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
- Do one thing for diversity and inclusion
- Palestinian prisoners, Israel agree to end of hunger strike
- A call from the Madagascar Council of Churches
- Authorize a Violence Against Women Act consistent with Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) policy
- Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike
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Archives
Posts with category: Disaster Response
April 30, 2012Christians from Sudan visit UN community
Today, the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations hosted with Caritas Internationalis partners from the Diocese of El Obeid who spoke about their work in the Nuba Mountains region of Sudan. A briefing with nongovernmental and governmental partners was hosted this afternoon followed by an appointment with a UN agency.
The partners brought the message forward for three advocacy priorities:
1) Immediately cease all military operations, including aerial bombardment
2) Allow safe and unhindered access for international humanitarian actors to all civilians and to provide prompt humanitarian assistance to all those in need
3) Demand that all parties of the ...
April 4, 2012
Japan one year later - a first hand report from Rikuzentakata by Kiyoshi Murakami
by Peng Leong
Mr. Murakami gave a sad account of the losses and the disaster in Rikuzentakata, the town he once lived in. There is the only one pine tree left standing of the 70,000 pines in the city. It may not survive as the color is changing on the land that is now saturated with salt water. The city called it the miracle tree.
Following the earthquake and the tsunami that hit his hometown, Mr. Murakami worked tirelessly to bring relief and rebuilding efforts. The whole town was flattened after the disaster. People remain missing.
Mr. Murakami set ...
August 24, 2011
A new hymn to support relief efforts in the Horn of Africa
Carolyn Winfrey Gillette has written a new hymn that to support the churches’ famine relief efforts in the Horn of Africa. O God, You Love the Needy includes references in it to the lectionary texts for Sunday, August 28.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs provides information concerning the situation in the Horn of Africa.
Hold the people living in the Horn of Africa in prayer.
Support the humanitarian response by Presbyterian Disaster Assistance.
August 19, 2011
Statement on World Humanitarian Day
Statement by Ambassador Susan E. Rice, U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations, on World Humanitarian Day, August 19, 2011
On World Humanitarian Day, we recognize the heroes who brave danger to deliver aid where it is most desperately needed. Humanitarians save lives, mitigate the cycle of chronic desperation that makes the world less safe, and embody values that Americans hold dear. The United States celebrates their hard work and calls upon all nations and parties to give them the support, protection, and access they need to relieve suffering.
Today in particular, we commend those who are addressing the ...
July 27, 2011
Numbers and the Horn of Africa
Reports from UN the Horn of Africa estimate that 10,000,000 people are experiencing a severe food crisis.
That's more people than live in New York City (not including urban area).
That's more people than live in Wyoming, Washington D.C., Vermont, North Dakota, Alaska, South Dakota, Delaware, Montana, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Maine combined.
Here are some ideas of how to respond: