15th October 2008

Miguel has experienced quite a few things in his life. The old farmer and his family were displaced eight times. Eight times he had to start a new life, to struggle for his earnings in the rainforest, to plant cacao and bananas for the market and rize and beans for their own needs. Every time after a while armed forces came – be them paramilitary or guerilla – destroyed the fields, shot the animals dead and threatened to kill him and his family.

And Miguel has also seen speakers of the villages murdered. His gentle smile, his shining eyes in the wrinkled face have stayed. Maybe this is the biggest miracle in Colombia: How again and again the joy of life comes to the surface again, healing of the terrors of the past.

All who live in San Josecito today have experienced displacement and death of near relatives. But today, on this Sunday, October 12th, the village could get an award for joy.

In the Kiosko some young Campesinos, Indios and Internationals rehearse a four voice choral. Before representatives of the Nasa Indians made a cleansing ritual to draw out the negative energies and memories of all of us.

The group of the teachers listen to a talk about alternative education.

The new Volleyball field is full of kids, sometimes some adults also are playing.

Between village and river, the group of healers are making a garden for medicinal herbs. and quite close the Technical group is building a solar dryer to conserve fruits.

Another group chisel symbols in big round stones. They shall become part of the new memorial for the murdered people, and as well a gathering place for the power of the village, which until now could manage to survive – and this in a region which has been planned for big projects by an ambitious government.

San José de Apartadó was the first of the what are now 50 Colombian peace communities, who have joint forces and put their indescrutible wish for a self-governed life on own land against the violence of Guerilla, Paramilitary, state and criminal groups.

When listening to the village speakers talking about the history, about the many tries to displace and kill the Campesinos, to block food transports, to cut them from electricity, health care, education – then it seems to be a miracle that they still exist.

But the village understood to see in every threat a new possibility, a new decision for community, for independence, for power. One hundred and eighty murdered inhabitants could not change their mind, to the opposite.

Meanwhile the village has its own education and teachers, the start of an own electricity source with solar energy, a community kitchen, a health station and it is becoming welknown, through all borders, as a symbol for nonviolent resistance.

At the moment the village of 1000 inhabitants has about 100 guests – peace workers from Colombia and throughout the world, representatives of the Indigenous resistance, representatives of other peace communities.

First 150 participants walked in an exhausting march through mud, rivers, rains and forests to the remote hamlets which are even more exposed to violence.

Now they study important areas of knowledge to survive, community building and sustainability in a "Global Campus".

The Global Campus and the peace walk was organised in a long cooperation between the peace research center 'Tamera' in Portugal and the University of Resistance in Colombia.

It is led by Sabine Lichtenfels, theologian and peace activist from Germany and Padre Javier Giraldo from Bogota.

A longer reportage with fotos is being prepared.

GRACE Pilgrimage and a Peace Training Course

in one of the most violent areas in the world, Northwest Colombia

organised by the Grace Foundation, in cooperation with the Universidad
de la Resistencia and the Peace Village of San José de Apartadó.


GRACE Pilgrimage: 01 - 05 October 2008

Creating Knowledge for a Peace Culture - Educational Course: 07 - 17 October 2008

GRACE Pilgrimage:

 
For 5 days a group of approximately 400 people from all over the world
will Walk for Peace in Colombia led by Sabine Lichtenfels, Padre Javier
Giraldo and Benjamin von Mendelssohn.
Passing through villages and hamlets surrounding the area of the peace
village San José de Apartadó, an area unprotected between the fronts of
civil war, participants will be confronted with the threatened reality
for Colombian peasants and how they can be part of developing global
peace strategies for crisis areas around the world.
Together with the inhabitants of the Peace Village and other Colombian
peace communities, each Pilgrim will show with this peace action their
commitment to create a global peace force that no longer stops at
national borders.
The Grace Pilgrimage - Colombia 2008 is the 3rd Pilgrimage led by Sabine
Lichtenfels in the name of Grace and was inspired by the long standing
cooperation between the Tamera peace research centre in Portugal and the
Peace Village San José de Apartadó in Colombia.

For more information on the Peace Village San José de Apartadó:
www.sos-sanjose.org

For more information on Tamera peace research centre:

www.tamera.org

Creating Knowledge for a Peace Culture Colombia 2008 will also see the very first event of the Global Campus Initiative - a world wide education programme bringing together theory and practice in all relevant areas of life that will support a future without war. At present the Global Campus comprises of Tamera peace research centre (Portugal), Universidad de la Resistencia (Colombia) and the Holy Land Trust (Palestine).For more information on the Global Campus: www.the-grace-foundation.org

About the Peace Community and how this action can save the lives of its inhabitants

Eleven years ago the inhabitants of San José de Apartadó, located in the Northern part of Colombia, joined forces and founded the Peace Village. Between the fronts of the civil war they maintain non-violent resistance against murder and eviction. During these years more than 170 inhabitants of the village - women, men and children - have been murdered by the military, paramilitary and the guerrillas.Despite all the attacks and threats the inhabitants of San José carry on, practice the spirit of reconciliation, and work their fields. Their vision is a Colombia without war and displacement, a positive future for their children, a self determined life in dignity and a command of ecological, technological and social know-how for a sustainable life.

The Pilgrimage and Global Campus Initiative support this vision in 2 ways:

-1. Bringing International presence to one of the most violent areas of the world. Approximately 100 internationals will take part in the pilgrimage, alongside Colombians and can act as witnesses or 'eyes of the world', both seeing firsthand the conditions for many Colombians and acting as protectors. The Pilgrimage will also be accompanied by journalists and media professionals.

2. The deepest wish of the Peace Village's inhabitants is to see a positive future for their children and education in peace professions and techniques of sustainability. For this we will begin in October a training program with a global perspective and incorporating the most important areas of life: community, sustainable technology, love and sexuality, ecology, spirituality and the political. The aim of the Global Campus is to create such programs throughout the world.

How everybody can support

1. Publish: All information about the strive for peace and about the peace communities in Colombia can raise international awareness and by this save lives.

2. Take Part - International participation is essential for all actions in Colombia as a protection circle for Colombian peasants and displaced persons who experience violations from the various factions. Taking part is also a sign of a profound Yes to being part of the Global transistion from violence to peace. For more information on participation please contact Andrea Regelmann at info@sos-sanjose.org

3. Contribute to the Colombia Pilgrimage Appeal - The Pilgrimage is a non profit initiative and donations go directly to financing both the pilgrimage and the Global Campus Initiative.

For more information on how to donate: info@sos-sanjose.org

We thank you in advance.