Fighting for Female Leadership: Peacemakers Media Update
Below, find some updates from Peacemakers in Action around the world,
Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge, South Africa
Noticing a reluctance to integrate women into the highest levels of leadership in the ANC by the ANC’s women’s league (ANCWL), Nozizwe recently wrote a fiery opinion piece for the magazine Amandla. Her article emphasizes the need for increased, female leadership in South Africa and a greater commitment to feminism as a means of resolving inequality in South African society overall.
http://www.amandla.org.za/amandla-magazine/127-amandla-issue-28/1622-its-time-for-women-to-lead-south-africa–by-nozizwe-madlala-routledge
Archbishop Abuna Elias Chacour, Israel/Palestine
Over the Christmas season, Archbishop Chacour received a visit from Israeli President Shimon Peres. President Peres visited Chacour’s official residence and sang traditional Christian carols with a choir comprised of local children.
http://www.algemeiner.com/2012/12/21/with-chanukah-over-israel-turns-to-christmas-celebrations/
A video of a lecture given by Chacour at the University of Portland is now available online in two parts. He describes his experiences growing up as well as his view on the situation in Israel and Palestine.
Part One: http://archive.org/details/scm-172098-archbishopeliaschacour-myearl
Part Two: http://archive.org/details/scm-187994-archbishopeliaschacour-ourpli
Imam Muhammad Ashafa and Pastor James Wuye, Nigeria
Imam Ashafa and Pastor Wuye are now offering counseling, conflict transformation workshops, and mediation trainings in Libya to help promote reconciliation and dialogue there.
http://thelibyainitiative.org/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=49:module-by-imam-muhammad-ashafa-and-pastor-james-wuye-&catid=3:conflict-transformation-training&Itemid=53
Rev. Canon Andrew White, Iraq
Canon Andrew White was recently interviewed on Marcus and Joni, a Texas-based talk show. The interview covers Andrew’s work and extraordinary experiences that have marked his time in Iraq.
http://www.daystar.com/ondemand/marcus-and-joni-pat-schatzline-and-andrew-white-01-08-2013/
Andrew was also featured as the keynote speaker for the Veritas Forum at Hope College this January.
http://whtc.com/news/articles/2013/jan/11/anglican-pastor-in-baghdad-speaks-at-hope-forum/
Ricardo Esquivia, Colombia
Ekklesia, a think-tank that investigates the application of faith and religious values in the public sphere, wrote an article about Ricardo’s Programme of Ecumenical Accompaniment in Colombia (PEAC).
http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/17294
Sakena Yacoobi, Afghanistan
Sakena was interviewed on American National Public Radio (NPR) about the gains made in Afghanistan in relation to women's rights, but also their fragility and their dependence upon the stability of the government and its security forces. She emphasizes the responsibility of Afghanistan's youth to remain within the country and work for its future. She also briefly describes the risks she experiences in her line of work.
http://www.npr.org/2012/12/02/166336692/rights-for-afghan-women-improving-but-fragile
Sakena also opened this year’s Global Washington conference. Global Washington (GlobalWA) emphasizes innovation in global development.
http://globalwa.org/2012/12/the-power-of-education-sakena-yacoobis-hopes-for-the-women-of-afghanistan/
Sakena’s keynote for GlobalWA can be found here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMu5T4MdrQY&feature=youtube_gdata
Finally, Isobel Coleman from the Council on Foreign Relations identified Sakena as one of the “remarkable women of 2012.”
http://blogs.cfr.org/coleman/2012/12/20/remarkable-women-of-2012/
