Equipo de MPT de Otoño 2010 para Juárez, México

Equipo de Otoño 2010 de MPT para

JUAREZ, MEXICO 

¡Inscripciones abiertas!

Se necesitan hispanohablantes   

3 MESES  -  SIN COSTO PARA USTED  -  CAPACITACIÓN Y APOYO
ESTAMOS ACEPTANDO SOLICITUDES – PERÍODO: SEPTIEMBRE 1^° - DICIEMBRE 20 DE 2010.  

SOLICITUD PARA SER PARTE DEL EQUIPO DE PAZ 

  Pulse sobre el link en la parte superior para acceder a una e-solicitud, o contacte a Nicoler.MPT@gmail.com para mayor información.  

Invitación a Juárez

Luego de un extenso debate y trabajo con grupos de la comunidad de Juárez – y un largo proceso de discernimiento y toma de decisiones con nuestra organización – MPT está preparando un Equipo para el otoño de 2010 en respuesta  a la siguiente invitación enviada por el Centro de Derechos Humanos (extracto):

"En relación a su participación como Equipo de Paz en nuestra ciudad, creemos que su aporte es muy positivo y puededesarrollarse mediate tres acciones importantes:

1. Formar una Red Internacional para difundir la problemática de Ciudad Juárez, como extranjeros preocupados por la violencia e inseguridad que tenemos   

2. Estar en un área de trabajo de base en comunidades pobres, con metas concretas en un tiempo determinado con voluntarios que hablen español para:         
- Crear conciencia de la no violencia desde las comunidades con mujeres, jóvenes y adolescentes;         
- Proporcionar servicio de escucha por la situación de dolor que se vive para las mujeres y sus familias;         
- Fomentar una cultura de denuncia para romper con la cultura del silencio      

3. Estar presente, en tanto sea posible, en demostraciones de no violencia y “sentadas”".

New from Michigan Peace Team

Read about our latest work, and updates on our team to Juarez here:

MPT Spring Newsletter (now printed on recycled paper!) 

May E-News Update

Team Now Forming; Watch for Reports Starting Summer/Fall 2010

Thank you for your interest in MPT's Fall 2010 Peace Team to Juarez, Mexico.

We are currently screening applicants for this Team, and making arrangements for training and preparation of our team members.  If you are interested in being on this team, there's still time to apply, or contact Nicoler.MPT@gmail.com for more information.  See our CONTACT & APPLY page above, or read the FAQs for links to our application, and more.

In response to our invitation, from September to December 2010 MPT's team will help to:

          - Create a conscientiousness of non-violence from within the communities - especially with women, youth and adolescents;

          - Provide the service of listening to those women and their families who are living in the situation of suffering;

          - Foster a culture of denouncing in order to break the culture of silence.

         - Be present as possible at nonviolent demonstrations and sit-ins.

         - Form an International Network in order to let others know of the Juarez problem, as foreigners concerned about the violence and insecurity that we have.

Please keep watching this report blog for an introduction to our Team Members this summer, as well as Reports directly from the Team in Juarez once they are on the ground.

Sincerely 

Nicole Rohrkemper
International Team Deployment Coordinator
Michigan Peace Team 

Announcing MPT Fall 2010 Team to Juarez, Mexico

MPT FALL 2010 TEAM TO

JUAREZ, MEXICO

NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS!

Spanish Speakers Needed

 3 MONTHS  -  NO COST TO YOU  -  TRAINING & SUPPORT
NOW TAKING APPLICATIONS -  DEPLOYMENT: SEPTEMBER 1st- DECEMBER 20th, 2010 

 
Peace Team Application

   Click the link above for the e-application, or contact Nicoler.MPT@gmail.com for more information. 

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Invitation to Juarez

After extensive consultation and work with community groups in Juarez-- and a lengthy process of discernment and decision making with our organization-- MPT is planning a Team for Fall 2010 in response to the following Invitation from the Centro de Derechos Humanos (excerpt):

"In relation to your participation as a Peace Team in our city, we consider that your contribution is very positive and can move in three important actions:

     1. To form an International Network in order to let others know of the Juarez problem, as foreigners concerned about the violence and insecurity that we have.

     2. To be in one area of work based in poor communities, with concrete goals for a determined time with volunteers who speak Spanish in order to:

          - To create a conscientiousness of non-violence from within the communities - with women, youth and adolescents;

          - To provide the service of listening to those women and their families who are living in the situation of suffering;

          -To foster a culture of denouncing in order to break the culture of silence.

      3. To be present as possible at nonviolent demonstrations and sit-ins."

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Thanks and Looking Forward

Now that the team has returned from Juarez, MPT is reviewing their Exploratory Team Report and taking the next steps in our exploratory team process-- both in Committee and in our Core Community.

We want to thank everyone involved in this work, especially our team members Liz, Renee, Berta, and Jose, and our invaluable friend in Juarez, Julie.

We also want to thank all of you who have been following our team on this Blog, and please keep checking in with MPT here and our our home site, www.MichiganPeaceTeam.org.

Sincerely,

Nicole Rohrkemper
International Team Deployment Coordinator
Michigan Peace Team

November 19, 2009

Our exploratory team was tasked with investigating possibilities for a future MPT team in Juárez, Mexico and submitting our findings in writing to the MPT Juárez Committee. This committee will use our report to make recommendations to MPT’s Core Community regarding any future work in Juárez.

Now we have completed our exploratory work. It has been a great privilege for us to be with the people of Juárez these past weeks and to work in the name of Michigan Peace Team.

Please know that we are grateful beyond words for your support, good energy, and prayer during our stay in Juárez.

Your MPT Juárez Exploratory Team to Juárez,
Berta Betanzos
José López
Renee Richie
Liz Walters

November 18, 2009

During the morning we met with members of the Center for Human Rights in Juárez. This is the group that invited MPT to send an exploratory team to Juárez. At this meeting our team reported the highlights of our findings and expressed our gratitude to the Center members for their excellent work. Center members then shared final messages with us.

Here is a summary of the responses from Center members after our team report:

· The children … they are our heart …we needed more time so that you could see how the children play, how they learn, how they live AND how we love them. I want you to see that the children of Juárez are the light of our hearts.

· We start with the children. They are our future AND our present.

· Thank you for your presence. You have motivated me and helped me to learn how to be part of a team. To solve our problems we have to be serious about teamwork. Peace is for everyone. Seeing how MPT works gives me hope. We can do much more here.

· Thank you -- what you have done. You have been with people who have been in fear and terror. The proposals that you have shared are very positive. Also you help us to see how to unite together with other organizations. Our people are paralyzed with fear. The organizations are also paralyzed. The situation has been very difficult -- you have helped us to lift our spirits. We need so much. We are dealing with those who have much power and no respect for life.

· You have experience with groups of people. This has been good. You have explored our roots and the history of our people. The presence and accompaniment --- I feel that it is very powerful for the people. I like that you have opened up to see how people live, and how they you want to be with you.

· We have much work to do here to resolve our problems. As you return to the United States I hope you will share how things need to change there too: Some of the problems we face in Juarez are rooted in the United States. For example…The maquiladoras exploit our people and harm our family structure. Also the drug trade flows to the United States and weapons flow from the United States to Juárez.

· Now very young youth collect $100 for killing a person—it’s awful to say but this has become a business. Hit men are 14 or 16 years old. This is what I fear in the Barrios – Juárez children are being used for this terrible business. After killing they sit down and wait for the soldiers. They know they will not get jail time

· You help us to see the importance of listening. We need to listen to one another.

· Our people of Km 27 very happy that you have come. We are very disposed to receive MPT.

· The people of the First of May say they noticed us. They see we want peace and have many needs. You are very welcome --We hope that you can return!

· I would say to you thank you for you solidarity—You see clearly that not only is Juárez filled with violence; but it is also filled with hope.

· I was quite concerned about Juárez and the country---Until Julia said that peace was possible -- the obstacles are great. Authoritarianism is strong and things will get worse. I want to be hopeful and work hard for Juárez.

· It would be wonderful to have you in the whole city. It would be a great support. Thanks to Julia and all of you for coming.

Following this meeting we were invited to a celebration sponsored by a group of senior citizens in Juárez.
With them we enjoyed a delicious meal and we danced together. Wisely the seniors told us, singing and dancing is part of our work!

Finally we had an important meeting with two Adrian Dominican sisters (Donna and Maureen) who have dedicated their lives in service of the people of Juárez. Their love wisdom and insights touched us deeply.