“Walking Together for Peace” Colombia Pilgrimage

ich habe Bewohner des Dorfes San José kennen gelernt und war berührt und beeindruckt von ihrer Integrität und ihrem bedingungslosen Einsatz für ein friedliches Zusammenleben ohne Gewalt, das sie inmmitten einer Region aufbauen, die von täglicher massiver Gewalt erschüttert wird. Für diese Menschen ist eine internationale Unterstützung wie die Grace-Pilgerschaft überlebenswichtig. Ich kenne auch die Initiatorin dieser Pilgerschaft, Sabine Lichtenfels, und weiß um ihren uneigennützigen Einsatz für Friedens- und Sozialprojekte in aller Welt. Ich kann die Förderung dieses Projektes von ganzem Herzen empfehlen.

I know some people and the history from San Jose and it is amazing how thoose people are ready to resist in an nonviolent way against al the violence in this Region ..It is a shame how many people were already murdered by military, paramilitary ...those people deserve to be protectet by the attetion on the international world and this peacepilgimage is providing this and more concrete help for the alldaylive through solartechnology, permaculture and more...to create a concrete vision for the future.

May many people give their energy to support this projekt !

P.Lewerenz

I am a student here in Tamera of Monte Cerro peace education, studying to be a peaceworker. Participating in pilgrimage is one of the opportunities available for students in Tamera. I joined in the pilgrimage last year through Israel/Palestine. It was basically the most powerful experience in my life. It gave me the opportunity to see with my own eyes the situation in a crisis area, to meet the people and hear their experiences. While all of us know about the injustice which happens in the world, it touches something deeply in the soul when you see it firsthand, and this generates a deeper commitment and desire to work for peace and to find new models for living which can be implemented for a peaceful world.
This pilgrimage in Colombia will allow other students and peaceworkers to have this impact, and it will also protect the lives of those who live in San Jose de Apartado, who as a community receives more protection from the constant threat to their existence through international support and solidarity. In fact, international support is absolutely necessary for the survival and protection of the lives of the members of this peace community.

I am a co-worker of the peace research centre Tamera.
I organised together with others the last pilgrimages through Israel/Palestine.

I could see what impact a pilgrimage has on the pilgrim and on the people in the conflict areas. Pilgrimages are one of the most effective means to get an insight in the current situation people live in and to develop compassion. It is a direct heart to heart and mind to mind situation, what you see, feel and experience by yourself changes your way of thinking and your view about the world you live in.
Sometimes people ask why do you take such a risk and go to this dangerous crisis areas.

If you go in these areas you create trust and hope within the people which live there.
They find a deeper believe that a change of their situation is possible with peaceful means.
Statement from a young man living in San Jose:
Jairo Usuga, 23: "The peace community has been preparing this big event for months. For us it is a direct protection of our lives and a vivid future perspective through education in all areas of sustainability."

Yes, I warmly recommend a deep and committed support to this people in the Peacevillage San Jose de Apartado in Colombia ! The world needs these examplary communities to build up a sustainable peace worldwide, because these engaged participants - in San Jose, and on the Grace Pilgrimage - are an icon for other peaceworkers in different countries, and of course in Colombia itself. And I will support the march through spreading the information.
Peter Koll
Tamera Team
Networker
my profile : http://www.wiserearth.org/user/PeterKoll
my profile : http://profiles.takingitglobal.org/Tamera
my profile : http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1255393309

I have known Sabine Lichtenfels for many years and have attended the pilgrimages she led in the Middle East. The experience, both for those taking part and the places where she walks, has a profound effect in understanding how we are part of a global conflict and how we can each do something to change it. She has an incredible quality to bring together peoples who have previously only seen each other as enemies.
The peace community of San Jose need support from a world that says yes to peace. The Colombia pilgrimage - Walking hand in hand - is great step towards that yes.

Ich begleite diese Pilgerschaft und bin erfreut und überrascht sie hier präsentiert zu finden. Wir arbeiten seit vielen Jahren mit den Bewohnern von San José zusammen. Wir kennen die Menschen und die Umstände. Da ich bereits viele Pilgerschaften begleitet habe, weiß ich um die innere und äußere Wirksamkeit. Jenseits von politischer Weltanschauung werden Menschen auf ungewöhnliche Weise zusammengfügt, lernen sich zu sehen, zu verstehen und tatkräftig zu unterstützen. Pilgerschaften lassen niemanden unverändert.
Die Anwesenheit von Internationalen in San José kann den Bewohnern den Schutz geben, den sie dringend brauchen. Wir können ihnen helfen autarke Lebensmodelle aufzubauen und sich so der Korruptheit der dort herrschenden Politik so weit als möglich zu entziehen. Mehr infos www.grace-pilgrimage.com
Sabine Lichtenfels

Sabine Lichtenfels

I met inhabitants of the peace village and have seen their courage and their will to reconcile. They became a model for Colombia: now, they are 50 peace villages throughout the country.
And I have joint a Grace pilgrimage in Israel-Palestine - such an effective tool to make people of different backgrounds, even with hostile feelings to understand each other. I know that the people of San Josecito are very exited and looking forward to this pilgrimage and peace camp to find their global perspective and knowledge in tools of sustainability.
Leila Dregger, journalist