death threats to CPT's colleagues

On July 25, two days after the demonstration in which we participated, Coca Cola union workers in Barrancabermeja received a death threat from the Black Eagles, a new group formed by "demobilized" AUC paramilitaries.

On August 1, other human rights workers in the city also received death threats. Please read more about these threats in this report by CPT Colombia, and pray for these courageous people and for the hearts of their persecutors to be changed.

thanks

Thanks to those who came to the CPT Colombia presentation I did together with Doug and Jane Pritchard after church today. I hope you enjoyed the dried Colombian fruit, the lemon-panela drink, the aboriginal mola (fabric art), the photos, etc. Mostly we would like to inspire you just a little bit with all the things that inspired us.

I'll post the 45 MB powerpoint once I figure out how and where to do that. In the meantime, please visit the links I posted here yesterday.

slideshow from CPT site; links to Facebook photos

I'm getting ready for a report I'm doing with Doug and Jane Pritchard after church tomorrow. It's proving to be very challenging to process and figure out what to share in a short period of time.

For a quick overview of our delegation, please visit this slideshow posted by CPT. While you wait for my report, you can also visit the photo albums I put up on Facebook.

The Coca Cola union demonstration we attended on July 23, 2007

Visit to La Guasima, in the corregimiento of Micoahumado, where we saw a sugar cane farm and processing plant sponsored by the EU's Program for Peace and Development.

Visit to a farm near La Conformedad, also in the corregimiento of Micoahumado, where we saw first-hand the effects of Plan Colombia's fumigation. Why not treat the consumers of the drug instead?

Photos of our visit to the town of Micoahumado, including a cemetery turned war-zone.

Photos of our public action on July 29, 2007: street theatre, singing, speeches and sidewalk art by spectators.

When I landed in Toronto on Tuesday, Richard had organized me to get to Abbotsford. It was a long day, but I'm glad I flew directly here. It's good to spend this time with Mom, just being with her as she processes this huge transition. She'll move into assisted living at Tabor Court on Aug.8. Dad is getting ready to apply for a transfer from the Menno Home to the Tabor Home so they'll have easy access to each other. I'll be here at least until Aug.11, and longer if they need me.

It's great to enjoy the slower pace here: the sleeping in and sitting around gives me time to think about everything I learned in Colombia, and gives me time to pray for the people I met, for the CPT workers in Barranca, and for my delegation colleagues.