Swords into plowshares
About this blog
Swords into Plowshares is the blog of the Peacemaking Program and the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations of the General Assembly Mission Council of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Seeking peace. Striving for justice. Together.
Seeking peace. Striving for justice. Together.
Recent posts
- Mayan Renaissance
- Red Hands continue their work
- Do one thing for diversity and inclusion
- Palestinian prisoners, Israel agree to end of hunger strike
- A call from the Madagascar Council of Churches
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Mayan Renaissance
I attended my first film premiere during the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Peoples.
Mayan Renaissance features Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Rigoberta Menchu Tum and shares 4000 years of Mayan wisdom and hisory. This powerful and inspiring film tells the story of the Mayan people: the rise and glory of the Mayan civilization; the arrival of the Spanish and 500 years of oppression and resistance; the efforts of the Mayans to regain their voice and shape their own future; the creation of an indigenous political party; Rigoberta Menchu's campaigns for President; the people's vision for the future; and their call for a renaissance of Mayan wisdom and culture.
The film premiered during the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues to highlight this years's special theme of the forum: "The Doctrine of Discovery: Its Enduring Impact on Indigenous Peoples."
Dawn Engle, director of Mayan Renaissance and executive director of the PeaceJam Foundation, and Ivan Suvanjieff, executive produced of Mayan Renaissance and president of the PeaceJam Foundation introduced the film and engaged in a conversation with audience members.
The Committee of Religious NGOs at the Untied Nations, Tribal Link, The Wittenberg Center for Alternative Resources, The United Religions Initiative and the PeaceJam Foundation sponsored the screening.
Watch for opportunities to view Mayan Renaissance.
Presbyterians have been partners in ministry with our brothers and sisters in Guatemala for more than 100 years.
May 23, 2012
Red Hands continue their work
We just learned that in the past two months, Cote d'Ivoire, Malaysia, and Niger have ratified the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in armed conflict.
The international consensus that children are children and not soldiers continues to grow.
Thanks be to all who have made Red Hands.
Thanks be to God!
May 17, 2012
Do one thing for diversity and inclusion
Can you do one thing for diversity and inclusion on May 21? What will it be?
In 2001, UNESCO adopted the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity and in December 2002, the UN General Assembly, in its resolution 57/249, declared May 21 to be the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development.
The day provides us with an opportunity to deepen our understanding of the values of cultural diversity and to learn to live together better.
On the occasion of UN World Day for Cultural Diversity, UNESCO and the UN Alliance of Civilizations are sponsoring a global campaign ...
May 15, 2012
Palestinian prisoners, Israel agree to end of hunger strike
Here are a number of reports about the end of the hunger strike by Palestinian prisoners. Thanks are in order for this development and for all who helped make it possible. Prayers are in order for those who have been on the hunger strike – for their health and wellbeing – for their nonviolent witness. Work is in order to recognize and respect the human rights of Palestinians. The effort to establish a just and durable peace for Palestinians and Israelis continues.
May 15, 2012
A call from the Madagascar Council of Churches
The Malagasy Christian Council of Churches (FFKM) released a declaration on the crisis in Madagascar. The PC(USA) works in partnership with the Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar (FJKM), which was formed by the union of three churches in 1968. The FJKM is a member of the Malagasy Christian Council of Churches. The following is the English translation of the declaration. Pray for the people of Madagascar.
Malagasy Christian Council of Churches (FFKM)
English Translation
May 12, 2012
May the grace and peace of God be with you.
After the numerous pleas to the churches within the Malagasy Christian ...
May 15, 2012
Authorize a Violence Against Women Act consistent with Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) policy
From the Office of Public Witness:
Call the House to authorize a Violence Against Women Act that is consistent with Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) policy:
On May 8, the House Judiciary Committee marked up and passed the Adams (R-FL) version of the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization, HR 4970. This bill fails to live up to the bipartisan Senate-passed bill (S 1925), which provides improved protections for particularly vulnerable populations. In fact, this House bill turns back the clock on the Violence Against Women Act and is NOT a real VAWA reauthorization.
The full House is expected to vote ...
May 9, 2012
Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike
Amnesty International has issued a call for urgent action that asks individuals around the world to contact Israeli authorities concerning Bilal Diab and Thaer Halahleh, two Palestinian men who are at immediate risk of death as they engage in the nonviolent action of a hunger strike. Both are being held without charge or trial by Israel.
Palestinians detained in Israeli prisons are staging a mass hunger strike to protest prison conditions and the practice of administrative detention. CNN reports:
As of May 6, Bilal Diab and Tha'er Halahla entered the 70th day of their strike. CNN uses the headline ...
May 9, 2012
Celebrating Europe Day
This evening, I am joining a celebration with Ambassador, Head of Delegation of the European Union to the United Nations Thomas Mayr-Harting to celebrate Europe Day. Europe Day celebrates European peace and unity on the anniversary of the founding of the European Union (EU).
The Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations joins other nongovernmental organizations and UN member states in giving thanks for the peace and unity exemplified by the EU and wishing the organization continued success in the future.
May 7, 2012
Passport to Zero: U.S. Fund for UNICEF 2012 Annual Meeting
Last week, I joined our partners from the US Fund for UNICEF for the 2012 Annual Meeting. Partners from across the UNICEF spectrum including UNICEF field personnel, corporate donors, individual donors, and other NGOs met together in New York City because we believe in zero.
Zero is UNICEF’s goal. Five years ago, 25,500 children died from preventable diseases each day, today that number is 21,000. UNICEF’s goal is to bring that number to zero.
May 7, 2012
The Tragic Legacies of Lebanon’s Phalangists
The Tragic Legacies of Lebanon’s Phalangists
A conversation with
Jonathan Randal
Author of
The Tragedy of Lebanon: Christian Warlords, Israeli Adventurers, and American Bunglers
Friday, May 11, 2012
10:30 – Noon
Hardin Room, 11th Floor
Church Center for the United Nations
777 UN Plaza –corner of 44th St. and 1st Ave.
In 1975, Phalange Party hardliners from Lebanon’s Maronite Christian community responded to their sense of vulnerability by unleashing a wave of anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian violence that peaked with 1982’s massacres at Sabra and Shatila. Veteran Washington Post foreign correspondent Jonathan Randal was one of the first ...