On May 12, we arrived at Al Fakheit School where we were met by “Al Jazeera” journalists filming a documentary about the difficulty that children face in getting to school in Occupied Palestine. They told us about one school near East Jerusalem where children have to pass through a sewer pipe to reach their school. As we were describing similar difficulties faced by children in the South Hebron Hills, and the dangers of living in a live firing zone, the headmaster approached us looking crestfallen.

There we were, sitting around a table under bright green grape leaves and infant grape clusters that protected us from the hot sun.  Unusually, the women outnumbered the men. However, even more unusual was that the first question came from a woman to me. “I am asking you because you are a woman,” she said. “Violence against women happens all over the world. How do you think that we can change that?” 

Ask for God's grace that the church may undo colonial oppression by opposing resource extraction at the expense of First Nations, and by respecting Indian life, lands and waters.  Pray for new Christian Peacemaker Teams delegates to First Nations territories in Canada.

Mainstream media have finally begun to cover drone warfare as a feature of U.S. policy, due in part to Senator Rand Paul’s historic filibuster during the confirmation of CIA director John Brennan in March 2013.  The Upstate New York Coalition to Ground the Drones and End the Wars, however, has organized protests against Hancock National Air Guard Base near Syracuse, to raise awareness about Reaper drones, over the last three years.

Indigenous rights network Defenders of the Land entered into an alliance with Idle No More, anticipating a "Spring of Solidarity" and a "Summer of Sovereignty". Their statement includes a new call for nonviolent direct action to resist the unfettered, unconsented resource extraction affecting both indigenous and settler land users, and urban campaigns to educate, rally, and mobilize support.

An overview of
CPT Iraqi
Kurdistan
activities during
spring 2013.

Holy Spirit, spur willing churches and people of faith to undertake bold, compassionate acts of justice-building, to disrupt corrupt, oppressive systems and to proclaim and enact the healing of the nations. Anoint Christian Peacemaker Teams and Outreach Coordinator Sarah Thompson with evangelical fervor.

Checkpoints and land seizures are hurting chances of making communion.

On Wednesday 24 April, armed security guards from palm oil company Aportes San Isidro fired shots and blew out a tire of the Las Pavas community tractor. The community was transporting building materials to repair homes previously damaged by the palm company. 

After fifteen months of full-time service with CPT's Aboriginal Justice Team, my view of peacemaking is broadening from answering Ron Sider's 1984 challenge, embracing the cross and the Spirit of The Way and standing in front of weapons, to also challenging the church to transform violence and oppression through outreach, education, advocacy and liberating love.