This year’s Ecumenical Advocacy Days drawing record number of activists

February 22, 2006

Over 600 Christian peace and justice activists from across the nation have registered for the March 10 to 13 Ecumenical Advocacy Days for Global Peace With Justice. They will meet in Washington to urge the nation’s leaders to address existing economic and social disparities and create a more just and peaceful world.

“Unfortunately, we’ll have to close registrations off at 950,” said Church World Service’s Associate Director for Public Policy Marty Shupack regarding the record number of participants coming to the event this year. “We hope we can accommodate more in the years to come.”

CWS Executive Director John McCullough will speak at an interfaith prayer vigil for peace in Iraq. The March 13 service on the Capitol Mall will also express solidarity with the Iraqi people and concern for the families of US and allied soldiers.

Shupack will co-lead a workshop on new State Department restrictions on travel to Cuba by members of religious organizations. Under the strictures, US churches are also facing problems bringing Cuban church leaders to religious gatherings in this country.

Colombian peace activist Ricardo Esquivia will lead workshops on the conflict in Colombia and its effect on Afro-Colombian and indigenous peoples. CWS Policy Analyst/Advocate Kathy McNeely will lead a workshop on the basics of global trade. Other workshops will address economic and environmental justice and global security.

On the last day of the event, activists will lobby Congressional representatives on domestic and international policies.