Newsnotes

Colombia Threatens CO Program
The Colombian government has moved to close the Mennonite theological seminary "Hacedores de Paz" (Peacemakers), a program that attempts to give young conscientious objectors the opportunity to resolve their military service obligations through enrollment in the seminary. There are no other alternatives available for conscientious objectors in Colombia, a country plagued by a cruel and protracted civil war.

Colombia’s military service law exempts youth who are enrolled in theological seminary from military service requirements. Persistent efforts on the part of the Colombian Mennonites and others to secure legal recognition for conscientious objectors thus far have failed, leaving COs with the options of performing military service, violating the law or participating in the Hacedores de Paz program. The program, presently with 70 participants, provides training in the areas of theology, nonviolence, human rights and ecology.

The conflict over the Hacedores de Paz program began about three months ago, when the Colombian military refused to exempt the 70 students at the seminary from military service, arguing that the program does not meet the relevant educational requirements established by law. At the same time the National Police began investigations of not only the Hacedores de Paz program, but the Mennonite Church and its reconciliation program Justapaz as well. The National Police recommended the closure of the Hacedores seminary.

The Colombian Mennonite Church, through its various programs, has succeeded in placing the issues of conscientious objection and the nonviolent resolution of conflict on the national agenda. It has appealed the case and is waiting for a final ruling.

The church requests that North Americans express their solidarity with and support for the Colombian Mennonites and the participants in the Hacedores de Paz program through letters and phone calls to Colombia’s Minister of the Interior, Doctor Horacio Serpa Uribe, Carretera 8 No.8-09 Piso 2, Santafe de Bogota, Colombia; and/or the Colombian Ambassador to the United States, Juan Carlos Esguerra, 2118 LeRoy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008, (202)387-8338, fax (202)232-8643. Please send copies of letters to the National Interreligious Service Board for Conscientious Objectors, 1830 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20009. Web: http://www.nonviolence.org/nisbco.

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Retracing the Underground Railroad
An interfaith pilgrimage for peace, justice, and reconciliation will follow the route of fugitive slaves through New York State for 40 days Feb. 28-April 8, from St. Catharines, Canada to New York City.

The walk will recognize the 150th anniversary of the Underground Railroad that helped African slaves escape to freedom. It will pass through various sites that relate to that history; it will also be a pilgrimage of prayer for African-Americans far from their ancestors’ lands.

The pilgrimage will be undertaken in connection with a one-year walk to begin in June of 1998, the Interfaith Pilgrimage of the Middle Passage, Retracing the Journey of Slavery, which will begin in Massachusetts and end in Africa. This walk is being initiated by the Buddhist order Nipponzan Myohoji. All people of all religions and all races are invited to participate.

For more information, please contact: Jun Yasuda, Nipponzan Myohoji, Grafton Peace Pagoda, 87 Crandall Rd., Petersburg, NY 12138, (518)658-9301); for information about the 1998 Pilgrimage of the Middle Passage, contact the New England Peace Pagoda, (413)367-2202).

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Graduating This Year?
In 1987, Humboldt State University in California initiated a Pledge of Social and Environmental Responsibility that states, "I pledge to investigate and take into account the social and environmental consequences of any job opportunity I consider." Since that time, dozens of colleges and universities have enacted the voluntary pledge, which allows students to define what "responsible" means to them.

In 1996, Manchester College in Indiana began coordinating the campaign. At Manchester, it is a community-wide event coordinated by a diverse committee. About 50 to 60 percent of students sign and keep a wallet-size version of the pledge; supportive students and faculty wear green ribbons at commencement, and the pledge is printed in the formal commencement program. The pledge helps educate and motivate students to contribute to a better world, and can be a focal point for other types of consciousness-raising both on and off campus.

For information, an explanatory brochure or to keep the campaign informed of your pledge efforts, contact Neil Wollman at NJW@Manchester.edu; or write GPA, MC Box 152, Manchester College, North Manchester, IN 46962. The Campaign also has a web site, at http://www.manchester.edu/departmt/peace/gpa.html (click on "index," then "Graduation Pledge Alliance").

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