CPTnet
15 July 2010
CHICAGO/TORONTO: Christian Peacemaker Teams announces delegations autumn 2010 through 2011.
ABORIGINAL JUSTICE DELEGATIONS TO TREATY #3 TERRITORY (Northwestern Ontario): 13-23 August and 24 September-6 October 2010.
Corporate clear-cut logging of Asubpeeschoseewagong traditional territory has destroyed hunting, trapping, and food and medicine gathering activities. Indian Residential Schools have deeply impacted families and communities. Mercury contamination discovered over forty years ago continues to poison residents. Explore what it means to live in right relationship with the earth and each other. Find out what it means to be an ally to indigenous communities engaged in healing, resisting colonialism, and struggling for sovereignty.
From a base in the city of Kenora, and visits to Asubpeeschoseewagong traditional lands, the delegation will meet with Indigenous and non-Indigenous community leaders and residents. Delegates will develop an analysis of colonialism, participate in undoing racism training and plan a public witness/nonviolent action as appropriate to confront issues of structural violence. Some physical rigors may be involved, such as camping in basic conditions, and stretches of time outside in unpredictable weather.
Fundraising expectation: $525 Canadian or US. Delegates make and pay fortheir own travel arrangements to Winnipeg, Manitoba or to Kenora, Ontario.
COLOMBIA: 13-26 October 2010; 19 May-2 June, 14-27 July, 22 September-5 October 2011.
National delegation (for Colombians): 16-23 April 2011.**
In Colombia, an insurgency-counterinsurgency war has left over 200,000 people dead since 1964 and displaced over four million others from their homes. Delegations will meet with church, human rights, and social justice organizers in Bogotá and in Barrancabermeja, the industrial city in the Magdalena Medio region where CPT’s full-time team has been based since 2001. In addition, delegates will spend several days in the countryside where communities have been subject to attack and threats by various armed groups. The specific communities will vary; previous delegations have traveled to the mining region of the San Lucas Mountains and to communities in southern Bolivar province that have faced threats of displacement and arbitrary and politically motivated acts of violence on behalf of multinational corporations or local opportunists.
Some physical rigors are involved, such as hiking in mud and heat or mountains, hours-long trips by boat or truck, and generally long days.
Fundraising expectation is $1900 US/ $2200 Cdn, which includes roundtrip
airfare from a designated U.S. or Canadian city.*
IRAQ (KURDISH NORTH): 14-27 October 2010; 31 March-13 April and 13-26 October 2011.
The Kurds of northern Iraq faced discrimination, terror, and death under the regime of Saddam Hussein. After the 1991 Gulf War, they gained a measure of autonomy and safety under U.S. protection. Therefore, as the security situation deteriorated in rest of Iraq following the U.S.-led invasion in 2003, thousands of displaced persons fled to the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) area in the north, where the situation seemed safer. However, northern border villages have recently been the site of military attacks by Turkey and Iran. CPT continues to monitor growing tensions between Kurds and Arabs.
CPT’s delegation will be based in Suleimaniyah, in the KRG. Delegates will meet with representatives of non-governmental organizations, human rights groups, displaced persons, and government officials. They will gain a perspective on the challenges facing people in northern Iraq and the impact there of violence in other areas of Iraq and along the borders of the KRG.
The delegation will participate in the work of CPT’s longer-term project of reporting on human rights abuses and supporting local reconciliation. Some physical rigors may be involved.
Fundraising expectation is $2900 US/ $3100 Cdn, which includes roundtrip airfare from a designated U.S. or Canadian city.*
PALESTINE/ISRAEL: 5-18 October, 16-29 November 2010, 4-17January, 8-21 March, 24 May-6 June, 19 July-1 August, 6-19 September (special German language delegation) and 15-28 November 2011.
Conflict in Palestine/Israel has taken center stage in recent months. Despite involvement of the Quartet on the Middle East and overtures from the U.S. Obama administration, the situation for many Palestinians living in the West Bank remains grave. Road closures, home invasions, checkpoints, and the presence of militant Israeli settlers near Palestinian villages continue to threaten Palestinian human rights. Israel’s separation barrier (much of it built on confiscated Palestinian land) not only separates Palestinian communities from each other, but also acts as a barrier between ordinary Israelis and Palestinians seeking to come together for peace. CPT delegation members will gain a perspective on how these issues affect daily life.
Delegates will meet with Palestinian and Israeli human rights representatives and peace workers in Jerusalem and Bethlehem. They will visit Palestinian families whose home and livelihoods are threatened by expanding Israeli settlements. They will travel to the city of Al Khalil (Hebron) and the village of At-Tuwani in the South Hebron Hills and experience firsthand CPT’s work alongside Israeli and Palestinian partners. They will challenge the structural violence of the Occupation through nonviolent public witness.
Delegates should be prepared for some physical rigors, such as hiking in rough, extremely hilly terrain, heat in the summer and damp cold in the winter, and generally long days.
Fundraising expectation is $2750 US/ $2950 Cdn, which includes roundtrip airfare from a designated U.S. or Canadian city.*
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FOR ALL DELEGATIONS:
CPT is a faith-based group that seeks participants who are interested in human rights work, committed to nonviolence and to undoing racism, and willing to participate in team worship and reflection. Delegates should have plans to share about the trip upon return to their home communities and congregations. Round-trip airfare from a designated U.S. or Canadian city (except as indicated above), all on-ground travel, two to three meals a day, simple accommodations, and all honorariums and delegation fees are covered. Most CPT delegations involve some physical rigors. Contact CPT delegation coordinator, Claire Evans, if you have questions about your physical readiness to participate. (See contact information below).
English language fluency is required for full participation, except for the Colombia national delegation (Spanish) and the Palestine/Israel delegation in September 2011 (German.)
Funding support: CPT has limited funds available to assist applicants who otherwise could not participate. CPT is committed to undoing racism and will give preference for funding support to applicants from communities that have been disadvantaged by racism.
For more information or to apply, contact CPT, PO Box 6508, Chicago, IL 60680; phone 773-376-0550; fax 773-376-0549; e-mail delegations@cpt.org, or see CPT’s website at: https://cpt.org/participate/delegation.
*Those planning to join the delegation from countries other than the U.S. or Canada, contact the CPT office for more information on travel and fundraising expectations.
**For more information on Colombian national delegations, contact CPT Colomba, ecapcolombia@edatel.net.co.