Peacemakers on Religious Groups Bombed, Peace Talks with Kony, & More: PIA Media Update

Benny joined a coalition of Papuan churches in declaring the province an emergency zone after a series of shootings and violence that Indonesian authorities have failed to resolve. Benny calls upon the United Nations, and other international bodies, to intervene in the violence. http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/news/papuans-refute-yudhoyonos-small-claim/524658

Benny delivers a diplomatic briefing about the current surge of violence in Papua, outlining the colonial roots of the conflict and Jakarta’s attempt to maintain territorial integrity while violating human rights. In order to fulfill the Papuan’s “land of peace” dream, Benny says Papua needs humanitarian intervention and the support of a third party. http://www.freewestpapua.org/index.php/news/1937-benny-giay-papua-land-of-mourning-and-bloodshed

Betty, the first person to initiate peace talks with LRA leader Joseph Kony in 1994, comments on the U.N.’s international appeal to help end the threat of the LRA. Although the U.N. appeal is coming very late, Betty states it is still important to protect people from the group’s resurgent attacks in the region.

Andrew reports on the devastating wave of car-bombings at a major Shia festival in Baghdad in June. This is the most violence Iraq has seen in one month since U.S. troops withdrew last December.

Andrew seeks to preserve 365 ancient sefer Torah scrolls from rotting in the basement of a church museum by transferring them to Baghdad’s one remaining synagogue. The effort is emblematic of Andrew’s ongoing protection of and service to the seven remaining Jews in Baghdad.

Andrew delivers the 2012 Commencement Address at Wheaton College, Illinois, urging students not to take care, but to take risks.

Andrew wins the 2012 Ultimate Christian Library Book Award for Faith Under Fire.

Ephraim was unanimously voted the 2012 winner of the Morton Deutsch Conflict Resolution Award by the American Psychological Association’s Society for the Study of Peace, Conflict, and Violence. The award recognizes Ephraim’s impressive peace-building work over the past forty years, in addition to his most recent involvement in Ethiopia.

Right to Care, South Africa’s largest HIV/Aids NGO, just appointed Nozizwe a member of the board. Nozizwe’s action-oriented approach and history of speaking truth to power make her a strong leader in fighting the pandemic.

Bill presents a holistic model of reconciliation in a video for Duke Divinity’s Faith and Leadership forum.