Annual Congregational Liaison Meeting:

February 13  6:30 pm(social) 7:00pm-8:30pm (program)

 Join in a gathering for community members of all faith traditions and backgrounds who share your passion for peace and justice! Share and discover ways to promote fair trade and environmental sustainability within your congregation.  This event is for all pastors, ministers, congregational leaders, social concerns coordinators, and interested members of congregations; all are welcome!

• Hear about what Fair Trade is and how your congregation can promote fairness, justice, and caring for the environment
• Share your congregation’s experience with Fair Trade and environmental justice
• Learn how ICPJ can help your congregation proclaim fairness, justice, and care for the environment

Our speakers:

• Bena Burda, founder of Maggie’s Organics in Ypsilanti- a leader in providing environmentally sustainable and socially just clothing as well as being a local and successful company.
• Matt Naud, environmental coordinator for the City of Ann Arbor and St. Mary’s Student Parish parishioner.
• Pamela Dickerson from our host The Common Cup, a coffee house and ministry of University Lutheran Chapel committed to providing fair trade and environmentally sustainable products.

Location: The Common Cup, 1511 Washtenaw Ave., Ann Arbor  RSVP’s appreciatted to 734-663-1870 or bill@icpj.org

Monday, February 6, 7:00 pm-9:00 pm. How will 2012 be a year for peace? Members of ICPJ’s various task forces will share how they are called to be peacemakers so come and be inspired to work for peace and justice this year.

Location: Church of the Good Shepherd U.C.C., 2145 Independence Blvd., Ann Arbor, MI 48104. Refreshments will be served. For more information: contact Bill (bill@icpj.org), 734.663.1870

Is our Economy really as broken as the Occupy Movement says it is? Does our current economic system influence more than just our wallets?

Come join us as we investigate the ways that our economic system could be the root cause of war, poverty, and environmental destruction, by using film as a medium for exploration and discussion.

When: The last Thursday of every month from January through April from 6:30 PM-9:00 PM

Where: 1st United Methodist Church in the Wesley Center. 120 South State Street Ann Arbor, MI 48104

Film of the Month

The End of Poverty?

“The End of Poverty? is a daring, thought-provoking and very timely documentary by award-winning filmmaker, Philippe Diaz, revealing that poverty is not an accident. It began with military conquest, slavery and colonization that resulted in the seizure of land, minerals and forced labor. Today, global poverty has reached new levels because of unfair debt, trade and tax policies — in other words, wealthy countries exploiting the weaknesses of poor, developing countries.

The End of Poverty? asks why today 20% of the planet’s population uses 80% of its resources and consumes 30% more than the planet can regenerate?” (Cinema Libre Studio)

Join us January 26th at 6:30 Pm for a night of learning and thought-provoking discussion.

End of Poverty? Event Flyer

Series Films and Dates

January 26-The End of Poverty? Explore how human rules and institutions make poverty, and how it can be unmade.

February 23-The Money Fix. Examine economic patterning in both the human and the natural worlds

March 29-Iraq for Sale. Uncover the connections between private corporations making a killing in Iraq and the decision makers who allow them to do so

April 26-AbUSed: The Postville Story. See  the human face of immigration, and the socioeconomic forces which fuel it.

Film Series Flyer

History of the Conflict in Colombia

Like many countries in Latin America, Colombia developed with huge social inequalities between the small, wealthy elite, often of Spanish descent, and the majority of the population, mixed-race and indigeneous, mired in poverty.  The elite owned and controlled the land, resources, and government of Colombia and these inequalities have fueled an armed conflict since the mid-1960′s.  The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the National Liberation Army (ELN) ostensibily took up arms against the government to fight for land reform and the rights of the poor, and yet the conflict degenerated into terrorism, drug trafficking, and human rights abuses by all sides, where the poor have suffered the most.

The FARC and other guerrilla movements claim to be fighting for the rights of the poor in Colombia to protect them from government violence, while the government claims to be fighting for order and stability.

Continue Reading »

Leymah Gbowee- Liberian peace activist and 2011 Nobel Peace Prize recipient

The image of war being men leaving the home front for battle, of large armies clashing along defined battle lines, and women and children being unintended victims, collateral damage, can no longer hold.  No, contemporary warfare has no clarity; there is no front to go off to.  The battles wage anywhere, children are recruited as soldiers, and women struggle to survive in the midst of it.

Women become as Leymah Gbowee says, “the toys of war”.  Rape and sexual abuse are used as instruments of war and terrifying civilians becomes the goal rather than the unintended consequence.  And when the fighting ends and combatants lay down their arms, women are excluded from the peace negotiations.

Still, somehow in the face of terror and abuse and all this horror, countless women around the world refuse to be silenced.  They find the courage to speak truth to power and lay their broken bodies down in the name of peace.  They do this not only for the empowerment of women but for their children, their people, and their land, for all humanity.  We are all, women and men, made better, more whole, because of the efforts and contributions of women.

In commemoration of the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize recipients, ICPJ’s NOW task force will be celebrating the contributions of women peacemakers in 2012.  Each month we will highlight women peacemakers from a different region of the world; the year begins with the work of women in Latin America.  These women may not be well known but their work is vital and their efforts for peace and justice should be publicized.

On our webpage and facebook, you will find each week the bio of a woman peacemaker, information about her country and struggle for peace, and stories, music, and/or art to inspire and motivate you to action.  We will also include action steps you can take to become involved in the cause for peace.  Please check back often to learn and to share.

Yes! It has come at a time when in many societies where women used to be the silent victims and objects of men’s powers, women are throwing down the walls of repressive traditions with the invincible power of non-violence. Women are using their broken bodies from hunger, poverty, desperation and destitution to stare down the barrel of the gun. This prize has come at a time when ordinary mothers are no longer begging for peace, but demanding peace, justice, equality and inclusion in political decision-making.

“Leymah Gbowee – Nobel Lecture”. Nobelprize.org. 30 Dec 2011 http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/2011/gbowee-lecture.html

The desire to increase diversity in ICPJ is a longstanding concern. It has been a theme for as far back as our notes from various retreats and strategic planning sessions go. Looked at with the right focus, our very name implies a commitment to diversity. How can we be truly Interfaith without being diverse?  And how can we really understand what Peace and Justice mean without the representation of a broad spectrum of individuals who see and experience peace and justice from different vantage points and different life experiences? Diversity is central to ICPJ’s mission. Continue Reading »