[WSF-Discuss] Fwd: JPD Commission at the World Social Forum, Brazil
CACIM
cacim at cacim.net
Wed Feb 18 05:29:16 UCT 2009
Begin forwarded message:
> From: jpd Commission <jpdcommission1 at gmail.com>
> Date: February 17 2009 5:39:10 PM GMT+05:30
> To: jpdcommission at gmail.com
> Subject: JPD Commission at the World Social Forum, Brazil
>
>
>
> CONTRIBUTIONS OF JPD COMMISSION AT THE
> WORLD SOCIAL FORUM – 2009
> (27 January – 1 February, 2009 Belem, Brazil)
>
>
> The World Social Forum (WSF) is an open space – plural, diverse,
> non-governmental and non-partisan – that stimulates decentralized
> debate, reflection, proposals, sharing of experiences and building
> of alliances among movements and organizations engaged in concrete
> actions towards a more solidary, democratic and fair world. The WSF
> is in a way an opportunity for people from diverse cultures and
> different nationalities to dream together of a new world and a new
> society. It is with this realization that the Justice, Peace and
> Development Commission (JPDC) of the Catholic Bishops' Conference
> of India chose to be part of the WSF – seeing in it an
> opportunity for learning as well as educating. In fact, JPDC has
> had an active engagement with WSF since 2004 when the WSF took
> place in Mumbai, India.
>
> JPDC at the WSF-09
>
> This time round, JPDC became part of SAPI (South Asian Peoples'
> Initiative) – a platform shared by more than 100 faith-based and
> secular organizations in India, Sri Lanka and Nepal. SAPI, animated
> by the Jesuits of South Asia, was floated in 2003 in the context of
> WSF 2004 that took place in Mumbai. The JPDC team consisted of Fr
> Nithiya ofm.cap, Executive Secretary of JPDC, Sr Mariola, National
> Coordinator of JPDC Campaign for Right to Food (RTF), and Mr Antony
> Arulraj who is in charge of the Commission"s advocacy work. The
> JPDC team joined the orientation programme organised by SAPI at the
> Indian Social Institute, New Delhi, on 21 January. This programme
> shed light on the theme of the SAPI workshop at WSF: The Indigenous
> people challenge Developmental Terrorism. With the addition of JPDC
> team, the SAPI team had the strength of 29 members. The SAPI team
> was divided into various sub-groups, each sub-group being assigned
> responsibility for works like workshop management, campaign and
> street theatre cum cultural programme. Each one of the JPDC team
> was part of these sub-groups.
>
> The Pre-Forum
>
> The team arrived in Belem in Brasil on 23 Jan night and on the
> following day, at 5.00 pm participated in the inauguration of the
> three-day Pre-Forum that was presided over b y the Archbishop of
> Belem. The Pre-Forum was organised by the Jesuit Conference of
> Latin American countries. The Pre-Forum, which had the theme
> Religious Faiths and Defense of Life, saw the participation of 200
> activists associated with the Jesuit Social Organisations from all
> over the world. Eminent persons like Ms Marina Silva, a former
> Minister of Brasil, Fr Jose Comblin, a renowned theologian, and
> Dominican Friar Frei Betto who is an advisor to Brasilian President
> Lula shared their reflections on the following topics:
>
> · Religious Faiths, Churches, Social Struggles and Public
> Service;
> · Challenges of the World to the Faith;
> · Faiths, Religions, Cultures, Global Challenges, Peace and
> Reconciliation.
>
> Senator Marina Silva spoke on the meaning of faith in the struggle
> for the protection of environment. She affirmed that social
> movements are faith imperatives and political actions are necessary
> for the implementation of Christian values. She emphasized the
> link between Jesus' commandment "GO" and the social movements.
> Fr.Jose Comblin spoke on the signs of times that are available to
> us immediately: He spoke of the financial crisis as an opportunity
> to bring about radical changes in the society. He highlighted on
> the end of the so called irreversible ideology of privatization and
> neo-liberalistic Globalization. He also spoke of war with Islam
> and the time of the Laity.
>
> Frei Betto, a Dominican brother, writer, political activist and an
> advisor to the President of Brazil on "Zero Hunger Programme". He
> began with a meditation on "Inner Ecology". He pointed out that our
> generation is the last generation of modernity. Now the holistic
> paradigm must guide the humanity. It is not mere study of earth but
> the ways of administering the earth with human beings. So the study
> must be ECOBIONOMY: Caring for the life in the house. One can
> enter the paradigm only when one sees and feels God's presence
> everywhere.
>
> These presentations highlighted the point that faith should enable
> and empower the faithful for an active engagement in struggle for
> justice and in defense of human life. Besides, groups that were
> working with the indigenous people in Latin Amrican countries, in
> Africa and in Asia shared their experiences of their faith in their
> struggles for justice. The SAPI team made a presentation on the
> struggles of the indigenous people in South Asia. The JPDC team
> actively participated in the open discussion that preceded the
> conclusion of the Pre-Forum and made valuable interventions. The
> Pre-Forum was concluded with lunch on 27 Jan. Fr Nithiya was on the
> drafting committee that compiled the joint statement of the Pre-
> Forum. Sr Mariola was a moderator at the group-discusstion on Faith
> and Human Rights.
>
> Participation at WSF
>
> · In the evening of 27 Jan, the team participated in the
> Inaugural March along the streets of Belem –braving heavy downpour
> and displaying banners with slogans on the theme of justice and peace.
>
> · On 28th the JPDC team displayed the same banners in
> prominent places in the venue of the WSF. It is worthy of mention
> here that the slogan No Peace without Human Rights was cited in one
> of the local dailies both in English and Portughese.
>
> · The JPDC team was involved in the supported the SAPI
> programme at the Workshop on 29 Jan on Indigenous Peoples of South
> Asia. Mr Antony, coordinated the SAPI campaign group and drafted an
> urgent appeal for Indigenous people and secured hundreds of
> signatures.
>
> · The team of Fr. Nithiya, Sr. Mariola and Mr. Antony played
> a vital role in presenting the issues of Indegenous people at the
> WSF through their interventions at the sessions.
>
> · The JPD Commission presented cultural programmes on 31st
> Jan thorugh Songs, dance and street theatres. Fr Nithiya directed
> two street plays on the themes on Gender Exploitation and War Vs.
> Peace.
>
> · The JPD team participated in various sessions of the WSF
> on topics concerning Women's Rights, Globalisation, South – South
> Coalition networks, Global Peace Initiatives. They also made
> important interventions.
>
> JPD Team at the General Assemblies
>
> · The various issues of Human Rights, Peace, Indegenous
> people etc were focused into Assemblies on the final day of the
> WSF, 1st Feb. The Commission for Justice, Peace and Development,
> (JPDC) team participated in these Assemblies and also involved in
> the statements and proposals of the Concluding Assembly of the WSF.
>
> · Fr. Nithiya, the Exec. Secretary of JPDC, Spoke at the
> Assembly on Peace and Disarmament and spoke about on the South
> Asian situation. The JPD initiatives on Peace Clubs in Schools and
> University Colleges were taken up as models in creating Peace Culture.
>
> · Sr Mariola, the Coordinator, Right to Food Campaign, JPDC,
> spoke at the Assembly on Gender Justice and made commendable
> interventions. She highlighted on how the Commission takes up the
> Right to Food to reach out to the masses through Campaign.
>
> · Mr Antony, the Social Advocacy Officer, JPDC, spoke at the
> Assembly on Human Rights about the Violence against the Christians
> in Orissa. He was accosted by a Brasilian Bishop Jose Luis Azcona
> who, on behalf of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Brasil,
> promised support for the cause of the afflicted Christians of Orissa.
>
> · As an effort to internationlize the issue of violence
> against Christians in Orissa, the JPDC team widely distributed
> copies of the recent issue of Just Peace, the quarterly Bulletin of
> the Commission, that featured special articles on Orissa.
>
> · Later that day, Fr Nithiya and Sr Mariola were interviewed
> by TV crew from Spain. During the interview, the Commission's works
> such as the peace initiatives especially on Arms Trade Treaty,
> Peace Clubs and social advocacy on the right to food were highlighted.
>
> · The JPDC team seized the opportunity to meet the Religious
> and the members of Justice and Peace Commissions of other countries
> from Europe, South America and Africa in view of future networking.
>
> · On 2 Feb, Fr Nithiya and Sr Mariola attended a special
> meeting organised with the National Justice and Peace Commission of
> Chad and Caritas France for a special discussion on Arms Trade
> Treaty (ATT). Fr. Nithiya who is lobbying at the United Nations on
> ATT explained to his African counter part on the methodology and
> future planning. This has enabled a future global initiative for
> Peace and Disarmament.
>
> Proposals for future:
>
> The JPD team in its review and reflection on the WSF09, made the
> following proposals.
>
> · Keeping in mind the vibrant interest in the Church's
> concern for the poor and the marginalised, the JPDC should initiate
> a National Colloquium on this theme.
>
> · The JPDC should address the Growing Regional and National
> Conflicts through capacity building programme and Peace initiatives
> at local level. Our educational institutions and Basic Chrisitan /
> Neighbourhood Communities should be motivated.
>
> · The Justice and Peace Commissions of the Episcopal
> Conferences should make use of the potentials of WSF and
> internationalise the issues of the Justice and Peace in view of
> international solidarity and action plans.
>
> · In future World Social Forums, there should be wider
> participation of the JPD Commissions in support of the vulnerable
> people. Our Commission should network with the JP Commission of the
> host country for special session.
>
> Conclusion
>
> The JPDC team did its best to raise the human rights issues of
> India at the international arena. The team was inspired by the
> engagements of various groups from different parts of the world in
> promoting justice, human rights and peace. The team also realised
> that Another World is not only possibe but necessary and urgent. It
> is the duty of the JPD Commission to involve more affirmatively in
> this process of social transformation, especially in the light of
> the social teachings of the Chruch. The WSF exposure has
> strengthened the commitment of the JPDC team to the cause of
> justice and peace and to creating a new world and a new society.
>

__________________________
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