Poster-Click here

Application-Click here

COST:

$145 for commuters;
$265 including lodging and breakfast. Space is limited.
We suggest that you plan on an additional $75 for meals and transportation while in DC.
Application and non-refundable deposit of $145 ASAP

SCHEDULE

Speakers may include
· The cycle of military & economic violence
· “National Interest” of the US government
· Nicaragua case study                 
· Armed Forces: facts on the ground
· Market Forces: facts in our heads
· “Development” and the “Roots of Migration”
· The Roots of Migration: military & economic
 violence in Central America
· Connecting WFP to oppression at home”
· Nonviolence and action in a world of violence
· Nonviolent life and lifestyle
· Planning our nonviolent life: this year’s commitment

Speakers may include
· Mavis  Andersen, Latin America Working Group
· John Cavanaga, Institute for Policy Studies
· Rita D’Escoto Clark, Counsel to the ambasador of Nicaragua, during contra war
· Marie Dennis, Maryknoll Of.f. of Global Concerns
· Dave Mc Michaels, former CIA agent
· Melinda St.Denis; Exec. Dir Witness For Peace
· Marc Weisbrook, Center for Economic/Policy Studies    

Visits may include:
· Afro-American church community     
· Congressional staff meetings
· Heritage Foundation
· Latin America Working Group                
· Latino church community
· International Monetary Fund
· National Endowment for Democracy
· National Security Archives,
· Venezuela Information Office      
· World Bank 

July 9-12, 2007

Washington, DC

A capacity-building workshop for peace & justice advocates.

This four-day series of top-level briefings, discussions and reflections will prepare participants to confidently discuss and organize around issues such as: international and community development, globalization, covert and overt foreign intervention, ideology and think tanks, the twin levers of military/CIA power and economic power, the cycle of military and economic violence, poverty vs. impoverishment, the roots of migration, "free trade" and neoliberalism, the institutions with the power to define the world economies (World Bank, IMF, US Trade Representative's Office) and how the faith & conscience community is organizing to make the exercise of that great power democratic, peaceful and sustainable.

Case Studies of Nicaragua, Mexico and Venezuela will demonstrate how these institutions collaborate to control authorized "development" and how historically popular movements have become "out of control"--of control by Washington institutions that is--and claimed self-determination and the liberty to define their own lives. We will present an historical review of how this freedom empowers--builds social capital and human capacity-- to achieve impressive development almost over night. The Institute reviews how formerly colonized countries (and US communities) are not somehow naturally "poor", but have been "impoverished"--deprived of power and resources. In Washington, we study, first-hand, how that process continues.

The Institute reviews the nearly 25-year long history of Witness for Peace, considering how over 750 delegations have observed that every time a nation in Latin America or the Caribbean seeks independent development and a nationalistic economic plan oriented to the logic and needs of its own people, the US government deploys covert or overt intervention, military or paramilitary forces, and/or economic violence to crush that popular movement. This history of structural violence is studied in terms of power relationships that can be changed by strategic ministry, activism and education. An overview of strategic activist concepts and skills will be presented.

Finally, empowered by this knowledge, we will reflect on what we are called to do by the dictates of conscience and faith, in our communities, congregations and lives. With the help of national religious leaders, we reflect on a nonviolent life, lifestyle and personal transformation--what we are called to do in our own time and place.