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WCC congratulates European Union for receiving Nobel Peace Prize

World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit has congratulated the European Union for being the recipient of the 2012 Nobel Peace Prize. The EU was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize on 12 October for its six decades of work in advancing peace and democracy in Europe.

Ecumenical accompaniers share updates on Palestinian territory

A group of former ecumenical accompaniers got together to share updates over the situation in occupied Palestinian territory with European Union (EU) officials. They particularly focused on the conditions in so-called Area C of the West bank, which contains most Israeli settlements.

Follow-up on the adoption of NATO's Strategic Concept

Following up on their earlier calls for nuclear disarmament, four global, regional and national ecumenical organizations told leaders of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the European Union and Russia that NATO and its member states should seize the opportunity of the Defence and Deterrence Review in 2011 to take bold steps and end the anachronistic policy of nuclear sharing including the deployment of United States tactical nuclear weapons in Europe.

Ecumenical movement

European Youth Hearing on Poverty, Wealth and Ecology

In response to the call to raise the voice of young people on climate justice, the young delegates of a WCC-CEC consultation on Poverty, Wealth and Ecology, representing young Christians in Europe through the Ecumenical Youth Council in Europe, World Student Christian Federation Europe Region and SYNDESMOS, the World Fellowship of Orthodox Youth, presented the following contribution to be taken into account in the process of the global ecumenical AGAPE consultation.

Ecumenical movement

Migration: churches as bridges over fear and prejudices

In times of exploding budget deficits and unemployment figures, migrants are often used as scapegoats for all the ailings and failings of society. In such a context it is the task of the church to uphold the human rights and dignity of all.

Churches advocate for religious minorities' rights in Turkey

An international ecumenical delegation visiting Turkey at the end of November has encouraged the country's authorities to improve the situation of religious minorities. The exercise of religious freedom, the legal status of churches, including property issues, and the right to religious education were on the agenda.

Eye witness perspectives on Middle East peace

The Anglican primate of Ireland, directors of Christian development organizations in Europe and church leaders in Jerusalem have acted and spoken on peace for Israel and Palestine based on what each of them has seen on the ground.

Migration: Welcoming the stranger is not optional, says WCC

"Migration is a fact of life. It is as much an instinct to survive as it is an inevitable consequence of globalization. We can neither turn our backs on it, nor control it," declared in a statement participants at a 15-16 April Public Hearing on Migration and the Changing Ecclesial Landscape in Beirut, Lebanon. "Migrants are not commodities, illegal aliens or mere victims, they are human beings."

European Union should not pressure developing countries to hastily sign trade agreements against their interests, WCC says

Concern about undue pressure exerted by the European Union on African, Caribbean and Pacific countries to sign interim Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) by the end of the year has been expressed by World Council of Churches general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia in a 6 December letter to EU commissioner for external trade Peter Mandelson. The interim agreements open up local markets to competition with European companies without adequate legal frameworks and infrastructure in place, and they address issues which are still contentious within a deadline that prevents parliamentary discussion. Therefore these agreements represent an imminent danger of revenue loss for those countries, hindering their poverty eradication efforts, the letter affirms.

Week of church witness for peace includes Jerusalem prayers, a Washington rally and 14,609 olive trees

Praying with Jerusalem's Christians, marching to the White House or sponsoring one of 14,609 olive trees are among the activities taking place in "International Church Action for Peace in Palestine and Israel" this week. The initiative is organized by member churches and related organizations of the World Council of Churches to mark 40 years of the occupation of East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza. It involves public activities and messages to governments in North America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia.