Ending Cycles of Violence

In this video clip, from her recent presentation in Watsonville, California, Pam Sexton talks about addressing cycles of violence in post-conflict Timor Leste, but her observations could also be applied to other impoverished areas that have been devastated by war or even natural disasters. Toward the end of the presentation, listen to an interesting example of the disconnect that frequently exists between local residents and large relief/development organizations that arrive to “help.”

http://picasaweb.google.com/115536358126885462849/EndingCyclesOfViolence?authkey=Gv1sRgCOfWl7_744e_oAE#5496147889805149458

IF supports Pam in her work with community-based groups in Timor Leste, one of the world’s newest nations. A former Portuguese colony, Timor Leste would have become an independent nation in 1975, when a revolution in Portugal resulted in its decision to decolonize. But in December 1975 Indonesia invaded East Timor in December 1975 (after getting a green light from the US). With mostly US weapons, the Indonesian military killed over 10,000 East Timorese within a few months, and then nearly one third of the East Timorese population over 25 years of occupation. Throughout the occupation, US administrations gave generous political, diplomatic and military support to Indonesia and its occupation of East Timor. In 1999, when a UN sponsored a referendum on the question of independence or continued rule by Indonesia, 98.6% of registered voters turned out to vote and 76% of them voted for independence. In the next two weeks, Indonesian-supported militia and the Indonesian military carried out a scorched-earth campaign that destroyed around 80% of East Timor’s infrastructure, killed over 2,000 people and forcibly displaced around 250,000 people.

When Indonesia finally accepted the results of the vote, they turned control over to the United Nations, which administered the nation for two years before formal independence was declared on May 20, 2002 and the official name of Timor-Leste was adopted. Since 2002, Timor-Leste has steadily worked to rebuild the nation’s infrastructure, and develop the laws and procedures of an independent nation. Faced with the serious challenges of post-conflict violence, it is the poorest nation in Asia.

A Beacon for Working Families

In May, IF Board member Bill Leininger was recognized at the South Bay Labor Council’s COPE Awards event. Annual COPE (Committee on Political
Education) awards are given to community members who have made outstanding contributions for the area’s working families. organizing and Interfaith Council work.

This year there were 5 awardees, including Bill, in recognition of his organizing and Interfaith Council work.  Bill is founder of faith sharing group, IF/When, which has for over 20 years conducted a weekly dialogue homily in which participants consider how scriptural lessons apply to contemporary social issues. Rather than making donations to a church building, IF/When members pool together support for many local causes, including affordable housing, immigrant rights and fair labor practices.

Unfolding the Potential of Women in Uganda

Education is not literacy but is the awakening of consciousness. Education should encompass all-round development, resulting in a well-integrated personality and should enable one to stand on his own feet. Education, as a Mahatma puts it, is the unfoldment of the perfection that is already in man.”
- Muktananda

One of IF’s program partners, Linda Cole, has been working for years in Northern Uganda to improve the lives of women and girls in conflict and post-conflict areas.  Her goal is to build social, political and economic equality for women and girls in Africa.

The building was constructed by the community members to house the center so they would not have to sit outside

This is done through supporting existing groups of women, helping them realize their potential. Rather than starting new projects, it is about building on what has already been started by the women themselves.

Because of widespread violence and conflict, many of the women and girls in the region never attended school or only attended for a few years.  A large number are unable to read or write and have limited math skills.  The government has a plan for adult literacy; however, in many of the more remote areas it is not available.  Some of the areas which have government-run adult literacy are in poor shape as lack of funding means unpaid and unmotivated teachers who rarely show up, and no materials. Linda’s group, Community Action Fund for Women in Africa supports teacher salaries and educational materials in several learning centers, including the one supported by IF shown in this photograph. The program is running well, we have over 50 women and a few men attending on a regular basis. At the moment it offers the beginning levels of adult literacy but the goal is to expand into several classes in all of the centers, giving people a chance to develop their knowledge, to see their real potential.