CWS international partners, staff, and CROP Hunger Walk volunteers.  Photo: CWS Staff

CWS partner Bishop Julio Murray speaking on security in Latin America.  Photo: CWS Staff

CWS Director of Education and Advocacy Rajyashri Waghray and Associate for Immigration and Refugee Policy Jen Smyers speaking on climate change. Photo: CWS Staff

March 24, 2008

The theme of Ecumenical Advocacy Days in 2008 was “Claiming a Vision of True Security.” The event drew 740 participants and was held March 7-11 in Washington D.C. People came together from all over the world to participate in the four-day conference focusing on a new vision of security in our homes, neighborhoods and world. Participants from at least 12 denominations made over 120 visits to congressional offices.

The conference held multiple sessions on the thematic topics of: Africa, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East, domestic issues, global economic justice, eco-justice and peace and global security.

Church World Service (CWS) was privileged to host international partners, staff and U.S. guests and supporters to the conference. Four Church World Service international partners lent their expertise to the various sessions. Two partners from Africa shared in sessions on Africa. Deborah Katina, coordinator for Yang’at in Kenya, shared what her organization is doing through water and women’s empowerment. Liberia Council of Churches president Dr. Benjamin Lartey co-lead a workshop on post-conflict economic conditions in Liberia and Congo. Dr. Lartey spoke of the unjust $3.7 billion burden of debt in Liberia. He detailed how debt is preventing the country from moving towards true peace: The rebuilding of infrastructure, creation of jobs and overall development in the country has been halted while money is diverted to paying unjust debts.

From the Latin America region, CWS partners Bishop Julio Murray and Elias Szczytnicki lent their knowledge to the Latin America/Caribbean track. Bishop Murray, the newly elected President to the Latin America Council of Churches, spoke as a panelist for the Latin America/Caribbean track’s plenary. He spoke of his region “moving from fear to hope.” He highlighted that insecurity in Latin America is due to the vast disparity in the distribution of wealth, among other problems. One alternative he proposed was for countries in the Americas “to create relations where the…more powerful countries empower their neighbor countries so that they can live similarly.” Mr. Szczytnicki, the regional coordinator of the Latin America and Caribbean chapter of Religions for Peace, co-led a workshop on access to clean water. He spoke of the polluted waters in the city of La Oroya, Peru, caused by a U.S.-based company’s harmful emissions from a nearby metal smelter.

In an eco-justice session, CWS Director of Education and Advocacy Rajyashri Waghray and Associate for Immigration and Refugee Policy Jen Smyers focused on the risk posed by climate change to the development programs of CWS and churches alike. They also spoke about the potential risks and increased frequency of extreme and damaging weather patterns. Smyers said that of the 24.5 million people displaced across the world, “…40% are displaced due to climate change, 10 million people. It’s predicted that this number will grow to 50 million by 2010.” She also raised concerns about increased insecurity due to the displacement of people. Displacement tends to cause tension over available resources in neighboring areas. And Waghray noted the importance of humanitarian organizations signing on to the Hyogo Framework for Action (www.unisdr.org/eng/hfa/hfa.htm) and the need for organizations to be proactive in mitigation projects.

On the final day of the conference, participants visited several congressional offices. They advocated for a reverse of the “over-emphasis on military spending, which has created a more dangerous world” and requested a budget for true security that would enable the “ United States to employ alternatives to military force that emphasize diplomacy, sustainable human development, and conflict resolution.”

The advocacy days were a great opportunity for CWS staff, partners, and volunteers to get to know each other and talk about all the aspects each is involved in that make the work of CWS happen.

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