Ok Bros:
As discussed at today's meeting, CCHRIST will release its first issue of The Watchtower, a monthly publication on human rights issues throughout the world,on February 17, 2009, the day after President's Day.
Deadline for first drafts is February 6, 2009. They are due to my e-mail address by the end of the day on Friday. My e-mail address: rpeach@pittcentralcatholic.org
Here is the run-down of articles assigned:
Brother Peach
- Catholic Social Teaching
- UN Declaration of Human Rights
- An editorial on why human rights matters
Kieran Colman
- Middle East conflict/resolution
Dante Odorisio
- Israeli/Gaza conflict/resolution
Mike Noel
- Human rights and the Obama presidency
- Congo conflict/resolution
Matt O'Donnel
- Horn of Africa conflict/resolution
Matt Kizior
- Human rights abuses in China
James Farrell
- Poverty/hunger and the CRS
- Preview of speaker on March 20
Jack Devine
- Darfur
- North Korea
Otherwise, next Thursday, January 29, 2009, we will have a poster-making party to highlight human rights issues around the world. Snacks and sweet beats will be provided.
Posters will be displayed in case on second floor. If space is unavailable, we will place them in the library or elsewhere in the school (cafeteria entrance?).
To find information about abuses in a specific region, refer to the following website: http://www.unfoundation.org/ or http://www.smartbrief.com/un_wire/un_wire_search.jsp (you will have to sign-up, which is free).
The following gentlemen have agreed to research information on major human rights abuses taking place in the world's continents:
Luke Larkin - Australia
Steve Pergantis - South America
Colman Bros - Africa
? - Antarctica
Lastly, we will have a feature film presentation of Hotel Rwanda on Thursday, February 5, 2009. Be there. Food and drink will be provided. Bring a friend.
I think that's it!
Keep the peace.
In CChrist,
BPeach
6 comments:
Hey Bro, this is Justin O'Connor from the class of 2010. I don't know how often you check this, but I'd certainly be willing to write something up for this; there's definetly a serious lack of concern for human rights at Central among most of the student body. I'll try and drop by your classroom at some time in the near future to see what you would want me to write.
Justin,
Sounds good! You pick the topic and run it by me.
Maybe get your little bro in on this, too. I'd imagine he could be a good writer!
Bro. Peach
Fellows:
For research purposes, I wish to recommend Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International online resources.
Stay strong and be of good courage.
Smile.
Brother:
This looks great! Would you be open to sending it to fellow Lasallians here in Kansas City as an inspiration? I'd like to show to our Lasallian Youth and our social justice classes.
Jerry Meyer (Archbishop O'Hara HS - Kansas City)
Matt O’Donnell
February 9
The Battle for Somalia: A Continued and Growing Problem
It was a sunny and warm day in October, 1993 when two United States Army Black Hawk helicopters were hit by rocket propelled grenades (RPG’s) and plummeted into the streets of Mogadishu, the capital of war torn Somalia in the horn of Africa. By the end of that fateful day, a total of 18 American Marines were dead, killed at the hands of Islamic Somali militants who, under the control of numerous different commanding warlords, still have domination over much of the country. One might think that after such a terrible massacre, organizations like the UN, the African Union, or even the U.S. military would step in to suppress the fighting. However, despite numerous interventions, the situation in Somalia has not greatly improved.
Over the years, certain attempts have been made to quell the warlike nature of the Islamic militiamen, but much of the country is still widely controlled by these rebels. The conflict, which can best be described as one between the warlord-controlled militias and pro-government forces, along with conflicts between different rebel groups, has attracted much attention from major powers as well as the media. Piracy and drug trafficking are business as usual in Somalia, and many world leaders and humanitarian groups have called for an end to the fighting. Most recently in 2006, African Union and government backed Ethiopian troops invaded Somalia and drove the rebels out of major port cities like Mogadishu, in an attempt to restore order in the cities and perhaps allow a weak government to set up some sort of base. Since then, the majority of the troops have left, and what remains of the militias (which is still very large) are now regrouping and beginning to advance further into the cities and towns they were recently driven out of, and at the present time control more than half the country. There is no substantial security force in Somalia to repel the rebel militias, and there is hardly a semblance of a central government to have control and possibly unite the country against the rebels. At the moment, there seems to be no simple solution to the problem.
Aside from the military conflict, there are numerous humanitarian crises still going on in Somalia. Hundreds of thousands have been killed, hurt, or displaced in the fighting, most of them innocent civilians. Also, there have been many instances of kidnapping children and forcing them to serve as soldiers, with groups of children who are not ten years old walking the streets armed with machetes and AK-47 assault rifles, many of whom have already seen death or even killed themselves at such a young age. These and other atrocious war crimes have been perpetrated all throughout Somalia, and have seriously hindered the development of the country, with a future generation that has been taught to rape and kill since pre-adolescence.
The fight for Somalia continues today, and there is still no obvious solution as to how to settle the conflict. With all of the drug trafficking, piracy, and fighting that still goes on in Somalia, there is little chance to run an honest business, and Somalia has remained one of the poorest countries in the world over the last decade. Perhaps the only way to settle the fighting between the warlords with their militias and the government forces (and those who back them) is for the UN and the U.S. military to step in and impose martial law as was the case in Iraq and Afghanistan, but no one can say for sure. The only certainty is that if no one intercedes on behalf of the people of Somalia, this country on the horn of Africa will continue to tear itself apart. For more information or to see how you can help, log on to www.refugeesinternational.org/where-we-work/africa/somalia
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