by Sylvia Morrison

CPT’s Undoing Racism Coordinator, Sylvia Morrison, delivered the following address at Christian Peacemaker Congress X on 20 September in Denver, Colorado, USA (edited for length).  

Our relationships have been impacted severely by dynamics of power, position, social location, socialization, privilege and oppression.  Therefore, if we are to have right relationships with each other, we need to become aware of our privilege and places of oppression, figure out what our role is, and with God’s grace, address those dynamics.

We talk about “right relationships” because we call ourselves peacemakers.  If we are going to be peacemakers, then we need to begin with ourselves.  We want to make peace in the world?  My world begins here, from my head to my toes and what’s within that.

How do you start to make peace with yourself?  You need to learn about who you are.  Learn your history.  Learn your places of privilege and on whose backs you are standing.  Who is being oppressed as you are benefiting from that privilege?

Aboriginal Justice

Anishinaabekwe Patricia Watts (left) offers a sage smudge to sister water protector Jen Meunier (right) shortly before Ontario police arrested them for blocking the gates at Dump Site 41, which would contaminate a pristine aquifer.  Officials subsequently placed a moratorium on development of the dump.  “I am cognizant,” said Meunier, “that I stand on the shoulders of my ancestors and owe a great responsibility both to them, and to those who will call me their ancestor in years to come...”

CPT’s Aboriginal Justice Team partners with First Nations communities nonviolently asserting treaty rights over land and resources.

Cost: $23,000(USA)/year

Colombia

A farmer displaced from Las Pavas, Bolívar, Colombia, describes the devastation to farm land caused by palm oil companies.  Despite an ongoing claims process which could grant title to the villagers living there, the palm oil companies, supported by international capital, are forcing farmers off their land, uprooting trees and draining wetlands to make room for corporate palm plantations.

CPT’s Colombia Team supports communities in the Magdalena Medio region   nonviolently resisting state and paramilitary violence, forced displacement and corporate incursion.

Cost: $77,000(USA)/year

Iraq

Kurdish Iraqi children displaced by U.S.-supported bombing recall the beauty of their villages through drawings.

CPT’s Iraq Team accompanies displaced Kurdish villagers seeking a return to their lands and livelihoods.

Cost: $98,000(USA)/year

Palestine

In a nonviolent action to end the occupation, Palestinians from al-Khalil (Hebron), supported by Israeli and international peace activists, erected a tent on Palestinian-owned land across from an Israeli settlement outpost slated for evacuation.  Israeli soldiers threw percussion grenades to disperse the group.

CPT’s Palestine Teams support Palestinians in the Hebron District nonviolently resisting Israeli occupation including subsistence farmers and shepherds determined to harvest their crops and graze their flocks in the face of settler harassment; children braving threats on their way to school; communities and families threatened with land confiscation and home demolition.

at-Tuwani (South Hebron Hills) cost: $112,000(USA)/year

al-Khalil (Hebron) cost: $52,000(USA)/year

Eight people graduated from CPT’s first-ever training in Europe, held in London, England; seven participants made 3-year commitments to serve as Reservists (r) and one continues in discernment (d).  From left to right: Christopher Hatton (Hamburg, Germany) - r ; David Moss (California, USA) - r; Andreas Andersson (Malmö, Sweden) - r; Marius van Hoogstraten (Amsterdam, Netherlands) - r; Peter Haresnape (Stirling, Scotland) - r; Linus Bengtsson (Malmö, Sweden) - d; Inger Styrbjörn (Gambleby, Sweden) - r; Robert Philip (Falkirk, Scotland)

A new 10-minute CPT introductory video, created by intern Seung Hwa of Frontiers (South Korea), is now available.

http://www.cpt.org/about/cpt_video

Or contact CPT’s Chicago or Toronto office for your free copy.

Peacemaker Delegations

• Colombia: National (for Colombians) – 12-19 December, 2009; 27 March - 3 April, 2010; International – 12-25 May; 14-27 July; 15-28 September, 2010
• Palestine/Israel: 5-18 January; 6-19 April (Reformed Church); 18-31 May; 20 July - 2 August; 5-18 October; 16-29 November, 2010

Peacemaker Trainings

• Colombia: second half - 5-20 December, 2009; Colombia (place to be announced)
• Summer: July - August, 2010; dates tba; Chicago, Illinois, USA (apply by 1 April)

Steering Committee Meetings

• Spring: 17-20 March, 2010; Toronto, Ontario, Canada
• Fall: 14-16 October, 2010; place tba