QUOTE FOR REFLECTION

"The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral, begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy. . . . Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." --Martin Luther King, Jr 

KOINONIA CONVERGENCE 2001 UPDATE

Thursday, Nov. 15 and Friday, Nov. 16 at Koinonia Farms in Americus, GA (just prior to the annual action/vigil at the School of the Americas, Nov. 17-18) 

Students and young adults from the US, Canada and the Caribbean will gather for the third year in a row at Koinonia Farms in Americus, GA, just prior to the annual vigil and action at the School of the Americas in nearby Columbus, GA. This convergence serves as an opportunity for student and young adult activists to network with each other, reflect on the work that they do and why they do it, and discuss various issues and strategies for effecting social change. In light of the events of Sept. 11 and its aftermath, we are anticipating that now, more than ever, activists committed to peace and justice will need to work in solidarity with one another and that this time together will be an excellent chance to build stronger relationships and reflect on the importance of the work that lies before us. 

Click here for complete information: www.paxchristiusa.org/news_events_more.asp?id=133

CALENDAR OF EVENTS (October-November)

October

Oct. 16-24: Worldwide Campaign of Conscience to End the Sanctions Against Iraq tour with Kathy Kelly of Voices in the Wilderness, in Florida, Virginia, Pennsylvania and New York; sponsored by Pax Christi USA. For dates when we’ll be near your campus or city, click here: http://www.paxchristiusa.org/news_events_more.asp?id=114

Oct. 18-21: National Coalition Against the Death Penalty conference in North Carolina; see www.ncadp.org

November

Nov. 2-4: Call to Action conference in Chicago; see www.cta-usa.org

Nov. 8: birthday of Dorothy Day, founder of the Catholic Worker movment 

Nov. 15-16: Koinonia Convergence 2001 for students and young adults, just prior to the annual vigil and action at the School of the Americas, in Americus, GA; sponsored by the Pax Christi USA Young Adult Forum and Koinonia Partners. See link above. 

Nov. 16: Six Jesuits and their coworkers assassinated in El Salvador in 1989 by soldiers trained at the US Army’s School of the Americas 

Nov. 16: Pax Christi USA gathering in Columbus, GA, 7-10pm at the Howard-Johnsons hotel; click here: http://www.paxchristiusa.org/events.asp

Nov. 16-18: School of the Americas Vigil and Action at Ft. Benning, GA; see www.soaw.org

For information on future events, please regularly check the Pax Christi USA website. For events specific to campuses and young adults, check the calendar of events on the PCUSA Young Adult Organizing webpage.

PAX CHRISTI USA RESOURCES REGARDING SEPT. 11TH AND THE CURRENT BOMBING OF AFGHANISTAN

Pax Christi USA has designed several resources for individual and community prayer, study and action.  To access a complete overview of statements, prayer services and action suggestions, click here: http://www.paxchristiusa.org/news_events_more.asp?id=116

ACTION SUGGESTIONS

At this time, we are suggesting the following items for consideration among students, young adults, campus communities, and members of the Forum. 

1) "Friday Fast from Violence, for Peace - Shalom - Salaam:" Currently over three hundred individuals and groups are participating in this action to draw attention to the violence that permeates our society and to raise their voices against the theory that military retaliation will assuage our grief and end terrorism. We are encouraging fast participants to use public witness or action as part of their fast commitment. 

Complete fast info is available at: http://www.paxchristiusa.org/news_events_more.asp?id=117. 

If you or your group would like to join the fast, please subscribe by sending a blank e-mail to fast_from_violence-subscribe@yahoogroups.com and sending a separate e-mail to johnnypcusa@yahoo.com with your name and hometown if you would like to be listed on the participants list. Several campuses and numerous students and young adults have already signed up for the fast! 

2) Actions of solidarity and unity with Arab-Americans and members of the Islamic faith on your campus or in the community. Events which have already been organized and undertaken by several groups include: an interfaith march for peace and unity with members from Christian, Jewish and Islamic traditions participating; interfaith "teach-ins" for students and young adults to learn more about Islam; joint dinners sponsored by campus ministries for students from Islamic, Christian and Jewish traditions, etc. Additionally, letters to the editors and op-ed pieces speaking out against ethnic and religious prejudice are helpful at this time. 

3) Check out www.peacefuljustice.org, a website organized by students at Wesleyan College shortly after the events of Sept. 11th. The site provides information and contacts for a number of colleges as well as listing upcoming actions across the US. 

Please send information of actions in which you or your community are participating to Johnny Zokovitch at johnnypcusa@yahoo.com. We have received numerous requests from media members interested in how students and young adults are responding. 

CAMPUS GROUP CONTACTS AND CONFIRMATION REQUEST

I am currently trying to update all of our information at the national level regarding Pax Christi campus communities/contacts and young adult communities/contacts. If there is a Pax Christi group at your campus or in your city, or if you are aware of groups at other campuses/cities, please send me an e-mail letting me know. Additionally if you are willing to be a contact for your campus or your city (whether there is an active Pax Christi group there or not), please send me an e-mail. My e-mail address is johnnypcusa@yahoo.com. Thanks! 

RESOURCES FOR PRAYER-STUDY-ACTION

1) Who Will Summon the Dawn? Advent 2001 Reflections by scripture scholar and storyteller Megan McKenna. This little booklet is an excellent resource for both individual and group reflection during the advent season. The readings for each day are listed along with a short reflection by the author. The booklets are available from Pax Christi USA. You can order them thru the website, www.paxchristiusa.org or by calling 814/453-4955, ext 231. Cost is $2.50. 

2) Sojourners Magazine and www.sojo.net.  Sojourners has covered faith, politics and culture for the past thirty years. The magazine features excellent writing from a faith-based perspective, including features, reviews, editorials, biblical reflections, and much more. Sojourners also publishes resources and materials for education and small group reflection. The website, www.sojo.net, provides a wealth of information, articles, connections, etc. Subscription to the magazine is $30.00/year and can be ordered through the website. 

Please feel free to circulate this e-newsletter. To subscribe, send a blank e-mail to pcusa_ya_forum-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.

To join Pax Christi USA and the PCUSA Young Adult Forum, click here: http://www.paxchristiusa.org/young_adult.asp