MCC Washington Memo

Colombia

The Advocates' Corner highlights current advocacy work by Anabaptist congregations. Please let us know what your congregation is doing, so that we can include it in a future issue.

In April, congregations from across the United States, Canada and Colombia participated in Days of Prayer and Action for Peace in Colombia, an effort to both pray and advocate for an end to the decades-long conflict in Colombia.

The Honorable Gabrielle Giffords
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Rep Giffords,

I am writing to express my gratitude for your recent vote against fast track status for the Colombia Free Trade Agreement. I wanted to express in writing some of my concerns about the free trade agreement, should it be brought back for a vote in the future.

As a member of Shalom Mennonite Fellowship, a local congregation in Tucson, AZ with a sister church in Bogotá, Colombia, I have heard of the difficulties that my Colombian sisters and brothers face. I have heard stories about people being displaced from rural communities to Bogotá and the challenges they confront to make a new living in a place that is not their own, without access to the land on which they worked. Often, people barely survive in urban areas after the trauma of their displacement. Thank you for considering these concerns.

Sincerely,

Jodi Read
Shalom Mennonite Fellowship
Tucson, Arizona

The Honorable Robert Casey
U.S. Senate
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senator Casey:

For the past two days Mennonites all over the U.S. have been responding to cries for help from our brothers and sisters in Colombia by joining “Days of Prayer and Action for Peace in Colombia.” Two months ago I wrote to ask you to oppose the Colombia Free Trade Agreement.

Now, in addition to this, we are urging our legislators to end all military aid to Colombia. Plan Colombia has not succeeded in reducing the availability of cocaine in the U.S. and, because of the armed conflict it promotes, Colombian civilians are dying by the hundreds.

Therefore I urge you to vote against the FTA and to work to end all military aid to Colombia.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Sylvia Horst
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Excerpt from response:

Dear Ms. Horst,

Thank you for taking the time to contact me regarding Colombia.

I believe that the United States must have a balanced foreign policy toward Colombia that respects American values of human rights and the rule of law, eliminates drug cartels and terrorist groups and promotes fair trade practices.

I am also deeply concerned about the United States entering into yet another free trade agreement with a country that has insufficient labor protections. Since 2001, Pennsylvania has lost over 190,000 manufacturing jobs. For the United States to move forward with a free trade deal, Colombia must demonstrate its commitment to tough labor and environmental standards. However, it is unlikely that Colombia will agree to these standards in the near future.

Again, thank you for sharing your thoughts with me.

Sincerely,

Robert P. Casey, Jr.
United States Senator

Native Health Care

Mennonite Church USA has been vocal in its support for the Native American Apology Bill sponsored by Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.). This apology would be the first time the U.S. government has officially apologized for the sins it has committed against the Native Peoples of the Americas.

In February, the apology bill was amended onto an important Native health bill, the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, which passed the Senate (83-10) but has since stalled in the House.

The Peace and Justice Support Network of the Mennonite Church has been especially strong in pushing for the apology’s passage, and they have strongly supported this health legislation. In June, Mennonite Church USA signed onto an interfaith letter to House leaders, urging them to move the legislation forward.

Emmanuel Mennonite Church of Saint Paul, Minnesota has also taken an active role in advocating for the Native Health Bill. The church sent a letter to their Minnesota representatives. An excerpt:

Your dedication to the people of the great state of Minnesota has been exemplary. You have provided a great service to us, and it is my prayer that you continue to do so for many years to come.

Please be so kind as to send a response regarding your decision to support and cosponsor this important resolution. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Please take initiative to ensure that this reauthorization, so long delayed, is passed, and voice your support for moving H.R. 1328 and the Resolution of Apology through the House on a bi-partisan basis.

Torture

During the month of June, the National Religious Campaign Against Torture sponsored a campaign to have congregations across the country display “Torture is Wrong” banners outside their sanctuaries. More than 300 congregations of various denominations in all 50 states participated, including:

1. Hyde Park Mennonite Fellowship (Boise, Idaho)
2. Bethel College Mennonite Church (North Newton, Kan.)
3. Houston Mennonite Church (Houston, Tex.)
4. Community Mennonite Church (Harrisonburg, Va.)
5. Fort Collins Mennonite Fellowship (Fort Collins, Col.)

Many of these congregations also sent letters to their representatives in Washington, urging the U.S. government to oppose torture.

For more information about the banner campaign, or to order a banner for your congregation, please visit www.nrcat.org.