If you live in the United States, you know that our country is in an emergency, as we respond to the racist fear-mongering of a new presidency. You may be less aware of the continuing emergencies in other nations such as Colombia. But human rights workers there...
From the Team
Welcome to FOR Peace Presence!
Hello, and welcome to the brand new Fellowship of Reconciliation Peace Presence blog and news. We are blessed here at FORPP – we have a shiny new organization, with all the dynamism and drive that implies, yet we also benefit from over 10 years’ experience working...
Walking Toward Peace Amid the War
By Emily Schmitz On July 4, 2013, FOR accompanied the Colombian Association of Conscientious Objectors, ACOOC, during the release of Juan Carlos Poveda Camaro from the army base in Villavicencio, where he had been held, as a declared conscientious objector, for...
Protecting San José: Follow-up on combat
By Gina Spigarelli Thanks to everyone who participated in our urgent action appeal this Spring in response to combat in La Unión and other dangerous army practices in and near the Peace Community. While fighting is regularly and unnecessarily staged in civilian...
Hello and Adios
By John Lindsay-Poland With both sadness at departure and joy in the path we’ve walked together, we bid farewell this month to Liza Smith, who has served for the last five-and-a-half years as coordinator of the Fellowship of Reconciliation Colombia team and...
A Flurry of Activity for Peace in Colombia
By Gina Spigarelli On April 9, the National Day for Memory and Solidarity with Victims in Colombia, a massive march for peace was organized and carried out by the Marcha Patriotica social movement. According to many accounts, the march had more than a million...
Living into Each Others’ Stories
Letter from San José de Apartadó: By Charlotte Melly There is an old woman in our village who is possibly the most affectionate person I have ever met. Her skin is soft and wrinkled. Her warmth is effortless and comforting. She strokes my arm as we sit for hours...
Focus, and time for everything
Written by Gina Spigarelli Last pack smokedSan José de Apartadó, Colombia - I quit smoking on November 7. I am still in a state of permanent nic-fit, but doing better. My body has been pretty crazy all month, so confused about why it is doing this to itself. I had a...