shattered bowls of stew. The blue and black units retreated to their air conditioned vehicles, to their steady houses.vThe young broken trees kissed the earth, too close to her, bowing towards their shamed masters, begging for forgiveness. The scattered geese and chickens continued walking around, in a desperate attempt to find water and shelter from the blazing sun. The people of El-Arakib returned to their village. What was left for them was like a thousand piece puzzle, broken apart again, most of the pieces torn.
A few more news reporters and a TV van arrived to document the aftermath. Children and mothers siting in the little shade provided by a folded house, with no doors, no windows, no privacy. Tired, strained men walking here and there, trying to figure out how where to begin again, to start repairing their lives, with no time to bandage their broken hearts. Groups of young boys, that so far held themselves back from casting stones upon their enemy, left with the stones and unsatisfied anger, but with no one to target the stones their guilt at.
One of the young photographers, that visits the village regularly, said to me that up to now, whenever the state came and destroyed a single house or two, it wasn't so bad. Hard times make good neighbors, and a family whose house was destroyed will be taken in by another and helped out to rebuild their tent. But how will a family, whose house was destroyed, manage when all the neighbors houses were wreaked too? What choice to they have?
Sheich Sayach, the head of the village seemed ever more desperate. Half an hour ago he ran to take his tractor and came back to try and save a large generator which powered the village. I could see him and a bunch of men securing the generator to a chain and to the tractors spoon but the little tractor could not stand the weight and almost fell over. The generator was left on the gravel, a short distance away from its post, left for the state to claim it instead. They had much bigger towing machines.
About an hour after the destruction, breakfast arrived. A few boxes of dusty tomatoes, cucumbers, pita bread and closed plastic cups of white cheese, that someone must have picked up in Be'er Sheva had been laid out on the bare soil. Me and about two other activist who still remained on the site to see if any aid will be needed from us, were welcomed to share the food. I had not much of an appetite but convinced myself to swallow down a few vegetables. In the end, I left with the person who gave me a lift there earlier that morning, before the disaster. I fell asleep in the air conditioned car, aware of the privilege of being out of the sun and on my way back to my safe home in Be'er Sheva, leaving behind a broken stage, with broken actors in a scene they did not dream they would have to act in.
For information on how to help write to mail@dukium.org
Kim
By Aylam Bar-Shalom, submitted by Anonymous on רביעי, 28/07/2010 - 09:53
Yesterday I witnessed an entire village being demolished by the Israeli police force and Kakal.
It was four o'clock this morning. A few members of the Negev Co-existence forum, me included met in Be'er Sheva and rode off to El-Arakib, a Bedouin village just north of the city, fearing we were already too late. We rode off the main road to the rocky track that leads to the entrance of the desert village. We were temporarily pleased to find, that the huge expected police forces which were sighted in the nearby junctions were not there, yet.
We reached the village and parked the car near the cemetery, where we were told there would be less of a chance it would be towed away. In the village itself we met weary men in a state of restrained panic. Several tens of young boys came down to help during the next dreadful hours. Some twenty left wing activist, shook themselves awake from the blankets and mats that were laid down for them earlier at midnight when they arrived from Jerusalem and Tel-Aviv.
For a little while it wasn't clear what we were needed to do. Some men that we spoke with told us there was no plan made, no strategy, and that as far as they're concerned, every person or group should do what they think is right. At some point, however, one of the men had us gather round in a group and asked us to split up in to pairs and small groups and go sit in the different houses, holding on to the foundations when the cops arrive. Our Be'er Sheva team coincidently was asked to remain in the main Shig (a tent where the men gather and meet), which was to be the last of the evicted structures.
Around the tent, there were young planted olive trees and I think what was going to grow in to a fig tree. I went over to look at the trees, so timid and pretty in the cold desert air of dawn, unaware of the injustice they were about to be done. I touched the fig tree lightly and hoped, it would to survive this morning.
I went back inside the Shig and one of my companions suggested we prepare ourselves for a non-violent protest. We held our hands and feet tied together and decided how to respond if one of us is in pain and needs to be released of our grip. We then chatted in the strained relaxation, while the sun began painting the sky a lighter shade of blue, and showing its first rays. Many times did one of us go over to the entrance to see what was happening outside. Meanwhile, as was expected, police vans by the hundreds, Kakal Jeeps, buses filled with armed units, Bulldozers, Trailers and other vehicles came streaming to the entrance of the Village. A seemingly endless convoy of government law enforcers.
Hundreds of Cops and Yasam (special squat units used frequently to dispose of demonstrations), some of them riding horses, at standby, awaiting their orders. Quite swiftly the order to start evicting was given and the Yasam teams spread out through the small village like a black wave of uniformed robots, carrying hard rubber clubs and fortified plastic shields, they looked like they were prepared for a war zone. Swiftly they entered each of the tents and tin buildings, pulling out people of all ages with force. Screams could be heard from all over while we awaited in the main Shig for our turn to be washed out by the tide of black violence, like an angry wave may throw you back on the shore at storm, or carry you back with it.
There soon came the point when we were the last activist to remain holding on to a building. All the rest of them and a great number of the village men and boys were gathered together, against there will, trying to yell reason at the black still wall of cops that towered over them on the little hill. I came out for a moment, for it seemed rather ridiculous to remain inside the tent while all the other people seemed to be facing the cops outside. I asked one of the activist if she thinks there is any point of us staying in the tent and she said there is no point. That the rest of the village was already cleared out. That they are just too many. In the confusion of the moment, with a squat team rushing in the tent suddenly, we left without protest. It was a frustrating decision and hours later I went around with a feeling of worthlessness. In truth, what difference would it make if we'd put up a fight and would have been pulled out a few minutes later, like some others? But I still felt lousy for missing the only real opportunity to resist the terrible injustice that has been done to the villagers of El-Arakib.
About twenty impatient, violent Yasam cops pushed the last of the activist, down a steep gravel slide at the fringes of the village about to be destroyed. One of the activist tripped over a rusty metal container and cut his cheek. The Yasam pushed him on, regardless of his state. Another activist shouted at them that they have no right to be so violent and careless, to no avail. The class of black fish swam on with the current, riding over us.
The eviction was over, the Yasam units retreated and were replaced immediately by a circle of cops in blue. The diligent ushers of the El-Arakib horror show, stood like proud sentinels, securing the stage from the angry crowd's attempts to get back on it. Like a dark age ritual, the fruits of the poor villagers sweat, were to be sacrificed to the gods of politics, and squashed under cold metal shoes.
Now, there seemed nothing left for us to do, but watch. So we watched, helpless as homes, public tents, trees, animal shelters and so on, were crushed to dust and gravel under the bulldozers steel palms, heroes of the second act in this tragedy. I watched the young olive and fig trees fall, my wish no match for such indifferent cruelty. The whole show lasted about two hours. Expert's efficiency.
There was a terrible rumor, that later on was found to be true, that several farm animals (mostly chickens), which remained in the deconstruction site were crushed under the falling buildings. Others, chickens and geese, could be seen wondering around, too close to the bulldozers, searching for shelter and peace between the piles of wreckage. A goat, who seemed to have harmed her leg, was limping inside her broken mess of a pen.
One of my friends and I turned to a few of the guard cops, asking them permission to go up to the village and try to lead the miserable animals to safety. One said, we can't go in. Another suggested we talk to the commander. He didn't seem to know where his commander was, though. A third cop told us they had been ordered to scare all the animals away from the tents before destroying them, an order they obviously took half seriously.
The situation was so frustrating, but I couldn't think of anything more I could do. My hands were already numb from despair.
Calls of rage and anger from the Bedouin Villagers, uprooted from their rightful land, attracted the a Yasam unit to surround a large group of them. For several minutes it seemed as if they were all going to be arrested or detained, but finally they were left be. Waste of energy, they must have thought, their entire village was already being destroyed and left in rubble, a severe enough punishment for these Bedouin scum. I noticed an activist yelling at a cop who had apparently cursed her, insisting that he shows her his officer badge and give her his full name. By Israeli law, cops in duty are obligated to show their badges to civilians wishing to report them later. But now the demolishing warrants were done with, law finished his duty early and left home to have a coffee and a bagel.
A few minuted later the show was over. The little village, seemed now to be made out of shattered bowls of stew. The blue and black units retreated to their air conditioned vehicles, to their steady houses.vThe young broken trees kissed the earth, too close to her, bowing towards their shamed masters, begging for forgiveness. The scattered geese and chickens continued walking around, in a desperate attempt to find water and shelter from the blazing sun. The people of El-Arakib returned to their village. What was left for them was like a thousand piece puzzle, broken apart again, most of the pieces torn.
A few more news reporters and a TV van arrived to document the aftermath. Children and mothers siting in the little shade provided by a folded house, with no doors, no windows, no privacy. Tired, strained men walking here and there, trying to figure out how where to begin again, to start repairing their lives, with no time to bandage their broken hearts. Groups of young boys, that so far held themselves back from casting stones upon their enemy, left with the stones and unsatisfied anger, but with no one to target the stones their guilt at.
One of the young photographers, that visits the village regularly, said to me that up to now, whenever the state came and destroyed a single house or two, it wasn't so bad. Hard times make good neighbors, and a family whose house was destroyed will be taken in by another and helped out to rebuild their tent. But how will a family, whose house was destroyed, manage when all the neighbors houses were wreaked too? What choice to they have?
Sheich Sayach, the head of the village seemed ever more desperate. Half an hour ago he ran to take his tractor and came back to try and save a large generator which powered the village. I could see him and a bunch of men securing the generator to a chain and to the tractors spoon but the little tractor could not stand the weight and almost fell over. The generator was left on the gravel, a short distance away from its post, left for the state to claim it instead. They had much bigger towing machines.
About an hour after the destruction, breakfast arrived. A few boxes of dusty tomatoes, cucumbers, pita bread and closed plastic cups of white cheese, that someone must have picked up in Be'er Sheva had been laid out on the bare soil. Me and about two other activist who still remained on the site to see if any aid will be needed from us, were welcomed to share the food. I had not much of an appetite but convinced myself to swallow down a few vegetables. In the end, I left with the person who gave me a lift there earlier that morning, before the disaster. I fell asleep in the air conditioned car, aware of the privilege of being out of the sun and on my way back to my safe home in Be'er Sheva, leaving behind a broken stage, with broken actors in a scene they did not dream they would have to act in.
For information on how to help write to mail@dukium.org
Planting Peace Begins - Saturday August 21
Hello folks... I don't know how to start a blog, but I know how to send an email. (See the MCC Alberta Facebook for Michaels daily update on Planting Peace.) I am sending this because of the set of 3 events, called Planting Peace, How do we stop Killing Each Other? that began to happen yesterday in Alberta. As the next days evolve, you may see some more of these emails from us. The reason is to be consistent with the events themselves, which have one purpose ... to bring people together from some countries and from some provinces, to talk with each other about many things, and about how we can become, all of us, better equipped as practical peace makers. I hope that by sending an email to you folks, this bringing people together, even inside of MCC, , is broadened. MCC people support and build amazing Peace work, all over the world. We hope that PP in Alberta contributes to that broad and creative and God-given work.
I am attaching an article that Kim pulled off the internet last night, after the day at the airport, written by one of our guests, a young Israeli man named Aylam, who is a peace maker activist in that on-going tragedy between two peoples and two (sort of) countries in the Middle East. (See below) Every guest who is here, brings some conflict and some life and energy to Alberta this next two weeks. Ryan Hauck and two other Albertans recently traveled to Jordan to attend a Peace Seminar with many other young adults. Ryan made a comment that interested me. He said that it appeared that one of the main reasons they were brought together to this MCC-Sponsored Seminar was to "be together". To get to know each other as people. Too simple maybe for some, but is there any other way that the people of the world will stop needlessly killing each other than to find ordinary and extraordinary ways to be together? Our hope in Alberta is that the young adults, ( some from Alberta that are not so young anymore), will find ways to be together, to plan together, to talk about each others' conflict areas, to find the good in each other and in that way, to be able to return to each of their home communities, better equipped and more encouraged to think and act as if Peace Making is in fact a really urgent way of living that applies to Mennonites, and Presbyterians ... Christians, Jews, and Muslims and to every human being that participates in any way in a community, in a family, in a country, in a culture, in a relationship.
Yesterday, they began to arrive. Daniel and Alejandra from Colombia, Rosemary and Dianna from Uganda. Diana had missed her flight early on, and they arrived separately. But after thinking we had lost Rosemary in Brussels or in Montreal, she found us in the airport. We had walked past each other at least 3 or 4 times. (First lesson in any Peace Seminar maybe... figure out how to make contact. But don't go home if it doesn't happen right away. ) Usama from Palestine. Sharon and Aylam from Israel. Nicolas from East Jerusalem. (These three were supposed to be on a 9:40 pm flight, but weren't. Some anxiety there. They arrived one hour later on another flight. Luckily, we were still there, hoping they were somewhere in the airport.) And this morning, we hope that Gopar and Sani (our facilitators) will arrive from Nigeria. At the last minute, yesterday, we had to buy them tickets from Calgary back to Nigeria, because they were not granted visas to the USA after all; without a complete return tickert that they most likely would not have been allowed onto the flight in Nigeria to come here. (Expensive to buy one-way tickets at the last minute. Thank you Bruce for your quick encouragement to move ahead and "just do it".)
During week one, the group will interact with 40 campers and the counsellors and staff from all over Alberta, at Camp Valaqua, an hour north of Calgary. Next weekend, a public event in Calgary, and then we move into the FCJ Center here in Calgary for 3 and a half days where we will be joined about 20 young adults from Alberta and Saskatchewan, plus Daniel and Esther from MB, and some other local Alberta people including a number of MCC Alberta Peace Team and other staff, and two IVEPers, from Jordan and the Dominican Republic. Thank you, Claire for sending us some SK folks.
As they began to arrive yesterday, amidst the confusion and tension of hoping everyone will arrive, it became more and more obvious that having people who in every case, do not actually know the other person from their own country even, nor anyone else who has come, is going to turn into a challenging and delightful (we hope) learning experience of "being together". The first to arrive were Daniel and Alejandra from Colombia, joining Dina from Jordan and Elimer from the Dominican Republic. These four had lunch with the MCC Alberta staff yesterday. Afterwards, they all went shopping at the Thrift Shop. These strangers to each other, and in a strange land. Daniel and Alejandra were cold. And when Kim and Michael dropped them off at the FCJ Center, where everyone is spending their first two nights, they saw Alejandra and Dina (Alejandra speaks almost no English .... less than 1% she says) already walking down the hallway, arm in arm .. "talking" with each other. Peace in this world and in our communities is possible. It is God's wish. It is our need. It always leads to the possibilities of rebuilding. It always has the participation of the Holy Spirit in his "accidental ways". And it seems to have so much to do with finding ways, and pursuing them, as Dina and Alejandra did in less than two hours, of communicating, and being together.
See the article below. Also, Michael Harms will be updating the MCC Alberta Facebook as daily as he has time to do. Please have a look if you have time.
Thank you, Country Reps from Uganda, Colombia, Nigeria, Jordan, and your Area Directos in Akron, for helping to bring this group of people to Alberta and for wanting to help us carry out this pretty complicated set of Peace Events. Thank you to the Alberta Board for supporting and encouraging this kind of work. Thank you to our Peace Team Staff for putting in the endless hours of coordinating and leading to get to now, the starting point. Well, it started yesterday, and in many ways, long before that, when we learned about "Living With Shalom" that creative and so simple Peace Program in Uganda. Say a prayer for us all. The wheels can come off events like this, or they can become wonderful builders.
(For your information, the MCC Canada Public Engagement Funds from CIDA are paying for this set of events, pretty much. Thank you, Deo, Aaron, and Monica. Not sure yet how we are paying for the two last minute return to Nigeria flights yet.)
I am attaching an article that Kim pulled off the internet last night, after the day at the airport, written by one of our guests, a young Israeli man named Aylam, who is a peace maker activist in that on-going tragedy between two peoples and two (sort of) countries in the Middle East. (See below) Every guest who is here, brings some conflict and some life and energy to Alberta this next two weeks. Ryan Hauck and two other Albertans recently traveled to Jordan to attend a Peace Seminar with many other young adults. Ryan made a comment that interested me. He said that it appeared that one of the main reasons they were brought together to this MCC-Sponsored Seminar was to "be together". To get to know each other as people. Too simple maybe for some, but is there any other way that the people of the world will stop needlessly killing each other than to find ordinary and extraordinary ways to be together? Our hope in Alberta is that the young adults, ( some from Alberta that are not so young anymore), will find ways to be together, to plan together, to talk about each others' conflict areas, to find the good in each other and in that way, to be able to return to each of their home communities, better equipped and more encouraged to think and act as if Peace Making is in fact a really urgent way of living that applies to Mennonites, and Presbyterians ... Christians, Jews, and Muslims and to every human being that participates in any way in a community, in a family, in a country, in a culture, in a relationship.
Yesterday, they began to arrive. Daniel and Alejandra from Colombia, Rosemary and Dianna from Uganda. Diana had missed her flight early on, and they arrived separately. But after thinking we had lost Rosemary in Brussels or in Montreal, she found us in the airport. We had walked past each other at least 3 or 4 times. (First lesson in any Peace Seminar maybe... figure out how to make contact. But don't go home if it doesn't happen right away. ) Usama from Palestine. Sharon and Aylam from Israel. Nicolas from East Jerusalem. (These three were supposed to be on a 9:40 pm flight, but weren't. Some anxiety there. They arrived one hour later on another flight. Luckily, we were still there, hoping they were somewhere in the airport.) And this morning, we hope that Gopar and Sani (our facilitators) will arrive from Nigeria. At the last minute, yesterday, we had to buy them tickets from Calgary back to Nigeria, because they were not granted visas to the USA after all; without a complete return tickert that they most likely would not have been allowed onto the flight in Nigeria to come here. (Expensive to buy one-way tickets at the last minute. Thank you Bruce for your quick encouragement to move ahead and "just do it".)
During week one, the group will interact with 40 campers and the counsellors and staff from all over Alberta, at Camp Valaqua, an hour north of Calgary. Next weekend, a public event in Calgary, and then we move into the FCJ Center here in Calgary for 3 and a half days where we will be joined about 20 young adults from Alberta and Saskatchewan, plus Daniel and Esther from MB, and some other local Alberta people including a number of MCC Alberta Peace Team and other staff, and two IVEPers, from Jordan and the Dominican Republic. Thank you, Claire for sending us some SK folks.
As they began to arrive yesterday, amidst the confusion and tension of hoping everyone will arrive, it became more and more obvious that having people who in every case, do not actually know the other person from their own country even, nor anyone else who has come, is going to turn into a challenging and delightful (we hope) learning experience of "being together". The first to arrive were Daniel and Alejandra from Colombia, joining Dina from Jordan and Elimer from the Dominican Republic. These four had lunch with the MCC Alberta staff yesterday. Afterwards, they all went shopping at the Thrift Shop. These strangers to each other, and in a strange land. Daniel and Alejandra were cold. And when Kim and Michael dropped them off at the FCJ Center, where everyone is spending their first two nights, they saw Alejandra and Dina (Alejandra speaks almost no English .... less than 1% she says) already walking down the hallway, arm in arm .. "talking" with each other. Peace in this world and in our communities is possible. It is God's wish. It is our need. It always leads to the possibilities of rebuilding. It always has the participation of the Holy Spirit in his "accidental ways". And it seems to have so much to do with finding ways, and pursuing them, as Dina and Alejandra did in less than two hours, of communicating, and being together.
See the article below. Also, Michael Harms will be updating the MCC Alberta Facebook as daily as he has time to do. Please have a look if you have time.
Thank you, Country Reps from Uganda, Colombia, Nigeria, Jordan, and your Area Directos in Akron, for helping to bring this group of people to Alberta and for wanting to help us carry out this pretty complicated set of Peace Events. Thank you to the Alberta Board for supporting and encouraging this kind of work. Thank you to our Peace Team Staff for putting in the endless hours of coordinating and leading to get to now, the starting point. Well, it started yesterday, and in many ways, long before that, when we learned about "Living With Shalom" that creative and so simple Peace Program in Uganda. Say a prayer for us all. The wheels can come off events like this, or they can become wonderful builders.
(For your information, the MCC Canada Public Engagement Funds from CIDA are paying for this set of events, pretty much. Thank you, Deo, Aaron, and Monica. Not sure yet how we are paying for the two last minute return to Nigeria flights yet.)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)