Irom Sharmila from the state of Manipur in northeast India finally ended her 16 year long hunger strike. She was protesting India’s Armed Forces Special Powers Act in Manipur (also in force in Nagaland) which gives Indian Army sweeping powers including immunity about human rights abuses. Sharmila has been under arrest and forced feeding through… Read more »
Transforming Initiatives
Minister Forgives His Father’s Killers
Tim Streett of Indianapolis watched his father die from a gunshot wound in a botched robbery. After a long journey he contacted the two men sentenced for the murder of his father. One, Don Cox, agreed to meet with him. They experienced an amazing journey of forgiveness and reconciliation. Streett advocated for Cox’s early release,… Read more »
Reconciliation Work in Chicago
The Precious Blood Reconciliation Center in Chicago is a Catholic ministry engaged in on-the-street and in-the-community reconciliation work. There are many stories of transforming initiatives with gang members and others in a community plagued by high levels of violence. https://www.ncronline.org/feature-series/reconciliation-chicago?_ga=1.220831262.745232759.1472041284
ISRAELI SOLDIERS REFUSE TO SERVE IN OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
In September 2014 43 Israeli soldiers refused to serve in the Occupied Territories for moral reasons. They sent a letter of their protest to the Israeli Prime Ministers. Three officers were among the soldiers refusing to serve. http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.615498
JOAN BAEZ TALKS WITH CONCERT PROTESTERS
Joan Baez put her peacemaking principles into practice by talking to right wing protesters at a concert she gave in Idaho. She engaged them in conversation, including some Vietnam veterans. The encounter ended with them asking her to autograph their signs, which she did–on the back, not on the front with messages she thought was… Read more »