Events being planned during World Week 2012

Updated on 28 May 2012, highlighting events in 23 countries

Australia

Act for Peace, the international aid agency of the National Council of Churches in Australia, is promoting World Week for Peace in Palestine Israel on its website, and encouraging its member churches to use resources prepared for the Week.

Austria

In Linz there will be Sunday worship service on 27 May in the Reformed Church, and a vigil on 30 May in the city center.

In Innsbruck there will be two events: a screening of the film "We Refuse to be Enemies" on 29 May, and a focus on Palestine during the "Long Night of Churches" on 1 June.

In Graz two events will be held highlighting the work of the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI). A former EA from Austria will describe her service in Tulkaram.  Already another former EA has spoken to a student group about his experience and the use of non-violence.

Additional events are being planned for the Week in Steyr and Voecklabruck. 

All these events were publicized through a recent radio interview with a local organizer for the Week.

Belgium

On 30 May, the Quaker House in Brussels will host a Quaker Meeting for Worship, dedicated to peace in Palestine Israel.

Brazil

EAPPI-Brazil and other ecumenical organizations have set up a website and Facebook page to promote the Week and provide resources and materials in Portuguese.

During the Week, community and church leaders will hold a vigil outside Taurus, a company that manufactures weapons with Israeli investment.

Activists in Porto Alegre are already preparing for the World Social Forum "Free Palestine" event, to be held in November 2012.

Canada

The United Church of Canada (UCC) has opened a special page on its website where it is promoting World Week for Peace in Palestine Israel.  Available on this page are special worship liturgies created for the Sundays of 27 May and 3 June, as well as sermon starters and additional aids for children's activities on these Sundays.

On the evening of 28 May, representatives of Canadian churches will gather in Toronto with Nora Carmi of the Kairos Palestine initiative for an ecumenical worship service to pray for peace, using the "Come and See" worship liturgy authored by Palestinian Christian theologians.

The UCC is also coordining a speaking tour featuring Nora Carmi, which shall include the following public events:

• 29 May: Nora Carmi will address the topic of "Fact, Fiction, and Faith: A Palestinian Christian Response to the Occupation."
• 30 May: Nora Carmi will speak on the theme, "A Moment of Truth: Facts and Faith."  In this address, primarily to an audience of theological students and educators, Nora will address the need to challenge the misuse of religion as a tool to maintain the occupation.  She will also speak about the recent CBS "60 Minutes" report on the plight of Palestinian Christians.

During 1-2 June, a two-day event called, "It's Time for Palestine, It's Time for Peace," will be held in Vernon, British Columbia.  This event will feature Hanna and Marion Kawas (Vancouver BC Voice of Palestine) and Karen DeVito (Tahrir CBG Flotilla).  Workshops and dialogue will be designed to lead to a practical response to the Kairos Call, in cooperation with Kairos Canada, Vernon Branch.  Additional presentations will be based on the "Life on the Ground" report written by CPT member Johann Funk, a focus on media manipulation, and an expose of Christian Zionism using the movie, "With God on our Side."

Youth from local churches in British Columbia will make cards of "care", and will send these messages to children in the schools of Aida refugee camp in the West Bank.

Finland

FinnChurchAid and EAPPI launched a consumer campaign against settlement goods to coincide with the Week.  This campaign demands that the government bans labeling of settlement products as "Made in Israel".  Campaign materials include a leaflet and postcard that people can give to their local shop managers or drop in customer feedback boxes in shops; a model letter to heads of supermarket chains in their HQs; and an online petition targeting several ministers and asking them to introduce compulsory labelling and act against companies cooperating with settlements.

France

In advance of the Week, a conference was organized by Jeunes Palestiniens en Chemin on 30 April in Annemasse, featuring Salah Hamouri and Jean-Claude Lefort.

On 1 June, the network Christians of the Mediterranean (Chretiens de la Mediterranne) will host a presentation by Ambassador Afif Safieh entitled, "War on Peace in Jerusalem."  In addition, poems by Mahmoud Darwish will be read by Palestinian artists. The event will held at the Palais du Luxembourg, the seat of the French Senate, Paris.

On 2 June, Secours Catholique in Avignon will host a presentation by Abdel Maseeh Yunan, coordintator of Caritas Jerusalem.

India

The India Solidarity Ecumenical Network-Kairos Palestine is organizing a number of events and activities to be held during World Week for Peace in Palestine Israel. These shall include ecumenical worship services, letters of support and solidarity to the Palestinian people, the creation of advocacy materials, educational forums, and outreach to students on university and college campuses.

The Council for Social Justice and Peace in Goa is planning a number of events during the Week: a Mass using liturgy developed for the Week, an educational session on the plight of Palestinian Christians, a letter writing campaign in support of Palestinians, and a "transformative pilgrimage" to Palestine by a group from Goa.

The Student Christian Movement of India committed to conduct worship services, organize educational programs, and perform acts of advocacy in support of a just peace for Palestinians during the Week, and issued a powerful statement of solidarity on behalf of its membership.

Ireland

On 30 May, a panel discussion on the subject "Children of the Occupation" will be held at St. Mark's Church of Ireland, the Mall, Armagh.  This event is sponsored by EAPPI Ireland and Quaker Peace and Social Witness, and will be chaired by Rev. Sandra Pragnell of Friends of Sabeel.

Italy

Pax Christi Italy translated many of the resources prepared for World Week for Peace in Palestine Israel 2012 and distributed them across their national network for use in local communities during the Week.

Netherlands

During World Week for Peace in Palestine and Israel and in the months thereafter, Kerk in Actie will be placing an emphasis on "fair tourism", in response to the call of Palestinian Christians: "Come and See!"

Former EAPPI volunteers will translate many of the materials prepared for the Week into Dutch, so that churches may use the liturgies, studies, and other materials.  Former EAs will also be available for presentations and speaking engagements, especially on displacement issues.

Nigeria

CAPAD will use the liturgical materials to conduct worship services in all the circuits headquarters of the Methodist Church and Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion in Ibadan.

Advocacy and educational materians prepared for the Week are being shared with students of an ecumenical seminary, to inform them of the realities facing Palestinian Christians, so that they may further educate their communities.

Norway

The following events have been scheduled across Norway during the Week (more details in Norwegian are available here):

• Tuesday 29 May, Trondheim:  Seminar with Mrs. Abla Naser (president of YWCA East Jerusalem) and Camilla Winsnes (former EA), organized by The Norwegian Church Academy Movement/Norwegian Church Aid
• Wednesday 30 May, Trondheim:  Meeting between Abla Naser and church employees, possibly also the bishop in Nidaros, organized by Norwegian Church Aid
• Thursday 31 May, Ålesund:  Solidarity meeting between Rami Kassis (ATG) and relevant local actors, organized by The Karibu Foundation Norway
• Thursday 31 May, Oslo:  Seminar: Patterns of Palestinian Displacement – past and present (with Abla Naser, as well as other guests – church, political, NGO), organized by Norwegian Church Aid
• Friday 1 June, Oslo:  Pilgrim tours – lunch meeting with Rami Kassis, and meeting with Rami Kassis, Abla Naser, and the Palestinian Diaspora, organized by The Karibu Foundation Norway
• Sunday 3 June, Trondheim:  Worship Service in the Nidaros Cathedral, organized by Norwegian Church Aid

Palestine

Sabeel is including a prayer for participants in World Week for Peace in Palestine Israel in its weekly Wave of Prayer on 24 and 31 May.

On 28 May, the Sabeel women’s program will journey to Hebron for a time of networking, and to see the reality of Palestinian life in Hebron.  The Sabeel group will meet the Women’s Committee of the Governorate of Hebron, and visit the Ibrahimi Mosque and the Russian church.

On 1 June, Christians will gather to worship and pray at the historic Cremisan monastery near Bethlehem. The land belonging to the monastery is under threat of confiscation, in order to enhance Israel's separation barrier between Jerusalem and Bethlehem. Efforts are being made to have this worship service broadcast live on Palestinian television, or streamed live via the internet.

The Jerusalem Inter-Church Centre has prepared a short video that will be used to promote World Week for Peace in Palestine Israel.

Philippines

Churches in the Philippines will join the worldwide commemoration of the Week with prayers, worship, and educational fora in various churches and communities during 28 May – 3 June.

A public rally is again being planned during the Week in front of the Israeli Embassy, following a series of educational and liturgical evens that will inform and build momentum for the public demonstration.

On 3 June, observances for the Week will culminate with an interfaith liturgical service at the Church of the Holy Sacrifice at the University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City.  The service will also feature a photo exhibit under the leadership of two Ecumenical Accompaniers to Palestine.

Furthermore, the Week will serve as a launch for year-round advocacy events on university campuses, in churches, and in similar venues to raise the awareness of the issue of Palestine.

Following the Week, numerous educational events will be held on various campuses during the year.  The first one will take place at the University of Santo Tomas on 26 June.

The second round of an in-depth training seminar for future EAs and facilitators will also be held in June, hopefully adding to the critical mass of people advocating for an end to the occupation and pursuing genuine peace in Palestine and Israel.

For the fourth year in a row, the commemoration of the Week is being spearheaded by Peace for Life, the National Council of Churches in the Philippines, the Philippine Interfaith Solidarity Forum on Palestine, the Ecumenical Bishops Forum, CONTAK Philippines and the multisectoral group headed by Bayan, an alliance of Filipino patriots.

South Africa

At its synod meeting during 23-26 May, one Anglican diocese will be voting on a resolution that calls on its membership to support Palestinians living under occupation, and to observe World Week for Peace in Palestine Israel in every congregation across the diocese.  

On 31 May, the Palestine Solidarity committee in Cape Town will be screening the documentary film "Roadmap to Apartheid" at a local cinema.  The committee will promote the Week at this event and encourage participation.

In worship services on 3 June, prayers written for the day by Palestinian Christians will be integrated into the liturgies, and sermons will be offered focusing on the issue of displacement, relating it to the local context.

Kairos Southern Africa has written to the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church (United States), urging them to act in support of an end of the Israeli occupation and for justice for all in Palestine. 

South Korea

A representative of Kairos Palestine will be touring and speaking in the country, and taking part in worship and a symposium with Korean church leaders planned for the Week.  The symposium will include a presentation of the situation in Palestine, theological reflection on the "promised land", and programs of solidarity action.

Switzerland

On 3 June, the documentary film "Jaffa, la mécanique de l'orange" ("Jaffa, the Orange's Clockwork") by Eyal Sivan (2009) will be shown, followed by a discussion and a shared meal, at the Protestant parish in Chêne-Bougeries, Geneva.

German-language resources for World Week for Peace in Palestine Israel are being distributed to churches across the canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden, for use by congregations during the Week.

Tonga

The National Forum of Church Leaders has agreed that all Tongan churches will participate in the Week, and is requesting ministry leaders across the country to include prayers for a peaceful settlement between Palestine and Israel in all services of worship held on Sunday 27 May 2012.  Prayers and other worship resources prepared for the Week are being distributed to all churches throughout Tonga, to encourage full participation in this nationwide event.

Ukraine

Members of the United Methodist Church in Ukraine will pray for peace in Palestine Israel during worship on 3 June.

United Kingdom

The Iona community will host an event on the Isle of Iona from 26 May to 1 June entitled, "Kairos: Seeking Peace", featuring guest speaker Rabbi Mark Braverman.

A roundtable on religion and race will be held in London from 28 May to 1 June. Delegates to the roundtable from Kairos Southern Africa have requested that the organizers integrate World Week for Peace in Palestine Israel into this event.

On 31 May, Friends House in London will host a vigil, comprising a time of silence, readings, and prayers for a just peace. The vigil is being organized by Pax Christi, EAPPI, and the United Reformed Church-Commitment for Life.

On 31 May, Rabbi Danny Rich, current president of the Council for Christians and Jews and a representative of Rabbis for Human Rights, will speak at St. John's Church, Alresford.

On 2 June, St. John's Church, Alresford, will hold a day-long vigil for peace.

During the Week, friends of Palestine in Birmingham will be praying for peace, and sending their prayers to Christian communities in Palestine.

United States

Delegates to the quadrennial United Methodist Church General Conference prayed the Jerusalem Prayer, as part of the conference's opening ceremonies on 23 April.

Vatican

Vatican Radio is promoting World Week for Peace in Palestine Israel in its English-language radio broadcasts during the week.