Nonviolent Ways Project came into being officially in 2003, was incorporated as a nonprofit in the state of Michigan, and continued the work its organizers had been formerly involved in since 1991 as co-founders of Strategic Pastoral Action Network (SPAN).
This work of the past had included guiding and sharing in more than 20 peace delegations over the last 14 years to Nicaragua; Chiapas and Hidalgo, Mexico; Honduras; Cuba; as well as Palestine and Israel. It also included organizing peace rallies and vigils, as well as nonviolence, human-rights and peace advocacy and education workshops in the U.S.
The formation of Nonviolent Ways Project has allowed its two organizers - Eileen and Wes Rehberg - to provide a more directly nuanced approach to peace work that stresses nonviolent reflection and action, naming it as such and claiming it as an active principle.
One personal hallmark, in July 2003, Wes finally completed two years of treatment for cancer, now in remission, and with Eileen, was able to refocus more intentionally on peace and nonviolent work.
This was work in 2003 in which:
* We guided or shared leadership in five nonviolent workshops, including three with Michigan Peace Teams, with whom we've become aligned.
* We sponsored and organized a Michigan tour of a Palestinian peace activist - Ghazi Briegieth, of the Israeli-Palestinian Bereaved Families Forum for Peace. Ghazi and his family live in Beit Ummar, in the West Bank, where we met them in 2001.
* We've initiated, with Holland Peacemakers in Michigan, campaigns opposing the U.S. War in Iraq, including a local rally and vigil, the distribution of 1,000 photos of Iraqi children inside public places, supermarkets, department stores and other locations, as well as a peace education program of public showings of videos.
* Wes traveled to Tulancingo, Mexico, to share in the 25th anniversary celebration of the organizing council for several rural base communities, Desarrollo Rural de Hidalgo, during which he had the unique experience of offering the consecration of the Eucharist with retired Roman Catholic Bishop Samuel Ruiz Garcia, formerly a leading peace activist in Chiapas. Eileen and Wes had been bringing delegations to Chiapas and Tulancingo, Hidalgo, since 1994.
* Eileen continued her work as a social policy analyst as assistant director of the Frost Center for Social Science Research at Hope College in Holland, MI, to assume the post of director in June 2004.
* Wes, an ordained United Methodist pastor, now retired, began a part-time assignment to two Native American churches in Bradley and Salem, Michigan, a work Eileen shares.
* With a partner, Valentin Beltran of Holland, we began work in assisting undocumented immigrants.
* With another partner, Robin Tinholt of Saugatuck, MI, we began emphasizing fair-trade economics, and, as well, gathering a video library of films of conscience. Robin operates Otavalos, a fair trade shop.
* With another partner, Analiese Richard of Berkeley, CA, began exploring the support of a greenhouse project the Tulancingo area base communities are seeking to develop. Annie spent a year with the base communities as part of her doctoral work in cultural anthropology.
* Through two other partners in upstate New York - Bob and Gwyn Comstock - continued to support work that improves health care and living conditions of those struggling in deep poverty in Honduras. Gwyn and Bob are to travel again to Honduras in January 2004 to work on an orphanage.
* Wes attended a four-day Training for Change workshop in Philadelphia -- "Third Party Nonviolent Intervention Training for Advanced Trainers," traveling with three Michigan Peace Team organizers - Peter Dougherty, Sheri Wander and Mike McGurdy - and became part of MPT's Training Committee. The workshop included organizers from Peace Brigades International, Fellowship of Reconciliation, Christian Peacemaker Teams, International Solidarity Movement, Colombia and Guatemala projects, and others.
* Eileen and Wes attended a daylong workshop organized by Pax Christi of Michigan.
* Wes began organizing a peace delegation to Palestine and Israel for 2004, stressing work with peace activists and movements in the region.
* The project became aligned with the West Michigan Justice and Peace Coalition, and supportive of several national and international peace efforts.
* With others, we began to explore the possibility of forming a "think tank" -- though what this means yet still needs to be worked out.
Important as well, with our colleagues and friends, we sought and continue to seek to put a personal face and local face on this work and to claim our experience in peace with justice, human rights and nonviolent activism. We believe this is especially important now in the context of what clearly has become heightened governmental repressive attitudes against organizations such as this, whether local, regional, national or international.
We claim this space for nonviolent approaches to peacemaking and peacekeeping with justice, and join with the increasingly growing multitude of those who share this claim, cooperatively and connectedly.
So, let the violent be aware ... and join our walk in peace.
Nonviolent Ways Project
PO Box 3272
Holland, MI 49422-3272 USA
616.394.5262 (home)
616.566.0444 (cell phone)
e-mail
www.nonviolentways.org
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Some snapshots:
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| Palestinian peace activist Ghazi Briegieth during a presentation in Holland, MI. |
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| Annie Richard of Berkeley, in Tulancingo, Mexico |
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| Valentin Beltran, and daughter Vanesa |
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| Gwyn & Bob Comstock of upstate New York |
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| Bishop Samuel Ruiz, with Padre HiLarino and Derhgo's Pepe Fosado in Tulancingo, Mexico |
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| Mike McGurdy of MPT, Patrick Connor of ISM at Training for Change workshop |
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| Ghazi Briegieth at Salem Indian Mission in Michigan. |
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| Thanksgiving, 2003, for co-coordinators Eileen and Wes Rehberg.
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