November 2, 2005

Dear Friends and Family,

Tomorrow U.S. President George Bush will be arriving in Argentina to participate in the fourth summit of the Organization of American States in the city of Mar Del Plata, province of Buenos Aires. There is a tremendous amount of tension in the air and among the people as a reaction to Bush’s impending visit to this country. Very few people like him, and those who do are among the most economically privileged people of the country, and they are the only people likely to profit from his proposed Free Trade Area of the Americas, or FTAA. (Here it is called Area de Libre Comercio en las Américas, or ALCA).

Yesterday there was a spontaneous outcry at a train station in the western metropolitan area outside of the city of Buenos Aires. By the end of the morning, three train cars had been destroyed, the platforms and station house were burned to the ground, and various businesses located near the station were ransacked, robbed, and pulled to pieces, including two banks.

There are major demonstrations being planned both in the city of Buenos Aires (the national capital) and in the city of Mar del Plata, where the summit will be held throughout the next few days. Please take time to pray for the summit, the Argentine people, and wisdom amongst the heads of state who will be gathered together. Pray for peaceful resolutions of conflict and for economic justice. My usual routes of transit do not pass through the traditional gathering sites for demonstrations. I have no reason to fear for my or my family’s safety.

God willing, nothing violent will occur that might attract the attention of major international news agencies. Nevertheless, the ongoing and long-term economic violence of major U.S. and multinational corporations against the populations of the American countries needs to come to an end.

May the peace of Christ be with you.

Blessings,

Katie Griffin

The 2005 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 40