What is going on with Christian Peacemaker Teams

It’s been a challenging year for peacemaking! Help our teams prepare for the new year. It is the season of joy, generosity, and peace; and we are so happy to have you as a part of our CPT community. As our families and loved ones gather to watch the end of 2017 and to celebrate the hope of a new year, we ask that you keep CPT teams in your thoughts and prayers. In the past months, our teams and partners have faced difficulties and challenges. Peace, a theme of the season, at times seems a distant dream. Below we share some of the current challenges that our teams are facing. We invite you to reach out to our teams with your support. Send a message to our teams DONATE NOW to sustain our work Peaceful demonstrators hold signs reading “Jerusalem is the eternal capital of Palestine.” Palestine After Trump announced the US decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, Palestinian demonstrations have been severely repressed by the Israeli army. It is a violent time. The team is observing and monitoring as much as they possibly can, while staying safe. Campesinx farmers observe while hired men destroy their house in the eviction of El Guayabo. Colombia Police and authorities have begun to evict our partners in the Guayabo community, beginning on December 13th. It seems that it would be difficult to stop or reverse this process. The team is feeling alone as they seek ways to further support the community. Peaceful demonstrators, including teachers and governmental employees, call for the Kurdish government to step down. Iraqi Kurdistan Thousands are protesting against the government of Kurdistan, demanding that the leaders step down. Security forces are arresting both violent and non-violent protesters, and confrontations have led to multiple deaths and over one hundred wounded civilians. A CPT partner and former team member, Mohammed, was among those detained, although he is now home with his family. As all this develops, the Iraqi government continues to crack down on Kurdish regional rights and status, and Turkish air strikes  have intensified and expanded to areas near Sulaimani, where the team is located. The Lesbos team poses for a group photo in Pikpa. Lesbos (CPT Europe) The winter is a hard time for refugees, who are forced to live in poor conditions. The team is supporting local efforts to help refugees to access adequate shelter from the cold.  The team is navigating difficult dynamics as they try to support the refugees’ own initiatives for demanding their rights, in the face of increasing pressure from right wing parties who oppose migration. From the Pilgrimage for Indigenous Rights, co-led by CPT’s Indigenous Peoples Solidarity team. Indigenous Peoples Solidarity The team has been very active in supporting the adoption of Bill C-262. This bill requires the government of Canada to take all measures necessary to ensure that Canadian law is in harmony with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). It has been a long and difficult process, as the Canadian government fears that this would open long-overdue unresolved issues with indigenous communities. When we reflect on the first Christmas, we know that the Prince of Peace was also born at a time of imperialism, violence, racism and oppression. We will not lose hope. Our partners and our teams continue to show us the way of peace through their resilience. Yet, resilience is fostered through a strong community. We are asking you, our CPT family, to support our Teams in three ways: Donate: A donation of $70 can cover the costs of food for a CPT team. Or, if you are able, a gift of $800 could sustain one team member for an entire month of work. Any amount makes a life-changing difference in our work. Share a message of support: Use the button below to access a form in which you can add your voice to ours, sending words of solidarity and hope to our teams. Prayer and Share: Take time this season to pray with your community for the CPT teams and their partners, and the challenges they are facing. Send a message to our teams DONATE NOW to sustain our work As 2017 comes to an end, we grieve the violence our partners have experienced. Still, within the grief, we see hope and light, as we are blessed to have a community around the world committed to peace. From all of us at CPT, we wish you and yours a joyous holiday season. May 2018 be year of liberation, justice, and peace!