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Promoting Ecological Justice: Asian Churches’ Response
Consultation on Ecology, Economy and Accountability
31th October-5th November 2012
North Sumatra-Indonesia
Organized by Justice, International
Affairs, Development and Service,
Christian Conference of Asia (JID-CCA)
in cooperation with
Communion of Churches in Indonesia (PGI)
STATEMENT
The Asian Region is the world's most vulnerable region that is prone to environmental threats and disasters, which can be linked, directly or indirectly to ecological imbalances and climate change. There are strong indications that extreme natural disasters such as Tsunamis, earthquakes, tropical cyclones, tornadoes, snow avalanches, thunderstorms, intense rainfall, heat waves, prolonged dry spells, and severe dust storms are likely to be more frequent and intense in these areas. The well- known green-house effect gives rise to rapid increase in temperatures in the arid areas, rising rainfall concentration, variations in rainfall, increase in global sea level, significant variability associated with the El Nino events and many more. The victims of these crises are the poor, the marginalized and the underprivileged in the Asian region.
It would also be right to mention that in
the Asian context, this crisis exposes the integral connection between economic
imperialism and ecological imperialism, where the developed countries impose on
the vulnerability and poverty of societies and communities in developing
countries, as they look for cheap labor, and lacks environmental protection
laws. These challenges are the present permanent features of the Asian region;
however, this could be significantly altered if we all share our common
responsibility to be good stewards of this creation that has been entrusted to
us. It is high time to realize that the whole humanity is accountable for the
well-being of this earth and the Universe.
Action
Plan
Taking
these issues into consideration it has been proposed to engage with some action
plans through co-ordination and net-working among member churches, ecumenical
bodies, interfaith organizations, NGOs and experts in the field, the Asian
Church has to:
by
Hisashi Yukimoto, Japan)
the posted by communications on Thursday, November 08, 2012
‘Human Rights, Protection Mechanisms and Ecumenical Advocacy.’
20-25 October 2012
Human rights is never partial
It is not possible that people demand their individual human rights while neglecting or abusing the human rights of other people or other groups of people. “If the human rights of an individual is violated, it is a violation not only of the human rights of that individual but of the whole community where he or she belongs to,” said Mr. Basil Fernando, an expert on human rights in Asia and a former director of Asia Human Rights Commission. This understanding is rooted in the concept of the image of God in each person in the context of communal life, which is also ingrained in Asian culture.
This understanding has inspired the thirty participants representing churches from Myanmar, Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan Sri Lanka, Hong Kong and Korea, who attended the Training on ‘Human Rights, Protection Mechanisms and Ecumenical Advocacy.’ This program that was held from 20-25 October 2012 in Bangkok Christian Guest House was organized by the Commission of the Churches on International Affairs (CCIA) of the World Council of Churches and the program unit of Justice, International Affairs and Development and Service (JID) of the Christian Conference of Asia.
posted by communications on Thursday, November 08, 2012
24 August 2012
TAIWAN
'Listening to the Groaning of Creation' is one of the topics that is being deliberated on in the 'Asian Church Leaders Theological Consultation' that is being held now at the Presbyterian Bible College, Hsinchu City, Taiwan. We would like to share with you a poem on Global Warming, by Amita Thomas, a 13 year old girl from India.
A
Poem on Global Warming
Only
when...
Only when the last tree has died
When the last river has dried
When earth turns poisonous and deadly
We will realize we can’t eat money
Only when the last breath of oxygen has been consumed
When the last flower died before it bloomed
When the mighty atmospheres begins to tear
We will realize we can’t live elsewhere
Only when the last rain turns acid
When the last human is bedrid
When every drop of water turns impure
We will realize not everything has a cure
Only when the last fish suffocates
When the last animal body decays
When the last remains of these species is a mere bone
We will realize we can’t live on our own
Only when the last piece of history is destroyed
When the last truth of our existence is ruined
When there no longer exists a word called “smile”
We will realize we’d been wrong all the while
Amita Thomas
13 years
India
posted by communications on Friday, August 24, 2012
Human Rights of
Migrant Workers in the Gulf
2 May 2012,
An international
consultation on Ecumenical Advocacy for the Protection of the Human Rights of
Migrant Workers in the Arabian Gulf Region was held at Santhigiri Ashram,
The Consultation
provided a platform to discuss the problems and concerns related to the rights
of migrant workers in the
Migration is a growing
global phenomenon: the International Organization for Migration (IOM) estimates
that there are some 80 million people around the globe who live and work as
migrant workers. The International Labour Organization (ILO) has estimated that
in 2010 there were about 105.4 million economically active migrants (including
refugees) across the world, representing 44 per cent of the total migrant
population. The discovery of oil in the 1950s and the more recent colossal
infrastructure development in the Arabian Gulf have been accompanied by a rapid
influx of labourers to this region, mainly from South and South-East Asia,
Migrant workers in the
However, against the
backdrop of these dismal and appalling circumstances, progressive action on the
part of various human rights organizations, intervention by the UN and advocacy
on the part of other nations has led to the promulgation of employee-friendly
laws in several Gulf countries. Though slow in implementation, these new
laws are a ray of hope. The several safeguards brought about by these laws
provide protection for temporary migrant workers against contract fraud,
illegal recruitment fees, passport confiscation and restriction of movement. In
addition, the new laws, if implemented and enforced, will ensure timely payment
of monthly remuneration, work-hour limits, health care and safety regulations
as well as new administrative procedures for the equitable treatment of contract
workers.
Despite the fact that
the international human rights instruments and mechanisms, especially the
International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers
and Members of their Families (ICRMW), was adopted by the General Assembly of
the United Nations in 1990 as a means of providing international protection for
the rights of migrant workers and their families, most countries are yet to
ratify this convention. This shows that most UN member states have yet to value
the significance of the convention which sets out the basic rights and freedoms
guaranteed to all migrant workers. The 2011 ILO Convention on Decent Work for
Domestic Workers (C189) is considered a milestone in this area.
Our commitment to
uphold the dignity of human life is based on our biblical and theological
foundations, and is reiterated and called forth in Holy Scriptures through the
voices of the prophets, the ministry of Christ and in the letters of the
apostles. In the Old and New Testaments, we are introduced to a central truth
that human beings are created in the image and likeness of God - Imago Dei
(Gen. 1:26–27; 5:1–3; 9:6; 1 Cor. 11:7; James 3:9). Imago Dei names the
personal and relational nature of human existence, and God calls us to act
justly towards and on behalf of those whose Imago Dei is being
threatened: their human dignity and rights are violated through exploitation.
God calls us to stand
in solidarity with these afflicted migrant workers and to be engaged in a
mission of prophetic witness to uphold the rights and dignity of migrant
workers. The prophetic call reminds us, “I am the Lord, and I have called
you to be just and good. I will hold you by the hand and watch over you. And I
will give you as a covenant to the people, as a light to all nations. You will
open blind eyes. You will bring people out of prison, out of the prison where
they live in darkness.” (Isaiah 42:6-7).
The consultation,
whilst acknowledging and deeply appreciating the support and pastoral care
afforded by the churches both in the sending and receiving countries, makes
further recommendations for ecumenical joint actions for strengthening global
advocacy for the protection of the Human Rights of Migrant
Workers in the Arabian Gulf Region.
We invite the support
of all churches and the ecumenical movement:
WCC/CCIA-CCA/JID Communique
Janejinda Pawadee posted by communications on Friday, July 27, 2012
In
Focus
Dignity
of Human Beings: Safeguarding Life
Interfaith Workshop on Small Arms and Trade
Bangkok
An Interfaith workshop on Small Arms and Trade brought
together more than 32 participants from 10 countries in the Asia-Pacific region
including Sweden, the USA and Canada to address the violence caused by the
proliferation of small arms. The Workshop held at the Bangkok Christian
Guesthouse from 26-27 March 2012, aimed at promoting collaboration and exchange
of experiences between and among representatives from faith communities and
faith-based organizations from the Asia-Pacific region as well as to explore
the regional relevance of issues related to military expenditure and
development, armed violence, human security, and ongoing initiatives for
increased arms control such as the Arms Trade Treaty.
Pieter-Jan van Eggermont, the Program Officer of the
Human Security and Disarmament Program of the Swedish Fellowship of
Reconciliation (SweFOR), one of the organizers of the Gothenburg Process Workshop
in Bangkok, presented the history of the Gothenburg Process since its
initiation in 2001, a joint ecumenical undertaking by the three Swedish
ecumenical institutions—the Christian Council of Sweden, the Swedish Mission
Council and the SweFOR (and later the Life and Peace Institute)—to highlight
the “growing transfers of military equipment, primarily to the South and to see
that an inclusive dialogue with all the actors involved are developed and
maintained.
Case studies of faith-based advocacy initiatives
undertaken in India and the Philippines in support of the Arms Trade Treaty
were also presented in the Workshop. Resource persons, revisited their faith
traditions from Christianity, Buddhism, Islam and Hinduism. There was also a commitment shared to
undertake activities within the resources and capacities of each group, such as
prayers, vigils, engaging the media, awareness-raising seminars, and signature
campaigns. A final recommendation was
the setting up of an email group to continue networking among the participants.
In
his welcome address, Carlos Ocampo, from the Christian Conference of Asia,
reflected on the Chiang Mai consultation that took place in May 2008 and
reiterated the commitment made by the participants to disseminate information
on the negative impact of increasing arms trade in Asia and to support civil
society organizations and governments promoting a legally binding and effective
Arms Trade Treaty. Asian churches, he
said, are also being enjoined by the World Council of Churches to participate
in the Arms Trade Treaty Campaign which will culminate in July 2012.
From
2004, the Gothenburg process, has been engaging churches, civil society groups,
peace organizations, governments, the United Nations as well as manufacturers
of small weapons in a dialogue to influence future developments in the arms
industry and to continue bringing to people’s consciousness the sacredness of
the life and dignity of human beings and the need to safeguard life and human
security.
Carlos OCampo
posted by communications on Friday, July 27, 2012
In search of life giving economies:
Is Capitalism institutionalized greed?
AGAPE Reference Group
7-10 March 2012
The AGAPE Reference Group working on the links among
poverty, wealth and ecology met in Quito, Ecuador from 7-10 March 2012, hosted
by the Latin American Council of Churches. The AGAPE reference group comprising
seventeen church representatives from Asia, Latin America, Europe and North
America, reflected on the biblical mandate on greed and power relations, heard
regional reports from regional ecumenical councils represented in the Reference
Group, participated in liturgy, and started planning for the AGAPE Global Forum
on Poverty, Wealth and Ecology, to be held in Nanjing, China on June 18-22,
2012, as a culmination of the 7-year process that started at the Porto Alegre
WCC Assembly in 2005.
A major focus of the meeting was a report from the
Working Group on the Greed Line, chaired by the Rev. Dr. Konrad Raiser, former
General Secretary of the World Council of Churches. The report from the Greed Line Working Group
defined greed as “an expression of human desire to have more than one’s fair
and legitimate share of material goods or power”. It went further, defining what is fair and
legitimate as providing the community a sustainable life, living in dignity
based on social, cultural and moral norms.
It further stated that competitive quest for power represents greed when
maximizing profit becomes an end in itself.
WCC’s Poverty, Wealth and Ecology Project continues to
deepen the AGAPE process by analyzing and establishing links between poverty,
wealth and ecology, linking economy and ecology; advocating for a new
international financial architecture; developing wealth or greed lines in
counterpart to poverty lines as a guidance for churches and Christians; advancing
the concept of ecological debt among churches and the wider ecumenical circle;
and strengthening the understanding of the intrinsic connection between
economic justice and peace.
Regional consultations on poverty, wealth and ecology
were also held in Dares Salaam in 2007 (Africa), Guatemala in 2008 (Latin
America), Chiang Mai in 2009 (Asia and Pacific), Budapest in 2012 (Eastern
Europe), and Calgary in 2011 (North America). Complementing and supplementing
the regional consultations, study groups on finance and ecological debt helped
to shape two ground-breaking statements issued by WCC Central Committee in 2009
on “just finance and an economy of life” as well as on “eco-justice and
ecological debt”.
The AGAPE Global Forum in Nanjing will harvest the richness
of church viewpoints, experiences, practices and lessons learned from the
7-year process including the 5 regional church consultations, the study groups
focusing on international finance, structural greed and ecological debt. A call to action with joint strategies and
actions by churches towards building just, caring and sustainable alternatives
will be presented and serve as an important contribution to the 2013 WCC
Assembly in Busan, South Korea.
A proposal from the WCC was made for a 7-year campaign
on economic and ecological justice, marking a continuation of the issues on
justice and peace raised at the International Ecumenical Peace Convocation in
Kingston, Jamaica in May 2011. The
eco-justice ecumenical campaign will encourage and harness actions by churches
and ecumenical partners to promote justice for the poorest of the poor and for
the earth through theological reflections in congregations and seminaries, case
studies, interfaith dialogues, awareness-building campaigns, community-based sustainable
economy projects eradicating poverty, spiritual and liturgical resources, and
advocacy at various levels for the transformation of financial institutions and
UN related agencies.
Dr. Rogate Reuben Mshana, Ms. Athena Peralta, and Ms.
Sophie Dhanjal from the World Council of Churches organized the reference group
meeting, while the Rev. Franklin Canelos, the Rev. Nilton Giese of the Consejo
Latino Americano de las Iglesias (CLAI) hosted the Meeting. CCA’s Carlos
Ocampo, Executive Secretary for Justice, International Affairs, Development and
Service represented Asia in the Meeting.
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I
have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10)
Carlos Ocampo
posted by communications on Friday, July 27, 2012
Ecumenical Initiatives in Peace and Security: North East concerns
The North East Asia Church Leaders forum, comprising church leaders from Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong, met at the Christian Guesthouse in Bangkok from 2-3 March, 2012, to discuss the current situation facing the churches in northeast Asia and plan follow up of on-going programs to continue accompanying the churches in responding to their particular situations. Issues on the situation in each country of the North Eastern region highlighting peace and (human) security agenda were identified and discussed. Hopeful signs of future political changes were also welcomed and discussed.
The leaders called for continuing the campaign against the construction
of the Naval Base in Jeju Island, Korea, as the construction becomes more
certain; arrests and detention of protestors carry on, and the release of a few
leaders seen as just a symbolic gesture. A collection of all statements issued
on the construction of the naval base, including the statement of the CCA
international delegation, titled ‘Dossier of Articles – Peace in Asia’, was
published by NCC Korea.
An important decision, among others that were taken at that meeting,
was for The Korean Ecumenical Forum and the Northeast Asia Church Forum to
continue to play a role in strengthening international support and solidarity
for the Korean reunification in the peninsula.
A progress report on JEDRO a program responding to the aftermath of the
earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan was presented. The Rev. Kim Young-ju
and Rev. Po Kam Cheong were voted to represent NEA Forum in the next JEDRO
meeting in Japan.
Church leaders present at the meeting were Rev. Hu, Hong-chi (Presbyterian
Church in Taiwan), Rev. Po Kam Cheong (Hong Kong Christian Council), Rev. Shin
Seung Min (Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea, PROK), Rev. Kim
Young-Ju (NCC Korea), Rev. Hiroko Ueda (NCC Japan), with Rev. Grace Moon, Ms. Janejinda
Pawadee, and Mr. Carlos Ocampo from the CCA
staff. The Hong Kong Christian Council
will host the next meeting of the Forum from 21-23 February, 2013 in Hong Kong.
Carlos
Ocampo
posted by communications on Friday, July 27, 2012 |
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