URGENT APPEAL: MENNONITE CENTRAL COMMITTEE TO RESPOND TO HAITI EARTHQUAKE, DONATIONS WELCOME.

PAR TEAM ORGANIZING EXPANDS IN CENTRAL LUZON 
By Dann Pantoja, December 2009, San Jose City, Nueva Ecija, Philippines

Peacebuilders Community is expanding its operations throughout Central Luzon in partnership with the Mennonite Central Committee and the Integrated Mennonite Churches, Inc.  Peace and Reconciliation Teams (PAR-Ts) specializing in Disaster Preparation will be organized, trained, field-tested and mobilized from among the communities in Central Luzon.  The training and preparation will include various skills in responding to both natural and man-made disasters.

During a presentation held at the Central Luzon State University (CLSU) in Munoz, Nueva Ecija last December 4, 2009, 59 key leaders from civil society organizations, churches, and campus organizations have expressed their interest in developing a PAR Team that specializes in Disaster Preparedness.  After the presentation, a long-term goal was developed during the question and answer period: to help increase the disaster preparedness of our partner communities in key areas of Central Luzon.  In order to achieve our goal, (a) we have to increase the capacity of our local community partners to respond to disasters caused by natural hazards and conflict; and, (b) we have to increase local disaster coordination among related agencies present in partner communities.   




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PEACE AND RECONCILIATION 2:
SKILLS FOR EVERYONE

You have a basic understanding on how conflict transforms a person and a whole community.  You're wondering what you can do as an ordinary citizen.  Be a peacebuilder in your neighborhood, in your religious community, in your office, at school, and in your own home!

PEACE AND RECONCILIATION 3:
FOR THE HEALING OF OUR LAND

Why are there armed struggles in the Philippines?  What are the factors contributing to the political and economic instability in our land? As a faith community, as a business corporation, as an academic institution, are there any creative, fresh, and inspiring things we can do together to build peace and bring healing to our land?

PEACE AND RECONCILIATION 4:
ARMED-CONFLICT AREA SURVIVAL TRAINING

What do you do when you're going to a peacebuilding mission and you find yourselves caught in a crossfire?  How do you respond properly when an armed group stop your vehicle and ask you to get off?  ACAST is a special preparation for our staff and volunteers who would be assigned to help civilians in armed conflict zones.  We also offer this course to other NGOs on a case-to-case basis.

FISHING FOR RELIEF: LISTENING TO
THE PEOPLE OF LIGAWASAN
By Christina Bartel-Barkman, GlobalComm

In the face of ongoing conflict, recent flooding and drowned crops, fishing is becoming the main source of income and food for the people of Macasindeg.  PBCI staff and their Canadian visitor, Gerd Bartel, distributed 350 fishnets on October 16, 2008.  In a follow-up discussion, the community’s leader said, “We are now really experiencing the fruit of your gifts!”  The fishnets are enabling the community to feed and support themselves on an on-going basis.

FIRST PEACE AND RECONCILIATION TEAM
IS SENT-OUT FOR DUTY IN MIDSAYAP
By Dann Pantoja, Director of Field Operations

18 young people from the three people groups of Mindanao (Bangsamoro, Lumad, and Migrants) finished the one-year training course to qualify as members of the Peace and Reconciliation Team (PAR-T).  These teams are composed of local volunteers from various conflict areas of Mindanao.