Chicago Religious Leadership Network on Latin America

Travel and Learn about Free Trade, Human Rights and Military Repression among Colombia's Indigenous and African-descendent Communities!

August 24 - September 3, 2008

Colombia has always been a rich nation in its agricultural diversity.  Control of natural resources has historically fueled conflict with a pattern of internal displacement for Afro-Colombian and indigenous communities.  Colombia's Pacific Coast, an area lush with natural resources is 80%-95% African-descendent, who alongside indigenous peoples, have inhabited these isolated territories for 400 years.  These communities have endured decades of a brutal armed conflict between guerillas, paramilitary death squads and the national army.  Right now the U.S. government is trying to push a free trade agreement with Colombia which would further jepordize the rights of indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities.  Also, since Plan Colombia began in 2000, the U.S. government has provided Colombia with over $5 billion in mostly military aid to fight the "War on Drugs" and the "War on Terror."  In light of the long term internal civil conflict in Colombia, how is the free trade agreement and U.S. military aid used or connected to these human rights violations?  These communities are calling for support from U.S. citizens to spread the word about their situation and help call for respect for their rights.

 What to expect:

• Learn about Afro-Colombian and indigenous communities struggle for territory, culture and environment.
• Meet with communities organizigin in resistance to current military and free trade policies in the provinces of Cauca and Valle de Cauca.
• Dialogue with a wide range of Colombians, including community  leaders, displaced persons and human rights defenders
• Learn how to educate and advocate to U.S. citizens and policy makers

Details:

COST:   $1300 + airfare.  Includes meals, accomodations, facilitation, translation, and transportation within Colombia

DEADLINES:   Application Deadline is July 1, with $150 deposit.  Full payment is due July 24 (deposit is part of the full payment for the delegation)

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Erica at 773-293-2964 or espilde@crln.org

 This trip is jointly organized by the following organizations:

Chicago Religious Leadership Network on Latin America (CRLN) is an interfaith education, action and advocacy network.  CRLN equips and mobilizes religious leaders and congregations to advance peace, justice and human rights in our hemisphere and engages religious communities and leaders to speak out for just U.S. policies.  www.crln.org

Witness for Peace is a politically independent, grassroots organization of people committed to nonviolence and led by faith and conscience.  Our mission is to support peace, justice and sustainable economies in the Americas by changing U.S. policies and corporate practices that contribute to poverty and oppression.  www.witnessforpeace.org

The Ecumenical Program on Central America and the Caribbean (EPICA) is a nonprofit, faith-based organization in solidarity with the poor of Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean.  EPICA has been a voice of solidarity and partner for grassroots organizations and churches in the Americas for more than 30 yeras, combining critical social analysis, theological reflection, and action for justice.  www.epica.org

8th Day Center for Justice is a nonprofit NGO.  The Spirituality of justice calls the staff of the 8th Day Center to envision a world of right relationships in which all creation is seen as sacred and interconnected.  In such a world all people are equal and free from oppression, have a right to a just distribution of resources, and to live in harmony with the cosmos.   www.8thdaycenter.org

SOA Watch is a nonviolent grassroots movement that works through creative protest and resistance, legislative and media work to stand in solidarity with the people of Latin America, to close the SOA/WHINSEC and to change oppressive U.S. foreign policy that institutions like the SOA represent.  www.soaw.org