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THERE’S A NEW WORLD IN THE MAKING This document arises from the North American consultation on poverty, wealth and ecology sponsored by the World Council of Churches and held in Calgary, Alberta from November 6 to 11, 2011. This consultation that included representatives from Christian confessions in This document borrows from indigenous Cree wisdom presented to us as the “Standing Stones.” There are four primary quadrants represented by the four directions. It begins in the East where we welcome the rising sun, recognize our relationship to the Creator and confess our identity as part of Creation. It progresses to the South where we seek Wisdom from Scripture and from the teachings of our Elders. It then moves to the West where we ask for healing from the hurts we have caused and the hurts that have been done to us. It ends in the North where we give thanks for the many blessings the Creator has provided for us in our lives. These quadrants have been written as a prayer. Following the “Standing Stones” there is a concluding call for vision and action. ************ Confession We confess that the whole of Creation bears the marks of God. God is our Creator; we love God, all of Creation and one another. We see that God wants the world to be a circle where everyone has a place. However, in While we have failed to live out our love, corporations have pursued violent development grabbing air, land and water; drowning islands; desertifying lands; violating human rights; and creating conditions of war. While we have failed to live out our love, international financial institutions like the International Monetary Fund, World Bank and World Trade Organization have enforced finance and trade policies which have indebted nations and forced them to service social and economic debt rather than their people and Earth. In our limitless pursuit of individual and national wealth and power, we are complicit in a market system that exploits natural resources and people within and beyond our borders: · When temporary foreign workers care for our children and grandparents, work on our farms, receive low wages, work long hours, live and work in harsh conditions, are vulnerable to abuse, have their human rights violated, fill other jobs that the common excuse says “no North American would do.” We have left undone those things which we ought to have done; and we have done those things which we ought not to have done. · When companies designate landfills and chemical dumps in the neighbourhoods of poor and marginalized people; · When US and Canadian corporations extract minerals and resources from other countries in order to operate without environmental safeguards or labour codes, do not pay their fair share of taxes and royalties, and use paramilitary forces against protesters and to displace indigenous communities; We have left undone those things which we ought to have done; and we have done those things which we ought not to have done. · When those who have contributed the least to greenhouse gas emissions are the first to suffer the effects of climate change, and we demand that they reduce their greenhouse gas emissions without taking care of our own; · When we have watched the increased reliance on the military to pursue national self-interest, defend corporate interests, and cause forced migration in the rest of the world; We have left undone those things which we ought to have done; and we have done those things which we ought not to have done. For too long, we have said and done too little. We have prioritized profit at the expense of clean air and water, devastated species and ecosystems, devalued people and their cultures, enriched the wealthy few and impoverished the poorest in our society and the global family. These examples demonstrate the ecological debt we owe to the Earth and the ecological indebtedness of the rich to the poor. The cry of the Earth and the poor are one. Wisdom Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city. On either side of the river is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. (Revelation 22:1-2) We are compelled and inspired by this vision of hope with respect to poverty, wealth and ecology, a new vision of Earth and the people who are dependent upon its abundance. The great tree, echoing Genesis description of an idyllic garden, spans the river of the water of life. This image evokes not a singular tree but a vast, verdant forest that provides twelve kinds of fruit. In this way, the tree will bring food for all of God’s people every month of the year. The vision of a redeemed Creation is one of a healthy Earth that will bring healing to the nations. We have heard the wisdom of the worker, the scientist, the ancestor, the great tree, the river of the water of life. We have heard the wisdom of Your whole Creation calling us toward healing. There is a new world in the making. You are working on behalf of Your people and restoring the good Earth You created. This world matters as do people’s concrete struggles within it. It is our reminder to care for each other and all of Creation. You are a God of redemption, not of destruction, and invite us to participate in redemptive acts. Healing Creator, You endowed all of Your Creation with dignity, including human beings, a shining strand in the glimmering web of life. Yet today, Creation is not the way it is supposed to be. We’ve seen the toxic pools, the gouged Earth, the forecasts of increased global average temperatures that will permanently change life on Earth. Climate change is the enveloping reality we live in. We are alarmed by the increased concentration of wealth owned by a few. We know that poverty strips dignity away. We have put our faith in what we have created – idols of gold and silver, luxury and consumer goods, markets and technology - rather than in You, our Creator. Creator, enliven our imaginations to restore Your Creation. Heal our broken lives and communities. Redeemer, save us from our greed, and the structures, policies and laws we’ve established that sustain and protect unearned privilege. We have heard the indictment in the gospel of Luke: “we take what we did not deposit, we reap what we did not sow.” Already, we are taking more than Earth can offer, and returning more waste than Earth can absorb. Save us from a “prosperity” gospel that neglects Your radical gospel of justice and hope for all. Redeemer, grant us the courage to restore Your Creation. Heal our broken lives and communities. Holy Spirit, come quickly. We are poor, we are rich; we are oppressed, we are oppressors. Reconcile us to one another, reconcile us with Earth. May the churches we represent be agents of reconciliation, centres for caring communities and shared sacrifice, models of an ethic of solidarity with future generations and our neighbours. Light us with a passion for justice, peace and solidarity. Holy Spirit, breathe into us the passion to work together, to restore Your Creation. Heal our broken lives and communities. Thanksgiving We give thanks for young people who are inventing new forms of resistance to greed and injustice through forums like the Occupy movement and the “people’s microphone.” We give thanks for the prophets among us who challenge our idolatry of the unregulated Market and who confront us with our addiction to the carbon economy. We give thanks for the elders among us, who help us remember a time when it wasn’t always like this; who call on the community’s invisible heart to counter the Market’s invisible hand; who help us to remember what a moral economy looks like. We give thanks for the witness of those of our ancestors who have taught us our rightful place in Creation and who have spoken truth to power; who understood that Christ is found among those who are hungry, homeless, imprisoned and downtrodden. We give thanks for our ecumenical partners who continue to deepen our common witness based on ecojustice principles of solidarity, sufficiency, sustainability and equity in the economy and Earth. We give thanks for the power of being together, and for all those friends and allies who help us to remember who we are as a justice loving people. ************ Vision & Action Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so that a runner may read it. For there is still a vision (Habbakuk 2: 2-3) We see a time of new beginnings, of Jubilee, when greenhouse gases in the atmosphere no longer threaten life, when the carbon economy has been transformed, and we no longer mortgage our children’s future. We see a time when unsustainable development has been rejected in favour of just, participatory and sustainable communities. We see a time when Earth has begun its regeneration and like God with Noah, we have covenanted with God and Creation to never destroy it again. What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? (James 2:14) We commit ourselves to lives of integrity and justice where we share all God’s resources equitably, reduce our carbon footprint, seek right relationship in our economic transactions and strengthen the campaign for climate justice. We call on churches, interfaith partners and all people of goodwill to work together to achieve this timeless and compelling vision. In order to mobilize appropriate resources and as a first step we call on the World Council of Churches, its member churches, and its sister ecumenical bodies to undertake a decade of action on ecojustice encompassing both ecological and economic justice. We call on our North American churches to take action to transition from carbon-based to renewable energy, to narrow the gap between those of us who are rich and those of us who are poor, to respond to the needs of climate refugees, to hold their pension fund and investment managers accountable for the ethical implications of their investments, and to advocate for policies that will restore ecological balance. We call on businesses and industries to commit to principles of integrity by complying with human rights codes; by shifting investments from carbon-based to renewable energy; and by showing leadership in reducing the gap between the rich and the poor by paying fair wages and paying their fair share of taxes. We call on our governments to govern with integrity by implementing a moratorium on further development of the tar sands; compelling corporations to operate with the highest available environmental and labour standards wherever they do business on the globe; prohibiting excessive interest rates; legislating an international financial transactions tax to begin to make restitution for ecological debt; reallocating budgets from the military and systems of death and destruction to systems that promote the abundance of life; working for a new financial architecture; and ensuring that commercial banking is clearly separated from investment banking (speculative investments and financial transactions). It is the 11th hour. Make haste. The cry of the Earth and the cry of the poor are one.
posted by cbs on Tuesday, November 15, 2011 Update on the Floods in Thailand November 11, 2011 Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, BANGKOK, Nov 10: While the situation in some provinces in central Thailand has gradually returned to normal, in Bangkok the situation is still critical. Five more sub-districts of Bangkok have been tagged for evacuation in the face of the current oncoming flood, this according to City Hall. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) on Thursday (Nov. 10) issued an evacuation advisory for the five sub-districts. There are now 560 communities in 12 districts under 80 cm. of water and over 400,000 Bangkok residents were affected by the flood. Meanwhile, Minister of Public Health Wittaya Buranasiri said that as the flood continues spreading in Bangkok and in the adjacent provinces including Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Nakhon Pathom, Samut Sakhon and Samut Prakan, the ministry advises families with members in eight at-risk categories from flood-affected areas to evacuate without waiting for an advisory from the authorities. Thailand’s consumer confidence index regarding the overall economy in October slumped to 62.8 from 72.2 in September, hitting its lowest level since Nov 2001 due to the ongoing flood crisis as well as the European debt crisis, according to a survey by University of Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC) Economic and Business Forecasting Center. Thailand’s consumer confidence indices on job opportunities and future income in October dropped to 63.7 and 90.9 from 73.0 and 100.3 in September, respectively. To build confidence, regain trust, and restore the country’s prosperity and stability, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on last Tuesday (Nov. 8) announced the “Three Rs (Rescue, Restore and Rebuild) Strategic Measures” for the country’s rehabilitation. "The government has considered the rehabilitation as national agenda in order to move the country forward. The government promises that it will do its utmost to restore confidence and faith in the Kingdom so as to lead the country forward with stability. To this end, we will together overcome the crisis" the premier said. (Source: MCOT online news) CCT Response Bangkok, (Nov. 10): The CCT officers set up the “Relief Committee” for humanitarian assistance and rehabilitation chaired by Elder Chusak Wuttiwaropas, CCT Treasurer. . The CCT Relief Committee members and invited presbyteries’ leaders (from Presbytery 6th, 7th, 11th. 12th), Korean mission partners based in Bangkok (PCK, KGAM and MITC) met at the CCT Building. The meeting summarized the emergency and humanitarian assistance programs that have been done since the severe floods began in the North last October. It was reported that over 20 of CCT’s member church buildings are inundated. The church members have been evacuated. Important decisions were made which are the following:
Member churches around the country continue to donate rice, dry food, vegetable, pumpkins, and whatever in-kinds collected from the villages. While our team of the Office of the CCT-Policy Management (CPM) was in Nakorn Sri Thammarat province at the Sri Thammarat Suksa School, a group of 11 secondary students, aged around 13 years old, called the “B-Boy” also volunteered to raise funds. They performed the “B-Boy” dance at the school’s playground and collected ThB 15,000 (US$500). The money was handed over to the team taking care of CCT’s flood relief program. The teachers and the Sri Thammarat Suksa School also contributed ThB 85,000 for the flood response. We thank ecumenical organizations and churches around the world for their continuing journey with the Thai people in the midst of this crisis. Additionally, we thank the International Committee of the Fellowship of the Least Coins (ICFLC), The United Church of Christ in Japan (UCCJ), the Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea (PROK) for their financial and spiritual support. To support CCT in its efforts to provide relief aid and rehabilitation program to the flooded victims, please make a transfer to the following account: BANK NAME: Siam Commercial Bank, Thanon Phetchaburi Branch (S/A) A/C NAME: The Foundation of the Church of Christ in Thailand A/C NUMBER: 008-2-61457-4 SWIFT CODE: SICOTHBK Contact persons: Elder Chusak Wuttiwaropas, CCT-Relief Committee Chairperson: cwuthi@gmail.com Mr. Uthid Siriapapong, SDSU Director: uthid@hotmail.com Prawate Khid-arn posted by cbs on Sunday, November 13, 2011 Update on the Floods in ThailandNovember 2, 2011 Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, The water is too much, the flood is very strong like the flood in Bangkok that happened in 2485 (1942). BANGKOK, (Oct. 31, 2011): Post-flood rehabilitation could take at least three months with an estimated budget of Bht80 billion, plus loans of over Bht300 billion for flood victims, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said on Monday. For industrial estates, the prime minister said information will be gathered for specialists to consider what form of rehabilitation should be conducted, including draining water from flooded industrial estates and building permanent dykes. Technical specialists will help restore machinery and the Thai government will apply tax exemption measures to help affected industries while the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) will provide loans to Japanese companies investing in Thailand. Moreover, to regain the confidence of foreign investors, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will explain the rehabilitation and long-term management plans, she added. Meanwhile, Kongkrit Hiranyakit, president for policy and planning of the Tourism Council of Thailand, said the current flooding took its toll on both Thai and foreign tourists. In particular the number of local tourists has fallen by 20-30 per cent, or 70,000 a day from 250,000 a day in normal situation. The flooding however has become a boon for major tourist destinations like the seaside resort towns of Hua Hin and Pattaya where local tourists take refuge away from the flood-affected capital. Earlier Monday the prime minister said she was confident that the government will successfully protect inner Bangkok areas from inundation as the water drainage in eastern Bangkok is satisfactory but the situation in western Bangkok remains a cause for concern (Source: MCOT online news). CCT Response The CCT-Social Development and Service Unit (SDSU) extended an appeal letter to member churches, church districts (synods) and individuals to continue their support to the flood victims. Last Monday (Oct. 31), a truck loaded with rice, drinking water, instant noodles, dry food and vegetable was sent to Nakorn Phathom province where over 200 church members as well as other villagers are stranded in the remote areas. Tomorrow, (Nov. 2), two more trucks will follow. One truck will go to Petchaboon province and the other will go to Nakorn Phathom province. We thank the member churches for their in-kind support. For a long-term rehabilitation program, an integrated strategic plan is being drafted. The CCT also thanks the Methodist Church in Malaysia, and the Baptist Church in the USA for their spiritual and financial support. To support CCT in its efforts to provide relief aid and rehabilitation program to the flooded victims, please make a transfer to the following account: BANK NAME: Siam Commercial Bank, Thanon Phetchaburi Branch (S/A) A/C NAME: The Foundation of the Church of Christ in ThailandA/C NUMBER: 008-2-61457-4 SWIFT CODE: SICOTHBK Contact persons: Elder Chusak Wuttiwaropas, CCT-Relief Committee Chairperson: cwuthi@gmail.com Mr. Uthid Siriapapong, SDSU Director: uthid@hotmail.com Prawate Khid-arn posted by cbs on Thursday, November 03, 2011 Human rights advocates attend Training Course in BangkokEleven (11) human rights workers nominated by their respective churches and NCCs from Indonesia, the Philippines, India, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and Thailand participated in a CCA Human Rights Advocacy Training Course held at the Bangkok Christian Guesthouse in Bangkok’s Silom district from 17th to 21st October 2011. The training in human rights advocacy featured two sessions on Human Rights and the United Nations, human rights documentation, effective advocacy, country national human rights situations, and two sessions of national and regional preparation of human rights advocacy plans. Throughout the week of training, Bangkok had been threatened by floodwaters from the Ping River, which had overflowed its banks and many areas outside the business district was flooded. This weather disturbance did not dampen the enthusiasm of the training participants. The training course was organized by CCA’s Justice, International Affairs, Development and Service team led by Charlie Ocampo and assisted by Kajeerat Dongsuwan, Patyayothai Boontama, and Janejinda Pawadee. Carlos Ocampo Executive Secretary JID posted by cbs on Tuesday, November 01, 2011 CCA attend 51st assembly of the Korean Christian Church in JapanRepresenting CCA, Charlie Ocampo, CCA Executive Secretary for JID, read CCA greetings at the opening session of the 51st general assembly of the Korean Christian Church in Japan held in Fukuoka on 10th to 12th October. The Assembly was attended by 127 delegates. Leadership of the Assembly was provided by the Rev. Choi Youngsin, Moderator,. And the Rev. Hong Songwan, General Secretary. There was a visible and strong participation by Korean church leaders from the US. The Korean Christian Church in Japan (KCCJ) is an active member of the National Council of Churches in Japan (NCCJ). posted by cbs on Tuesday, November 01, 2011 No more bases in Okinawa and elsewhereMore than 200 church and civil society leaders met at the Okinawa Christian University for the 3rd International Conference of Article 9 of the Japanese Peace Constitution. The Okinawa people have expressed their opposition to any new base construction in their island after years of suffering from loss sovereignty, native culture and traditional livelihood as a result of the presence of US bases in their island. Speakers from Okinawa who grew up with the bases, Buddhist monks, Christian leaders, and a Pakistani human rights advocate took turns in enumerating the negative impact of any new base on the lives of the people and the threat they pose for peace and people’s security. A peace march along the main thoroughfares of Okinawa City was held by the participants carrying banners saying no to wars and yes to peace. A press conference was held at St Barnabas Anglican Church in Kagurazaka, Tokyo, where nine participants in the Okinawa Conference participated in a panel and 50 people in attendance with press representatives from Ecumenical News International, The Christ Weekly, Christian Shimbun (Newspaper), The Catholic Weekly of Japan and a number of Buddhist media outlets including Bukkyo (Buddhist) Times. The Christ Weekly published a front page article on Oct. 22nd, which covered the gist of the conference, participating organizations and a rundown of the six demands spelled out in the statement. The third Conference in Okinawa organized by the National Council of Churches in Japan following two Conferences in Tokyo in 2007 and Seoul in 2009. posted by cbs on Tuesday, November 01, 2011 |
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