Newsletter Draft 2 · Title: Newsletter Draft 2 Author: Jenn Lindsay Created Date: 8/11/2013 5:49:17 PM

A G A P E C E N T R O E C U M E N I C O

Corriere Dell’Effetto Serra, August 2013 1

Corriere

AGAPE 2013 INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL CAMPTHEME: Toward Eco-justice: Vision and PraxisLast year’s International Political Camp, No Just Peace is Possible Without Eco-Justice, confronted our planet’s intertwined social, economic and ecological crises, examining political and governance structures that contribute to contemporary “ecocide,” destructive patterns of production and consumption, and resource inequities between Global North and Global South. This year during the International Political Camp we will expand our reflections

on environmental renewal and eco-activism, turning toward the future and together envisioning effective ethical, economic and scientific strategies to build equitable and ecologically sustainable communities and revitalize our planetary home. Together we will discuss just and

regenerative alternatives to the current order and how to implement them, focusing on five questions: What kind of political systems and governance are required to build an eco-just world? How

do we restructure our economic and financial frameworks? What types of science and technology should we promote? What kind of changes are required in our lifestyles and mentalities? How can theological and spiritual paradigms support eco-justice?

an international ecojustice magazine / rivista internazionale di eco-giustizia / revista internacional ecojusticia / magazine international d’éco-justice

Reflections Personal memories, experiences, political arguments, poetry, comics, and art by Political Journalism Workshop Participants.Page 2-24

Leida RijnhoutInterviewBy ProfessorSherrie SteinerPage 6

InterviewsWith Agapini of all stripes….Page 10-11, 20-21

Photos of the week

Scattered through the magazine, taken by Ruth Roque, Lindsey Mercer, and Jenn Lindsay

Fracking at Agape!Photo essayPage 19

ContestWho drew the all-seeing eyes of the beloved planet? And who was the model?Page 24

International Political Camp Newsletter August 2013

Dell’Effetto Serra

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2 Corriere Dell’Effetto Serra, August 2013

E D I T O R I A L

The 2013 International Political Camp at Agape Centro Ecumenico has featured deep conversation, uproarious games, formal and informal dancing, late-night bonding, hiking in the Italian Alps, and formation of personal commitments to work for a better world and a healthier planet. Participants have arrived at Agape Centro Ecumenico from many countries and we have communicated with four languages, sometimes with the help of our international interpreters and sometimes with the help of our friendship and desire to understand each other. We were collectively upset by the absence of so many participants who, due to Visa/political rejections, were not allowed to enter Italy.

We opened our camp with a Keynote address from Pablo Solón, former Ambassador of the Plurinational State of Bolivia to the United Nations. He is now the Executive Director of the NGOFocus on the Global South. He spoke to us about the possibility of developing a post-capitalist world where all human needs--and not just the need for profit and progress--are taken into account, for a world of balanced lives and balanced resources. The same afternoon we convened in small groups to discuss our impressions of the morning, and of the camp theme, Toward Eco-justice: Vision and Praxis.

Our Wednesday hike was almost rained out but several brave souls continued through the dripping trees and low clouds to Bou du Col and Lago Verde, returning to Camp around dinner time. We all recovered by cuddling on mattresses in the salone and watching Erin Brockovich. The next day’s keynote address on new economic and financial structures, by Leida Rijnhout, inspired this newsletter’s central feature, “How to Talk to Decision Makers….Who Don’t Want To Talk To You,” an interview with Leida by Canadian/US Environmental Sociologist Sherrie Steiner, who also delivered a talk on reflexibility and soft power at the World Religious Leaders Summit. Steiner challenged the idea that thoroughgoing post-capitalism really is the best option for our bloated system, given the entrenched resources and lifeways of our globalized world. Storytelling from Faida Bahati and Nicol Mendoza helped participants meet experts in our midst and started more lively conversations. The next morning we heard from biologist Alberto Zoratti on alternative scientific and technological responses to the environmental crisis, which segued into 4 activist workshops: Anti-Eco-Mafia, Nuclear Proliferation, Mining, and Water Justice. That afternoon a rousing role play game showed the passion, creativity, and occasionally absurdity of our merry band. The last full day programming brought Fazlun Khalid’s interpretation on Islam and the Environment, and Vittorio De Palo’s reflection on Protestant philosopher Jürgen Moltmann’s words on the human connection to God’s creation.

As I write this editorial the camp participants are “down the hill” in Prali Ghigo watching the Nafsi Acrobats do their thing. In my opinion this has been an extraordinarily robust and effective International Political Camp, full of creativity, hard questions, and reconciliation. I wish all of you a safe journey home, or more fruitful weeks at Agape if you are staying here. Abbracci a tutti!

My Reflection on Agape Political Camp 2013--by Faida Rachel BahatiI am Faida Rachel Bahati, a Congolese by nationality, working as a mission intern at World Student Christian Federation through the General Board of Global Ministries of United Methodist Church.

I would like to thank Agape for offering me this great opportunity of learning and sharing my experiences with other people's experiences on eco-justice . I managed to get a critical mind on different cultures and the problems that people are facing in global world. I use to think Congo was the first country facing political issues but then from Agape political camps i learned that it is not one country facing

problems, but is a global problem.

I highly appreciate the way Agape does the selection of taking different people in the world without considering the language, religion , race and cultures.

During the group discussion I was surprised about what is happening in the countries about MAFIA but I did not get a way of fighting on it because it is problem from those in power.

I also get a clear understanding about Islamic approach for sustainability and Christian principles on sustainable development on eco-justice. This shows that working as a team will bring a lot of changes on the world. I understand that Agape believes in love, faith, and hope.

AG-ape!

by Filippo

Duva

Journalism Workshop, Political Camp Staff

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Focus_on_the_Global_South




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-by Dinesh Suna, Ecumenical Water Network, World Council of Churches, Geneva

I had several questions in my mind when I first got the invitation to speak to a group of young people at AGAPE. It was a bit confusing in the first place, as the invitation came from Athena, my colleague and a consultant at the World Council of Churches’ Programme on Poverty, Wealth and Ecology (PWE). The PWE has a project called AGAPE (Alternative Globalisation Addressing People and Earth). But later on w h e n I g o t t h e b a c k g r o u n d document of AGAPE Political Camp, I was thoroughly impressed with the concept of AGAPE Ecumenical Centre, its background, purpose and ecumenical pilgrimage of the last 6 decades.

Today, young people have so many choices, with the IT boom, access to information has never been so easy. With the internet and mobile technology advancements, the young people are always connected. In such a time, it is quite heartening to see that the youths from different parts of the world, prefer to come to th is remote ly loca ted Agape Ecumenical Centre, more or less cut off from the rest of the world, even though there has been internet connectivity all the time within the centre. The very concept of the young people choosing to be a fellow resident for one year at the center, taking care of it as one would do to one’s own house, is also quite surprising. They clean the centre, they cook, they do the laundry and what not? Expecting from the youths of today these kind of responsible behavior and disciplined life style is very rare. While they know how to party, they also know how to get

engaged in serious discussions and d e l i b e r a t i o n s o f i s s u e s o f importance. All this happens without any compulsion or taking any disciplinary action on any fellow residents by the management. What is the secret behind the success of this model? I was all the while wondering !!! Later on I realized, the fact that the staff of Agape have bestowed their trust on the young people’s responsible behavior and on their ability to lead, manage and maintain the centre, has brought the best out of these youth.

We are living at a time, where the youths are considered as the “future leaders” and more often than not, brushed aside for their so called amateurish behavior and creative / spontaneous action. At that time, Agape has experimented a different model - a counter culture of believing that “today’s youths are TODAY’S leaders, already”. (cont’d )

On the first day of Political Camp at Agape, all of the participants had the opportunity to join one of four different workshop groups: journalism, cooking, flash mob, and acrobatics. The two pictures provided show some of the participants excelling in acrobatics for the first time. On Tuesday night, Agape offered a dance party to all campers, staffers and volunteers. Participants learned how to dance three traditional Italian dances. Many of the participants commented on how much they enjoyed the music and the dancing. Afterwards, many went to the bar to celebrate and converse. This picture shows the group learning a new dance step. --Photos and captions by Lindsey Mercer

Dinesh Suna’s impressions of AGAPE : “A way of life – a successful experiment with the young minds”

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(cont’d Suna) I was also impressed by the in depth knowledge and information of the participants of the Political Camp on issues related to eco-justice and their zeal and commitment to bring about a positive change in the society. The humility displayed by many through the servizio in setting the dining table and collecting back the left over food of the participants, shows the servitude leadership displayed by Jesus Christ, by washing the feet of His disciples. No matter how the youths were by nature in their home country, once in Agape, they are transformed into a more responsible human being. I wonder i f th is mode l can be e x p e r i m e n t e d a n d r e p l i c a t e d elsewhere!

As a person connected with the ecumenical youth from the churches / SCM ( Student Christian Movement) / WSCF (World Student Christian Movement) for a long time, I have received a lot of positive vibes in my short stay of 2-3 days at the Agape. I hope to connect with Agape in the future through my current vocation through the Wor ld Counci l of Churches.

It would be really interesting to see how this experience with Agape has shaped the young minds and have helped them in the ecumenical formation once they go back to their own socio, political context. I am very positive about my expectations though….. Besides, as an “water activist”, I would like to connect with these enthusiastic youths in the future through many of our youth related projects and programs at the EWN. And finally, I am definitely coming back to Agape sooner than later.

He plantado un jardín. Cultivo floresen macetas y en latas.Practico la belleza inútilmente.Riego las hojas verdes y sus gritos efímeros.Las protejo del viento huracanado;del sol calcinador. Doy cada díatres o cuatro miradas protectoras,y sorprendo la Creación moviendose Ellas, las flores, nunca me han dicho cómo sienteneste humano desvelo sin codicias;pero viven, florecen, me acompañan;atienden las visitas gratamenteNo pido ni exijo nada, puedo morirme en paz.No deseé sino estar bajo el sol o la lluvia,Al sol cuando había solY bajo la lluvia cuando estaba lloviendoSentir frio y frio y viento,Y no ir más lejos.

! ! ! --by Jeremías Pérez

“Grito de la Tierra, Grito de los Humanos,”By Jeremías Pérez

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Madre Naturaleza:

dos reflexiones

Tu dolor es mi dolorTu tristeza es mi tristezaTu infertilidad es mi infertilidadTu muerte es mi muerte

(Nicolasa Mendoza)

Turtle’s GreenAdven-tureBy Filippo Duva

Para la construccion de un mundo diferente es necesario tejer la armonia y la esperanza entre el ser humano y la naturaleza.

(Elena Gomez)

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Sherrie: You are an experienced NGO lobbyist. Do you have any tips for our people at Agape’s Political Camp on how to get decision makers to listen to their concerns? How do you keep people from tuning out?

Leida: What is important is that you try to be empathic. Try to live into their world. Try to speak a language that they understand and then connect the things that they are doing with the things that you are wanting to accomplish without

losing your message. For example, working with people concerned about the environment is simple, but working with people representing trade unions is more difficult. So, you don’t start the conversation with a sentence about what they are doing wrong. Instead, you suggest that maybe they can look at the same trade union issues from another perspective--like integrating the environmental damage without saying that trade is bad. That kind of thing. So, you really have to

know what they are doing, and you have to be constructive with them. Do not be offensive with what they are doing but just try to persuade them to look at things in a different way. And then it is always good to have examples from the field. So, if you talk about the oil issue, you have examples available like the Niger Delta or Ecuador. Talk to them about reality from the field so that they can really feel the consequences of what they are doing. Another important tip is that you

come up with new ideas, innovative ideas, things they have not heard of before. A new idea triggers them to think, “Oh, this is someone who knows the subject.” A third tip is for when they are looking at you with the face that says “Who are you?” That is when it is necessary to name drop so that they get the feeling that you are important and not naive. But you must be personally very convinced about what you are saying so that means, and this is an important tip, (cont’d)

How to Talk to Decision Makers ….Who Don’t Want To Talk To You

An Interview with Leida Rijnhout by Sherrie Steiner

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(Steiner cont’d)you really have to know the subject. When they ask a question, you don’t say “I don’t know!” You must feel secure. That means you have to read the documents. So, do your homework!

Sherrie: What would you say to someone who feels insecure despite having read the documents?

Leida: If you still feel insecure then you have to just think, “What would this person look like naked? (laughter) He or she is just like everyone else.

Sherrie: What do you say in response to people who feel we need to be strict when lobbying?

Leida: Decision makers like your honesty when you are strict . You don’t lobby to make friends; you do it to make your case. So, that means you have to be strict, honest and convinced of the subject you are talking about.

Sherrie: How do you be strict without turning them off with criticism?

Leida: Explain with different examples, and lots of humor. Be serious but with a kind of humorous talk--even make jokes, or make a fool out of yourself, but this talk has to be on a human level and not with a teaching attitude. They don’t want to be taught. They want a dialogue, so you also have to listen to them. Besides, it is also very interesting to know their arguments because it helps you to strengthen your arguments.

Sherrie: What about the short time factor? How do you capture their attention when so often you have such a short opportunity for face-time.

Leida: You just have to be bold in your message.

Sherrie: How do people capture your attention?

Leida: Say something others haven’t said before. I believe in human conversation. Talk about the kids or something so you feel connected with the people. For example, when you are in these kind of meetings at the UN, and they are drinking their coffee, there are a lot of informal opportunities. If you join an organization and get the accreditation to enter the building, then you can go to these kind of meetings and engage in the informal coffee times at the UN. If you go to the European Commission you can just go in and show your identity card. When there are meetings of the European Parliament, it is not a big deal to see those persons….

Sherrie: Seriously? So, if the European Commission is having meetings when someone from our group is traveling in Europe, they could just ‘stop in’ and informally lobby members during their coffee hour?Leida: Sure! Thousands of businesses are there all of the time with the one goal of lobbying the European Commission. In Brussels, we have the Brussels-based organizations, but it is just a fraction of the businesses there lobbying them. So, most of the time, people working there are happy to see someone from the non-profit sector because it provides an alternative perspective. You would not be taking the floor, but as an observer, you can approach them during coffee break and talk to them about the issues. But, of course, it is always interesting to find your channels. You will be more effective if you can work through people who

are known. If you say, “I am here because I am involved in whatever organization (that they know),” they are more willing to listen. Have concrete things with you that you can use. It is not just about having an inspiring talk, it is also about giving them tools...like I did with the ecological debt concept. Give them a tool that they can use in their work.

Sherrie: What things do you take in these conversations?

Leida: I always take my business card and I ask for their business cards. Have two-page leaflets...not a publication or article. Something small that is easy to read but not big research works or publications because they don’t have the time to read those. At the UN, it is also good to say that this and that country have an interest in what you are lobbying for. Then they are more interested because they don’t want to remain stupid. It is a way of fostering healthy competition. Try to meet with multiple stakeholders, and then let each know the others are listening. It is more important to approach people who aren’t convinced yet.

Sherrie: What do you do when you can see you are losing someone?

Leida: I make a joke. Or I’ll say “Are you married?”

Sherrie: Do you bat your eyes too? (laughter)

Leida: Yes, I use a lot of jokes. It depends upon who it is, but sometimes I use my female charms; sometimes I make jokes about men (if it is a woman)!

Sherrie: What is one of the more embarrassing moments?

Leida: With the head of (cont’d)

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(Steiner cont’d) the US delegation, John Matuzcak, who wanted to hit me.

Sherrie: Why am I not surprised? What happened?

Leida: Not only with me but also with one of my colleagues with the Belgian delegation. He thought I was for the Belgian government and he does not agree with the Belgian statement on sustainable production and consumption. He thinks that the American constitution says there is a freedom of acting when it comes to consuming. I said that there are limits to freedom. I said that “your freedom ends where another’s freedom begins.” He said that I was not allowed to go against the American constitution and to never say that ever again. I said, “You are not allowed to tell me never to say that ever again because there is freedom of speech as well,” and that made him angry. He was very close... too close...and very big. He physically pushed the person from the European Union almost from his chair because he said something that John didn’t agree with. The chair of the UN meeting in Geneva asked for a little more respect for each other. John is now retired. When it comes to lobbying, you want it to be a pleasurable civil encounter while also being provocative. (thoughtful pause) But in panels, I want to be straightforward and clear about what I want to say. I take a different approach in that situation. Although I know many won’t agree, in that context, it is not about persuading.

Sherrie: Are panels more of a place for teaching?

Leida: For a kind of teaching--for expressing my anger, my frustration… I mean, it is the same in that I am not lecturing on these kind

of things to make friends. Many will applaud but others will say, ‘What nonsense is that?” From the start, when it comes to panel presentations, I will not find the way in between. Maybe I will do that when talking face-to-face, but not when I am on stage. For me, when I talk face-to-face, I also try to listen to them.

Sherrie: How do you respond if they disagree with you face-to-face?

Leida: I just leave it. Even if it is not directly related to my question, I leave it because I want to understand where they are coming from. I try never to say that they are talking nonsense because they have their reasons and it is important to respect that. Listen and present them critical questions so that they start to think about their own arguments and begin to question themselves. Sometimes, when I talk with business people, I say, “OK, you are defending the interests of your business, which is your right. But, I am defending the interests of other groups.” I make it clear that we are all playing our roles and let them know I understand that. Once they have had a chance to do their job as a business person, then I ask what they think as a person. What do they think as a father or mother of a family? I show that we are all playing our roles and then go on to create space for conversation beyond the role. Let them do their role, defend their company, and then help them feel their thoughts as a father/mother, citizen, as a spiritual person, as a community member, as a human… They are more likely to hear you at that point. Remember, they are being paid to defend the company, so they are just doing their job. So, let them do their job, and then help them go beyond it. Find some way to get connected…

Sherrie: Oh dear, you mean, ‘small talk?’ My children tell me I have no idea how to do that. Can you help me out here? How do you make those personal connections?

Leida: I talk about traveling around the world. When I really don’t know what else to say, I just say, “I like your dress” or something. (laughter) When they are from other countries, just ask about their country. Where are you coming from? What kind of things do you eat? How do you say (whatever) in your language, etc. Small talk…If I really feel that they don’t have any interest, I move on. If all those little tricks have no results, then I just leave it. Or, if they don’t respect me… you feel those things and they roll their eyes and look around...I move on.

Sherrie: Have you ever been surprised that someone heard you when you thought they didn’t ?

Leida: Oh, yes! There are also professionals in faking… Because of their role, they can’t show it. Often, they say, “Yes, you are right,” but then they give a whole list of points as to why they can’t do that (for whatever reason). At that point, it is important for me to find if those reasons are real or not. Then I have to learn how I change my strategy to avoid these kind of blockers. So, it is in our interest to listen to them. Most of the people are of good will. I still believe in human kind and that they are willing to do these kinds of things--that they also care about the environment and future generations. We as society are totally locked into our system, so I also have to learn “where are the blockers?” They know better where the blockers are than I do because they are working in the system. When someone writes you off, it is an opportunity. Sure, you also have those who just want to make profit; just leave them

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there. But there are many who are of good will, so ask them to give you their reasons.

Sherrie: So, have you thought of any more stories as we wind up our wonderful conversation?

Leida: Ah yes, here’s one. When I was on one of the panels on broad sustainable development, the guy sitting next to me was the one who had to promote the 3% GDP economic growth strategy. Someone from the audience asked me, “Are you ever getting bored with arguing with people so obsessed with GDP growth?” I said, “Yes, of course but everybody knows that it is difficult to argue with a drug addict. It is just as hard to argue with someone who is a GDP growth addict.”

Sherrie: And he was sitting right there?

Leida: Right next to me. So, it was a kind of showing that sometimes you just can’t argue with people. Then, after the panel, someone from the Dutch government came up to me from the environmental ministry, and he said, “It is funny you made the connection with the drug addictions” because they had just had a meeting with people who work with drug addicts to ask them what triggers them to kick the habit. They found out that drug addicts find it difficult to leave the drugs--not because they are afraid of going cold turkey but because of the insecurity of what comes after that. It is the same with our GDP addictions. GDP addicts are not so much afraid of the social transformation; it is about what comes after that because we don’t know what the world looks like without the GDP growth focus.

Sherrie: Very thought provoking. It has been a pleasure and honor to benefit from your contributions to Agape’s 2013 Political Camp.

INTERLUDIO: Dios se enamora de su creaciónen tus ojosY todo en derredor se desmantelapara danzar la afabilidad de su cuerpo.Pasa como bailarina moviendosu vestido entre las estacionese instantes de tu alientodeja suspendido en tu boca. El Dios escondido aparece en tu miraday su rostro perfuma tus mejías de compasión y ternuraEl sabor de uva se oye en tus labiosentonando la embriaguez de un suspiro. Toda fealdad pinceló tus parpados pintando la imagen perdida de mi almay el pensamiento fugaz de este día,se volvieron eternidades en tus pupilas. No resisto el fuego de tus lindos ojos,aun ausente tiemblo sin cordura porque a Dios recuerdo en tus mejíasy mi nombre pronunciado en tus labiosY tu nombre pronunciado en la creacion fue capaz de abrir los puños de mi almafuertemente cerrados, capaz de mirarte siempre con paz.

! ! ! By Jeremías Pérez

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Agape Interviews by Lindsey Mercer and Nino KurtanidzeSteven Owino is a 31 year old man from Nairobi, Kenya. He is an acrobat, artist, and painter. He likes to come to the International Camp at Agape to talk about important political and social issues with people from all over the world.

He first learned about Agape in 2008 and first participated in 2009. In addition to participating in sessions, he also helps teacher acrobatics in a daily workshop with three of his colleagues.

He likes this place because of its natural beauty and the social value he receives here. In his free time at Agape, he likes to talk to many different people from all over the world, and dance with friends. When he gets a chance, he likes to sleep and have some alone time.

His favorite session during this camp has been talking about technology and how it affects community. His favorite acrobatic stunt is “all of them.”

He believes that love never ends – Agape.

Jessica Clay is a 35 year old woman from California. Currently, she is in seminary to be a Unitarian Universalist minister. She originally was an Occupational Therapist but felt the calling to become a minister.

She is incredibly grateful for the opportunity being here at Agape and this is her first time here. Her favorite thing to do this week has been conversing with many people from all over the world, learning about their cultures, politics, countries, and lives has been really enriching to her.

She believes Agape means love, international community building, striving for justice, and making friends.

She already has a desire to return to Agape for the international camps every year, and plans to bring home everything she has learned here to share to empower and inspire others.Because of the carbon market, she has learned not to buy Mitsubishi, Hitachi, and Toshiba products. These companies are trying to build nuclear power plants in other countries. She suggests to buy Panasonic and Sharp products.

She believes that love never ends. If she didn’t then she wouldn’t be so hopeful. – Agape.

Jessica wrote this poem during the hike on Wednesday and wanted to share this. The Group that Turned Back:

They tried with all their might / They put up a strong fightBut on their feet they were not light / And so they turned back

Don’t give them any slack

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Agape Interviews by Lindsey Mercer and Nino Kurtanidze

Jacob Zucchi is a (almost) 28 year old man from Milan, Italy. He is studying and finishing his degree.

He works at Agape in the Hosting Committee as a volunteer. He learned about Agape when he was a little kid and eventually lived here. He first came here in 1996 to work at a youth camp and later became staff. He returns to Agape every year.

A typical day for Jacob starts at 8:30 in the morning and has a meeting with the staff at the camp to make sure they are ready for the day. He has many obligations at Agape including providing transportation for guests, and technology services for sessions. His one would be for everyone to learn how to turn their headphones off.

He likes to play the guitar, is addicted to candy crush saga, and communicate with friends. His two favorite bands are Coheed and Cambria.

He believes that love never ends. - Agape

Andrea Puttilli is a 24 year old male from Turin, Italy. He studies history at a university in Turin. He currently is participating in Campo Lavoro at Agape Ecumenico Centro in Prali, Italy. He says he is passionate about Agape because he has been coming to Agape since he was 6 years old. He also said, “Agape is special to me because I met my girlfriend Dominica here.” On a typical day, Andrea wakes up at 7:30 in the morning and helps prepare breakfast in the morning for the camp and helps clean up afterwards. He later helps set up the lunch and dinner meals. He can be spotted with a mop or broom on the property, too. He plans to work in the bar next week. Andrea likes to play guitar, sing, play football and volleyball, and likes to party with friends. He believes that love never ends – Agape.

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-- Luca Barbini“Cari giornalisti, vi voglio e vi devo anche mettere in guardia contro la brutale idea di molte leadershp compresa quella italiana di sfruttare illegalmente il giornalismo televisivo e radiofonico di inchiesta, per farne un proprio sonnifero mentale allo scopo di intontire soprattutto i cittadini più svegli e fargli credere che non siano mai scoppiati degli scandali giudiziari. Ve lo dico, perché qui entra in gioco la vostra credibilità e l’accusa che vi si potrà o meglio che vi viene mossa ancora adesso è di avere detto parole del tipo “Siate maggioranza.” Come nel caso dello sciocco reporter Fido Pass – Pass in “Elianto” di S. Benni del ’96 (1996) che tratta le edizioni del telegiornale della “RAI” come se fossero dei telequiz per indagare sul pensiero politico dei telespettatori tristalliani negandogli: acqua, gas e luce elettrica se vengono considerati degli infedeli e voi potreste anche rischiare di avere polemizzato in modo fasullo contro dei manifestanti onesti e cortesi che hanno visto tutta l’ipocrisia in modo molto chiaro durante la vita di tutti i giorni.” “E ricordatevi se vogliamo credere in un futuro vero dobbiamo capire che il governo si sta comportando come un aspirapolvere malfunzionante che aspira sia lo sporco del nostro paese, cioè il crimine che i diritti fondamentali, ossia le cose utili che potremo e dovremo ancora sfruttare al meglio. Forse dovremo spegnere questo aspirapolvere e portarlo a riparare se non vogliamo che risucchi anche le persone che la

passano o forse sarebbe meglio dire che l’hanno passata e vada a spasso a seminare il panico fra la gente, cioè che diventi un governo del XXI secolo (2000) che se non verrà riportato alla regolarità prima possibile, si metterà nei panni dei grandi governi assoluti europee ed extraeuropee del XX secolo (‘900) trattando i giornalisti – reporter, cioè voi decisi a non fare più i burattini dicendo il falso in voce degli uomini e delle donne più forti di chi li ha votati come degli arnesi non graditi dopo tanti anni, ma questo lo ha detto anche C. Maltese che con la tecnica di un insegnante insicuro e disturbato da un alunno che si è sempre beffato di lui quando è stato sgridato per i suoi modi di fare da sbruffone durante gli studi, ultimamente ha detto che sia noi che voi come paese siamo cascati dalle nuvole per capire di essere diplomaticamente ammalati e che tutto si riallacciava al nostro passato storico –politico o se l’abbiamo capito, lo abbiamo fatto quando ormai era troppo tardi ed abbiamo avuto la propensione a credere che tutto provenisse: da un altro pianeta – a causa di un’entità altrui, da un mondo di fiaba - dalle marachelle di certi elfi o vada a sapersi. Insomma siamo stati affetti da una bella sindrome di Peter Pan con i fiocchi, di fronte alla quale la nostra medicina ha dovuto dire “Chiudo il becco.” Come se una qualunque autorità glie l’avesse intimato. Quindi ecco, perché alcuni fra di voi che all’inizio del loro lavoro hanno spesso trattato il tema dell’economia, da quando è scoppiata questa crisi

politico-culturale alcuni di voi non sono più stati né considerati credibili né letti, mentre altri hanno continuato a provare simpatia per i potenti più distaccati ai dilemmi della gente comune. Perciò dite alle vostre celluline grigie di essere sempre attive quando state per scrivere e pubblicare un articolo su qualsiasi quotidiano per evitare di trattare il tema della politica servendomi di un linguaggio eccessivamente adulatorio e privo di autocritica che è indispensabile come gli abiti. Fate di queste mie sagge ed utili parole un vostro manuale del giornalismo.”

APPELLO PER I GIORNALISTI.IL PREDATORE DELLA PROPAGANDA.BADATE A NON SEMBARE DEI VENDUTI ALLA LEADERSHIP ITALIANA PIU’ TRAVIATA.

Luciano Kovacs protests corrupt corporations and politics.By Ruth Roque

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10 de agosto de 2013. Agape, Prali. La calma en la que vivía este pueblo fue trastocada ayer cuando el Consejo de la Ciudad convocó a una reunión vecinal p a r a p r e s e n t a r , j u n t o a representantes de la empresa interesada, el proyecto de extracción de gas de esquisto o gas shale mediante el proceso de Fracking o fracturación hidráulica.

Para los que se preguntan en qué consiste, se trata de la perforación del terreno y la inyección a presión de un fluidocompuesto de agua con

a rena s i l i cea y /o g rav i l l a c e r á m i c a , y u n o s 6 0 0 compuestos químicos (de los que las compañías del ramo se niegan a declarar algunos, bajo “secreto comercial”), con el objetivo de ampliar las fracturas existentes en el substrato rocoso que encierra el gas favoreciendo así su salida hacia el exterior. Algo similar ocurre en el proceso de extracción de petróleo en aguas profundas, un proceso que por ejemplo, ha dejado graves daños en el ecosistema marino del Golfo de México, con la diferencia de que en las plataformas inyectan nitrógeno

para faci l i tar la sal ida del petróleo.

En su breve intervención inicial, la presidenta del Consejo exhorto a todos los participantes, sin excepción, a conducirse con paz y tranquilidad, casi como una premonición de lo que vendría. De inmediato otorgo el u s o d e l a v o z a l o s representantes de la empresa.

La decisión anterior causo molestia entre la población, al p e r m i t i r q u e p r i m e r o s e expresaran los empresarios y no los expertos que estaban en contra de la iniciativa. De nada

CRÓNICA DE UNA ENTREGA CASI ANUNCIADAINFORMAR DE UN JUEGO QUE ERA DEMASIADO REAL

BY RUTH ROQUE

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( R o q u e c o n t ’ d ) s i r v i ó . L a empresa, con biblia en mano, fundamento su proyecto en ideas rel igiosas que defienden el “derecho” de explotar la tierra por mandato divino que se le otorgo al hombre; idea muy contraria y bastante retrógrada a la que hoy en día muchas iglesias difunden. Esta afirmación origino que los empresarios recibieran abucheos a tal grado que los obligaron a abandonar el recinto.

La situación empezaba a salirse de control. Mientras una parte de la población expuso pancartas con consignas en contra del proyecto; otra parte p e d í a q u e r e g r e s a r a n l o s representantes de la empresa ya que necesitaban trabajo y dinero. Era un escenario donde reinaba la confusión, ni siquiera las personas con una larga relación de amistad o parentesco fueron inmunes a la d iv is ión que imperaba.

Cuando la pres identa intento recuperar el control de la situación, el descontento social exploto. La pregunta que rondaba como un fantasma era por qué el Consejo de la Ciudad actuaba con tanta condescendencia hacia los representantes de la empresa y relegaba el derecho de los c i udadanos y ac t i v i s t as a expresarse.

Cuando los empresarios solicitaron regresar al recinto y el uso de la palabra para continuar exponiendo sus argumentos, un activista le contesto que solo habían escuchado la biblia, arrancando las carcajadas de los presentes. Ciertamente, lo único que había podido esgrimir en todo

su discurso eran ideas erróneas extraídas de la biblia para poder justificar la explotación a la que someterá a los e lementos naturales de Agape y quizás también para ca lmar a su consciencia. En un intento de ganar adeptos presumió de que el proyecto iba a crear un millón de empleos, directos e indirectos, una cifra totalmente ridícula y falsa; minutos después rectifico y dijo que sólo se crearían dos mil, aunque aseguro que el salario rondaría los cinco mil dólares mensuales, dato que en un instante hizo que una cantidad i m p o r t a n t e d e h a b i t a n t e s c o n s i d e r a d a a t r a c t i v a l a propuesta.

I n v e s t i g a c i o n e s h a n develado los daños provocados por la fracturación hidráulica para la extracción de gas. Por ejemplo, es habitual que junto con la arena se incluyan multitud de compuestos químicos cuya finalidad es favorecer la fisuración o incluso la disolución de la roca, y que contaminan tanto el terreno como las aguas subterráneas. También el enorme consumo de agua (35 millones de litros por pozo), que seguramente será tomado de los ríos existentes en Agape, en este aspecto por ejemplo, se cuenta por millares a los pueblos y ciudades de los Estados Unidos de América, en los que se llevan a cabo este proceso, que han perdido su agua para siempre y con ello toda la fauna y flora del lugar, con afectación de ríos incluso. De igual manera, y en contra de la teoría de que este proceso disminuye la emisión de efectos de gas invernadero, un informe realizado por la Universidad de

Cornell (Ithaca, EEUU) denuncia que este proceso puede emitir incluso más gases de efecto invernadero (entre 18 y 23 g de CO2) que el que produce el uso del carbón.

Un activista señalo el gran valor turístico que tiene Agape y los exhorto a defender sus tierras, ya que la afectación de ese proceso no solo sería a los elementos naturales sino que ob l i ga r ía a l as f am i l i as a trasladarse a otro poblado debido a la gestión de residuos. Un único pozo, perforando verticalmente h a s t a d o s k i l ó m e t r o s y ho r i zon ta lmen te has ta 1 .2 kilómetros remueve alrededor de 140 metros cúbicos de tierra. Empiece a hacer cuentas sobre la afectación que solo este paso causaría en la flora y fauna de la zona, ni hablar de la afectación social al no poder mantener la capacidad de otorgar tierras a las personas que necesiten una casa. Lo anterior, tarde o temprano, originaría una crisis política.

Un proceso plagiado de irregularidades desde el principio no podía terminar de otra forma, al menos no mejor de cómo empezó. En un inusual resultado, con un empate de siete mil votos para cada bando, el voto decisivo quedo a cargo de la presidenta del Consejo. Con celeridad se decidió por aprobar el proyecto con ciertas restricciones: la empresa pagará el 60 por ciento de regalías al poblado y no se permitirá el uso de químicos para la obtención del gas. Pareciera que nadie le in formo a la presidenta del Consejo, que la arena que se utiliza para la extracción, incluye dos por ciento

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( R o q u e c o n t ’ d ) d e a d i t i v o s compuestos hasta por 500 productos químico y que, a veces, el agua está tratada con aditivos.

Antes de que se llevara a cabo la votación, quien escribe hablo con un miembro del Consejo sobre la necesidad de que se integrara un comité científico para dar a conocer l o s d a ñ o s q u e o c a s i o n a l a fracturación hidráulica en el entorno ecológico. El miembro del Consejo, quien pidió el anonimato por temor a represalias, me aseguro que ya se había tomado la decis ión de convocar ese comité, pero como muchos habitantes de Agape, fue grande la sorpresa al conocer que no se iba a convocar al comité y, peor aún, que habían decidido aprobar la iniciativa.

O t r a e x p l i c a c i ó n p a r a comprender porque se aprobó el proyecto es que, según fuentes anónimas, un miembro del Consejo fue sobornado para votar e incidir a favor del proyecto. Lo anterior parecería extraño si no fuera porque con el mayor cinismo la compañía intento sobornar a pobladores y activistas en el mismo instante en que se llevaba a cabo la reunión vecinal.

E l b e n e p l á c i t o d e l a s autoridades significa el incremento de l t ráfico en las car re te ras existentes así como creación de más, esto implica contaminación visual y auditiva para todos los que habitamos Agape.

Aun es posible revertir la decisión del gobierno. En este momento, la comunidad debe mostrarse fuerte, debemos velar por el futuro de los que vienen atrás de nosotros, si no lo hacemos ahora, quizás mañana sea demasiado tarde.

NATURE by Ndugga Sarah

NATURE is CRYING The world keeps changing, And constantly re-arranging Seas, Oceans to Mountain Peaks Nature is Crying She moves and speaks

but no one listens Nature is Crying She teaches us how to last but MANKIND is so smart and

most times Blind Looking up at the mighty trees, the experience of NATURE is awesome Treat her with DISTINCTION or you face EXTINCTION FOREVER!!!!!!!!!!!

Teeth of LionBy Filippo Duva

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By Jenn Lindsay

Many of us are familiar with Mahatma Gandhi’s admonition to “be the change you wish to see in the world.” Many of us do our best to be “good people” and to “improve the world,” but these aims can dwindle in vagueness without genuine effort in the department of personal development. In fact, many have written that successful activism is predicated on the groundedness of one’s identity and spiritual commitments. Before you can discuss shared values within and beyond your community you must discern and articulate your values and reasons for being involved in a community and in the social movements with which it engages. Interfaith activist Christopher Stedman writes, “Religious and nonreligious identities are perhaps our most important social capital, for they signify our most central values, which inform how we act in the world. When we do not engage

them, we lose out on something fundamentally important.” Before one can become an active agent of their ideals, they must become authentically connected to--and aware of--the vision and resources at hand, and their motivations for seeking them out. This article presents a curriculum for a small-group program to clarify personal commitments to faith-based ecological, economic, and social justice activism, within and beyond the small group." For an individual, knowing where one stands helps one stay rooted when distractions and discouragement come along. Think of identity like sea legs--if one learns to stay rooted to the ship deck, one continues steadily pursuing goals whether the ocean is stormy or calm. When developing official church policies about the Christian call to interfaith dialogue in the 1960s, Vatican 2 officials wrote of the role of the individual, calling for a sound Christian spirituality. In contexts of social activism and dialogue, Cardinal Edward Cassidy writes, Christians should first and foremost

“deepen their faith, purify their attitudes, clarify their language and render their worship more and more authentic.” Robert Wuthnow writes of the benefits of taking initiative to develop a strong and clear sense of self: “Deciding who they are gives people a sense that they are in charge.” Indeed, writes Wuthnow, reflective social activism “Depends on strength of character and knowing oneself.” The process of individuation, of telling your own story and being contemplative and intentional in your articulation of fundamental ideals, serves as an investment in both oneself and in the project at hand, and leads to social action that is both energetic and authentic. Rabbi Brad Hirschfield writes, “We are all authentic. The word authentic comes from the Greek root auto: self. It doesn’t come from the outside in, but moves from the inside out.”" This article suggests “starter questions” for “What Kind of Activism Are You?”, a reflective, narrative-driven small group discussion, which aims to help participants sharply

Bear or not to Beer? By Filippo Duva

Take Home Activity: What Kind of an Activist Are You?

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(Lindsay cont’d) articulate the origins and character of their social ideals, commitments, and resources. This activity develops a fundamental basis for a flourishing social action program, as such intimate circles as small discussion groups provide “support for individual expression and recognition while at the same time nourishing experiences of belonging which attest to the authenticity and value of personal religiosity.” The intimate circle is a crucible for identity development. Sometimes activists with a global vision are wary of the insularity or separatism of the small group, but just as private identity exploration can be fueled by a fundamental impulse of care and connection, small groups can act as an incubator to coax out, socialize, and then construct a moral framework global justice. The nuclear family unit or the local community plays a crucial part in identity formation. It functions to nourish and revitalize the religious and spiritual aspects of personal identity, and can provide resources--both language and social or physical assets--for realizing humanitarian pursuits." The fundamental methodology of this activity is “storytelling.” Storytelling is a fundamental component of what professor Douglas Ezzy from the University of Tasmania calls “mutual recognition,” “the necessity of recognizing as well as being recognized by the other.” The paradox of mutual recognition lies in the equally true notions that self-confidence arises out of a sense of independence, separate from others--and yet, self-confidence arises when we are recognized by others. Thus the relational practice of recognition is integral to a sense of independence, self-confidence, and grounded values and personal identity. Mutual recognition is well-forged in the process of storytelling, because a personal narrative reveals many aspects of identity and

affiliation, value formation and intimate attachments. Simply put, if I hear somebody speak frankly about their Mom and Dad, their childhood hometown, the music they love, and their hopes and dreams, I will be more likely to engage respectfully in friendship and dialogue about our difference and commonalities." Narratives also provide a bridge to others, in allowing the speaker to feel “witnessed,” and allowing the listener to recognize themselves in the other’s story. As Sociologist Marshall Ganz writes, “Stories are what enable us to communicate our values to one another.” As Christopher Stedman writes, in his interfaith activism “storytelling became a central part of how we communicated with one another.” Founder of the Interfaith Youth Corps Eboo Patel wrote in Acts of Faith that “when thousands of people discover that their story is also someone else's story, they have the chance to write a new story together.” Finally, in the words of Native novelist and scholar Thomas King, “the truth about stories is that that’s all we are…Want a different ethic? Tell a different story.”" The “What Kind of Activist Are You?” model was developed by the staff of the 2012 International Political Camp at Agape Centro Ecumenico in Prali, Italy and continued in 2013. The theme is Toward Eco-justice: Vision and Praxis; an assortment of panels, workshops, storytelling sessions, interactive role plays, social gatherings, and small group discussions revolving around the “ecojustice” theme. The Agape Staff recognized that a shift in consciousness first requires an internal shift--an intentional choice made by a committed agent, an experience of spiritual “calling,” or a shift of conscience that demands reconsidered identity orientation and renewed action.

" Small groups were limited to 8 participants apiece and 1.5 hours are allotted for the discussion. A staff facilitator presides over each group to present questions and ensure that each participant had the “air time” they need and that no participants dominate the discussion. When the groups first convene, the facilitator requests agreement from all participants to confidentiality, in order to encourage free responses from participants and a sense of mutual responsibility and protectiveness. The questions can either be presented all at once, allowing participants to respond once in long-form narrative; or questions can be presented one-by-one, allowing participants to give fuller answers to each separate question (the latter option is more time-consuming). Between the presentation of questions and participant responses, participants are encouraged to take notes or “free write” journal entries to advance or record thinking. At the end of the discussion, participants meditate on the theme of “where do we go from here?” They are asked to write something to read aloud or speak freely; each participant then has four minutes to state their commitments and proposals for how they would “bring home” the discussion on “What Kind of Activist Are You?”" Some of the suggested questions are private or difficult to answer honestly, even to oneself. They are asked in the spirit of Protestant social ethicist Reinhold Niebuhr, who wrote that social transformation cannot begin until individuals take an honest accounting of themselves--their assets as well as personal weaknesses. Justice is not possible until people “stop pretending the possession of a goodness which they do not have.” Indeed, writes Christopher Stedman, in social activism, “intellectual humility and self-awareness goes a long way.”

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“What kind of activist are you?” small group discussion questions

* What social (ecological, economic, community, health) issues are most important to you personally? What changes would you like to see happen locally and globally?

* What have you done about it so far? * Where do your humanitarian values and interest in activism come

from? Why do you care?* What connection have you found between your religion/spirituality

and your humanitarian values and activism?* What are you doing to contribute to the problem you are most

concerned about? * What are the implicit desires guiding your actions and words in this

moment? Are you acknowledging your own intentions?* What are you good at? What’s your skill set?* What are your limitations?* How far will you take your activism as an individual? * What keeps you going when you are discouraged?

Ojos by Jeremias Pérez

Caminamos confiados sobre el camino de la vida, de repente vemos la belleza en un rostro y nos sentimos perdido, ya no sabemos el camino. Luego nos sentimos tontos, porque queremos ver esa imagen en todos lados: sobre las flores, entre las uvas, en las hierbitas, en los campos, por las montañas y en la mirada tierna de los niños. Todo es un sentido poetico. Ese es el arte de la poesia, ver cosas que nadie ve, solo los ojos de quienes tienen esa gracia misteriosa. Lo que vemos no es lo que vemos, sino lo que somos, imágenes reflejado por el espejo de nuestros ojos. Podemos ver en un vitral nuestra alma, en un crepusculo nuestro corazón, todo puede suceder en los ojos. Todo depende de la forma de ver. No basta abrir la ventana para ver los campos y los ríos, hay que tener unos buenos ojos. Dios entra por los ojos, y el amor se traspasa por ello. En esto reside la gracia de Dios, en la capacidad de vernos siempre eternos, imagen de su esencia impregnados en nuestros rostros y en el rostro de los demas.Cuando nuestros ojos cambian, la calle donde pasamos siempre, de pronto da a otro mundo, el jardín acaba de nacer, el arbol cabia sus hojas, todo el mundo cambia de pronto. Todo está bañado por una luz antiquísima y al mismo tiempo acaba de nacer. Nada cambió, sólo se cambiaron los ojos.

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Waste disposal: WaterandWaste disposal: Soil

By Filippo Duva

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Fracking at Agape!Fracking at Agape!City Council Stanolind Oil Company The Citizens of Agape

Activists Contra Fracking meet City Council

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Agape Interviews by Faida Bahati and Ndugga Sarah

Turtle and AGapi solve a mystery….By Filippo Duva

Fiada Bahati (Congo) and Ndugga Sarah (Uganda) interviewed several Agape participants about their experience at Agape, asking them to evaluate their experience and what they would recommend to improve our international political summits.

Eric from the USA had a chance to build a relationship with others at Agape and get to know one another. He especially felt that the group discussions were great. In the future, he urges Agape participants to continue to be authentic with each other and between different cultures.

Chiara, an interpreter from Italy, sometimes struggled with her interpretations since people come from all over the world with many different accents. The most difficult part was with the Skype sessions because of the technical problems on both Skype and interpretation sides. Nevertheless, she still got to know more people from different cultures. “Every time there is AGAPE, I learn something new.” She wishes the Political Camp timeline could be increased!

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Cont’d Agape Interviews by Faida Bahati and Ndugga

Noah from the US was reminded of the importance and urgency to make change in the world. He learned how to listen and share experiences, and thought it was great to meet different people from allover the world. He was happy that the weather in Prali is very beautiful! He also wishes the Political Camp timeline could be increased!

Shibi Peter from India came to Agape and to Europe for the very first time in his life. Agape exceeded his expectations. He learned that ecological concerns are not only political concerns--the problem is more complex and on more levels that he knew. He feels that his being part of AGAPE, and sharing his experience, could contribute to attitude change in India. His only recommendation was that the program should include more speakers and participants from outside Italy.

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por Nicolasa Mendoza

En Africa y América Latina, no hay Paises pobres, hay paises robados, s a q u e a d o s , e x p l o t a d o s y marginados, pero, no pobres.

Es triste que en pleno siglo XXI inicia una nueva invasion para los pueblos del tercer mundo, este tipo de invasion es denominado como NEOLIBERALISMO que solo le interesa acumular bienes y cada vez ser mas ricos a costa de los elementos naturales, dejando al planeta desnudo y sin vida.

El Centro Ecuménico Agape, nos hace la invitación de unirnos a esta causa hacia una Justicia Ecológica d e f e n d i e n d o l o s d e r e c h o s territoriales de todo el mundo y que desde la riqueza de nuestras diferencias construyamos el mundo verde que todos sonamos.

Perché questo volontariato in Agape? -- questa parta ha scritto per Maria Rossi (Milano)

Dopo aver te rmina to la m ia formazione universitaria nel 2012 ho deciso, dopo 17 anni di lontananza, di ritornare nel paese dove sono nata, cioè Santiago Atitlán del dipartimento de Sololá, al fine di l a v o r a r e a d u n p r o g e t t o d i educazione alternativa, creato unitamente a padre Clemente, nell’ambito dei Diritti Umani e Diritti deI Popoli Indigeni. Questo progetto è accreditato dal Proyecto de Desarrollo Santiago “PRODESSA”,

ed ha l’obiettivo di formare leader capaci di lavorare per una società più degna e giusta. Abbiamo cominciato questo piccolo progetto con 47 adulti dai 18 ai 55 anni d’età.

Nei primi tre mesi di att ività iniziammo ad analizzare il contesto sociale, economico, religioso e culturale di Santiago, e ci siamo trovati coinvolti in una lotta religiosa e culturale molto forte. Come istituzione abbiamo partecipato per difendere la nostra cultura, che alcuni leader della chiesa cattolica, guidati da sacerdoti della OPUS DEI, volevano distruggere; nel contempo, partecipammo ad altre lotte contro lo sfruttamento minerario e geotermico, facemmo parte di una assemblea generale tenutasi il 20 di o t t o b r e 2 0 1 2 a l l a q u a l e parteciparono circa 5000 persone.

A c a u s a d e l l a n o s t r a l o t t a cominciarono le minacce ai leader d e l p r o g e t t o , i l m i n i s t e r o dell’educazione di Sololá, che non era d ’accordo con la nost ra ideologia, lo ha chiuso ed abbiamo dovuto ricorrere alla Procura dei Diritti Umani. Nonostante questo, quest’anno abbiamo 120 studenti adulti e 5 minorenni che non avrebbero potuto pagarsi gli studi in altre scuole.

Tuttavia, io continuavo a pensare: che fare affinché il mio popolo possa vivere in pace ed armonia, affinché tutti possano tenere le stesse opportunità senza distinzione di colore, classe sociale e meno che meno religione, affinché tutti ci possiamo considerare fratelli e

s o r e l l e , a f fi n c h é p o s s i a m o recuperare l’armonia non solo tra esseri umani ma anche con Madre Natura. Così, con questo sogno in testa, dissi a padre Clemente che mi sarebbe piac iuto organizzare un’assemblea ecumenica, con la partecipazione del vescovo Álvaro Ramazini che è un religioso cattolico che sta lottando per la riconciliazioni tra le popolazioni indigene del Guatemala, con il signor Vitalino Ximilox che è leader delle chiese protestanti, e con il capo indigeno di Atitlán che è leader dei sacerdoti e delle guide della spiritualità maya.

Fu dopo questa mia proposta che padre Clemente mi disse: “A volte ti ho parlato di AGAPE, un centro ecumenico di Torino che lavora in diversi campi e possiamo trovare agganci che ci aiutino a contattarlo, sarebbe interessante che facessi lì un’esperienza per migliorare ed ampliare il nostro sogno di realizzare un progetto con una ideologia più aperta nel nostro popolo.

Dopo vari contatti ed dopo aver inviato in mio curriculum vitae, mi hanno accettato. All’arrivo mi hanno proposto di partecipare in attività nel campo politico delle donne, nel campo internazionale e nel campo teologico internazionale, e sono stata entusiasta di poter condividere l a m i a e s p e r i e n z a c o m e Guatemalteca e come abitante di Atitlán.

Questi i motivi dunque del mio volontariato in Agape: poter avere una esperienza differente che rafforzasse le mie conoscenze per

NUEVA INVASION

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(Mendoza cont’d) poter realizzare con il mio popolo qualcosa che, anche se non sarà come Agape, lavorerà comunque sull’ecumenismo per far sì che le nostre differenze diventino una ricchezza ed una benedizione.

Sono convinta che non sarà affatto facile lavorare come comunità ecumenica, e non sarà facile soprattutto per me donna in un sistema machista dove noi donne non veniamo considerate in grado di lavorare ed essere leader di un gruppo, così mi è stato detto nelle varie minacce ricevute lo scorso anno. Però sono sicura che a poco a poco riusciremo a dimostrare che quando c’è la volontà le cose poi si possono realizzare.

Ringrazio quindi con tutto il cuore il cielo e la terra per l’opportunità che ho avuto nel Centro Ecumenico AGAPE, nonché alcuni amici della solidarietà italiana che hanno aiutato questo piccolo seme a crescere.

Adesso ritornerò con più energia per far sì che il mio Guatemala diventi realmente un paese multiculturale, multietnico, multilingue, e non lasciar morire il nome del paese “dell’eterna primavera”.

Grazie Maria per avermi fatto questa intervista ed avermi ispirato a scrivere. Cordialmente.

El espacio ecumenico de Agape, campo politico con el tema de Eco-justicia.

Por Elena Gomez. Gracias al corazon del cielo, corazon de la tierra, al creador y formador, gracias al espritu de las abuelas y abuelos, nos dio la oportunidad de conocer los distintos modos de ser-estar, pensar y exisitir en el mundo-universo.Es un tema profundo porque somos de diferentes culturas, significa que tenemos diferentes maneras de ver y pintar el universo. Cada ser humano tiene su concepto y vision de plantear posibles alternativas hacia el eco-justicia en forma incluyente a la vida, conscientes que se inicia en uno mismo y se expande con la familia y la comunidad.Estamos convencidos en la contribucion del tejiido social, cada persona es un hilo de diferentes colores, que colabora para tener un tejido hermoso, sorprensivo y llena de muchas vidas, Es la experiencia vivida y compartida , con rostro y corazon de joven, hombre y mujer.

En el termino de este campamento llevamos muchas semillas que sembrar en la cosmovision maya para nosotros el maiz es el centro principal de la vida del ser humano.Un grano de maiz nunca muere porque al morir vuelve a renaceer y crecer seguir dando vida, salen muchas mazorcas, asi es este encuentro de muchos corazones crecera para dar vida a muchos seres humanos y seres vivientes y sintientes.

Somos personas anemorados en el cambio con el compromiso de acompañar nuestros pueblos con nuestros pueblos juntos vamos construyendo los caminos que soñamos.

A G A P E


Agape Centro EcumenicoBorgata Agape 1 10060 Prali (TO) Italy

phone: 39 (from abroad) 012180 75 14 [email protected]

2013 International Political CampCorriere ContributorsFaida Bahati (DRC)Luca Barbini (Italia)Filippo Duva (Italia)Elena Gomez (México)Nino Kurtanidze (Georgia)Jenn Lindsay (USA)Martina Loi (Italia)Nicolasa Mendoza (Maya Guatemalteca)Lindsey Mercer (USA)Ndugga Sarah (Uganda)Jeremías Pérez (Mexico)Ruth Roque (Mexico)Sherrie Steiner (USA)

Todo es ser

pensante y sientiente.Todo tiene vida, algún tipo de lenguaje

porque se comunicancon nosotros, tiene corazón,

ch’ulel-espíritu, todo tiene Desde este pensamiento, hay que darle

ich’el ta muk’ a todo lo existe para

un bien vivir digno! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! !! ! ! --Elena Gomez

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

Documents

Newsletter Draft 2 · Title: Newsletter Draft 2 Author: Jenn Lindsay Created Date: 8/11/2013 5:49:17 PM