Times of Struggle
A Visit to Vancouver by Bishop Samuel Ruíz
and
Friends
June 2006
“I have been blessed as a pilgrim among the Indigenous communities, and as a member of a church that has tried to make its own the grief, anguish, pain, happiness and the hopes of a people.”
(Samuel Ruiz, 2003)
Bishop Samuel Ruíz is the beloved and distinguished retired Bishop of San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico, where he practiced a prophetic ministry of reconciliation and accompaniment for more than 50 years. He will be in Vancouver June 20 – 29, where he will be participating in many events as part of the World Peace Forum.
Coming as well is Miguel Alvarez, director of SERAPAZ (Peace Advisory Services), an important Mexican Human Rights NGO dedicated to contributing to the construction of Peace in Mexico, with a special commitment to working with the poor, especially indigenous communities.
Rounding off the team is a group of three indigenous Mexican youth and one elder who are coming as guests of the World Youth and Urban Forum. - ROSARIO GOMEZ (Mixteca Indigenous Leader, responsible for Justice and Human Rights CIPO-RFM), ELEUTERIO RAMOS (Zapotec Indigenous Leader, responsible for communications of CIPO-RFM, ANTONIO VILLANUEVA (Zapotec Migrant Indigenous Leader, representative in the area of youth in the Centre for Indigenous Development, CDI) REFUGIO GREGORIO (Mixteca elder, representative of the Indigenous Women’s Cooperative -- Margarita Magón)
OBJECTIVES FOR THE VISIT
Make visible the struggles that exist in México and in the rest of the Americas, especially the struggles of Indigenous peoples, and the consequences of these struggles in the communities
To support, strengthen and encourage organizations in Canada that are committed to all types of justice.
Strengthen networks and coordination, between participants in the various events of the various “Fora”.
Provide a space for those who have little space or voice in the official Fora.
“Peace will not come only from national struggles. The causes of unrest are more global and point to the urgency of a profound change in the dominant economic and political system.”
(Samuel Ruiz, 2003)
For more information about any aspect of the visit by Don Samuel and Friends contact:
www.nodo50.org/cipo
The Ecumenical Task Force for Justice in the Americas: Emilie Smith (604) 875-9218/(604) 785-9294 emilietsmith@hotmail.com
or
The Popular Indigenous Council of Oaxaca – Vancouver group: Raul Gatica (en español) (778) 682-6955 cipo.van@gmail.com Gil (in English) parachico@gmail.com (604) 537-8909
ORGANIZING GROUPS
ETFJA – Ecumenical Task Force for Justice in the Americas; CIPO -RFM – Popular Indigenous Council of Oaxaca – Ricardo Flores Magon (Vancouver branch); VAST – Vancouver Association of Survivors of Torture; KAYA – Knowledgeable Aboriginal Youth Association; Justice and Peace Unit , Anglican Diocese of New Westminster; “Latino Soy” Fairchild Radio; Social Justice Committee, Unitarian Church of Vancouver; Catholic Organization for Development and Peace; Comunidad Maya; Faith and Society Committee, B.C. Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada; WATARI; LASIA – Latin American Society in Action – Downtown Eastside; Radio Program -- Ecos de mi pueblo, Co-op Radio; CEIBA, Young People in Solidarity with Mesoamerica; CEB-ES (Comunidades Eclesiasticas de Base -- El Salvador); St. James Anglican Parish; Peace, Justice and Integrity of Creation Committee of the Sisters’ Association, Archdiocese of Vancouver; First United Church; Christ Church Cathedral (Anglican); Committee of Hispanic Catholics, Holy Family Parish
ADDITIONAL SUPPORTING GROUPS:
Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre; Carnegie Community Centre; Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre; Work Less Party; Justicia y Paz, Colombia; H.I.J.@.S. (Children of the Disappeared in Latin America)
IN WAR, EVERYONE LOSES. EVEN THOSE WHO “WIN”, LOSE. WE ARE TIRED OF LOSING. NO MORE WAR!
CALENDAR
Times of Struggle Tour
DATE/PLACE |
ACTIVITY |
Tuesday, JUNE 13th, 6pm Kweyestut First Nations’ Art Centre, 120 Cordova East Organizers: KAYA, CIPO, ETFJA |
TO FIGHT WITH HEARTS: OPEN PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBIT Young Indigenous Artists from Oaxaca, Mexico and Canada present images of life and struggle in their homelands. |
Wednesday, JUNE 21, 1 – 5 pm |
CELEBRATION WITH CANADIAN FIRST NATIONS COMMUNITIES : NATIONAL ABORIGINAL DAY |
Thursday, JUNE 22, 1 – 3 pm Organized by WATARI, LASIA |
LUNCH WITH LATINOS: SHARING FOOD AND STORIES WITH SPANISH-SPEAKING COMMUNITY IN THE DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE Bishop Samuel will offer a blessing and share with community |
Friday, JUNE 23rd, 9:30 -- 12:00 |
MIGRATION AND VIOLENCE: WOMEN FROM THE SOUTH How does Forced Migration brought on by destructive global forces create Violence in the lives of WOMEN FROM THE SOUTH. Exploring concrete ways of struggling against violence against women, and building common links of mutual support. We will creatively enter into these complex issues. |
Saturday, June 24th, 6pm – 9pm |
POPULAR PEACE MASS
|
Sunday, June 25th, 10:30am |
HIGH MASS Sermon: Miguel Alvarez, Towards a Rethinking of Peace Among Christians |
Sunday, June 25th , 1 – 3 pm |
CHILDREN’S EVENT: THE WORLD THAT WE HAVE, THE WORLD THAT WE WANT, WRITTEN IN COLOURS Interactive Celebration. Don Samuel and children, ages 8 -12 years. |
Sunday, June 25th , 3 -5pm |
YOUTH EVENT: CURRENT CHALLENGES FOR INDIGENOUS YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PEACE Interactive event, organized by youth. |
Sunday, June 25th |
PANEL ON IMPUNITY How does state impunity block the construction of peace? How can communities organize to resist?
|
Sunday, June 25th, 6 – 8 pm Holy Family Church |
Don Samuel Ruiz, celebrant. |
Monday, June 26th, Organized by CIPO, KAYA, ETFJA, Justicia y Paz |
PANEL: CONTRIBUTIONS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PEACE
Theme: Discussion of the already operating models of peace-building of the Indigenous Peoples of the Americas in order to offer these to other communities in struggle. |
Monday, June 26th, 1 – 4pm |
PANEL: PATHS TOWARDS BUILDING PEACE IN LATIN AMERICA
Venezuela, Bolivia, Mexico, Colombia: there are a great variety of ways of working towards peace: political processes, autonomy struggles, and others |
Monday, June 26th, 2:30 – 4:00pm Carnegie Community Centre 20 W, Hastings St. (at Main) Facilitators: Don Samuel Ruiz, Refugio Gregorio, others |
COMING TOGETHER FOR RECONCILIATION AND HEALING Gathering of Elders and Spiritual Leaders.
|
Monday, June 26th, 7 – 9:30 pm Unitarian Church 949 W. 49th Ave (at Oak) Organized by VAST, CIPO, ETFJA, Social Justice Committee, Unitarian Church of Vancouver Moderator: The Reverend Emilie Smith Participants: Iraq, West Africa, Sri Lanka, Chile, Mexico, VAST, CIPO, War Resister’s League |
ENCOUNTER: REFLECTIONS AND TESTIMONIES: THE COST OF A WORLD WITHOUT PEACE International Day Against Torture.
Testimony of survivors of torture, from a person who has been part of the dominant system, and from those who walk in solidarity with those who have suffered torture. All participants will be invited to create a mural which will be sent to the United Nations. |
Tuesday, JUNE 27th, afternoon Student Union Building, Ballroom, UBC 4-7 pm Organized by the Catholic Committee for Development and Peace |
EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF RESOURCES
Focus on Water and Peace Workshop featuring Miguel Alvarez and others. |
Thursday, JUNE 29th, 6—12pm Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre 1607 E. Hastings (at Commercial) Don Samuel Ruiz, Miguel Alvarez, CIPO, ETFJA, La Surda, Social Justice Committee, Unitarian Church, KAYA, VAST |
BREAKING CHAINS, DRESSED UP FOR FREEDOM
Great Big Happy, Peace Builder’s Party—Benefit for the Persecuted and for Political Prisoners of the ‘Other Campaign’: San Salvador Atenco and Oaxaca (CIPO).
|
NOTE: ALL TOUR EVENTS ARE FREE.
DONATIONS GRATEFULLY ACCEPTED.