2013 Peace and Global Security Workshops
Food is central to life. Yet all too often, the lack of food becomes a source of conflict globally. Join us for workshops that examine the challenges of food insecurity and food justice in the struggle for peace. We will lift up particular regional examples of conflict, the role of women, land grabbing, human trafficking, and human rights violations. Within the U.S. we examined current budget debates and how military expenditures are linked to social safety net programs and food.
Bombs, Bread, and Budgets: Assessing Our Priorities and the Cost of War
Recent budget debates have highlighted the need to better understand the Pentagon Budget and budgetary decisions in a period of fiscal austerity. This workshop will examine our national spending priorities and highlight ways in which Pentagon spending must change to protect critical social safety net programs and ensure a healthy and safe world.
Speakers: Ruth Flower, Associate Executive Secretary for Legislative Program, Friends Committee on National Legislation; Chris Hellman, Senior Research Analyst, National Priorities Project; Moderator: Rev. Michael Neuroth, Policy Advocate on International Issues, United Church of Christ
Breaking News on the Torture Issue and Addressing Anti-Muslim Sentiment
During the last four months, there have been critical developments in the work to end U.S.-sponsored torture. This workshop will offer practical ways to engage your church in these efforts as well as the work to diminish anti-Muslim sentiment in your community. Topics will include the film Zero Dark Thirty, the Senate Intelligence Committee report on torture, hate crimes against Muslims, countering efforts to stop the building of mosques, and how to build relationships with Muslims in your community.
Speakers: Rev. Richard Killmer, Executive Director, National Religious Campaign Against Torture; Dr. Mohamed Elsanousi, Director of Interfaith & Community Alliances, Islamic Society of North America; Christina Warner, Campaign Director, Shoulder-to-Shoulder
Drones, National Security, and our Faith Values
In the last few months, the United States’ use of drones to carry out targeted killings has come to the forefront of the American consciousness. Thanks to leaks like the Department of Justice’s ‘White Paper’, more questions are being raised regarding the legal and ethical concerns of carrying out such a program. This workshop will focus on understanding how and where drones are being used in South Asia and elsewhere, and the national security concerns and civilian impact that their use poses. The faith community’s unique contribution to the legal and moral considerations surrounding the program will also be addressed.
Speakers: Matt Southworth, Legislative Associate, Foreign Policy, Friends Committee on National Legislation; speaker invited from the Global Justice Clinic (GJC) at NYU School of Law
Fighting with Food: How Food and Conflict Are Interconnected
From international violence to community level disputes, hunger and food are related to conflict. This workshop will examine how food insecurity may trigger conflict and how the dynamics of hunger and politics of food are caused by fighting and used as weapons of war. Focus of this session will include broad characteristics and specific cases from around the world.
Speakers: Sam Gbaydee Doe, PhD, Senior Policy Advisor & Team Leader, United Nations Development Programme