We, the ACT Colombia Forum, as part of the ecumenical family and as international organizations with presence in Colombia, promote and defend human rights and international humanitarian law from a human dignity perspective, and we have the fundamental task of continuing to accompany the Final Peace Agreement implementation process, as well as making visible and respond to the humanitarian situation of the most remote and affected communities in this country.

Concerning the decision of a group of ex-combatants of the former FARC-EP to return to armed struggle, and the uncertainty that this generates, we call on the national Government, the international community, the Colombian society and the media to:

• Recognize the positive developments of the Final Peace Agreement since its signing; recognize the lives that it has changed and the violence that it has prevented.
• Accompany ex-combatants who continue to be linked to the process despite the threat of violence against them, and comply with what was agreed for them and their families in the Final Peace Agreement.
• Promote a message of forgiveness, reconciliation and justice, which play a fundamental role in the building of peace and the restoration of human relations and social tissue; we express the willingness of our churches to support these processes.
• Protect the lives of those who work for peace and the defence of human rights.
• Insist on the resumption of the negotiation table between the National Government and the ELN guerrilla, understanding that the only way out of the conflict is dialogue.

September 06, 2019

Signed by the following Forum member and guest organizations:

Statement in Spanish.

The Season of Creation is an annual celebration of prayer and action to care and protect Creation. The Season begins with the day of prayer, today on September 1 and runs through to October 4, the Feast of St. Francis – the patron saint of ecology in many traditions. The celebration began in 1989 with the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s recognition of the day of prayer for Creation and is now embraced and celebrated by tens of thousands of Christians of all traditions from around the world.

Each year, the Christian family unites for this worldwide celebration of prayer and action to protect our shared home. As followers of Christ around the globe, we share a role as stewards of God’s Creation and believe that our wellbeing is connected with that of the planet.

This year’s theme is Web of Life: biodiversity as God’s blessings. The theme encourages reflection on two essential facts about creation: it comes from God, and we play a part in it.

During the Season, we unite as one family in Christ; we celebrate the bonds that we share with each other and with every living creature on earth. We spend time in prayer and reflection of ways to inhabit our common home more sustainably, and we raise the voice of the most vulnerable in various public spheres. In an ecumenical spirit, we acknowledge that creation is a gift to all of us and that we are called to share responsibility for its protection.

As a member of the Season of Creation’s Ecumenical Steering Committee, ACT Alliance plays a key role in designing and influencing the celebrations and activities and in amplifying the voices from communities most affected by environmental injustices.

 Season of Creation connects to the ongoing efforts of ACT’s Climate Justice Project, mobilizing the support of the ecumenical family and enhancing the political momentum for ambitious climate action while building the capacity of ACT members, faith actors, communities and policymakers in developing countries to engage in targeted advocacy towards their governments.

 Throughout the Season of Creation, to the upcoming Climate Action Summit in New York, to the 25th UN Climate Negotiations, ACT will continue to call for renewed global solidarity with people and communities in developing countries, particularly those that are living on the front lines of climate change and are facing slow or sudden extreme weather events. 

How to get involved?

More information on Season of Creation 2019 is available here.

A Celebration Guide is available here. 

Blog written by Arnold Ambundo, ACT Alliance, Climate Justice Project Coordinator.

We congratulate Prof. Azza Karam for being appointed as the new Secretary General elect of Religions for Peace.

Formerly, Prof. Karam was the chairperson of the UN interagency taskforce for cooperation with faith-based organisations and she is widely known for her expertise in religion and development.

ACT Alliance has successfully collaborated with Prof Karam in many occasions, most recently in the context of new chair in Religion and Sustainable development, at Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam that ACT and ICCO launched jointly in January 2019.

“Prof. Karam’s appointment is a tribute to her expertise and years of inter-cultural leadership. She championed interreligious dialogue and cooperation wherever she served.  We, as ACT Alliance, look forward to collaborating with her in her new role” said Rudelmar Bueno de Faria, ACT Alliance General Secretary.

Prof. Karam was affirmed by acclamation in Lindau, Germany where the Religion for Peace met for their 10th World Assembly.

Read Religion for Peace announcement here

Protestant and orthodox leaders join forces and embrace the call of the Catholic Church and Pope Francis to denounce the appalling attack on the Amazon rainforest.

With unprecedented wildfires that are currently destroying the largest tropical rainforest on earth, which contributes to producing 20% of oxygen in the atmosphere, the dangers of permanently compromising the “lung of the earth” are before us.

Human activity and human greed have been harming this precious resource for many years however, the speed of destruction is soaring. The Brazilian INPE (Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais) published data showing an 278% increase in deforestation in Julycompared to the same month a year ago.

“The Amazon is being destroyed and there is no time to waste. Religious leaders must act together for the sake of humanity.” Says Brazilian-born Rudelmar Bueno de Faria, General Secretary of the ACT Alliance, a coalition of more than 150  faith-based organisations. “The behaviour of the Brazilian government is inexcusable. Thinking of attracting business by destroying the Amazon rainforest is a visionless  strategy. Disregarding science is a recipe for disaster ”

The Synod of Bishops on the Amazon is scheduled to meet in Rome in October 2019. 79 Faith- based organisations have already signed the  “Somos las Amazonia”, a declaration that expresses support for the Synod’s vision and outlines a pathway for action and political pressure to protect the rainforest, the indigenous communities and those human right defenders who risk their life to preserve the Amazon.

“The growing threats to the Amazon are no accident but the result of weak environmental policies and the little attention paid to those indigenous communities who are the true forest keepers” said Sarah de Roure, Country Manager of Christian Aid Brazil.

For more information about the “Somos las Amazonia” declaration click here

Read the declaration of Fórum Ecumênico Brasil ” Brazil: Our Common Home Aflame” here

During its annual meeting in Milwaukee the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), a member of ACT Alliance, voted to become the first sanctuary church in North America.

With this ground-breaking decision, ELCA pledged to provide shelter to undocumented immigrants and protect them from unnecessary jailing and deportation.

Although churches all over the United States stepped up on several occasions to help immigrants targeted by President Trump’s immigration policies, this is the first time that a church has declared itself a sanctuary, openly challenging the Trump government.

In an interview with CNN, Christopher Vergara, who works on immigration issues in the ELCA’s Metro New York Synod, said “Christians have offered sanctuary for 2,000 years, continuing an ancient biblical practice in which cities and houses of worship provided refuge and asylum for people fleeing injustice”.

The Canadian members of ACT Alliance show the same concerns for policies that target the most vulnerable who are fleeing violence and persecution. In a letter sent to President Trump, they expressed solidarity for their sister churches in the United States that are confronting the crisis and pointed out that “Canada and the United States share a long tradition of welcoming men, women and children who are seeking refuge from persecution and conflict. [ …]  Refugee resettlement plays a critical role both in ensuring safety for people fleeing persecution and in advancing religious and political freedom.”

We are facing the worse migration crisis since WWII. War, conflict, persecution and climate change are forcing millions to flee. There are more than 70 million displaced persons worldwide, including more than 25 million refugees, over half of whom are children. While working for the peaceful resolutions of these crisis, we have a moral responsibility to act today and protect those who seek refuge and safety for their families.

The ACT North America Forum has joined with the Central American Forum in creating a regional appeal to support work being done by ACT members through Central America, Mexico, Canada, and the USA.  The purpose of this appeal is to provide a humanitarian component to help meet the needs of people on the move, to promote legislation and policies that are in accordance with states’ human rights obligations and to solicit the support from international community through the pertinent bodies of the United Nations.

 ACT members seek to guarantee the safety and physical integrity of migrants, especially minors, the elderly and women, and to prevent people from being deceived by international criminal organisations engaged in migrant smuggling. Collecting information about rights violations, and providing evidence of CSO activities is crucial for influencing a rights-based implementation of the Global Compacts for Migration and on Refugees in Central America and Mexico.

Click here to support this appeal.

Getting involved no matter where you are

Climate change is happening, and we all need to contribute to tackling the problem if we want to limit its impacts. Over the last few years, I have studied on the East coast of the United States and have participated in various platforms where I have met many people who care deeply about the environment and climate change.

Living and studying on the diverse east coast of the US, I had more interfaith interactions than I had ever had in Germany, giving me a real sense of what it means to be part of an interfaith community. I received insights into the climate advocacy work of local faith communities as well as civil society organisations. My classmates and I organised an event on “Interfaith Cooperation on Climate Justice”, where I was excited to explore the topic from a Hindu and a Jewish perspective too and to immerse myself in the scripture.

I was also able to stay involved in various climate talks and to amplify youth voices at the international level. For example, I participated in a High-Level-Meeting at the UN Headquarters on “Climate Change and Sustainable Development for All” and also at the UN climate conference in Katowice in December 2018 (COP24). In these spaces, it has become clear that young voices are starting to be heard and appreciated, and this is a notable achievement of the efforts of many youth around the world.

The power of social media

The various experiences that I have had have allowed me to connect with many motivated young climate activists. Through social media, we have remained in touch and continue to plan projects and exchange ideas together. I have also noticed the growing movement of school strikes taking place around the world and the demands from youth calling for political change. Seeing the pictures of hundreds and thousands of students taking to the streets gives me hope that the fight against climate change has not yet been lost. Although I often regret not being physically present to support or participate in the strikes, I have been able to contribute by speaking with my congregation on my experiences at COP24 and exploring ways to improve sustainability in our church.

After the year in North America, my studies have brought me to East Africa (Kenya), where I engage with the Catholic Youth Network for Environment Sustainability in Africa (CYNESA), organisers of the 2^nd international “Laudato-si” conference with UNEP. This conference brought together hundreds of motived young people (mostly from Africa) who care for the future of our common home. There is hope that change is coming, and while young people care and are taking action to care for our home, a significant change will require all of us to adjust our lifestyles and consumption patterns.

I encourage everyone to engage in climate initiatives, our efforts are indeed making a difference- we are influencing each other, the world and politics at all levels and you too can be part of the change. It is on us to ensure that there will be a present and future for us and for generations to come. Virtual engagements make it possible for us all to be part of a movement even if we are miles away from home.

Get involved – no matter where you are.

_______________________________________________________

Helena Funk is studying Theology and completing a Master’s degree in African Studies. She has been engaged in climate justice advocacy for many years – on a local level in (Northern) Germany and a global level as a member of the LWF youth and ACT Alliance delegation to COP23 and COP24.

For centuries, and especially over the last few decades, landscapes around the world have changed. Deforestation and industrialized agriculture have spread, transforming land use and planning. A new report on Climate Change and Land from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) which launched today, stresses that time is ripe for a new transition, but it must happen fast!

Land, the place where we live, work and produce our food is part of the solution but also the problem. It contributes to the solution because trees and soil sequester Carbon Dioxide (CO₂), which absorbs some of the CO₂ emissions out of the atmosphere. In the coming years, I would like to see trees and forests planted in all countries of the world, as quickly as possible. An example of this is already happening in Ethiopia, where a national campaign encourages its citizens to plant millions of trees. 

The reality is that land is also contributing to the problem. Emissions from agriculture constitute a major part of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and the science to support this is clear. With an increasing global population, sustainable food production is a requirement for slowing down climate change.

But what is sustainable agriculture? Well, there are many different techniques and approaches, and the solutions will differ between regions and countries. As we concern ourselves with emissions from agricultural activities, for example, methane, a strong greenhouse gas, we must also unpack food consumption habits, such as food waste. During the launch of the report, listeners were reminded that both farmers and consumers can contribute to the solutions.

For ACT Alliance, the IPCC chapter on food security is of particular concern. Food security is heavily impacted by increasing temperatures and is projected to affect nutrition, yields and eventually food prices, all which will disproportionately affect the poorest communities around the world.

These projections were further noted by ACT Alliance member Christian Aid in a recent report titled, Hunger Strike: The climate and food vulnerability index. The report finds that some of the countries that are tackling severe issues around food security are also countries with low GHG emissions. This suggests that those who have contributed the least to global warming are experiencing some of the most dangerous effects, and this is unfair.

God gave humans the task to care for creation. Caring for our land is a critical element of this task, and the size of this task is increasing as climate change intensifies. We must act now to make sure that climate change does not reach a point of no return. We should care for creation, and we should do whatever we can to transform our livelihoods so that our planet is more sustainable and resilient for all. We need climate justice!

The IPCC report on land and climate change is available here.

___________________________

Mattias Söderberg, Senior advocacy advisor at DanChurchAid. Co-chair of the ACT Alliance Climate Change Working Group.

Cyclone Idai devastated large parts of Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi when it made landfall in March 2019 in the city of Beira, Mozambique.  When the cyclone had passed on, much of Beira was underwater and severely damaged.  While the media continued to show the images of the devastation in Mozambique, Idai continued to track inland, into the mountains of Zimbabwe, where it touched off landslides and caused flooding that killed hundreds of people and affected tens of thousands more.

The district of Chimanimani was one of the worst hit in Zimbabwe.  Located in the mountains an hour’s drive from Mutare, over roads that have had many sections washed away by the landslides.  Red scars mar the surface of the mountains, breaking up the lush green of the forests that blanket their slopes.  These scars were caused by the landslides that tore the ground cover off the mountainsides and brought boulders, mud, and trees crashing down through the forests, communities, and roads below them. 

The village of Ngangu lies right in the path of some of those landslides.  About 50 people died, and scores were injured as the landslides poured through the town overnight. 

Vision Chinamira, 21, has lived his whole life in Ngangu.  He is studying human resources management, and wants to work as an administrator in the mines nearby.  “On the 15^th of March, there were heavy winds.  We’ve never had as strong winds since I was born,” he said.  “It rained all day.  The power was out.  We heard a strange whistling sound, and went inside to make dinner.  We were in bed by about 7pm.”

“An hour later, I heard big banging sounds.  All of a sudden, the garden wall around our neighbour’s house burst and all the water and rocks behind it crashed through my bedroom wall, trapping me under mud and rocks.”

“I called for my dad, and he came and pulled me out of the mud, rocks and cement.  We opened the door to our house, and to the right, everything looked the same, but to the left, all the houses were gone.  Three rows of houses- gone.  No foundations, no kitchens- everything was gone.”

Vision and his father went to the Methodist church in the village and spent the night there with others who had fled the landslides.  The rain lasted for three days.  The roads were washed out, so they couldn’t get the injured to the hospital.  The injured and the dead they recovered were all brought to the church.  Some of the injured died of their injuries or the cold before aid could get to them.

Vision joined the teams who went out to find survivors, and it was he who found one of his best friends’ body washed further down the mountain. 

“Those days really affected me,” Vision recalls.  “On the left, I had neighbours, and on the right.  Now there is nothing left.  I don’t feel good.”

Eventually, larger helicopters arrived to evacuate the injured and bring food and other supplies.  He and his father received mielie meal (maize meal), beans, beef, oil, salt and other foodstuffs to help them get through.  But the trauma of the experience was too much for Vision.  “My dad and I moved to another village,” he said. “It’s no longer a good place to live.  Every time I’m in Ngangu, I remember what happened here.”

Mary Chanaiwa works as a cleaner at the Tsuro Trust, a local partner of ACT member Lutheran Development Services Zimbabwe.  She, too, has lived in Ngangu all of her 46 years.  She lives with her husband, three children, nephew and grandchild.  She described how the storm woke her in the night.  There was no power, but as she walked into the living room she could feel water on her feet.  “I woke my daughter, and we saw water flowing in through the kitchen door and through the house,” she said.

They lost most of their possessions in the flooding, and have had to stay with friends and relatives as they clean what they can of their house. 

Mary is a village health worker, working with pregnant women and young children to ensure that they are healthy and cared for.  She put her training to use in helping to treat the injured after the cyclone.

Mary and her family also received food and clothing to help them recover.  She considers her family lucky- no one died, and they did not lose their house, although the land that their field was on was damaged and they lost their crops.

Mary’s dream is to be able to afford a house somewhere else, so her family can be safe, and she can continue to work with Tsuro Trust.

Lutheran Development Service (LDS) and other ACT members are responding to the humanitarian need in Ngangu and other communities in Zimbabwe that were affected by the landslides and flooding of Cyclone Idai with food, shelter, water and sanitation, psychosocial support, and livelihood recovery work. 

NEW YORK, 17 July 2019 – Activists from across the world today declared the Sustainable Development Goals – agreed by the international community in 2015 – under threat, due to inaction on climate change, rising inequality and increasing repression of peaceful civic activism continue to rise.

Meeting alongside the High-Level Political Forum at the United Nations in New York, a broad alliance of civil society organisations came together to demand greater ambition from governments as they plan for key UN Summits in September.

Dozens of organisations have issued a new declaration, “Stand Together Now for a Just, Peaceful and Sustainable World” stating, “We are standing alongside many others around the world in calling out a state of emergency. Humanity cannot afford to wait, people are demanding transformative change, and we are not willing to accept the current lack of action and ambition from many governments.”

The joint call to action comes from a vast range of organisations, including those working on fighting inequality, humanitarian assistance, human rights and climate change, such as Action for Sustainable Development, ACT Alliance, ActionAid, Amnesty International, CAN, CIVICUS, CPDE, GCAP, Greenpeace, Oxfam and Restless Development.

Inequality is rising, with the 26 richest billionaires now owning as many assets as the 3.8 billion people who make up the poorest half of the planet’s population. The climate emergency is worsening, with the United Nations saying we could have just 11 years left to limit a climate change catastrophe. A global crackdown on human rights means that only 43 UN member states are currently meeting their commitments to uphold the fundamental civic freedoms of expression, association and peaceful assembly.

At the same time, the majority of countries that have signed up to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), are not making the progress needed to avert a global break down.

“The drive to reach the SDGs is careening off course,” said Emmanuel Ametepey, from Youth Advocates Ghana. “Just four years ago all UN member states signed-up to a radical new agenda by 2030,” he said.  “Ten years might sound like enough time, but we are already falling badly behind. 

“Young people are ready to take the lead.”

“More people across the world are suffering as a result of the increases in extreme weather events, rising inequality and crackdowns by the government on human rights., Young people are bearing the brunt of it all,” said Catherine Njuguna, ACT Alliance youth ambassador.

Speaking outside the UN, Farah Kabir, Director of ActionAid Bangladesh, said: “People are increasingly frustrated at the slow pace of change. Since 2015 we have seen many countries presenting their progress reports at the UN, but we know change is not being felt on the ground. Inequality is growing, and many organisations and people are being oppressed across the globe.”

“We are announcing a state of emergency for people as well as the planet,” she added.

Global Co-Chair of Global Call to Action against Poverty, Beckie Malay said: “Many national coalitions of civil society actively engage with the UN’s High-Level Political Forum, they provide real evidence and clear recommendations, but in many cases, they don’t see these proposals reflected in government action plans.

“Unfortunately since 2015, it seems that there is regression on the key areas of inequality, rights and climate. We cannot stand by and let this happen; that is why we are standing together in countries around the world over the coming months to demand real action.”

Coordinator of Action for Sustainable Development, Oli Henman said: “We have been working together over recent years to ensure that national organisations can be heard by the UN during the Voluntary National Reviews. However, we see real challenges in many countries, including reducing engagement opportunities, limited consultation and in a number of cases increasing attacks against civil society organisations.”

Over the coming month, organisations will be stepping up their joint actions and will stand together in a joint Global Week of Action from 20-27 September, with key mobilisations planned in over 30 countries.

Read the joint declaration in full statement and sign up to show your support here.

ENDS

For further information, please contact:

Arnold Ambundo, Global Climate Justice Coordinator, ACT Alliance, Arnold.Ambundo@actalliance.org

Joanna Patouris, Climate Communications Officer, ACT Alliance, joanna.patouris@actalliance.org

The UN Human Rights Council is currently in session in Geneva. More than 40 NGO and networks signed a joint statement, delivered on Monday by the International Catholic Migration Commission, to express their worry on the widespread and growing violations of the human rights of migrants and an environment where those who seeks to protect them are increasingly criminalised. 

ACT Alliance signed the statement as a strong signal of its support for the Global Compact of Migration and a call to States to use it as cooperative framework for the implementation of existing legal commitments.

“The Global Compact is here to stay and it is not up for debate.” said Christian Wolff, Programme Manager, Migration and Displacement, “States must uphold the human rights of the migrants by supporting civil society, creating an environment that enables their work and by taking the lead on implementation.”

Find here the FINAL NGO statement