The Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian is hosting a symposium this Thanksgiving season to address official apology attempts by the U.S. and Canadian governments to Native American/First Nations citizens in both countries. The event, which will take place on November 13 at the museum, is free and open to the public.
The flier is available below:
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Posted by Gabe Schlabach
Ashlinn Sarani writes in Third Way Cafe about the Biblical call to love those who are considered “the other” in our society, including undocumented immigrants:
This hesitation and refusal to engage with the “other” is evident throughout the United States and is reflected in national policies. The US receives approximately 650,000 documented and 500,000 undocumented immigrants each year, for reasons such as asylum, reuniting with family members, and employment. Often we regard immigrants as outsiders instead of welcoming them as neighbors, which is reflected in our national immigration policies and practices. The visa process is expensive and confusing; conversations about immigration are now consistently tied to the threat that terrorists could be coming into the US. And nothing says “welcome to our country” like immigrant detention centers or a 2,000-mile wall.
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Posted by Gabe Schlabach
The Washington Office’s annual high school essay contest is now open. Mennonite, Brethren in Christ and other Anabaptist high school students, as well as any students who attend Mennonite high schools, are welcome to submit essays.
An MCC News Service article about the contest is available.
Further information, including eligibility details, essay prompts and suggested resources, is available at the MCC Washington Office webpage.
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Posted by Gabe Schlabach
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) protection officers
Gabe Schlabach writes in the latest issue of the PeaceSigns E-Zine about the wave of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids occurring around the country following the collapse of comprehensive immigration reform (CIR) legislation:
Many immigrants live in constant fear of detention, deportation and separation from their loved ones. Churches and communities are struggling to respond to the destructive effects of immigration raids across the country. But unlike the recent spate of hurricanes that has taken lives, destroyed property, and displaced thousands, this humanitarian disaster is not only exacerbated but caused by failed public policy. Read the rest of this entry »
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Posted by Gabe Schlabach
MCC Executive Director Arli Klassen provides opening remarks at the international religious dialogue with President Ahmadinejad in NYC.
Rachelle Lyndaker Schlabach writes in Third Way Cafe about U.S.-Iranian tensions and Mennonite Central Committee’s decision to participate in the international religious dialogue meeting with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in New York City last month:
MCC does not often set up meetings with heads of state, but the meeting with Ahmadinejad grew out of 18 years of work in Iran. Most of MCC’s work with Iran is focused on helping to foster greater understanding between the peoples of our countries.
Many have called MCC’s dialogue with Ahmadinejad naïve, and I suspect many also think we are naïve for calling on the U.S. to engage diplomatically with Iran.
Frequently lost in the discussion is the fact that talking with others does not mean that you agree with them. In fact, talks are most necessary when there are disagreements. Moreover, such discussions have the potential to reveal areas of common interest, such as stability in Afghanistan.
Jesus was willing to take the first step of going onto the other’s “turf”—into Samaritan territory. He did not shy away from the hard issues (such as how many husbands she had), but he listened to her perspective and engaged her in a conversation. Finally, the end of the story (vv. 39-42) reveals that this one conversation opened the door for subsequent conversations.
MCC will continue to seek to cultivate relationships between people in the United States and Iran. But even as we do this, we must also point to the need for government officials from both countries to sit down together and discuss the hard issues. Rather than worrying about being seen as caving in, the U.S. should start to build bridges instead.
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Posted by Gabe Schlabach
Over the past number of years India and China have entered on to the world stage as major economic powers. Proponents of globalization and the free market economy hold up these two countries as examples of great success. Indeed, both India and China have seen unprecedented economic growth. In June, economic figures showed that “India is now a $1 trillion economy, valued at market exchange rates.”[i] This was big news for India.
However, the realities for millions of people in India paint a different picture. Trickle down economics was a failure for the poor. The economic boom while benefiting a few was a disaster for millions. Jayati Ghosh a leading Indian economist puts it this way, “The economic boom drew rapaciously and fecklessly on natural resources. It was also deeply unequal. Contrary to general perception, most people in the developing world did not gain from that boom.”[ii]
In her most recent column for BBC News Ms. Ghosh wrote:
India is seen as a big success story of globalisation, but only a minority of Indians benefitted materially from the high growth.
Formal sector employment stagnated, real wages for most workers actually fell, nearly 200,000 farmers committed suicide in the period of 1995-2006 alone, and there was an increase in the millions of hungry people and malnourished children.
Leave a Comment » | Asia, Global Economic Justice | Tagged: economic boom, financial crisis, globalization, india | Permalink
Posted by Theo Sitther
Between 1998-2004, approximately four million died due to conflict in Congo. Thousands of women have been raped in this country – the worst sexual violence in the world, acoording to UN officials. For years, shame and stigma prevented rape victims from speaking out and demanding justice. According to a recent New York Times article, now “the silence is being broken” thanks to the efforts of international organizations and the Congolese government.
Here is an excerpt:
Many of these rapes have been marked by a level of brutality that is shocking even by the twisted standards of a place riven by civil war and haunted by warlords and drug-crazed child soldiers.
After years of denial and shame, the silence is being broken. Because of stepped-up efforts in the past nine months by international organizations and the Congolese government, rapists are no longer able to count on a culture of impunity. Of course, countless men still get away with assaulting women. But more and more are getting caught, prosecuted and put behind bars.
To receive e-mail updates about Congo or other African countries sign up for our Africa Action Alert at the MCC Washington website.
Leave a Comment » | Africa, News Stories | Tagged: Congo | Permalink
Posted by Mary Stata
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