Tag: Antislavery campaign Page 1 of 4

The JPIC Commission promotes and supports the integration of JUSTICE, PEACE & INTEGRITY OF CREATION (JPIC) in the life and mission of the Union of Superior Generals (USG) and the International Union of Superior Generals (UISG) and their member congregations. It is responsible for animating men and women religious in justice, peace and integrity of creation according to the vows of the evangelical life, through experience, social analysis, spiritual reflection and action.

Our website offers a wide-range of information and resources on justice, peace and integrity of creation. It also serves as a forum for interaction among JPIC Promoters on issues and concerns regarding their ministry, and features a calendar of JPIC Commission events that you can link to your personal calendar. Bookmark http://www.jpicroma.org on your browser and make it a favorite site to visit.

Members of the USG and the UISG

All members of the USG and the UISG are invited to designate a JPIC Promoter for their respective congregation/institute to animate their membership in integrating justice, peace and integrity of creation into their spiritual and ministerial lives as men and women religious. A JPIC Promoter is responsible for helping each person and community to identify his/her own particular way of living and promoting JPIC values. The animation of JPIC consists of four elements: experience, social analysis, theological reflection/scripture/charism and action.

In particular, a JPIC Promoter is charged with the following: Remind congregational membership that evangelization and mission, without a JPIC perspective, cannot be authentic. (Cf. The Synod of Bishops, Justice in the World, 1971); uphold the spirituality of JPIC; animate members in the JPIC values; and develop a framework to help develop the JPIC dimension of Christian spirituality.

Anti-Slavery campaign in the Southern Africa Province

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On November 29, 2013

In Publications

125^th Anniversary of Cardinal Lavigerie’s Anti-Slavery campaign.

Many events and initiatives at the level of SAP during the year

As I am writing these lines, one of the major events organised at the level of SAP to mark the 125^th anniversary of Lavigerie’s Anti-Slavery campaign, has just come to an end. Initially, it had been envisaged that a bus highlighting the Anti-Slavery campaign would tour through all the sectors of the Province picking up and dropping off people as it went along. As it was, the Mozambique sector was the only one able to organise this aspect of the campaign. A minibus set off from Beira on 29^th August and travelled to Tete, the boom town along the Zambezi River, picking up some people from our parishes of Dombe and Sussundenga. A two day awareness event was organised in Tete and the same happened in Chimoio a week later. Hundreds of people took part. The final event took place in Beira, at the Nazaré centre, from 12^th to 15^th September 2013. Conferences, debates, drama, radio and television interviews took place and there was a 4-day-long continuous and interested involvement of some 80 participants. This was a considerable achievement for our confreres in Mozambique.

By Claudio Zuccala, M.Afr

FULL TEXT

TEXTE COMPLET EN FRANÇAIS

Poem on Antislavery

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On October 11, 2013

In News, Zambia Sector

Good Shepherd Parish Youth Corner

It is a well-known fact that we are living in a doldrums where the tantrums of a new African hope are heard, therefore, the mighty citizens of Kabwata Good Shepherd Parish Youth Corner, present a poem in the spirit and foot of Cardinal Charles Lavigerie entitled The Fight against Modern slavery.

FULL TEXT

: Good Shepherd Parish Youth Corner

Antislavery Campaign in Mozambique

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On September 21, 2013

In Justice and Peace, Mozambique Sector, News

By Padre Florent S. Sawadogo, M.Afr, Missionarios de Africa, Paroquia de Dombe

Well prepared and discussed during sector meetings in Mozambique, the antislavery campaign finally took place in the absence of the Sector Superior, Timothée Bationo, who went to Burkina Faso for the Plenary Council. On the 29^th August 2013, a minibus well decorated with writing about slavery took off from Beira to Dombe with two seminarians and a driver. The next day was the opening day of the campaign.

In Dombe, the thirsty ones for Justice & Peace awareness were ready early morning to embark to Sussundenga led by Florent S. Sawadogo en route to Tete at about 500km from there. Richard Ujwigowa was already in Tete for the ground work.

In the morning of the 31^st, people from various parishes in Tete gathered at the Cathedral longing to take part into the inputs of the day. The following parishes were represented: Changara, Boroma, Matundu, Sao Pedro, Sao Jose, Moatize Cathedral and Matema. There were also some representatives from the Catholic university (UCM), other universities, the commission of Justice and Peace of Tete and some individuals like the Bishop, two visiting Brazilians and some authorities from political circles and NGO’s.

Among the Missionaries of Africa, two Fathers, two stagiaires and two seminarians spread the message of our founder Cardinal Charles Lavigerie to 108 people originating from Sofala, Manica and Tete.

The topics for discussion were: the history of slavery, the slavery of yesterday and today, the traffic of human beings and commerce of human organs, medical assistance on these cases, testimony of an elder about slavery in Mozambique and a drama which summarized this issue.

In the morning of the 1^st September, Richard and Florent celebrated the closing Mass of the campaign at the outstation of Matema where the Missionaries of Africa are planning to live and work at the parish.

The seed of “the fight against slavery” has grown in Mozambique. May the Holy Spirit strengthen the hearts of men and women of good will to fight against modern slavery!

The Antislavery Trade Campaign in Chimoio

By Maurice Odhiambo, Stagiaire in Dombe Community

The Antislavery Trade Campaign came to Chimoio on the 7^th and 8^th of September 2013 at the Catholic University of Chimoio. Richard Ujwigowa welcomed the 500 participants present. Other organizers were Florent S. Sawadogo together with the stagiaires Maurice Odhiambo and Serge Kasongo. The conferences focussed on historical and new forms of slave trade, human trafficking and their devastating consequences.

Different dramas, dancing, reciting of poems, drawing and singing took place at the end of the day. It was a very wonderful night. So much so that no one could sleep. It was accompanied by music to keep the atmosphere conducive. At the end, the juries combined all their results and the first three winners in each item presented won different prizes. It was not only for the best performers but there were also rewards for all the participants. The function closed with the Holy Mass on the 9^th at the same venue.

: Drama play in Tete

: Participants in Tete

: Participants in Chimoio

: Entertainment in Chimoio

: Drama play in Chimoio

Slaves. They are still among us!

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On September 18, 2013

In Justice and Peace, News, Zambia Sector

FENZA Conference: September 17, 2013

This was the theme of the conference organized by the FENZA team on Saturday 17^th against the backdrop of the Antislavery Campaign celebrations and commemorations which are coming to an end this month.

Four inputs were given. Claudio Zuccala, the JPICED Provincial Coordinator, presented the historical background in which the campaign was launched by cardinal Lavigerie -with specific references to the situation encountered by the first White Fathers when they arrived in Zambia at the end of the 19th century-, and the link with contemporary forms of slavery. Brother Jacek Rakowski, director of the Home of Hope, spoke about the slavery inherent to the life of children living in the streets. Sister Sabina Namfukwe, of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Child Jesus, currently matron at the Zambia Catholic University, shared her experience in the field of fighting Human Trafficking in rural areas in Zambia, especially in villages near border towns. In her presentation she explained the methods used by the traffickers and the main causes and contributing factors that lie behind the problem.

Finally, Mr Francis Chivuta, coordinator of the National Freedom Network in Zambia and directly involved in human trafficking awareness raising and victim support, illustrated the aim, the goal and the methodology used by the NFN which was launched in South Africa in 2011 but is now operating in different countries.

The conference was made lively by PowerPoint presentations and short video clips on the topic. Some of the participants raised interesting questions and gave their own enriching contribution to the debate.

One of the strongest outcomes of the conference is the necessity to create a network of all the parties interested and committed to fighting modern slavery. That would enable us to pool together our resources and plan for the future. We are all convinced that it’s absolutely necessary to keep high the alert level and to do whatever is within our outreach to try and stop any form of slavery. It’s good to keep that in mind as the FENZA team will draw up a table of contents for the next series of conferences.

N.B. Most of the material used during the conference is readily available. Please contact Romaric Bationo at director@fenza.org or Claudio Zuccala at c_zuccala@hotmail.com

Interview with Joanne Lauterjung Kelly

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On August 28, 2013

In News, Publications

Welcome to this new interview with Joanne Lauterjung Kelly. We explore enslavement as fear of change. She invites us to be aware on how situations of enslavement affects our capacity to decide and to act. She shares with us insights and skills so to engage in the demanding task of building a just and peaceful world. She says: “At the core of slavery is the dehumanization of other human beings and a denial of our interconnectedness.”

International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition: August 23

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On August 20, 2013

In News

International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition, August 23 of each year, the day designated by UNESCO to memorialize the transatlantic slave trade. That date was chosen by the UNESCO Executive Board’s adoption of resolution 29 C/40 at its 29th session. Circular CL/3494 of July 29, 1998 from the Director-General invited Ministers of Culture to promote the day. The date is significant because, during the night of August 22 to August 23, 1791 on the island of Saint Domingue (now known as Haiti), an uprising began which set forth events which were a major factor in the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade.

UNESCO Member States organize events every year on that date, inviting participation from young people, educators, artists and intellectuals. As part of the goals of the intercultural UNESCO project, “The Slave Route”, it is an opportunity for collective recognition and focus on the “historic causes, the methods and the consequences” of slavery. Additionally, it sets the stage for analysis and dialogue of the interactions which gave rise to the transatlantic trade in human beings between Africa, Europe, the Americas and the Caribbean.

The International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition was first celebrated in a number of countries, in particular in Haiti (23 August 1998) and Senegal (23 August 1999). A number of cultural events and debates were organized. In 2001 the Mulhouse Textile Museum in France conducted a fabric workshop entitled “Indiennes de Traite” (a type of calico) used as currency in trade for Africans. The International Slavery Museum opened its doors on August 23, 2007 in Liverpool where Slavery Remembrance Day events have been conducted since 2004.

Source: Wikipedia

STOP Slavery Leaflet – Mozambique

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On August 17, 2013

In Justice and Peace, Mozambique Sector, Publications

Ministry of Michel Meunier on modern slavery in South Africa

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On August 11, 2013

In Justice and Peace, News, Publications, South Africa Sector

On the 2^nd August, I gave a talk to students & professors of Cedara (St. Joseph Institute) where our theology students go. There were about 50 people; the biggest attendance they ever had! A proof that modern slavery is a very hot topic! It had been organised by the OIKOS group, of which Antony Alckias is the Secretary. He is one of our students who should be ordained deacon in December.

As I was speaking to philosophy & theology students and teachers, I started with a quick overview of the attitude of the Church towards slavery through the ages followed by a brief history of Lavigerie’s antislavery campaign.

The big question is: what is the Church doing? The Counter Trafficking In Persons (CTIP) Office at the Bishops’ Conference (SACBC) published all kinds of posters & flyers to bring more consciousness. They had a 3 day seminar in April and started a Truck Drivers’ Anti-Trafficking group. They will soon publish a small book “The Church and Anti-Trafficking”. The Sisters seem to have more roles to play, as most trafficked people are women and children.

United in the same Mission,

Michel Meunier, M.Afr

Also: South Africa Human Trafficking Bill Signed Into Law

Article of Nzimeni Jeremiah Gama, OMI

Are Women Today’s Slaves?

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On August 7, 2013

In News, Publications

By Evans K. Chama, M.Afr

Published in the Saturday Post, Saturday August 3, 2013

Slavery was made illegal a long time ago but it has never been abolished. It is still here today in various forms and women are among its victims. It may sound exaggerated to label the violence that women suffer as slavery. Nonetheless, the situation of gender relations shows sufficient traits that are typical of slavery. That is why we must be aware of this violence which goes often unnoticed.

Firstly, let us refresh our understanding of slavery. Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property, traded and subjected to forced work. It is also a relationship whereby one person has absolute power over another, controlling his/her life and liberty. We speak of chattel slavery when people are treated as property that can change hands like commodities. In bonded labour a person is in some kind of debt which he/she has to pay by fulfilling certain roles. And we have forced labour when one is obliged to work or do something against his/her will. READ MORE