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Message from the Holy Land: Stop the War

January 2, 2009

Joseph Farah, President of Caritas MONA

By Joseph Farah, President of Caritas Middle East and North Africa

While we are celebrating the birth of the holy child, Palestinian children are dying in Gaza.
Our faith in Jesus Christ, God of peace and love, requires us to be in solidarity with the persecuted and deprived children; they are enduring hunger, sickness and even death because of the war imposed on them during this holy time of the year. We are all invited to endeavor in the spirit of the Gospel commandment of charity, each one according to his capacity, to guarantee for them a secured and peaceful life.

Caritas Mona calls upon the international conscience to incarnate its faith in God through working in order to stop the war against civilians, poor people and children. We call upon them to solve conflicts through human means in the spirit of God so to reach a just peace.

In French

En ce temps où nous célébrons la naissance du divin enfant, les enfants de Gaza meurent.

La foi en Jésus- Christ, Dieu de la paix et de l’amour, nous impose d’être en solidarité avec les enfants de Gaza qui sont privés et persécutés ; ils souffrent la faim, la maladie et la mort sous la guerre désastreuse qui les frappe en ce divin temps de noël ; nous sommes tous appelés à œuvrer dans l’esprit des commandements de la charité évangélique, chacun selon ses moyens, pour leur garantir une vie de sécurité.

Caritas MONA appelle la conscience internationale à incarner sa foi en Dieu et à travailler en vue d’arrêter les actes contre les civils, les pauvres et les enfants. Elle les appelle à résoudre les différends d’une manière humaine dans l’esprit de Dieu Unique, afin d’aboutir à une paix juste.

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Massacres in Congo

January 1, 2009

A series of photos by Caritas Congo’s Emmanuel Bofoe of survivors from Christmas Day massacres in northern Congo carried out by Ugandan rebels in Faradje City and other locations.

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Posted in Emergencies, Peace and Reconciliation, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

A day in Gaza

December 30, 2008

By Caritas Jerusalem staff

One day in Gaza, while people strolled through the markets, children sitting in classes wondering what they will do after the teacher will finish explaining Math and Science, and the other students wondering about the match of football they will have after a long day of sitting in class, the simple basics of life granted to everyone, supposedly; a place where they have heard of freedom but not experienced it.

Since 2006 1.5 million Palestinians have been impenetrably blockaded and deprived of work, deprived of food, deprived of basic freedoms, and deprived of any semblance of a future.

Unaware of what awaits them on a Saturday morning; children, men, women, everyone, began their day not knowing that they will not see their neighbors, mothers, fathers and daughters, teachers and students, employees and colleagues. Then it hits. Sudden constant bombardments by Israel awake people of Gaza to the reality, that these might be the last goodbyes.

Four days and counting have passed and the air strikes by Israel have left 345 Palestinians dead and 1, 650 injured and yet no sign of rest.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza is dreadful. There is severe shortage of fuel, electricity, water and food. Hospitals are unable to receive the wounded due to lack of medical supplies, tools and beds. According to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon this escalation of violence is “unacceptable.”

We ask you, friends to raise your voices against the ongoing bombing of Gaza and work to put an end to the injustice, suffering and violence.

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Christmas cheer in Baghdad

December 23, 2008

There is nothing unusual about a Christmas fair in a Church in December. Only this time, there is. It’s in Baghdad. A city in a country both torn apart by sectarian violence.

But this year Caritas Iraq’s volunteers organized such a bazaar. A sign of peace in a troubled land.

The Caritas Charity Market ran from the 5 to 7 December at the Church of St Georgis in Baghdad. The market was aimed at bringing different communities together and to raise money to help families made homeless during the conflict.

Volunteers ran the event, which provided food and clothes to the poor. Entertainment was laid on and children received gifts. The party was inaugurated by bishops and priests and people from Iraq’s different parties.

Everyone felt it was a great success. A bit of normalcy has returned to Iraq.

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It is not enough just to talk about love

December 4, 2008

Twenty years of AIDS care by Caritas Romana
By Rev. Robert J. Vitillo
Caritas Internationalis’ Special Advisor on HIV and AIDS

I read with great surprise the news that Caritas Romana is observing the twentieth anniversary of establishing its HIV and AIDS Services on 5th December. This is an occasion when the words, “It seemed like only yesterday …” at least for my memories of the work of Caritas Romana in this field.

In the late 1980s, I was working at the General Secretariat of Caritas Internationalis in Rome and, very early into my assignment, received the blessing of meeting Don Luigi Di Liegro, the Director of Caritas Romana. Before coming to Rome, I too had served as the Director of a diocesan Caritas organization in the United States, so I identified with the role and challenges faced by Don Luigi.

I quickly perceived, however, that this was no ordinary Caritas director. Every word that he spoke and every action that he took revealed the true meaning of the word “caritas” as it was exemplified by Jesus Himself. Don Luigi was truly a man of “complete and unselfish love”. He treated every person he met, from the highest political or ecclesiastical leader to the homeless person on the street with respect for the God-given dignity they had received as children of God.

Thus it was no surprise that Don Luigi reacted swiftly and with determination to improve the plight of people living with AIDS in Rome during the late 1980s. Many such persons were kept in hospital far beyond the necessary periods of time - mainly because they had no place to stay and no one to care for them.

Many had been abandoned by their families long before they knew that they had contracted this serious illness. Don Luigi decided that Caritas Romana should develop group home situations for such people - two homes for men and one home for mothers and children - all living with AIDS and with little hope of survival (since this occurred during a time when we had no knowledge that combination anti-retroviral treatment could prolong life expectancy and improve quality of life for persons living with HIV and AIDS).

Don Luigi was intensely focused on offering a welcoming, non-judgemental and compassionate environment to the residents of the Caritas Romana residences. He made that clear, in no uncertain terms, to those recruited to staff these residents. He greatly honoured me by requesting my assistance in planning the residences and in developing policies and procedures for their programmes.

Then came the difficult times. Local residents in the Villa Glori (Parioli) area of Rome were incensed that Don Luigi would bring people with AIDS to live in their upper-end area of the city. They protested and even introduced court action to block his plans. Don Luigi remained firm in his commitment to people living with the virus and presented a strong defence in court. Eventually, he, and those who would benefit from the Caritas Romana residences, won the case.

Once the houses opened, Don Luigi learned the painful stories of the residents and never seemed rushed or impatient as they recounted the many challenges encountered in their lives. Instead, he smiled broadly as they told him about the warmth and welcome they experienced in their new homes sponsored by Caritas Romana.

Perhaps most vividly I recall the day when the actress, Elizabeth Taylor visited the Villa Glori residence. She was accompanied by the fashion designer Valentino; he stayed only a few minutes, but she made it clear that she had come to visit and remained for almost two hours. As soon as Ms. Taylor started to speak English, Don Luigi realized that he had not provided for translation - he shouted across the room to me, “Bob, lo fai tu! (Bob, you do the translation!)”.

I am certain that the love and spirit of Don Luigi’s concern for people living with AIDS remains in the Caritas Romana residence. I know that his inspiration continues to strengthen my own commitment to advocate with and for those living with or affected by HIV.

I display prominently in my office a photo of Don Luigi and I can hear him say the words inscribed on this photo which, loosely translated into English, remind me: “It is not enough to talk about love; we must be willing, as Jesus did, to dirty our hands and put love (Caritas) into action with all whom we serve.”

Happy Anniversary to Caritas Romana and may Don Luigi continue to guide, from his new and heavenly home, the active love that is promoted by Caritas all over the world!

Tags:AIDS, Caritas Romana, HIV
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Violence flares in Nigeria

December 3, 2008

By Fr. Peter Babangida Audu, National Secretary, JDP/Caritas Nigeria

13.01.08

The situation is Jos in getting better, but there are still some areas that very tense and with presence of military personnel. The dusk to dawn curfew is not lifted yet, but gradually relative calm has returned. Some banks started operation today, and life is returning to normal.

However the state of many refugees is a cause of concern. As of yesterday the camps were crowded with people in great need for basic items.

Reports from the local Caritas shows that there is about 18 camps, while government says 26.

The number is close to 30, 000 people made of children, women, sick, Muslims, Traditionalists and Christians. Some of the camps are strategic and so people could run to them for safety. Some have today left the camps and either returned to what is left of their homes or moved to the suburbs for a while. Most of those left in the camps are people who have nowhere to go to; their homes are burnt, no cloth, not food and are vulnerable to epidemic.

The Nigerian Bishops have called on all the dioceses in the country to organize fundraising.

12.01.08

Reports reaching me show that Jos city, the capital of Plateau State in Nigeria, was in flames last weekend. It all started on Friday. It started as a political conflict which resulted in full scale violence as a result of the Local Government elections which just ended in the state. It is said that some sections were angry because the candidate that won is not their choice.

What started as a political violence then turned religious. Many places of worship are destroyed, houses burned as well as business centres. Many lives are lost. The papers report about 430 persons who have already been given a mass burial. What this means is that the number could be more. Many are injured and now in the hospitals.

The provincial and formation houses of the Augustinian fathers were affected. Some of the students on formationshave been hospitalised. The Archdiocese of Jos and caritas Nigeria is now faced with another man made crisis. The number of IDPs is great. But no full statistics at the moment.

We will however ask for your great support at this time especially for the families that lost their dear ones, the injured, and IDPs.

Let us keep especially the Archbishop of Jos, Most Rev. Ignatius kaigama and the entire people of God in the Archdiocese and the people of Plateau State in our prayers for healing and peace.

Posted in Emergencies, Peace and Reconciliation, Uncategorized | No Comments »

Happy Birthday Caritas Sri Lanka

December 3, 2008

Caritas Internationalis Secretary General Lesley Anne Knight sharing with Caritas Sri Lanka the best wishes of our 162 members

Caritas Internationalis Secretary General Lesley-Anne Kinight at 40th Anniversary celebrations for Caritas Sri Lanka

COLOMBO, SRI LANKA, 3 DECEMBER 2008

Caritas Internationalis Secretary General Lesley-Anne Knight today opened the Caritas Trade Fair and Exhibition in Sri Lanka’s capital city Colombo, with the country’s Minister for Science and Technology, Professor Thissa Vitharana.

The fair, which is being held in the city’s Vihara Maha Devi Park, is part of Caritas Sri Lanka’s 40th anniversary celebrations. More than 80 stalls showcased a range of handicrafts, agricultural produce and food and drink products from throughout Sri Lanka, many of them from Caritas-sponsored income generation projects that were set up after the devastating tsunami that hit the island in December 2004.

The two-day event was a unique opportunity for small entrepreneurs to bring their produce into the city and sell directly to the public and local retailers. The opening ceremony was also attended by the Archbishop of Colombo Dr Oswald Gomis, the Director of Caritas Sri Lanka Fr Damian Fernando, plus bishops, priests, directors and staff representing Caritas Sri Lanka’s 13 Diocesan centres.

40th anniversary celebration of Caritas Sri Lanka

Colombo 4th December 2008

Speech by Dr Lesley-Anne Knight
Secretary General of Caritas Internationalis

It is an enormous pleasure to be at the birthday party of one of the Caritas family. Caritas in Sri Lanka is a highly reputable, much loved member of the global Caritas confederation and on behalf of our President Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez and all of the other 161 Caritas members, I congratulate you all and thank you for the privilege of sharing this special 40th year moment.

Caritas, all our Caritas members, at parish, diocesan and national level, make up Caritas Internationalis. We are at the heart of the Church’s mission, a sign of love that God has for the whole of humanity; a mission so beautifully expressed too by SEDEC as “Journeying together for a just society”. Our belonging to Caritas Internationalis also has significance for our mission… Our very name, Caritas Internationalis, means “the love between nations”.

As Caritas Sri Lanka marks its 40th anniversary, it is also a time to mark the enormous successes and celebrate with thanksgiving the graces of God, and above all the dedication of the Sri Lankan Bishops who have made Caritas and the cause of justice and peace the “opus proprium” of our Church in Sri Lanka. I congratulate our Sri Lankan Bishops, together with your priests and people for your leadership, vision and pastoral care.

But for Caritas Sri Lanka a 40th anniversary is also a time to look forward, to renewal and new beginnings. We are at the heart of the Church’s mission to love and serve the poor and the Church too in this is called periodically to renewal, into a deeper knowledge of her identity, faithful to what is given in the gospels but also faithful to enter further into this mystery. Caritas Sri Lanka is 40 years old in the year of St Paul. And we remember how St Paul summoned the Church to open herself and so become a better image of our Lord in whom “there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for we are all one in Christ…” (Galatians 3,28)

Our Church in Sri Lanka and Caritas understand well that call in a multi-faith society torn by sorrow and strife… and joins too as a member of the world-wide Caritas family to face the challenges of our global world.

Whether we are talking about financial upheavals and economic recession, global warming and climate change, migration of whole communities and human trafficking, armed conflict or natural disasters, there is a global dimension that makes it impossible for humanity to escape its collective responsibilities.

As Caritas people we need to be constantly asking ourselves how we can be faithful to what we have received from the gospels and the tradition of our Church, and at the same time faithful to the gifts and opportunities that God offers in this new world in which humanity is bound together more closely than ever before. We will need to face the challenges of our changing climate, a new economic dynamism, the urgent cries for peace. And we will need to do so walking the road together “journeying always towards a more just society.” In the words of Pope Paul VI in Populorum Progressio, “We must walk the road together, united in hearts and minds.”

Caritas Sri Lanka has a key role to play in response to these new challenges, with renewed energy and commitment in the human response to God’s love. It is at the service of the Church’s response, not just to the suffering and injustices of a world economy that brings plenty to some and destitution and violence to others. Caritas is an expression of what the Church is as the sign and sacrament of “the unity of the entire human race.” (Lumen Gentium 1)

Let us as Caritas people embody the love and outreach of God himself to those in need, regardless of who they are, and what is their faith, if any.

I would like to end with a personal reflection of my experience as I have visited Caritas programmes with my husband Mark over the past few days here with you in Sri Lanka. There is a well-known writer of English literature, Oscar Wilde, who said: “ Where there is sorrow, there is holy ground.” You have certainly in this beautiful land your share of sorrow. But our experience has been one of love, hope, compassion, creativity, initiative, forgiveness and community lived in joy. And all of that too makes me say this is surely holy ground.

My thanks and congratulations to Fr Damian Fernando the Director of Caritas Sri Lanka, to the staff and all who have made Caritas Sri Lanka. Happy 40th Birthday!

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Peace in the Holy Land

November 24, 2008

Prayer for peace in the Holy Land
By Joespeh Cornelius Donnelly, Head of Caritas Internationalis Delegation, UN in New York,

Lord, Jesus Christ,
Son of the Living God,
we come to in the sacredness of life,
conscious of the gift of every human being,
created in your image and likeness.
We come before you this November time
when the global community notes again
its solemn commemoration and concerns for
the inalienable rights of Palestinian People.

We pray for all your people,
for Jews, Christians and Muslims,
for Israelis, Palestinians, Arabs,
whose lives are inextricably linked everyday
in the Holy Land they must share.
You are the loving author of life.
All rights are God-given, from you to us.
We pray for our sisters and brothers,
longsuffering in Jerusalem, the West Bank,
and in Gaza where they are cut off from us.
We pray for the innocent victims of violence.
We pray that all extreme actions will cease.
We pray for new measures of courageous leadership.

With friends, partners and all believers in The Land,
and across the fragile earth we share, we pray too
that our coming together will multiply good will
for genuine opportunities to build peace together.
We pray for a peace as real as the ancient olive trees
so that a beautiful landscape will be fruitful once more.
We pray that the will for such a peace grows daily
so that in all hearts we unite rather than divide,
so that we can be sheltering trees in good times and bad.

Indeed, Lord,
we pray to walk humbly together,
to love justice as the greatest witness in gratitude to you
for the precious gift of life we treasure -
in the Holy Land and everywhere in the beauty of peace.

Amen.

Tags:Add new tag, Peace and Reconciliation
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To save even one person makes a difference… Combating Human Trafficking in the Americas

November 13, 2008

Martina Liebsch, Caritas Internationalis advocacy coordinator for migration, trafficking and gender.

This was one of the messages for the participants of the International Conference “Responding to Trafficking in Persons in the Americas” organised by Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA) in Washington, from 02-05 November 2008.

A rainbow of initiatives and practices throughout the Americas were presented including the initiatives of the government of the United States.

In view of the magnitude of the problem, its interconnectedness with other forms of crime, the lack of political will to combat it, the difficulties for organisations to get funding for their services and the persistent root causes, the story which Kathleen Mitchell, one of the participants and a survivor told us one morning, was a message of hope and of being aware about their own limitations.

A man is on the beach and throws starfish back into the sea. Questioned by another person why he is doing that in view of so many thousands who may lie on all the beaches of the world, he says while throwing another one into the sea: It makes a difference for this one.

From an advocacy point of view a conclusion was that there is potential to make an impact and plenty of occasions to do so, but it needs communication and coordination by providing comments to the Trafficking in Persons Report prepared by the US Government and recommended to us by Ambassador Mark Lagon, in charge of the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons. This report provides an overview of the situation of more than 150 countries. It has been criticised by many people, but as long as we don’t have anything better in other parts of the world, we should definitely use this instrument.

It was also emphasised that there is a need for strengthening work with the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The participants felt that they are often not aware about the relevant events or advocacy opportunities. So I got back with some homework for the migration team, amongst which the preparation of an international advocacy calendar on Migration and Trafficking, which would be accessible through the Caritas Website and the seeking of cooperation with the ILO during the process of drafting a Convention on domestic workers.

I hope we can make a difference by joining forces on some key issues and I’m grateful to CRS and CCUSA who provided me with the opportunity to get a step closer to this. And maybe we could use the slogan of the new President Elect of the United States: Yes we can!

Tags:trafficking and migration
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World Social Forum

November 12, 2008

Participation of Secours Catholique – Caritas France
WORLD SOCIAL FORUM – BELEM- BRAZIL- JANUARY 2009

Programme:
January, 24th, 12.00 (noon): settling on the “boat-hostel” in Belem
January, 25th: withdrawal of accreditations, free time.
January 26th:
- Field visit
- Science and democracy Forum
January 27th: Opening party – Parade
January 28th: Day for Peoples of Amazon
January 29th, 30th, 31th: self managed activities (seminaries, work shops)
February 1st: Plenary, alliances definitions – Closing.
February 2nd: we leave the boat. For those who wish to stay longer after this date, you will have to find a hosting solution on your own.

Accommodation is planned on a boat, moored on the Guama River:
Boat NM Amazon Star
Bulevard Castilho França s/n°
Armazan 10 – Porto de Belem

SEMINARS PROPOSITIONS OF THE SECOURS CATHOLIQUE

Seven seminars are proposed by the Secours Catholique- Caritas France:
1.Opportunities and threats of a globalized communication in the fight against human trafficking (Europe Desk)
2.Strategic perspectives of civil society organisations in institutional bodies (transparency, fight against poverty° (Africa Desk)
3.Mobilisation of people in poverty situation: citizen participation ( Network coordination Department and Delegations from Paris, Lyon and Chambéry)
4.Building another Amazonia: realities, challenges, perspectives and propositions (Latin America/ Caribbean Desk)
5.Extractive industries (Latin America/ Caribbean Desk)
6.Criminalisation of NGOs (Latin America/ Caribbean Desk)
7.Peace process in Colombia (Latin America/ Caribbean Desk)

For each workshop a Desk is in charge of the organization but partners from other continents may participate.

SEMINAR ON THE FIGHT AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING

We will add the logo of any organisation involved (the list is being finalized)
A tract will then be prepared to be distributed during the WSF (in English, French and Portuguese)

Topic

Opportunities and threats of a globalized communication in the fight against human trafficking.

This meets up with the 6th priority of the 2009 World Social Forum
For the guarantee of economic, social, human, cultural and environmental rights, in particular the right to health care, education, housing, decent work, communication and food.

Content of the interventions

The new means of communication promote contacts from one side to the other of the world.
They are important vectors for the development of human trafficking and must be under particular supervision:
- easiness to organise criminal networks
- pedo pornography on the Internet
- …

But they also facilitate the contacts between all those fighting against human trafficking: NGOs, police, justice, social services… and have to be used:
- Coatnet intranet network making possible a secure network to support the victims;
- Video tools, TV, to raise the awareness of the wide public
- Prevention tools for the at risk public
- Advocacy tools at national, European and international level
- from, which enriches the way of putting the issue.

Languages of the seminar

French- English- Portuguese

Contacts Europe Desk

Geneviève Colas
genevieve-colas@secours-catholique.org
+ 33 (0) 6 71 00 69 90

Claire Corvino
claire-corvino@secours-catholique.org
+ 33 (0) 1 45 49 74 40

PARTICIPATION DU SECOURS CATHOLIQUE – CARITAS FRANCE ET SES PARTENAIRES
AU FORUM SOCIAL MONDIAL - BELEM – BRESIL - JANVIER 2009

Les activités se dérouleront à l’Université Fédérale du Para (UFPA) et à l’Université Fédérale Rurale d’Amazonie (UFRA) .

Précisions sur le programme:

24 janvier, 12h00 : installation sur bateau hôtel à Belém
25 janvier : retrait des accréditations et journée libre
26 janvier : - visite de terrain
- forum science et démocratie
27 janvier : fête d’ouverture – Parade
28 janvier : journée des peuples de l’Amazone
29, 30 et 31 janvier : activités autogérées – (séminaires – ateliers)
1er février : plénières et définition des alliances – clôture)
2 février : nous quittons le bateau hôtel (pour ceux qui resteraient après cette date, solution à trouver sur place)

L’hébergement pour les membres du Secours Catholique-Caritas France est prévu à bord d’un bateau amarré sur le fleuve Guama : Bateau NM Amazon star - Boulevard Castilho França s / n°
Armazan 10 – Porto de Belem

PROPOSITIONS DE SEMINAIRES DU SECOURS CATHOLIQUE

7 séminaires sont proposés par le Secours Catholique :

1 / Opportunités et menaces d’une communication mondialisée pour lutter contre la traite des êtres humains (Département Europe)

2 / Perspectives stratégiques des OSC dans les instances institutionnelles (transparence, lutte contre la pauvreté)(Département Afrique) avec la participation de Tolekan Ismailova, Kirghizstan proposé par le département Europe

3/ La mobilisation des personnes en précarité : participation citoyenne (Délégations de Paris, Lyon et Chambery).

4/ Criminalisation des ONG (Département Amérique Latine / Caraïbes)

5/ Construire une autre Amazonie : réalités défis, perspectives et propositions. (Département Amérique Latine / Caraïbes)

6/ Industries extractives (Département Amérique Latine / Caraïbes)

7/ Processus de paix en Colombie (Département Amérique Latine / Caraïbes)

Pour chaque atelier, un département est chargé de l’organisation mais des partenaires des autres continents peuvent participer.

LE SEMINAIRE SUR LA LUTTE CONTRE LA TRAITE DES ETRES HUMAINS

Un tract sera ensuite préparé pour être diffusé lors du Forum Social Mondial (celui-ci devra être en français, anglais, portugais)

La thématique :

Opportunités et menaces d’une communication mondialisée dans la lutte contre la traite des êtres humains.

Contenu des interventions

Les nouveaux modes de communication favorisent les contacts d’une extrémité à l’autre de la planète.

Ils sont des vecteurs importants pour le développement de la traite des êtres humains et doivent faire l’objet d’une attention particulière :
- facilité d’organisation des réseaux criminels,
- pédo pornographie sur internet,
- …

Mais facilitent aussi les contacts entre tous ceux qui luttent contre la traite des êtres humains : ONG, Justice, police, services sociaux… et il faut savoir s’en servir :
- réseau intranet coatnet permettant une mise en réseau sécurisé pour accompagner les victimes,
- outil vidéo, télévision pour sensibiliser le grand public,
- outils de prévention pour les publics à risque,
- outils de plaidoyer à l’échelle nationale, européenne et internationale,

Langues du séminaire

Français - Anglais - Portugais

Contacts Département Europe :
Geneviève Colas - genevieve-colas@secours-catholique.org - + 33 (0) 6 71 00 69 90
Claire Corvino- Claire-corvino@secours-catholique.org - + 33 (0) 1 45 49 74 40

Caritas Italiana at the 2009 WSF

A delegation from Caritas Italiana will be at the World Social Forum (WSF) in Belem from 26 January to 1 February.

Participants include:

-Paolo Beccegato, head of Caritas Italiana’s International Department
-Some members of the presidency including Bishop Mario Paciello of Altamura-Gravina, Don Carmine Giudici and Marcello Rinaldi
-An expert
-Some journalists

Caritas Italiana has also registered for “Environmental justice: A challenge for the future”. An agenda for Caritas Italiana’s participation in the forum will be available on this blog. There will also be the presentation of the report “Terza ricerca su i conflitti dimenticati”.

Roberta Dragonetti
International Department
Caritas Italiana

Caritas Italiana participará en el Foro Social Mundial 2009

Caritas Italiana participará en esta nueva edición del FSM, con una delegación compuesta por 8 personas, que viajarán a Belem (Brasil) del 26 de enero al 1 de febrero. Los miembros de la delegación son:

- Paolo Beccegato, Responsable del Departamento Internacional;
- algunos miembros de la Presidencia: Mons. Mario PACIELLO, Obispo de Altamura Gravina, delegado regional de PUGLIA (que ya participó al FSM de Nairobi, en 2007); P. Carmine Giudici, delegado regional de CAMPANIA y Marcello RINALDI, delegado regional de UMBRIA;
- un experto;
- algunos periodistas (“Famiglia Cristiana”, ”Avvenire” e ”SIR”);

Caritas Italiana se ha ocupado de la inscripción de una propuesta de actividad de autogestión, para el 30 de enero. Será un seminario con el título provisional de “La justicia medioambiental: un reto para el futuro”.

Pronto tendrán ustedes a su disposición, en este blog, un borrador del programa, que seguirá las siguientes pautas:

- Introducción general del tema; reflexión sobre las relaciones entre el medio ambiente y la guerra, con la presentación del libro ‘Terza ricerca sui conflitti dimenticati’ (Tercer estudio sobre los conflictos olvidados), la relación y responsabilidad de los medios de información respecto al tema, algunas experiencias territoriales (quizás de Secours Catholique y otros), debate.

Roberta Dragonetti
Departamento Internacional
Caritas Italiana

Last call for WSF 2009 activities registration. Deadline: November 21st

Organizations willing to propose activities for the WSF 2009 have some more days to register. Deadline for activities registration has been postponed until next Friday, November 21st (11pm, Belem time/8pm GMT/UTC). Organizations that will send participants to the WSF, but do not want to propose activities can register until December 2008.

Payment for organizations registered in Brazil has already started and should be made until November 30th. Soon the international payment system will be open.

Visit the registration website: http://inscricoes.fsm2009amazonia.org.br

Registration guide: http://www.fsm2009amazonia.org.br/forum-social-mundial/frequently-asked-questions/about-registrations/registrations-doubts

IMPORTANT: A list of registered activities until last friday (November 14th) is available for download in http://www.fsm2009amazonia.org.br/forum-social-mundial/inscricoes/atividades/lista-de-atividades-ate-1411/view. The file is sorted in alphabetical order by organization name.

You can also view the list of registered activities in the registration website - http://inscricoes.fsm2009amazonia.org.br/content/index.php?page=consulta_pub . In this page you can browse all the registered activities and organizations and also search for keywords or action goal. This list is updated automatically as new activities are being registered.

If your activity doesn’t appear in any of the lists cited above, it means that your activity registration was not made or concluded properly. Check as soon as possible if your activity was registered, as the registration period won’t be extended again.

Organisations that just want to bring participants, but not to present activities, can register until December.

According to WSF Charter of Principles, the registration of political parties or governmental departments is not allowed.

The World Social Forum will take place from January 27th to February 1st, in the city of Belem (capital of Para state, in brazilian amazon). More than 750 activities has already been registered by the time this newsletter is being closed.

To register, visit: inscricoes.fsm2009amazonia.org.br

See step-by-step guide to registering:

http://www.fsm2009amazonia.org.br/forum-social-mundial/frequently-asked-questions/about-registrations/registrations-doubts

Avoid registering close to the deadline date, as the registration system tends to be slow due to the high number of access. After registering, you can modify your activity until November 30th.

More about WSF 2009: www.fsm2009amazonia.org.br

a) How to register organisations
1) Visit the site - http://inscricoes.fsm2009amazonia.org.br/

2) Click “New Registration”

3) Fill out the registration form with your organization data (the fields marked with * are required)

4) Enter the security code that appears in the picture at the end of the form and click “Save”

5) On the next screen, confirm your data. You will have access to a menu where you can register your activities, enter or change the names of your organisation’s participants in WSF 2009, and see the your registration fee (variable according to the number of delegates you register)

6) You will receive an email with your registration number and your password. Both numbers are required to access the registration site further. Using this numbers you can return to your registration page, change your organisation data, the number of participants who will be in Belem, add or modify activities and also access the payment system (which will be available soon).

NOTE: About the participants - while filling the form with data of your organization, you’ll be asked how many participants of your organisation will attend to Belem forum. The number of participants will determine the value of your registration fee. After your payment confirmation, you’ll also be able to enter the names of your delegates in the Participants area of the registration site.

b) How to present self-managed activities

Once you sign up your organization (item A), you can register the self-managed activities proposed by your organisation for the WSF 2009 in Belem (after completing your organisation’s form for the first time, you will be automatically taken to the activities registration page).
1) Go to the “self-mananged Activities” and click “Propose Activity.”

2) Carefully read the instructions and fill out the activities form.

3) Click “Save”

If you want to modify your activity information or wish to register it later, you should make your login in the registration site using the number and password provided by email (ITEM A-6).

The activities registered can be modified/edited until November 30th.

WSF Office - Brazil
Address: Rua General Jardim, 660, 7th floor, São Paulo - SP- Brasil, Zip Code: 01223-010
email: escritorio(at)forumsocialmundial.org.br
Website: www.forumsocialmundial.org.br

WSF 2009 Office - Belem
Address: Rua Presidente Pernambuco S/N, Belem - PA - Brasil, Zip Code: 66823-010
email: escritorio(at)fsm2009amazonia.org.br
Phone: +55-91-3222-8530
Website: www.fsm2009amazonia.org.br

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