Action Alert - Brethren Action Alert

Action Alert
Brethren Witness/Washington Office

Many important events are coming up as we look toward Congress returning to session, September 4, and as we acknowledge the continued violence of our world. Please take time to review this list and choose where, when, and how you as an individual or as a congregation may become more involved. Perhaps you may choose to combine some of the suggested fasts with an International Day of Prayer for Peace event. Let us know what you are doing, what events you endorse or what type of organizing you are involved with. Many blessings as you continue in your many ways of “seeking peace and pursuing it”.

Thanks, Phil and the BW/WO staff.

from A.N.S.W.E.R. (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism) - The Answer Coalition is organizing a mass march in Washington, DC on September, 15, 2007. The essence of ANSWER’s May 31st Proposal to the Anti-War Movement was for all the anti-war coalitions and organizations to come together to mobilize the largest single mass march on Washington DC under the theme, End the War Now!

The ANSWER Coalition continues to promote and organize for a united action where organizations and coalitions can come together and organize a march of a million people to show the breadth and support of the anti-war sentiment in this country. March 2008 will mark the start of the sixth year of the Iraq war. If the anti-war organizations desire to unite, it would be an important moment to organize a huge show of force demanding an immediate end to the war. In unity there is great strength.

The Church of the Brethren General Board 2006 Iraq War Resolution states, “Therefore, we, the delegate body of the 220th Recorded Annual Conference of the Church of the Brethren, meeting in Des Moines, Iowa, July 1-5, 2006, do call upon our members to pray and to give witness to the sin of violence, and we petition the United States federal government, the United Nations, and other relevant nations and groups to seek peace by taking action to bring troops home from Iraq. We call on religious leaders from all faiths who preach violence to consider the things that truly make for peace.”

On September 15, people will begin assembling at the White House in the late morning. There will not be an opening rally. A march will form with the front contingent consisting of Iraq war veterans, family members of soldiers and marines and other veterans. When the march arrives at Congress, the Iraq War Veterans and family members will be the leadership of a mass die-in symbolizing the deaths of an estimated 4,000 U.S. service members. A rally will occur on the west lawn of the Capitol building. Come join thousands in this march to end the Iraq War!

Brethren attendees are invited to watch for the Church of the Brethren sign at the rally on the West Capitol lawn. Stop by and say hello.

from CPWI - Christian Peace Witness for Iraq is continuing their commitment to expand the Christian-based movement to create real security and peace in Iraq through U.S. troop withdrawal. However, they need your support!

Thousands of people gathered for the Christian Peace Witness for Iraq on March 16, 2007, when we worshiped at the Washington National Cathedral and walked by candlelight to the White House, making known our conviction that Christians must take responsibility for ending the U.S. occupation of Iraq. Simultaneously 200 local witnesses took place across the country.

On September 16th, 2007, six months to the day after our powerful witness that night in Washington, D.C., we will begin a continuous witness in local churches and public spaces across the United States, insisting that the occupation of Iraq must end and that our nation must address the growing violence, poverty and desperation that truly threaten our communities. We ask participants to intentionally develop media strategies and visits with congressional representatives as a part of their activities, which might include worship, public action, choir sings, vigils and more.

Through a Continuous Prayer Vigil we witness against the occupation with a common message: we oppose this war because of our deep-rooted faith and belief that God’s peace is the right of every human being.

The National Farm Worker Ministry is encouraging supporters to participate in a tradition of the farm worker movement -- host a sacrificial meal honoring the hands that harvest our food. The basic idea is simple: gather friends, family and faith communities, pray and reflect on farm workers’ lives, and eat a humble meal together, usually soup and bread. The hope is that you will give thanks for their labor and seek justice with them. The meal can be prepared together in advance, or can be brought potluck, resulting in a mouthwatering variety of flavors. You are also encouraged to offer the money that you might have spent on a dinner out to support the farm worker struggle. In this case, the NFWM is hoping that the collection would be donated to them to support their ongoing work. The NFWM thinks you'll be glad that you've taken the opportunity to unite your lives with the lives of the men, women and children whose labor feeds us every day.

Farmworkers are some of our nation’s most vital workers, as their labor enables us to enjoy high quality, low-cost, fresh fruits and vegetables all year round. Despite farmworkers’ economic and cultural contributions to the communities where they live and work, they continue to be some of the lowest paid, least protected, and unhealthiest workers in the United States.

The Church of the Brethren, in following the teachings of Jesus, has always tried to have a loving response to the poor and hungry. The Church of the Brethren Annual conference statements Caring for the Poor (2000) and Global Hunger and Poverty (2006) reinforce our commitment as the Church to act to end poverty and hunger. In 2006 Annual Conference wrote, “‘Draw out your soul to the hungry,” states one version of Isaiah 58:10. “In a world where injustice and inequities are the cause of so much suffering, misery, and death, the church cannot be silent. The church, as Christ’s body, must place itself clearly on the side of the poor and the oppressed” (Statement on World Mission Philosophy and Program, 1981 Annual Conference).’” Hosting a Feast for Justice using the Harvest of Justice prayers is a great way to put some of the teachings of Jesus into action. This year NFWM is again providing materials to help you plan your event: http://www.nfwm.org/HOJSeason/HOJplanning.shtml.

Farm workers who pick tomatoes for today's fast food industry are among the poorest in our nation. They work for an average of less than $10,000 a year, while providing the food that nourishes us everyday.

In 2005, after a four year campaign led by the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) Taco Bell agreed to pay one penny more per pound for the tomatoes they use in their restaurants, creating the first pay raise in 26 years for these tomato pickers. The CIW then focused their energy on McDonald's, the world's largest fast food company. In April of 2007, McDonalds agreed to both to pay a penny more per pound for tomatoes, and to an enforceable code of conduct. The CIW has asked Burger King to follow suit, and so far, they have refused.

The National Farm Worker Ministry is asking people to take action in order to support the CIW. They suggest that you do one or all of the following:

The Church of the Brethren, through the leadership of the Brethren Witness/Washington Office and On Earth Peace, is calling on its congregations to organize prayer events as part of the World Council of Churches' International Day of Prayer for Peace, September 21st.

Churches are invited to plan local prayer meetings, vigil or other events which focus on concerns about violence in their own community and the world, and which lift up God's promise of shalom and healing for all people.

For more information or to plan an event for this day contact Mimi Copp at 260-479-5087 or at miminski@gmail.com.

The central event of the 2007 Sabbath year will be the 40-day Cancel Debt Fast calling for debt cancellation and an end to global poverty.

Individuals, congregations, and local organizations can participate in the Cancel Debt Fast by committing to fast for a day or more and on the same day to contact or meet with their Member of Congress, asking the congressperson to support the JUBILEE Act as well as just trade and poverty-focused development assistance to fight global poverty. On any given day during the 40-day Cancel Debt Fast, debt cancellation advocates across the United States and around the world will be engaging in this powerful act of solidarity with those who are bound by the chains of unjust and oppressive debts.

You may contact Jubilee USA or visit our website to receive talking points, helpful advice, and assistance about talking to your member of Congress about the JUBILEE Act.

In March of 1999, the Church of the Brethren General Board issued a statement reading, in part, “As many poorer nations struggle to repay enormous international debts, it is the poor citizens of those nations who pay much of the price for these repayments. Already inadequate social services are further reduced. Industries and agricultural land that might have provided commodities for domestic consumption are redirected to produce export crops and products. Environmental quality is degraded, as regulations are relaxed as an incentive to economic growth, and as marginal and untouched lands are forced into production to earn export revenues. Ironically, poor people have seen little of the benefit of the loans that have brought them great hardship. While some funds financed the construction of large infrastructure projects that may have marginally helped the poor, other monies went to military procurement or were siphoned off by corrupt politicians and businesses.” The statement went on to call for debt cancellation as part of the Jubilee 2000 campaign. It is time to renew that call. Find more info at: http://www.jubileeusa.org/canceldebtfast.html

As global warming rapidly intensifies, the prospect of much more extensive hunger worldwide becomes increasingly likely, especially in poor countries, due to drought, Katrina-like storms, glacial melting and sea level rise. These impacts will lead to crop failures and economic and social disruption on a massive scale.

To draw attention to this threat and its moral implications, we are calling on thousands of Americans to voluntarily give up food for one day on September 4th, 2007. Other participants will fast even longer beginning on that date, some for weeks. Our appeal to you is to consider joining us in this climate initiative called, "So Others Might Eat: The Climate Emergency Fast." Give up food for one day now to draw attention to the fact that others may have no food tomorrow unless we halt global warming.

September 4th is the day Congress returns from its summer recess. What better way to mark that day than with a small personal sacrifice meant to send an urgent message: it's time for our national leaders to take action to solve the climate threat!

A 1991 Annual Conference statement entitled “Called to Care”, reads, “God’s promises are not mere pledges. They are covenants. And covenants are agreements between people and between people and God. The covenants with Noah and Abraham and the New Covenant mean that people of faith are responsible for their part in renewing and sustaining the creation. This statement helps us to see the degradation of the earth as sin, our sin.” And our sin since this statement has only continued. The 2007 United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Report states, “Global atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide have increased markedly as a result of human activities since 1750 […] The primary source of the increased atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide since the pre-industrial period results from fossil fuel use, with land use change providing another significant but smaller contribution”. Take this opportunity to care for God’s creation. More info at: http://www.climateemergency.org/joomla/

The National Council of Churches, united with diverse religious groups from across the United States, has planned a huge interfaith event meant to unite people of different faiths in common opposition to war, and in common pursuit of peace. Local communities are asked to show their support, by contacting their local political representatives and fasting on October 8th. In larger cities, such as New York and Chicago, people are also being asked to gather in public for vigils and prayer.

The event, which aims to move our nation from “conquest to community; from violence to reverence,” is planned to coincide with the month of Ramadan, during which Muslims already commit to fasting. It is also planned to fall among Sukkot and the High Holy Days of the Jewish faith, as well as Pavarana / Sangha Day of Buddhist tradition. Numerous leaders of Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, and Christian faith have already pledged their support and the support of their congregations. The fast has been announced by the Associate General Secretary for Interfaith Relations of the National Council of Churches, Shanta Premawardhana. To get involved, visit Shanta Premawardhana's blog and leave a comment pledging your support, or email him at shanta@ncccusa.org.

If you have questions on these or other issues, contact the Brethren Witness/Washington Office at the address below. We would love to hear from you!

Brethren Witness/Washington Office Action Alerts are sent out as important issues arise. Forward this alert to others! To add an e-mail address to our list, contact us at:

Brethren Witness/Washington Office
337 North Carolina Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20003
Local Phone: 202-546-3202
Toll Free: 1-800-785-3246
Fax: 202-544-5852
E-mail: washington_office_gb@brethren.org

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