Ecumenical Advocacy Days for Global Peace with Justice is pleased to announce an international panel presentation as one of its plenary sessions at its 16th annual National Gathering in Washington, D.C., April 20-23, 2018 on the theme of “A World Uprooted: Responding to Migrants, Refugees and Displaced Persons.”
Entitled “Conflict, Corruption, Climate Change & The World’s Uprooted,” the panel will include: Rev. James Makuei Choul, Executive Director of the Presbyterian Relief and Development Agency, speaking about South Sudan;John Din, Coordinator of the Columban Lay Missionaries in the Philippines; and Rev. Tafue Lusama, the Secretary-General of the Christian Church of Tuvalu, a small island nation to the southwest of Hawaii whose residents face first-hand the daily dangers of climate change. The moderator for the panel will be Asma Lateef, Director of the Bread for the World Institute.
The international panel joins previously announced plenary speakers including Rev. Dr. Elizabeth Conde-Frazier, Dr. Elizabeth Ferris and Rev. Julian DeShazier (JKwest). Additional speaker announcements will be coming soon, along with a complete list of workshop titles and topics, expanding upon the topics previously highlighted.
Additionally, as efforts are underway to determine specific legislative asks for our Monday, April 23 Congressional Advocacy Day, the broad outline for our ask is now available:
Our world is experiencing massive upheaval and displacement due to violent conflicts, our changing climate and corruption. We call on Congress to act to help the world’s uprooted peoples, the majority of whom are children and women. Congress must:
- Implement just and compassionate immigration policies;
- Confront root causes of forced displacement in the light of U.S. policy.
Based on legislation before Congress in April 2018 where EAD advocacy can have the most impact, the general policy appeal noted above will be narrowed down to two specific legislative “asks” to address policies in the U.S. and abroad. Talking points will be provided for use by participants, along with a “Leave Behind” for Congressional offices. These resources will be posted for participants’ review in April.