The Culture, Spirituality, and Theology of Peace Conference

Jose “Chencho” Alas welcomes participants to the Culture, Spirituality, and Theology of Peace Conference following a Mayan ceremony representing the cosmos and the four colors of the world.

Don Federico Castillo is a Maya and the founder of the Uk’u’x’ Mayab’ Tinamit National Movement. He never learned to read or write as a child. Later, he was elected to direct the recuperation of Mayan spirituality in his region, so he had to learn.The night of January 26th, Don Federico, his wife, and Felipe Gomez guided us through the celebration of a Mayan Ceremony, giving us a marvelous introduction to the Peace Conference’s theme: Earth and Ecology. The next morning, as a continuation of the ceremony, they prepared a circle of flowers on the floor of the conference hall, representing the four cardinal points of the cosmos: The East: purple flowers to symbolize the night and cosmic energy The West: red flowers that symbolize the sun and energy The North: white flowers dedicated to our ancestors and life-giving air The South: yellow flowers that symbolize life, happiness, peace, love, and abundance

Inspired by this symbol of the Earth, we began the work sessions based on the eight workshops that we had held in Mesoamerica and the United States. These workshops evoked our deepest experiences with the earth herself and with the “big house,” which is how Mayas refer to ecology. We then interpreted these experiences based on the culture, spirituality, and theology of peace.

In the Peace Conference, we had 109 participants from thirteen different countries representing a rich variety of social groups. During the workshops, participants had already developed a basic understanding of the theological issues related to the earth and ecology. So, on the first day of the conference we analyzed four models of human interaction with the earth and ecology. Each of these models is based on principles and values rooted in either the Christian faith of the local communities or in Mayan spirituality. For the Maya, these are: the Earth is good and sacred, she is the “big house” of life, we should use her with respect, we should share the fruits of our labor, we should care for her, she does not belong to us but rather God, her creator.

The models were presented by Arístides Valencia for the Coordinadora del Bajo Lempa in El Salvador, Trinidad Sánchez for Red Comal in Honduras, Jacinto Peña of Cooperativa Esperanza in Panamá, and Don Federico Castillo who presented the perspective of Mayas in Guatemala. Don Federico told us “There is a close relationship between the Creator, people, and mother nature. They are inseparable. Crops are like children of mother earth.”

We dedicated the second day to studying other proposals about our relationship with the Earth and Ecology. We heard two presentations about Plan Puebla-Panama (PPP). PPP seeks to provide the infrastructure, including highways, energy, and communications, that are necessary for the Free Trade Agreement that the United States is negotiating with Latin America. These two plans seek profits above all else and will do to Latin America what NAFTA has done for Mexico: cause misery and poverty for millions of people.

On the last day of the conference, we discussed what to do. We presented four proposals that we have been working on: 1) the creation of a network of peacemakers, using the internet to facilitate their communication; 2) the writing of a manual for grassroots peacemakers, beginning with the first chapter on Earth and Ecology; 3) the organization of participants by country, and 4) a peace institute to provide training to peacemakers and deepen our understanding of the Culture, Spirituality, and Theology of Peace.

By late fall, if we are able to raise enough funds, we hope to start work on the workshops for the project’s second stage, which will focus on the Neighbor (the Other).

Youth finding hope in art

Rays of light have begun shining through the darkness in El Salvador’s Bajo Lempa region. From a hopeless void that promised no future for many beyond drugs, gangs, and violence, youths are organizing to build a brighter future for themselves and their neighbors.

Art as therapy, as personal expression, and as a profession has captured the hope and imagination of dozens of youths in these communities and provide the opportunity to cultivate peace and self-sufficiency in their lives.During the war thousands of Salvadorans fled to the United States and raised their families here. Some of their children, particularly in Los Angeles, became involved in street gangs and even founded the infamous Mara Salvatrucha. After the war, the US government began deporting many of these gang members to a country that was little prepared to handle them. Gang violence today represents one of the largest challenges to peace and stability in the country.

Artist José Alberto Garcia working with students in the Coordinadora’s art project.

Oscar, a former gang member, works on a landscape painting.

Gangs even began making headway into the Bajo Lempa region, where our partner the Coordinadora works. Factors such as high unemployment, poverty, and a lack of healthy activities have put many youths at risk. A few youths even formed small gangs.In August 2002, Salvadoran artist José Alberto Garcia (also known as JOALGAR) began working with 100 at-risk youths, former gang members, and other young people from the Coordinadora’s communities. Although they are only beginning to develop their talents, some are showing real promise. José Alberto, who helped Fernando Llort launch the arts and crafts workshops in La Palma, believes that something similar can be done in the Bajo Lempa.

This spring, art classes are expanding beyond painting and drawing to include silk-screening and ceramics. When their training is complete, the Foundation and Coordinadora expect that many of these youths will be able to earn a living through creativity. In fact, a few have already sold a few pieces to people who have come to visit the communities!Your donation of $330 can sponsor a student’s art supplies for one year. Certainly, for these students, it would make a big difference.

Ana Maria shows off her abstract painting, which won third place when judged by some of El Salvador’s premier artists.

SPECIAL THANKS

The solidarity of many generous individuals and organizations is making this work for peace and self-sufficiency possible. Outstanding donor organizations during the last few months include:

”Al beso del sol”

Fernando Llort Do you like El Salvador’s national artist, Fernando Llort, as much as we do? His designs grace many of the arts and crafts that we think of as “typical” work from El Salvador and Central America. In addition to his influence on handicrafts, he designed the façade of San Salvador’s cathedral and his paintings are celebrated internationally. How would you like to have a Fernando Llort print for yourself, a friend, or family member? The FSSCA has a limited number of Fernando Llort lithographs and silk screens available as donor premiums, which you can view here. Additional works by Llort may also be available. If you are interested in one or more pieces, please contact Sean Hale.

Thanks volunteers! Volunteers are a vital component of our work for peace and social justice in Central America. In March and April, more than 140 volunteers including professionals and students from 15 colleges joined us in the Bajo Lempa, many with support from the American Jewish World Service. Their sacrifice and solidarity helped to break down the barriers of ignorance that lead to so many injustices in the world. August 2003 tour When you join our next El Salvador tour, August 11th to 18th, you will see, first hand, what its all about. As some of last year’s delegates put it: “The week and delegation exceeded my expectations. The diversity of activity and experience presented a broad look at life, cooperative programs, and people from El Salvador.”“I really loved everything. It was so important for me to see the various projects in different stages and that the people hope and believe in what they were doing.” For more info or to join a tour click here or contact Sean Hale.

Andee Krasner, part of a 20-member Yale delegation that volunteered in Isla de Mendez in March, with her host brother, Jaciel.Yale’s Public Health school volunteers researched community health issues and assisted in a mangrove reforestation project.

Foundation for Self-Sufficiency in Central America Newsletter, Summer 2003

The Foundation for Self-Sufficiency in Central America is a US non-profit organization (501c3) dedicated to supporting the movement for Peace and Justice in El Salvador and the rest of Central America.