Joining Hands Against Hunger

NEWSLETTER
Fifth Edition, December 2007

Bolivia

Water of Life

The Bolivian network UMAVIDA, literally meaning Joining Hands for Life, has as its central objective confronting the structural causes of poverty: injustice, maginalization, discrimination and death. Our network's organizations have a particular interest in the training of Bolivia's citizenry to assume full participation in the country's consolidated democratic process.

by Elizabeth López, Coordinator UMAVIDA

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Elizabeth Lopez

One of the most important focus areas of this undertaking is the environment and, especially, water. Coincidentally, UMA in Aymara means "water." Our national office in La Paz happens to be located in the municipal district known as "Water of Life." It seems all these factors have synchronized so that we might assume this task in defense of water and life itself.

The upcoming International Environmental Youth Congress hopes to identify various prinicipal causes of environmental injustice inside and outside Bolivia's borders. This Congress, convened for January 10-13, 2008, will explore potential solutions. It will take place in historical Potosí (site of the World's richest colonial era silver mine and today part of one of the poorest regions of the country). Youth will gather from our partner Presbyteries of San Francisco and the Cascades in the USA, from the United Church of Canada, from the Peruvian network of Joining Hands and from the areas served by Joining Hands of Bolivia.

Water is life and its defense is our responsibilty.


We are now identifying topics to be addressed at the Congress: Mining contamination of drinking water,

surface and subterranean water deterioration, urban drinking water quality, irrigation water quality, the

Elizabeth Lopez speaking at a network meeting

environmental impact of global warming, ecological agriculture, flooding and the on-going promotion of transgenic agriculture as a water conserving advancement.

These problems are encountered worldwide. We must join hands in an effort to defend our human right to clean water. The Congress will seek solutions and strategies from grass-roots organizations and citizen groups.

Water is life and its defense is our responsibilty.

Youth Congress Attendees Commissioned

by Joan Huff, Secretary San Fransisco JH Task Force

On November 17, 2007 the Presbytery of San Fransisco commissioned three young women who will attend the UMAVIDA sponsored Youth Congress on the Environment taking place in Potosi, Bolivia, January 10 – 13, 2008. This Congress will confer and bring recommendations for action to the Bolivian government in order to change its behavior, which contributes to global warming.

Sarah Harling from St. John’s Presbyterian Church, Berkeley

Jessica Brown from California Interfaith Power and Light Ministry

Rachel Medema from Calvary Presbyterian Church, Berkeley

Rachel Medema, a member of Calvary Presbyterian Church, Berkeley, is a second year seminary student with commitments to both environmental justice and Latin America. Jessica Brown is another seminary student who is also Outreach Director at the Interfaith Power and Light ministry, which puts her in touch with a wide network of those working for environmental justice. Sarah Harling, a member of St. John’s Presbyterian Church, Berkeley, is a graduate of University of California at Berkeley and also works as an advocate for environmental justice for the poor. At the commisioning service the three promised to take seriously all they learn at the Youth Congress, and to work for environmental justice upon their return to the United States. Upon their return to the United States they are expected to follow up with similar recommendations to their governmental leaders, as Congress meets next January.

Rachel, Jessica and Sarah will be joined by youth delegates from the Cascades presbyteriy, as well as youth from Peru.

Liturgy of the Commissioning Service

for Youth Congress Attendees
Presbytery of San Francisco – November 17, 2007

Moderator Jack Johnson asked Rachel Medema, Sarah Harling, and Jessica Brown:

Rachel Medema and Sarah Harling standing in the chancel of Lakeside Presbyterian Church, San Francisco, as they answer the commissioning questions.

Will you be faithful servants of God, listen deeply, contribute from your own store of wisdom, and join with the youth of Bolivia and Peru to seek a right relationship with the earth’s environment?

Will you listen and observe carefully, to understand as much as possible of the similarities and differences in lives and needs of people from Bolivia, Peru and the United States, and their impacts on the environment?

Will you be courageous in your travel, and on your return, will you be persistent in your work for the preservation of God’s good creation?

The women answered: We will.

 

Commissioning Prayer

Holy God, bless these young women, and all those who will gather in January in Bolivia to care for your earth. Give them safe travel, valiant hearts, clear minds and the courage of your disciples to follow as you lead them. Instill in them a firm purpose that they may be part of the moving of your Spirit which seeks life, which works justly, which insists that we love one another as you have loved us. Grant that they may be part of the solution to the problems we have all contributed to, so that the earth may be reclaimed for your glory. In the name of Christ we pray. Amen.

A Note from the Joining Hands Companionship Facilitators    

Joining Hands Companionship Facilitators Bob and Julie Dunsmore participated in the Mission Challenge '07 Campaign of the Presbyterian Church (USA), in which 44 missionaries travelled to 148 of our denomination's 175 Presbytery spreading the good news of our denomination's mission work worldwide. The Mission Challenge Campaign will make it possible for the Presbyterian Hunger Propgram to have Companionship Facilitators working as Joining Hands' in-country liaisons. You can read more on the Mission Challenge '07 Campaign on PCUSA's website