2010 and 2011 Praxis

PRAXIS

Newsletter of the World Student Christian Federation Asia Pacifc Double Issue -- No. 3 of 2010, No. 1 of 2011

1

table of

contents editorial

perspective

3 4-10

A Call to Strike Against Education Budget Cut (4) International Solidarity of Students and Youth in the Struggle for Education Rights (10)

biblical reflection

13

Blossoming: The Right of Every Bud

scmer’s diary

18

An Ecumenical Encounter with the Global Christian Forum Asia Regional Meeting

solidarity space

20-21

Solidarity Statement on Climate and EcoJustice (20) WSCF’s Water and Justice Campaign (21)

regional news

26-31

WSCF-AP holds 20th RWC Meeting (26), WSCF AP Standing Holds Meeting (27), RWP-Student YMCA and SCM Japan Joint Miriam Program (28), WSCFAP holds RWP in Sri Lanka (30), EASY NET Core Team holds Meeting (31)

national movement news

32-38

Nepal (32), Myanmar (32), Korea (33), Japan (34), Philippines (36), Bangladesh (37), India (38)

announcement

39

Book launch of the WSCF book When Pastors and Priests Prey in Jamaica

calendar of events P R A X I S is the newsle er of World Student Chris an Federa on Asia Pacific Region Editorial Team: Necta Montes, Sunita Suna

2

40

Regional Office:

Inter-Regional Offi ce:

Unit 1-2, 18/Floor 280 Portland Street Commercial Building Mongkok, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR Tel: (852) 23852550 Fax: (852) 27823980 Email: wscfap@netvigator.com Website: www.wscfap.org

The Ecumenical Centre 5 Route des Morillons P.O. Box 2100, CH 1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland Tel: (41-22) 7988952 Fax: (41-22) 7982370 Email: wscf@wscf.ch Website: www.wscfglobal.org

E

duca on is a human right. No one should be deprived of this basic right enshrined in the United Na ons’ Universal Declara on of Human Rights (UDHR). Like all other basic human rights, it’s inalienable and inherent, guaranteed and protected under most of the na onal laws and cons tu ons of the UN member states. But sadly, like other basic human rights, it is one of the most violated, abused and denied. What with the increasing cost of educa on due to priva za on and commodi za on of our educa on systems, na onstates have relegated their role to protect and promote this basic right to big-business interest and capitalist agenda.

Educa on is now a commodity, a privilege enjoyed by a few, denied to many. Everyday, young people by the thousands are losing their chance to enter into higher educa on in developed and developing countries alike.

In these past few years, we have seen an upsurge of protest and marches by students in the United States, France, UK, Sri Lanka, Philippines and in different parts of the world calling for greater access to educa on. The WSCF and the SCMs as student movements should respond and be at the forefront of the struggle for the right to educa on.

As a movement, it is our responsibility to ensure that students rights and welfare are

editorial

protected and given priority by our states and global en es governing the world.

In this issue of PRAXIS, we feature an ar cle collec vely wri en by student in the Philippines on their analysis of the educa on system and its link to the economic policies of the government following the dictates of neo-liberal economic policies. We also feature a collec on of news from student movements in the different parts of the world calling for educa on and student rights and welfare.

The Biblico-theological reflec on on educa on en tled, “Blossoming: The Right of Every Bud,” is taken from the biblical text Mark 9:14-28 contributed by Rev. Vinod Victor from India.

This theological reflec on gives an account of Jesus commissioning the disciples to “teach, heal and transform lives,” which I believe, is the essence and the purpose of educa on. Rev. Victor also emphasize that in order for a child to blossom, educa on among other things must be fulfilled together with shelter, food, and health.

SCMers Diary is a reflec on from Yus n Pasaribu, current WSCF AP chairperson on his ecumenical encounter with Chris an groups from the evangelical churches in Asia during the Asia Mee ng of the Global Chris an Forum (GCF).

Finally, our Solidarity Space features the WSCF Global Campaign on Water running for the 2 years.

As we share with you this double issue of PRAXIS, we also appeal for your kind support and dona on in keeping this publica on alive and in circula on.

Grace and Peace, Necta Montes Regional Secretary

We are also sharing with you the news of the ac vi es of the SCM movements in Japan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Korea, Philippines, India and Indonesia and programs and ac vi es at the regional level over the past few months.

3

4

quino is leading the country to roads that could all end to a deadly ravine, but “straight way”.

A

The Aquino government has spoken of “straight way”, rhetoric of reform and different state of affairs under his new government contrary to Arroyo government.

Aquino’s predecessor, Arroyo’s regime has been characterized by grave human rights viola ons, corrup on, and rabid servility to the US economic and poli cal agenda.

of the Filipino people. These policies are also the guide of the policies being included in the Medium Term Philippine Development Plan (MTPDP) 2011-2016 of the new regime.

Imperialist blueprint in Aquino policies

At this early however, it can be seen that Aquino has towed the line of “neo-liberal globaliza on” championed

by Arroyo. It is clear in the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) and Condi onal Cash Transfers (CCT), that these central socio-economic policies of Aquino will only worsen the chronic crisis that beset the country and benefit mostly foreign interests and monopoly capital.

Aquino’s first state visit was in the US and could tell no less than the prevailing “special rela ons” (read as master and servile) between Philippines and the US. While Aquino flaunts so-called Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) “granted” by the Millennium Challenge Corpora on with a sum of US$434 million for the Philippine government, it is without doubt that in exchange the US will be cemen ng its economic, military, and geo-poli cal hold on the country.

Like the previous governments, Philippine economic and na onal policies are sealed at the empire’s headquarters.

The United States as a primary hegemonic power, dictates the policies of liberaliza on, priva za on, dena onaliza on and deregula on that further worsened unemployment, agrarian unrest and poverty

The MCA subterfuges as an aid to push for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) 2015 as targeted by the United Na ons. According to the IBON Founda on however, the MCA obliges Philippines and other recipient countries to implement in exchange neoliberal policies like opening of trade, economic liberalism, and requisites of “good

governance” and “adherence to human rights standards” even if the la er two standards were as good only if these make the US economic interests prosper.

Simultaneous with globaliza on, Aquino pushed for “fiscal adjustment” or the fixing of budget based on the priori es dictated by the imperialists. This fiscal adjustment has been proven to be inimical to the na on’s genuine development and in essence is refurbishing the unjust Structural Adjustment Programs (SAPS) pushed by the Interna onal Monetary Fund-World Bank (IMF-WB) in the 1980’s.

Meanwhile the CCT program which has been beefed up with 29.2 billion pesos is intended as an ar ficial eradica on of poverty or doleout. This is done at the same me that the social services, including educa on are starkly sidelined and reduced with budget. Aquino is wishfulthinking that through CCT program, the poverty of millions of Filipinos will be ended by handing cash to selected poor families via a US$400 million loan from the Asian Development Bank.

An enlarged CCT under the Aquino government, which was double the scope of Arroyo’s World Bank funded CCT, will surely be a source of big corrup on and foreign

5

perspective

indebtedness. Aquino is wishful-thinking that thru dole-outs poverty will end, even if there is wanton disregard for social services and educa on, health, demoli on of urban poor, high unemployment, landlessness and unrest in the countryside.

Aquino’s project like the CCT reflects the shallow analysis, with his propaganda slogan “If there are no corrupt, there are no poor people.” It covers the structural roots of poverty and basic problems in the Philippines: absence of genuine land reform program and industrial backwardness which could not create gainful jobs at home, scarce social services, human rights viola ons and the domina on of US and local elites. In a semi-feudal and semi-colonial

6

country like ours, these have been the ensuing reasons for social strife and unrest.

War and foreign-debt budget, not education and social service

The CCT is also an ideological offensive of the establishment in the guise of “welfare program” of the government and propagandized by neoliberal apologists like the pseudo-progressive group Akbayan.

Similar to the IMF-WB dictates of implemen ng “austerity measures”, which had recently ignited the giant protests and strikes in Europe, the 1.645 trillion peso budget ($37.63 million) for 2011 by the Philippine government is one such measure. In short, this is to ensure the yearly foreign debt servicing and “stability” thru the bolstering of budget for the military.

Even the military which is involved in systema c viola ons of human rights is awarded with 2.43 billion pesos in the budget under an item called “support to na onal development”.

This is part of image building of the military, which is based on the “Winning of Hearts and Mind” doctrine of the US counter-insurgency manual.

In terms of the elementary and secondary educa on, there is only a “nominal” budget increase and s ll lags in covering for the insufficiency of millions of books, school chairs and tables, schoolrooms,

s

perspective

thousands of needed teachers with enough salary and benefits. It is possible that in the government’s priority and poverty, the already huge number of 4.69 million youth aged 7-16 years that are outof school will be increased.

In the college, the budget slash is phenomenally the biggest in history of the state universi es and colleges (SUCs) with 1.1 billion cut for opera ons and maintenance.

There is also no budget delegated for improvement of school facili es. Among the biggest cut was received by the University of the Philippines system with 1.39 billion or 20% of the budget (and 114 million pesos for the Philippine General Hospital), the Philippine Normal University (PNU) with 92million cut and the Bicol University with 88 million pesos cut.

Aquino reasoned that cuts could be solved anyway with income genera ng projects by the SUCs, including raising of tui on and fees. From the studies conducted, in the last decade there are 1.5 billion were drawn thru the pockets of students, however the projected income this 2011 is increased to 7.7 billions or 22.1% of the total budget of SUCs from only 8.3% only last 2011. This is clear government abandonment of its responsibility to provide

educa on to its youth and ci zen.

The direc on of Aquino’s program is clearly adherent to the imperialist globaliza on framed Medium Term Philippine Development Plan (MTPDP) 2004-2010 and Long Term Higher Educa on Development Plan (LTHEDP).

The MTPDP and LTHEDP is based on the IMF-WB dictates where educa on especially higher educa on is treated as a commodity and not anymore as a responsibility of government. The MTPDP and LTHEDP impose for semi-corpora za on of state universi es of colleges, selfsustenance and financing of SUCs and marke za on (collabora on with big corpora ons, MNCs/TNCs and industries).

Meanwhile, the capitalisteducators of private schools will pursue their plans of raising tui on and various schemes to impose exorbitant and unjust fees.

These capitalist-educators exploit the Educa on Act of 1982, a law that deregulates tui on, and make use of a tooth-less regulatory body called Commission on Higher Educa on. Students are preparing to defy these imposi ons and

g

There is an imminent storm of protest to ϔight for the rights of the youth and people for education.

The students, youth and people are called by the current objective situation to stand and struggle.

t u c t e g d u b n o i t a c u d e 7 p o t s

A strike is

a weapon of the oppressed and wretched.

We see that in all uprisings the youth’s strength must be merged with the peoples’ strength, in order to be an effective shield to a deaf state and to claim victory, regain our rights and for a meaningful social change.

Call to Strike Aquino regimes policies that are an -people and an -youth engender the strongest ra onale for a youth and peoples strike.

The youth cannot expect for brighter future so long as these policies are in place, but the worsening of Commercialized, Fascist and Colonial educa on under the Aquino government. There is no solu on on the educa on crisis but the unified ac on of the youth and people for an accessible mass-oriented, scien fic and na onalist educa on that will serve the interest of the people and not

8

that of foreign, corporate and elite interests.

There is an imminent storm of protest to fight for the rights of the youth and people for educa on, bigger than those of the last months. Like the various periods in our history, we the students, youth and people are called by current objec ve situa on to stand and struggle for our rights.

We learn from the historical storm of the First Quarter Storm of 1970, the movement for democra za on in and outside our campus to the an -fascist struggles and People Power in 1983-86, and the youth ac ons together

with the people in ous ng the corrupt Estrada regime in 2001.

A strike is a weapon of the oppressed and wretched.

Looking through the progressive lens, we see that in all these uprising the youth’s strength must be merged with the peoples’ strength, in order to be an effec ve shield to a deaf state and in order to claim victory, regain our rights and for a meaningful social change. The honing-ground of strength of the progressive rank, can be seen through the actual struggles and asser on of youth and peoples’ rights.

So our call to our fellow students, teachers, workers and youth, let us build the barricade in our campuses!

Let us transform our barricades and streets into democra c schools of struggle. This is an invita on to all, take a stand, act and play a role in the making of history!

This article and the next were published in the November issue of INSIGHTS, the theoretical journal of the Institute for Nationalist Studies, a youth-led research group in the Philippines.

9

International Solidarit in the Struggle for

T

he current capitalist crisis and the passing of the burden of the imperialist to the countries they dominate is already a fate sealed at the empire’s headquarters.

With the breakout of the financial crisis at the end of 2008, now considered as the worst crisis of the world capitalist crisis since the Great Depression, various an -youth and an -people policies are being schemed to be imposed by imperialist and the servile governments in the Third

10

World in order to salvage giant monopoly-corpora ons and con nue to amass profit.

universi es due to the tui on hike and educa on budget slash.

These are valiantly defied by the youth, workers and the people. Here are some of the struggles in dierent countries to oppose budget cut in educa on and social services, austerity measures, priva za on brought by bailouts and other schemes.

The students were united but on August 16 while protests are going on at the Chi agong University, the government deployed police force inside the university to quell the protests.

Subsequently dormitories wereraided, and student-leaders were detained and the Chi agong University was closed down for almost 2 months un l Setyembre 16. Despite the threats of the government and repression,

Bangladesh August 2010 students of Dhaka University, Chi agong University and other

ty of Students & Youth r Education Rights the protests con nued. Youth and people also successfully frustrated the government’s planned imposi on of the Value Added Tax.

Chile Almost every month protests were held in San ago City against the Laws on General Educa on (LGE) since 2008.

Mayo 2008 youth also pushed for big marches in the ci es of San ago, Valparaiso at Antofagast where 450 of them were arrested. They again held indigna on of around 15, 000 students together

with their teachers and school personnel.

Indonesia Students and youth protested in around 22 ci es to protest government abandonment of educa on. Only 15% of the total budget requirement of state universi es and colleges are being delivered by the government thru subsidy further commercializing educa on.

Puerto Rico Las ng for months and s ll con nuing now, student,

teachers and academic strike launched in the Universidad de Puerto Rico system with11 campuses, which started in Abril 2010 because of proposed 40% budget cut in the university and the plans to raise tui on.

Despite repression they faced from the government, the unity of dierent sectors was intensified, and the patrio c aspira on for independence and freedom was rekindled in the hearts of the Puerto Ricans from the United States of America, which is the oldest

g 11

and remaining colony in the modern mes.

United States of America Na onal ac ons against budget cut, austerity budget and war budget of the US government.

Academic communi es and students in California led and sparked a na onwide and big ac ons of youth, teachers, researchers and workers in the protests to defy bail-out and budget cuts.

Germany Around 250, 000 students and youth protested on 2009 against the budget cut on educa on, tui on hike and “Bologna Process” or the revision of educa on curriculum in educa on to adopt to the needs of corpora ons and imperialists.

Srilanka Students opposed the proposed law to allow the private schools and entry of foreign corpora ons that will invest in educa on.

Protests were held in 20 state universi es and inspite of repression the struggle con nued.

the plans to double and triple the tui on of universi es.

Spain

Great Britain

April 2009 when around 10,000 youth walked out to oppose the Bologna Process.

Ireland Thousands of youth marched in the ci es of Munser, Galway, Limerick at Dublin in figh ng

12

youth and anti-people policies are being schemed to be imposed by imperialist and the servile governments in the Third World in order to salvage giant monopolycorporations and continue to amass proϔit.

Such actions are valiantly deϔied by the youth, workers and the people.

Students walked out and marched in the streets of London and other ci es on November 7 to protest the plans to double and triple the annual tui on cap in universi es which is now at £3290 o $5264. The protests

con nue as the parliament approved the policy in November 24.

Italy This October 2010, thousands of students and youth merged with workers and people in the general strike against “austerity measures” implemented by the Berlusconi regime since the 2008 crisis which will directly result to massive services budget cuts, pension, educa on and other a acks to the rights of workers and people.

Croatia Around 5,000 youth and students march in front of the Ministry of Educa on against the implementa on of the Bologna process and bad condi on in educa on.

Protests were also held in ci es of Split, Osijek, and Rijeka.

Big ac ons and marches of unity of youth with workers and peoples in France, Greece in their general strikes called to fight the exploita ve bailouts to corpora ons and agreements/dictates of IMFWB, and the a acks on the rights of workers and people in the forms of budget cuts in social services. There were also protests and raising of consciousness on the a acks to educa on in Pakistan, South Africa, Argen na, Guatemala, Benin, India, Honduras and Costa Rica among many others.

s

Biblical ReflecƟons on Mark 9: 14-28

by Rev. Vinod Victor

s o

blo

The Right of Every Bud

m i

m g n

T

he Se ng: The transfiguration experience was an extraordinary encounter for the three disciples. A er marveling at the revela on of the glory of Jesus they opted to stay up in the mountain. However Jesus was clear that his mission had a journey ahead, that too a difficult one.

He embarked on a walk down the hill and there saw his disciples in a jiffy with a crowd. A burdened father had brought his son to Jesus to be healed of a possession and since Jesus was up in the mountain he had asked his disciples for help. But they could do nothing.

g

13

blossoming Jesus enters into a conversa on with the father and realizes the gravity of the issue. The man pleaded, If you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” And Jesus responded, “If you can! All things are possible for those who believe.” The father cried, “I believe; help my unbelief”. Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit and in a drama c exit as the spirit leaves the boy is le like a corpse. Jesus took him by the hand and li ed him, and he arose into the joys and adventures of a life in all its fullness.

The commission to discipleship is a call that is crystal clear, “I am sending you as the Father has sent me”. This sending therefore involves being with Christ, teaching, healing and transforming lives. Discipleship is a call to transforma on. The basic reality that Jesus notes in the suffering child is the viola on of his human dignity and his right to live a full life.

An enjoyable childhood and a secure future is the right of every child. This involves right to home, right to shelter, right to educa on, right to entertainment, right to health, right to informa on, right to dignity and right to blossom.

However it remains a stark reality that many buds today are being squeezed too early thus preven ng them blossoming.

The challenge of discipleship or rather that of a concerned humanity is to seek ways and means to ensure the full blossoming of these buds.

14

The Sitz in laben: I was recently asked to take over the responsibility of the Department of Social and Jus ce Concerns of my diocese. Of the manifold involvements that our parents had embarked on, the greatest concern seems to be for children in the peripheries.

They were keen on having Orphanages to ensure that children who did not have the privilege of parenthood did not loose out in life. The doors of the Children’s Homes were always open to those children pushed into the margins by poverty, war and social maladies. They took keen interest in the children of the vic mized like the children of prisoners, the detrimentally sick, the refugees and the like. They were keen on the well being of children in the streets. They opened up their doors for the physically and mentally challenged, evinced special interest in children who were congenitally sick.

They envisaged Child Focused Community Development Programmes. Jus ce and Peace were the core of each of their involvements.

In order to ensure Jus ce and Peace they affirmed the basic dignity and human rights can be affirmed only by ensuring proper educa on.

Early Childhood Care programmes were centered around an educa onal facility, the nursery and primary educa on was seen with prime importance

because it was therein the seeds of the future were nurtured. School educa on and Higher educa on was pursued with utmost care from the realiza on that one major factor that le people struggling in the margins and peripheries as vic ms and the hunted was their denial of access to proper educa on. They embarked on an educa on mission establishing schools accessible for the ordinary in the nooks and corners of their reach.

Though the primary focus was on early childhood care and basic educa on, the ambit of their reach went all the way to technical and professional educa onal involvements.

By educa on they did not mean “banking of informa on”. They were clear educa on is bringing out the real poten al and possibility inherent in each person so that they in tandem with the talent of the neighborhood and the balance of nature would do wonders to make this world a haven where jus ce flows like an overflowing stream.

They were keen in “mission” involvements in war torn areas and called them “schools for peace”. They were sure that ensuring educa on is ensuring a secure future for communi es.

A biblical search for a paradigm that would define the educa onal involvement of a genera on could find a

meaningful text to dialogue with in the story of the healing down the mountain. The Spirit that had possessed the young child had five important traits that are being reflected in manifold ways even today in a genera on that is living around us. Our understanding of “spirit possession” might have been scien fically reoriented but the impact that the “evil” had on the child is seen manifest in graver forms in another genera on of children around us.

(v.17): Silencing a genera on is a stark reality today. Forces of globaliza on and the global market which do not regard human values have made a genera on unable to talk or respond. With all claims of sophis cated communica on gadgets the basic communica on

g 15

blossoming within families is breaking down. Children are not able to communicate with their parents. In the technologically networked world however the soothing joy of a spoken word is missing. The response of genera ons for jus ce and peace are o en being branded as terrorism, the cry for democracy is termed dissidence and the noise made for their rights is rubbished as immaturity. Perhaps with turbulence within a genera on is choosing to be silent. There is a lot of distrust within and among communi es.

(v.18). Whenever the spirit seized him it throws him down and he foams and grinds its teeth and becomes rigid. A genera on who must be up and running enjoying the reali es of life are being seized and thrown drown.

In the grave pain they foam

16

within. Vic ms of war and war crimes, vic ms of rape and sexual abuse, vic ms of domes c violence, vic ms of community violence, vic ms of socially conceived diseases.. the list can keep going on. A genera on is grinding their teeth in pain, agony and tears.

(v.20). As soon the spirit was confronted by Jesus it convulsed him or rather it parched him. This parching is seen in manifold forms even today. When light tries to confront darkness darkness throws a tantrum. This parching could be physical, emo onal, rela onal, spiritual, social or even cultural. This is manifest in a sense of emp ness where life turns out to be mechanical and painful. A genera on is falling into depression, emo ons are transcending the borders of control, cultural aliena on is devasta ng rela onships, spirituality is

being commercialized and rela onships are being gauged in market terminology.

The result of all these is convulsion that some mes is not caught in the ordinary eye.

Look again, and lo and behold we see lives being parched as if in a desert to which molten lava flows down. This volcanic living could have serious repercussions on the way the communi es are today being constructed.

(v.22). The spirit o en cast him to fire and into water to destroy him. And this fire s ll remains a stark reality to live with. In forms of country bombs and localized version of terrorism many in the genera on next are being a racted to fire. It takes huge shapes in the form of nuclear threats and global wars where sophis cated arms that spew fire are being used harshly at hapless human

beings. Nuclear reactors are unable to stand the pushing in tsunamis of water and the resultant radia on is a cause of concern for many.

Fire and Water con nues to destroy genera ons. Clima c varia ons offer clear warning signals and no one seems to be taking the cue. They are emi ng more fire, they are wan ng more of the genera ons to be destroyed by fire.

(v.25).

Warning signals are made as clear and loud as possible.

No one seems to be hearing.

Drugs, Alcohol and modern vices are declaring themselves that “We are Injurious”, but that seems to be falling in deaf ears. The groaning of the vic ms of human negligence of the past should ideally be warning signals for the future.

But no one seem listening. An inexplicable deafness seem to have affected the world,

specially a new genera on.

The cries for jus ce that is emana ng from across the globe, the deep anguish within that is declaring forth the pain in which people who are hunted suffer and the sheer agony of poverty and homelessness of the refugee and internally displaced are not being heard by anyone at all. This is maddening deafness.

The Way Ahead: Can we do something about the situa on? The prayer of the father was a candid reflec on of the limita ons of human imaginings. He asked Jesus “If you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us”. Jesus wanted to stretch the man’s horizons of faith and therefore said, “If you can?”.

This is absurd if you realize the poten als and possibili es of the divine. “All things are possible for the one who believes”.

Does it mean that All buds Can One Day Truly Blossom?

Yes, it exactly means so. Jesus

rebuked the unclean spirit saying “Come out of him and never enter him again”. The spirit had no op on. Despite the drama cs that le the boy nearly like the dead the evil spirit had to leave. Jesus took him by the hand and li ed him up and HE AROSE.

Disciples were candid in their query why could we not cast it out and Jesus said, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer and fas ng. What then is fas ng, “Is not this the fast that I choose, to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free and to break every yoke.” (Is 58:6).

In the modern world the best means of making this possible is through educa on, by ensuring educa on is affirmed as a basic human right and by making sure that every child has access to meaningful educa on.

17

An Ecumenical Encounter with the Global Christian Forum (GCF) Asia Regional Meeting A Reflection by Yustin Pasaribu WSCF AP Chairperson

F

rom November 12-16, 2010, 60 par cipants from 19 Asian countries gathered at Choi Jasil Memorial near Seoul, Korea for the Asia Regional Mee ng on the Global Chris an Forum.

They represented na onal Councils of Churches and Chris an Councils, Na onal Catholic Bishops’ Conferences, Na onal Evangelical and Pentecostal Alliances and Fellowships, Regional Ecumenical, Catholic, Evangelical and Pentecostal Bodies, and Churches. The

18

mee ng was held on the premises of the Fas ng Prayer Mountain of Yoido Full Gospel Church in Seoul.

This was the first me that a GCF mee ng was received by a Pentecostal church. The Revd. Dr. Young-hoon Lee who succeeded in 2009 the founder of Yoido Full Gospel Church, the Revd. Dr. David Yonggi Cho, as Senior Pastor addressed the Asia Regional Mee ng on the theme of The Holy Spirit Movement and the Ministry of the Yoido Full Gospel Church.

The GCF evolved from a process that first took shape in the 1990s. It arose from reflec ons on the nature of the World Council of Churches, and the recogni on that the embrace of contemporary Chris anity was wider than the council was conceivably going to be able to span.

There was a need to find other ways for catalysing contacts and poten al rela onship between brothers and sisters in Christ who had li le if any encounter with one another.

Cau ous coneversa ons led to careful consulta ons with a widening circle of partners, and to greater confidence in pursuing the possibili es of this vision to facilitate ever broadening interac ons.

During the GCF, the par cipants shared and confronted their views on inter-church rela onships in Asia, iden fied and discussed some of the issues at stake and the obstacles to unity and coopera on, and sought to li up posi ve developments in their na onal situa ons.

A er a series of discussions, they agreed on the following: 1. Ecumenism is understood as an intra-Chris an, interchurch movement towards unity in obedience to the prayer of Jesus “that they may be one … so that the world may believe” (John 17 :21).

2. The founda onal iden ty of the church grounded in

scmer’s diary

Scripture and nd as expressed in the ancient creeds which confess the Triune God and Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour is the basis of ecumenism.

3. Being ecumenical is to be on a journey with other churches and to recognize that all are not at the same stage. It asks for pa ence and tolerance.

Those who are on the ecumenical journey should invite and welcome others who wish to join provided they confess the basics of the Chris an faith. Newcomers should accept and respect the ecumenical experience and insights that churches have acquired on their journey.

4. Being together on the ecumenical journey is to grow together in mutual learning and understanding of what it means to follow Jesus Christ.

5. Chris an unity enhances our ability to dialogue with others and join hands in response to the concerns of the society. In this regard the churches in Asia have much to offer to churches in other parts of the world because of their experience of living in mul -religious socie es, working together, and sharing their faith together in dialogue with those around them.

6. The specific task of the GCF in Asia and elsewhere is to foster rela onships between churches of all Chris an

traditions, especially those that have had li le or no conversation with one another.

As par cipants, we affirm the Asian Movement for Chris an Unity started in 1996 by the CCA and the Federa on of Asian Bishops’ Conferences, and welcome the inclusion of the Asian Evangelical Alliance. We also recommend the following: We recommend to the regional bodies involved in AMCU to seek ways of including also the Pentecostals of Asia in the movement. 

We welcome the steps taken in India and Indonesia and the crea on of the United Chris an Alliance of Nepal which are consistent with the vision of the Global Chris an Forum 

We recommend similar ac ons and follow-up at na onal and local levels in our respec ve countries in Asia and commit ourselves to promote such ac ons. 

We recommend to the GCF Commi ee to include young 

Yustin Pasaribu people and women in its mee ngs and to organize mee ngs aiming at youth. The responsibility of encouraging par cipa on of youth and women should be taken by our own churches.

We recommend to the GCF to promote the vision of the GCF through forma on in seminaries and other training centers and to enhance the visibility of the Global Chris an Forum. 

The progress of the GCF will be enhanced by ensuring a certain measure of con nuity between regional and global mee ngs in terms of par cipants and representa on. 

19

WSCF Executive Committee Signed in Beirut, Lebanon in November 2010

20

solidarity space

W

e, the par cipants at the WSCF Interregional Leadership Training Program on Climate and Eco-jus ce met in Beirut, Lebanon in conjunc on with the Execu ve Commi ee Mee ng, from October 28 to November 6, 2010. The objec ve of the Training Conference was to engage the Federa on’s leadership to reflect on issues of Climate and eco-jus ce, the WSCF’s theme for 2010. The conference started with the Universal Day of Prayer for Students, followed by regional presenta ons about the ac vi es that have taken place in the six regions of the Federa on. The sharing of these experiences was the star ng point of the work of the conference.

Because of its voca onal concern towards the world and for the well-being of humankind, the Federa on is called to address the emergence of climate change and the consequent environmental instability.

Both causes and effects of this phenomenon are strictly linked to human ac vi es: it is human beings that carry out the exploita on of the environment, and it is human communi es that are affected by this catastrophic impact. This situa on also highlights a disparity between human beings: it is mostly marginalized and poor people who are the vic ms of the injus ces brought about by

an economy based on the idolatry of the market and on an unsustainable development paradigm. This raises issues of global jus ce.

Having iden fied the causes of Climate Change in the exploita on of the environment, it is necessary to widen the perspec ve of our reflec on to include a more comprehensive analysis of Ecological Jus ce, by poin ng out the impact that such phenomenon has on humankind in all its aspects .

The change of the environment where communi es live o en forces them to move out their local context in order to survive. Moreover, these changes cause greater and greater areas to loose sustainable living condi ons and jeopardize the access of en re communi es to water, food and health. O en, people have to leave their homes to escape conflicts triggered by either the control of natural resources by mul na onal corpora ons (such as land, water, minerals, etc) or by the scarcity of such resources.

Indigenous communi es are o en pushed to leave their lands by acts of violence so that transna onal companies can exploit forests, rivers, seas and land, for mining or extensive agriculture.

The exploita on of the environment as a means to supply the consumerist economic system and way

of life is the expression of the idolatry for profit, which becomes the ruling element of life on Earth. The presump on of technocra c omnipotence has led human beings to reduce the world – God’s crea on, in Chris an perspec ve – to mere material to be consumed without care for people’s sufferings. This omnipotence reveals itself as pure illusion when faced with the power of (un)natural calami es (floods, earthquakes or volcanic erup ons) or of the catastrophes it triggered.

Scriptures witness to a a God who observes the misery and hears the cry of God’s people (Ex. 3), claims for jus ce and opens new skies and Earth for humankind. We, as Chris ans, have to par cipate in the struggle of those who are suffering under oppression and help develop tools of pastoral care towards the survivors of such tragedies.

In order to let the Earth be a place for life, a change in our world’s poli cal and economic paradigm is needed: we are called to a conversion. A different narra ve of life on Earth is needed. It may enable us to recover the sense of such narra ve, which has been erased by a consumerist ideology. The ecumenical and inter-religious challenge is to find in our faiths and tradi ons the meaningful narra on of solidarity among human beings and between human beings and the environment,

g

21

solidarity space • Analysis of our structures and the development of policies, with the goal of a global re-thinking of the life of the Federa on in the perspec ve of eco-jus ce, as an act of interne coherence and responsibility and as a prophe c witness to world and churches.

• Providing students with tools and resources for the reflec on on this topic, concerning a radical changing of life-styles.

• Concrete ac on and campaigns, as the Global Water Campaign, aiming to affirm the access to clean water as a fundamental human right, that will culminate with coordinated ac ons on global level on march 2011.

The exploitation of the environment as a means to supply the consumerist economic system and way of life is the expression of the idolatry for proϔit. to reintegrate and regenerate communi es that have been uprooted and individuals who have been broken, and finally to reconcile communi es with the Earth they inhabit.

We invite Regions and SCMs to par cipate in the ongoing commitment of the Federa on to these issues by raising students’ awareness, deepening theological

22

reflec on, and ac ng through advocacy on behalf of marginalized and oppressed communi es affected by climate change and ecological destruc on. This conference marks the beginning of a global strategy on eco-jus ce for the Federa on and of a reflec on on how to carry our ac vi es in light of this commitment.

This includes:

• To sustain and inspire the big effort of this global strategy, a wide and deep theological reflec on is needed. It will concern our rela onship to the environment and our responsibility in the sake of it.

The Federa on takes the commitment in this reflec on, working to develop it and providing students with tools and spaces to to take part in it.

May God sustain our efforts with the promise God made to Noah and signed by the Rainbow in the sky, that God will not allow the life on Earth to be destroyed, not even by human greed.

solidarity space World Student Christian Federation’s

Water Justice Campaign

“Let justice roll down like a river, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.”

Amos 5:24

T

he WSCF’s Advocacy and Solidarity Commi ee (ASC) is challenging SCMs across the Federa on to take part in our first global campaign on Water Jus ce.

Inspired by students’ global engagement with the WSCF’s 2010 advocacy theme of climate jus ce, the ASC along with the WSCF Execu ve Commi ee is launching the Water Jus ce Campaign.

As stewards of Crea on, water reminds us to connect to most basic elemental level.

We recognize that water is a real, universal need and that connects all of God’s world. As Chris ans, we know that water is a powerful symbol of our thirst for jus ce, of the power of the Holy Spirit, and of the Wellspring of life in Jesus

Christ. As student ac vists, we see that due to human ac on, water scarcity, water pollu on and water commercializa on and priva za on are serious threats to our fellow people of Earth_ the poor, the oppressed, and the marginalized, with whom we are called to walk in solidarity.

The World Water Day slated on March 22, 2011 is our official worldwide launch of the campaign, which this year will also mark the Universal Day of Prayer for Students (UDPS).

The World Water Day which is also declared by the United Na ons, can be maximized and can be taken to herald the issue of water depriva on and raise awareness among our students, movements and communi es. This we hope

can be sustained in years of advocacy as our students look deeper into water jus ce issues and its impact on our local communi es and incontexts and connec ons with survival, sustainability, equality and jus ce.

How can we launch the Water Jus ce Campaign on the World Water Day? Here are some sugges ons: • Use UDPS liturgy on Water Jus ce theme, to be published this year by the World Student Chris an Federa on in partnership with the Ecumenical Water Network • Challenge SCMs across the Federa on to stage a “flash mob freeze” on their local

g 23

solidarity space reflec ons on how the water crisis is affec ng local reali es, indigenous people, marginalized communi es and need for governments to genuinely respond to it.

Sustaining the Water Jus ce Campaign. In order to respond in a sustained way, the federa on had organized a Water Jus ce Task Force which will help in guiding our campaign and advocacy on this issue.

campuses to highlight the issue of water jus ce, and encourage other crea ve symbolic ac ons • We ask that students come together at a place that highlights local or global water issues with signs/slogans on water as a human right, water scarcity, water priva za on and control, conflict and for one minute freeze in place, to call a en on to these important issues.

Sample slogans we can use: 1. WATER is a Human Right (to highlight water as fundamental need and human right) 2. We Thirst for JUSTICE! Water is a Right! (to stress scarcity of water/priva za on) 3. Giant DAMs = Environment DAMage (to connect on dam/water priva za on, environment degrada on and displacement of people)

24

4. Peoples/Public Control NOT Corporate Control on Water!

• Hold a forum, discussion on the issues of Water Jus ce to raise awareness and create concern among students, ecumenical youth network, and local communi es Although this is a global campaign to highlight that the water crisis is not only a local issue as the media and poli cal/business elites o en portray, but a worldwide problem, students are encouraged to make this campaign relevant to their local contexts.

We encourage students partaking in this ac on to take pictures and videos and share them with the rest of the Federa on through WSCF Connec on and with the Interregional Office in Geneva.

The campaign will aim to trigger conversa ons and

• Water Task Force also challenges SCMs across the Federa on to collect “water tes monies”, stories of local water issues, struggles and campaigns.

The Water Task Force will collect these stories into a book of tes monies to be published at the Interna onal Ecumenical Peace Convoca on in Kingston, Jamaica in May 2011. These tes monies will showcase how the fight for water jus ce is both global and local, both unique and universal. Through these stories we can see and work toward a world where all may truly be one.

solidarity space • It would be important for local SCMs to partner with groups and alliances already working on water issues to become part of advocacy groups pu ng pressure on water corpora ons and governments on water as a human right.

• Sugges on for students to start a local campaign to pressure their local municipality (or join a group that is already advoca ng this) to approve a water jus ce declara on and/or work on keeping/rever ng their priva zed water system to be public.

• Encourage students to inquire with their universi es what they have done to conserve water and whether it would be feasible to make the campus a bo le water free zone (obviously if the sanitary condi ons of the local context allow for it).

• The WSCF also exhort local and na onal SCMs and WSCF region to plan water pilgrimages to educate students on water issue, visit communi es affected by water shortage and reflect theologically on water abundance/scarcity.

As student activists, we see that water scarcity, pollution and commercialization are serious threats to our fellow people of Earth the poor, the oppressed, and the marginalized, with whom we are called to walk in solidarity. inextricably linked to these issues of mining jus ce, gender jus ce, land jus ce and indigenous rights.

We invite SCMs to explore the interconnec ons between these themes, and to use these

themes as they incorporate the Water Jus ce campaign to their local context.

Announcement --The Water Jus ce Taskforce is open to volunteers. Contact: wscf. watertaskforce@gmail.com

This two-year campaign will intertwine with the 2011 and 2012 WSCF advocacy themes of Overcoming Violence and Economic Jus ce, as we recognize that water is

25

regional news

Women of WSCF-AP holds 20th Regional Women’s Committee Meeting

T

he members of the Regional Women’s Commi ee (RWC), WSCF AP met on 3-6, February 2011 at the WSCF AP Regional Office, Hong Kong. Ga yeon Lee (South Korea), Standing Commi ee member at large & North East Asia representa ve, Mani Clara Mandal (Bangladesh), South Asia representa ve, Selfitriani Kulla (Indonesia), South East Asia representa ve, Fanny Lam (Hong Kong), co opted member in the place of Misato Sasaki, Bronwyn Crowe (Australia), Janejinda Pawadee (Thailand), member and vice chair for WSCF Global Ex co and Sunita Suna (India), Regional Women’s Coordinator a ended the mee ng.

26

the pre women’s mee ng 2010 to plan and implement the Regional Women’s Programme for the next quadrannium.

One important task they carried out was the evalua on of the work of the Regional Women’s Coordinator and the organized Regional Women’s Programmes of 20092010. A er having a cri cal reflec on and evalua on of various women’s concerns and programmes through the SWOT analysis the members agreed to uphold and engage on important concerns like feminist theology and women’s issues in the sub regional contexts through the Regional Women’s Programme of WSCF AP for women’s leadership and women’s emancipa on.

The Regional Women’s Commi ee (RWC) is the decision making body of the Regional Women’s programme, comprising of six women. The commi ee meet once in two years to concrete plans for the Regional Women’s Program in the new quadrennium; evaluate the progras and the work being done; implement tangible plans; drawing up specific plans for program implementa on etc.

The proposed women’s programmes from 2011 to 2014 are: ac vites for 20112012 are Women Doing Theology (Regional level) and Women Leadership Programmes - Sub Regional level(South East Asia, South Asia, North East Asia and the Pacific); ac vi es for 2013-2014 are Women Doing Theology Workshop (Regional level) and Regional Women’s Programme SCM Joint Women’s Programme (Na onal level).

During the delibera on, RWC members shared women’s issues, challenges and ongoing women’s programmes and ac vi es. They also affirmed some of the shared concerns in

The commi ee held faith reflec ons through worship and Bible studies. Apart from the business sessions, they also briefly celebrated the Chinese New Year in HK.

regional news WSCF Asia Pacific Standing Committee Holds Meeting

T

he WSCF Asia Pacific Standing Commi ee held its 20th Mee ng from February 6 to 11,2011 at the WSCF AP Regional Office in Hong Kong.

It was a ended by Mr. Yus n Pasaribu (Indonesia), chairperson; Ms. Phan Dara (Cambodia), vice-chairperson; Mr. Immanuel Gopala Kitnan (Sri Lanka), Exco; Ms. Bronwyn Claire Crowe (Australia), Exco; Ms. Fanny Lam (Hong Kong), Member-at-large; Ms. Gayeon Lee (Korea), Member-atlarge; Ms. Janejinda Pawadee (Thailand), global vicechairperson; Ms. Sunita Suna (India), Regional Women’s Coordinator; and Ms. Necta Montes (Philippines), Regional Secretary.

The Standing Commi ee is the policy-making body of the WSCF AP. During this mee ng, the members received the program reports from the Regional Secretary and Regional Women’s Coordinator, evaluated the programs in the past two years and iden fied the direc ons and plans of WSCF AP for year 2011 to 2012.

The members also listened to the sharing from Yus n Pasaribu on his par cipa on at the Global Chris an Forum, from Gayeon Lee on the SCM USA Launch and Immanuel Kitnan on the WSCF Execu ve Commi ee Mee ng in November 2011.

It also reviewed the situa on of the 18 na onal movements in the region based on the reports submi ed in the 2010 Regional Commi ee.

Highlights of the mee ng included the approval of the extension of contract of Ms. Sunita Suna, Regional Women’s Coordinator for another two years, approval of the 2010 audited financial report and 2011-2012 budget, development of fund-raising

strategies for WSCF AP region, appointment of Leni Valeriano as interim Human Rights Coordinator un l the next RCM. The mee ng coincided with the mee ngs and interviews done by the Search Commi ee for the post of the WSCF AP Regional Secretary. The Search Commi ee mee ng was a ended members of the Standing Commi ee, Ms. Janejinda Pawadee and Dr. Wong Wai Ching, WSCF AP senior friend from Hong Kong.

The Standing Commi ee and Search Commi ee Mee ngs concluded with a worship and fellowship with members and senior friends of SCMHK at the Kowloon Union Church in Jordan Road, Hong Kong.

27

regional news

With the theme, “Violence against Women: Going beyond Gender Analysis”

Regional Women’s Program Student YMCA and SCM Japan Joint Miriam Program

T

28

he Joint Women’s Programme was organized by the WSCF Asia Pacific in collabora on with the Miriam programme of the Student YMCA and SCM Japan. Miriam programme is an ongoing programme on women’s concerns in SCM Japan. Around 12 women and 3 men from Student YMCA and SCM Japan par cipated in the workshop.

the purpose of going beyond gender analysis; and 3) to re -read the Bible from feminist perspec ves.

leadership in the federa on and the importance of the Regional Women’s Programme in WSCF AP.

Sunita Suna, regional women’s coordinator from WSCFAP, Misato Sasaki, women’s programme coordinator of Student YMCA and SCM Japan; Azusa Nakamura and Kaori, and senior friends of SCM Japan facilitated the workshop.

Misato explained why and how the Miriam program started and how both can make this space more wholis c for women. Azusa and Kaori shared their experiences of involvement with the Miriam programme.

There were three main objec ves : 1) to revive/renew the Miriam programme to make it a more wholis c space for women; 2) to understand the issues/factors of VAW for

The workshop started with an opening worship. Sunita briefly shared about WSCF and the rela on between WSCF and YMCA, the role and contribu on of women

They said that Miriam programme has played a significant role in their lives and of many women in SCM Japan.

This is a space for the young women to come and share

regional news Sunita facilitated a Bible study on the text – Genesis – 16:1-6. They were divided in small groups to read the text together and discuss on the following guide ques ons: 1) Iden fy the socio-cultural, religious beliefs which has influenced the lives of Sara, Hagar and Abram and to your life; 2) Briefly analyse the power rela on among Sara, Hagar and Abram.

their stories which helped them to develop different perspec ves and be analy cal of various issues especially on women. They suggested that it is important to keep this space for women and set up network with women in need.

Sunita facilitated the session on understanding gender and the need of going beyond gender. She also gave a brief analysis of how gender role plays differently for women and men. According to her, gender is a social, cultural, religious construct and women and men are constructed beings. Gender is binary to put women and men in two different categories with specific expecta ons. In order to understand the manysided factors of VAW, one

needs to go beyond gender analysis to understand the issues of intersec onality and the power dynamics.

The par cipants shared some of their own experiences as women and discussed some real stories of VAW in the context of Japan and analyzed the causes of VAW in their own context.

Sunita also explained the power rela on of domina on and subordina on. She said that gender analysis always projects men controlling women, and that is the fact in most of our socie es but it doesn’t explain how culture, tradi on, religion, class, caste, race, ethnicity, patriarchy, hierarchy, na onality, educa on, age, and power dynamics are involved.

The par cipants tried to relate the story with the present experiences of women and the societal expecta on for women and men. They said, women are compelled to prove their motherhood by giving birth and they must produce a son. Even in this story, they are caught up with the gender roles and societal and religious expecta ons. Sunita explained the hierarchy and the power rela on of domina on and subordina on in this story.

The power can be changed like Hagar’s pregnancy changed her status for some me.

This also shows that society has accepted motherhood as a central part of women’s lives. She said that power domina on can be exercised between men and women, women and men, men and men or women and women.

This JWP was a beginning to ini ate more ac vi es on various issues on women, especially the issues that Japanese women are facing in their own context.

29

regional news

R

egional Women’s Programme – SCM Sri Lanka Joint Women’s Programme was hosted by the SCM Sri Lanka. This workshop was conducted with the theme: “A Feminist Reading of the Bible and VAW in Sri Lanka”.

Fi een young women from SCM SL, Theological College, and from Churches par cipated in the workshop.

Though all the par cipants were from Sri Lanka, the group was quite diverse - coming from different orienta ons and backgrounds.

Yong Ting Jin, a feminist theologian from Malaysia, Sunita Suna, WSCF’s regional women’s coordinator, and Ashani John of SCM SL women’s programme facilitated the workshop.

Sunita conducted the group exercise “Who am I”? and instructed the par cipants to iden fy themselves with symbols and share about them. Many chose candles or lamps as their symbols, which also defined the tradi onal role of women to sacrifice her for others.

Story-telling and sharing of experiences was an important aspect of the workshop as feminist theology begins with our lives. The par cipants were divided into small groups to share and listen to each other’s life stories. This was

30

WSCFAP holds Regional Women’s Programme an exclusive space for them to share their experiences as “nega ve experiences” are not encouraged in most communi es. Many found their stories to be similar and related with each other.

The par cipants then moved to understanding the experiences of women in Sri Lankan context. They reflected on stories of VAW and tried to understand the problem and analyze the forms of violence.

They found out that issues of VAW from their personal stories and those of women in general are not different.

Ting Jin helped the par cipants develop the framework of analysis to discuss issues and

causes of VAW. According to her, in order to understand VAW, one must analyse power rela on of domina on and subordina on. In order to celebrate the subject self, she said, one must need to liberate herself from social constructs and condi ons.

The Bible studies from the feminist perspec ve were insigh ul and eye-opening.

Though these Bible texts were read many mes before, they par cipants found this ac vity meaningful.

The whole workshop was an empowering, challenging and libera ng experience. SCM Sri Lanka planned to hold a series of workshops in the future.

regional news

T

he members of the Core Team Mee ng (CTM) met during April 6-7, 2011 at YMCA Youth Village, Wu Kai Sha, Hong Kong.

The objec ves of the CTM were: to share the ongoing and future programmes and ac vi es of the EASY Net; to evaluate the work of the coordinator and the programmes of EASY Net from 2009-2011; to plan and execute programmes and ASYG in 2012; to prepare the budget and plan on fundraising and the commitment of the coali on, and appointment of the new EASY Net coordinator.

The members shared their present and future programmes and ac vi es of their respec ve organiza ons and explored the possibili es of incorpora ng EASY Net into their ongoing ac vi es.

The commi ee also did an evalua on of the work of the coordinator and planned for the forthcoming ASYG 2012.

EASY Net has been a very produc ve common pla orm for students and youth in Asia and many students and youth have benefited of this pla orm in various ways. Hence the commi ee discussed to put extra eort in terms of human and financial resources to keep up the work of EASY Net. Since one of the major concerns is the financial commitment, as the Net func ons based on the meager financial

EASY NET Core Team holds Meeting

contribu ons from the network organiza ons. This year in July 2011 there will be a Crea ve workshop jointly organized by the CCA, HKCC, EASY Net in Hong Kong to pave the way for the prepara on of the ASYG 2012 and celebra on of the EASY Net Week.

The CTM was a ended by the following: Somin Han from IMCS, Reyna Deloso from IYCS, Cris na Dalope from APAYs, Moumita Biswas from CCA, Necta Montes Rocas and Sunita Suna from WSCFAP, and Cris na Miranda, coordinator of EASY Net.

About the EASY.Net EASY Net is the Ecumenical Asia-Pacific Students and Youth Network of six Asia-Pacific ecumenical youth and student organiza ons: Asia-Pacific Alliance of YMCAs (AAYMCA), Chris an Conference of Asia (CCA), Youth Interna onal Movement of Catholic Students (IMCS) Asia-Pacific, Interna onal Young Chris an Students (IYCS) Asia Secretariat, World Student Chris an Federa on Asia Pacific (WSCF-AP), World Young Women’s Chris an Associa on (World YWCA) Asia Pacific.

31

national movement news

NEPAL, MYANMAR Myanmar SCM observes 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence

M SCM Nepal holds successfully its formation meeting

O

n December 27-28, 2010, the SCM Nepal conducted a commi ee forma on mee ng a enede by more than 30 students in Kathmandu, Nepal.

There, they developed a plan for the year 2011, namely: Workshop on Carrier Planning and Personality Development (April), Peace & Unity Program (June), Capacity Building Program for Youth Leaders (Globaliza on, Impact of Climate Change, Water Rights, Peace & Poli cs, Media, Human Rights, HIV/AIDs) (September), and Worship Camp (November).

32

They also elected their set of officers. They are: Mr. Rajesh Rai, chairman; Mr. Kumar Bista, vice chairperson; Mr. Raj Man Ghale, secretary; Mr. Ajit Lama, vice secretary; Mr. Prakash Bikram Bhat, treasurer; Mr. Isaac Rai, vicetreasurer; and Ms. Sangeeta Rai, member.

As part of the development of SCM Nepal, they opened a savings account in Kathmandu as well as prepared for the wri ng of the SCM Nepal Cons tu on. They likewise planned for the logo design and regular publica on of SCM Nepal.

yanmar SCM observed the “16 Days of Ac vism against Gender Violence” on the theme “To End Men’s Violence against Women and Children .

Held on 25 November 2010 in Yangon, around 400 par cipants a ended the forum that discussed the reality of gender violence and how women con nue to suffer from it un l present me.

The forum was organized by Myanmar SCM in collabora on with the Thingaha Gender Working Group, NGO Gender Group, Buddhist Youth Program, Myanmar Ins tute of Theology, Associa on of Theological Educa on in Myanmar and Myanmar Council of Churches.

Through the forum, many women were able to place themselves in today’s society and reflected on how they can address the issue of violence against women despite their young age.

The forum was indeed a meaningful experience for all those who a ended.

national movement news

KOREA

Korean EASYNET holds Youth Week to commemorate patriot Jeon Tea-Il

E

ASY.net Youth Week has been known as ‘Jeon Tea-il Patriot Ceremony’ for three years. This year, the theme was ‘Mee ng with Youth Jeon Tea-il’. The members of EASY.net had meaningful me to reflect on how they can revive ‘Jeon Teail spirit’ today.

The programs contained a cultural fes val and film fes val. The cultural fes val was prepared by six branches.

Variious plays were presented with so many students and youth ac vely involved.

Although EASY.net solidarity was weak, the ac vity gave strength to its par cipants.

An actor who worked on the issue of youth unemployment spoke about how difficult it is for youth to get jobs these days and how capitalism is

aggrava ng it. He also he spoke about how it can be addressed and how they can cooperate and work as one.

The film fes val is the first program of Korea EASY. net. The films were chosen by students and youths to answer ques ons on life and hope. A er the film showing, the par cipants shared their thoughts and feelings.

This year is the 40th years a er Jeon Tea-il’s death. Many

laborers are irregular workers now. They are discrimina ed against and the number con nues to increase every year. The migrant workers’ situa on is very serious.

Their human rights are greatly violated. This EASY. net programs provided these reali es to their members.

Some EASY.net members felt it was difficult for them to deal with social problems.

But during the sharing, they found out that they can do something to change it even li le by li le. Through EASY. net Youth Week, the students dream of a changed world and new society for them and the next genera ons.

33

national movement news

JAPAN

Say No! Violence against Women Workshop in SCM Japan/ Student YMCA Japan

S

CM Japan/Student YMCA Japan organized a workshop to commemorate the “Interna onal Elimina on Day of Violence against Women”.

First, the par cipants introduced themselves to one another. Misato Sasaki and a staff then briefly shared about the WSCF-AP’s campaign on theme. Expecta ons were then shared a erwards.

The par cipants shared many experiences and concerns about violence surrounding women and the youth. Some concerns in Japan are in mate partner violence, unequal job

34

opportunity or promo on, gender role in the home nursing situa on and foreign women’s labor in sex industry.

A er that, they discussed how these issues are connected with the violence on women.

In general, some people say, “women who suffer violence also have faults.” Is it a debatable comment? The par cipants did not think so.

Rather, while the violence for women occurs, there are the proofs that a structure to despise women s ll remains.

This structure makes it difficult for women to have as many choices or strong economical

independence unlike male counterparts do.

their

Through the workshop, the ques ons they posed were: “When did we have consciousness of our gender?”

“Who taught us that we are women/men?” and “How did we acquire our feminine/ masculine roles?”

These meant that gender biases are one of the many causes violence against women. Gender biases push us to be either authoritarian or powerless, to be either men or women. Though they did not have enough me to discuss, some students pointed

national movement news

JAPAN

out that Japanese society func ons under the premise of heterosexuality.

Finally, the par cipants shared that it was important for them to try to break the gender biases and the violence against women. This workshop was the place to raise their consciousness and ac on towards a violence-free society.

A er the workshop, the par cipants watched a video on violence against women. The video focused

on Taiwanese women who experienced rape during the me of Japan’s coloniza on of Taiwan. The women then were called “Comfort Women”.

“Comfort Women” pertains to those who were forced into pros tu on as a form of sexual slavery by the Japanese military during World War II. As they were 19 or 20 years old, these experiences crushed them. Some have kept silent for more than 50 years because they were afraid to be made fun of or become a disgrace to their family.

Others finally broke their silence because they tried to restore their rights and to insist that “Rape is to look down not only on women’s right but also on a person’s dignity.”

So far, the Japanese government never admi ed that the Japanese military commi ed this violence on Taiwanese women. Neither have they apologized.

Through the video, the par cipants reflected on how violence against women prevails un l today.

35

national movement news

PHILIPPINES

SCM Philippines leads strike against education budget cut T

The Strike which was called in main u n i ve rs i t i e s in Metro Manila and many state u n i ve rs i t i e s and colleges f r o m November 25-26 was successful and mobilized a r o u n d 2 0 , 0 0 0 students in the capital

h e Student

Christian Movement of the Philippines (SCMP) is one of the Convenors of KILOS NA Laban sa Budget Cut (ACT AGAINST B U D G E T CUT, a broad alliance nationwide of students, Teachers, and academic workers) against the proposed budget cut of new Aquino government by 1.1 billion pesos aec ng most of the state universi es and colleges na onwide.

From the announcement of the cuts, SCMP together with various na onal student and youth groups lobbied from the start in the Philippine Congress opposing as it is a direct a ack to the people’s right to

36

educa on. SCMP held various ac vi es and consciousnessraising regarding the state of educa on in the Philippines and the current predicament of budget cut, state abandonment of responsibility to educa on and commercializa on of educa on.

The cuts are seen as trailing the IMF-WB imposed neoliberal policy of priva za on of services like educa on among others.

alone.

On December 1, 2010 thousands of students, youth and academics marched in solidarity to the Senate to demand the restora on of the cuts during the Senate delibera ons of budget.

As a result, the government was forced to admit the demand and restore por ons of the slash in the educa on budget.

national movement news

BANGLADESH

The new Central Executive Committee of Bangladesh SCM (2011-2012) :

Mr. Godfrey Rathin Sarkar (SF) 1

:

Mr. Liton Cha arjee (SF)

Bangladesh SCM holds Central Assembly & Central Women’s Sub-committee Assembly

T

he 22nd Central Assembly of the Bangladesh SCM was held on 24-27 February 2011 at the Caritas Training Center, Dhaka. Fi y delegates from different units including the Central Execu ve Members and observers par cipated in the Assembly.

Following that was the 9th Central Women’s Sub-commi ee Assembly at Caritas Training center, Dhaka on 28 February 2011. Nineteen women members from seven units including Central Women’s Sub-commi ee members par cipated at the Assembly.

The new Central Women’s sub-commi ee of seven members was also formed.

2

:

Ms. Mani Clara Mondol :

Mr. Marvyn Gomez (SF) A

G

S

:

Mr. Limon Roy :

Mr. Charles Tapan Baroi :

Mr. Milton Mondol :

Ms. Zenith Easha Samadder Mr. Ratan Paroi Ms. Shamoli Baidya Mr. Evans Biswas Ms. Mohana Pew Biswas Ms. Oli Sardar Ms. Linda Sarkar Mr. John Das

Central Women’s Sub-Committee (2011-2012) :

Zenith Easha Samadder :

Easter Jo Halder Alo Hazra Shamoli Baidya Oli Sardar Lima Gomes Seba Folia

37

national movement news

INDIA

Revd. Bharat is new SCM India General Secretary

R

evd. Raj Bharat Pa a, is the new General Secretary of the Student Chris an Movement of India.

An ordained presbyter in the Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church, Bharat, as he is affec onately called by his friends, has an M.Th in Chris an Theology and two M.A.s in Philosophy and Contextual Theology.

Bharat is an SCMer to the core and has served the movement in various capaci es at both local and na onal levels.

Before joining SCMI, Bharat has been serving the Na onal Council of Churches in India as Execu ve Secretary of its Commission on Dalits. He also served the Council in other departments such as Youth and Mission.

Bharat was able to make a considerable impact through

38

his NCCI ministry, especially through his publica on of books and liturgical resources.

Par cularly noteworthy are his “ A Violent Sight on a Silent Night” and “ Lenten Lantern”.

At a very young age, Bharat has proved his leadership skills and has also organized several ecumenical and social campaigns on issues of social injus ce such as denial of reserva on rights to Dalit Chris ans. The “Dalit Sunday” observance and liturgy have also been significant contribu ons of his ini a ve.

His leadership in the crisis situa on following the persecu ons of Chris ans in Khandamal in Orissa was widely appreciated.

Bharat combines beau fully the worlds of ac on and reflec on. During his tenure with the NCCI, he has also

demonstrated his skills in forging ecumenical alliances and partnerships both in Asia regional level and at global level.

He has organized several important conferences in collabora on with the World Council of Churches, Chris an Conference of Asia and the Lutheran World Federa on.

Bharat also served the church through parish ministry, especially in the area of youth mission. His passion for jus ce is reflected both in his wri ngs and involvements in social ac on.

Bharat is married to Shiny and are blessed with two sons.

Rev. Raj Bharat was officially installed as the new General Secretary of the SCMI on March 1, 2011 at the Na onal Headquarters.

BOOK LAUNCH

T

he sexual abuse of female church members by church leaders is o en ignored, overlooked or played down, according to a groundbreaking new book published this week.

The book, When Priests and Pastors Prey¸ published by the World Student Chris an Federa on (WSCF), claims sexual abuse of adult women by clergymen is a “silent killer” in many churches and families around the world.

“Research indicates that 90 to 95 per cent of vic ms of clergy sexual exploita on are women,” said Dr Valli Batchelor, book project coordinator. “These vic ms are o en so trapped in confusion, guilt, shame and self-blame that they are unable to see themselves as vic ms.”

Dr Batchelor said that female vic ms feel unable to speak out against the abuse they’ve suffered. “Women vic ms are likely to remain silent, suffering severe consequences from depression to suicide,” she said.

The book, which takes an uncompromising stand against all forms of sexual abuse and violence by church leaders, features stories from women survivors of clergy sexual abuse, research from pioneer experts and theologians, calls for ac on, reflec ons from different regions around

World Christian students throw light on pastors & priests who prey the world, and examples of best prac ce in religious and secular organisa ons.

“Whilst this book includes painful survivor stories, and accounts of indifference and obstruc on of survivors by church hierarchies, its focus is on the protec on of woman and the preven on of abuse by clergy across all cultures,” Dr Batchelor said.

The book was launched at the Interna onal Ecumenical Peace Convoca on (IEPC), 17-25 May 2011, in Kingston, Jamaica.

Contributors include former US President Jimmy Carter, feminist theologian Rev. Dr. Marie Fortune, award winning journalist Amanda Gearing, and students and WSCF members all over the world.

39

T E G R O F T DON’ tional Ecu

WCC Interna

MAY 17 to 25 6

JUNE 16 to 2

JULY 1 to 5 JULY 6 to 8 JULY 25 to 31

, Switzerlad

ng d Staff Meeti n a s r e c ffi O l CF Globa

WS

ines anila, Philipp M , g n ti e e M e le JP Committe ts and Strugg h ig R ’s le p WSCF AP HR o Pe l Festival for Internationa p, Hong Kong o h s k r o W e v ati EASYNET Cre

TIES FOR

CTIVI PROPOSED A SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER

40

tion, Jamaica

ce Convoca menical Pea

c Human

acifi WSCF Asia P

hop, Korea

ders Works Rights Defen

dia on (SELF), In ti a m r o F ip h s op, Taiwan al Leader h ic s n k r e o m W u l c a E n r egio School fo g Theology R in o D n e m o e WSCF AP W ng, Singapor ti e e M s r to a rdin ries and Coo ta e r c e S l a r e SCM Gen