Portraits of Justice #25: Jennifer {Kingston, Jamaica}

Today I present you with a story from Jennifer {Kingston, Jamaica},  making this #25 in the Portraits of Justice series. 

I had the honour of meeting Jennifer in Bethlehem, Palestine, last February when we were both present to consult on the Pilgrimage of Peace and Justice with the WCC. I took her portrait in Jerusalem, as we had tea with the locals and they shared with us about their desire to teach the children about each other across religious divides. 

As Jennifer says, "I'm of a great age, I’m a grandmother." She has a special space in her heart concerning justice for children. 

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"In my country justice is the recognition of people’s lives, in all kinds of life’s situations. "

"There are institutions set up to protect justice for people, through our police department. However, justice is not experienced by all to the same degree. And so, truthfully, there are sometimes there are protests and cries for people calling for justice when they feel there rights trampled upon. Within this reply, there is an indication to me that the country is sufficiently aware of what justice is, so that when people feel badly done by, they protest, and expect due process to take place."

"At the moment we have a very sad case, the death of 19 newborn babies, all of them newborn babies. They came into the world in delicate condition. But all of them died, in two different hospitals. The investigations so far have shown that they died from bacterial or viral infections, which can really manifest themselves in any hospital in any place in the world, so there is an international protocol of care to prevent or reduce the effect of such infection. "

"But it was shown that in most cases proper protocol had not been taken. And because Jamaica is Jamaica, and we are a nation where people will speak out, the parents spoke out. It caused a national campaign, it caused loss of jobs, it cost the shape of a board, in fact it caused the renaming of a board, and an investigation - a full complete and open investigation.That represents a case in very visible justice, in process, because the whole thing is being looked at."

"The country was really quite alarmed, because no one was paying attention to the fact the children were delicate at the time of birth. If a child is premature, it is the duty of the country to protect that child, to the extent that the child has an opportunity to live.The system failed those children.   I am sad, very very sad, about the death of the children. The loss and grief caused to the families. But I am happy that they have not gone in vain. "

"The consciousness of my country is sufficiently alive to recognize, to repent, and pledge to do better for the protection of our children.  "

"The conscience of my country is sufficiently alive to recognize that we have a duty to protect our children. In the cases where they have died, we have failed institutionally, or in the case of parents allowing their children to journey alone and come to harm, we recognize we need to have improvements in how we care for our children. And so to challenge us into ongoing awareness, consciousness, and action, our country has erected a monument just outside the the council offices, of our city council, in Kingston. There is, I have to say, a hauntingly beautiful sculpture of the crying child. It is the face of a child, beautifully sculpted, and when you look at the face, you can actually see tears. And then there are names plaques on there recognizing some of the names of our children. "

"You cannot but see and feel the beauty of the soul of the child, the human person that has gone, and is remembered."  

Portraits of Justice #24: Patrick {Nairobi, Kenya}

For Portraits of Justice #24, we return to Africa and hear from Patrick {Nairobi, Kenya}. I met Patrick and his team, the Nafsi Acrobats, last summer in the Italian Alps where they were running their yearly workshop at the Agape Ecumenical Centre in Prali. They tour yearly.

As an acrobat and peacebuilder Patrick, along with Bruce, Sammy, and Kenneth, use their crazy creative work to combat tribal racism in the face of many broken relationships in Kenya. They also do amazing work with kids, creating alternatives to drug and gang culture. That they maintain their friendships and hope in the face of incredible divisions and adversity is inspiring to me. These folks create beautiful people moments everyday. 

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Context: As a democratic state, Kenya's elections continue to be held in swells of conflict, impacting economy, stability, poverty, and quality of life. Corruption seems repetitive and inevitable. Every round of elections has brought about high ethnic tensions between different tribal identities, dividing society and at times bringing about great violence. The 2007 elections left 600,000 people displaced. This makes the peacebuilding work of the Nafsi Acrobats particularity critical, as Patrick and his team are all from different tribes, bringing hope for a different kind of future as they work across divides. 

"In Kenya no one can predict the work of justice. Sometimes (people) are honestly and truly working in trusted way, but justice is one of the major corrupted zone in Kenya."

"As for Christians, they always work as they know their role. It's difficult to lead the church without justice. Now a days most of the church almost everywhere have just jumped in to deep ditch where by they can't come out again, since corruption knocked their doors." 

Kenya is located on the east coast of the African continent.
It boarders Tanzania, Somalia, Uganda, Ethiopia, and South Sudan

"It is difficult to relay your cases (of injustice) in church because they don't do what is right sometimes, And that's made people loose the trust on church. Thought, not all churches."

"In Kenya, with no justice, means no peace. Maybe in the next generations, we will find the truth and justice."

Interested in following the work of Patrick and the Nafsi Acrobats? Find them on Facebook HERE!

Portraits of Justice #23: Bayan {Beit Sahur, Palestine}

It's week #23 with Portraits of Justice, and I introduce you to Bayan,  from {Beit Sahour, Palestine.  I met Bayan a year ago in Bogota, Colombia, where she successfully and passionately advocated for global support from the WSCF for justice in Palestine.  Just last week stayed with her and her family in Palestine. 
 Bayan asked to have her photos taken in front of the Western Wall, the separation barrier constructed between the Palestine territories and the state of Israel. This wall is seen by many as a global symbol of oppression and injustice.  As it is one of her major obstacles in the pursuit of justice in her context, I count Bayan's portrait among the most powerful in this collection.

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"How does justice look like in my country? Actually we don't have justice in my country, because we are under occupation. We are working to have our rights. Justice for us is to have our rights to move, to study, to have a good job, to have a good salary, to live like other people in other cities; all of this we do not have." 

"Another important this is safety: safety we do not have. We sometimes think about what we will do, for the same day, we do not think about tomorrow or the next year, because of the occupation. Maybe they will come and arrest us because we are saying something I know many children that are under age, they are arrested because they just threw a stone. "

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"We live and breathe in three religions. I think we can live in that. In Palestine, we don't have with Muslims the same fight as the Middle East, as we have the same issues. We are working together. I feel the Muslims are my sisters and my brothers. Also I have to mention there are Jewish who support us in my country, and they do not announce the Israel state. For me this is beauty."  

"I have many hopes, personally. To have a family, to have kids. But also I am afraid. I am really afraid. If I want to get married and to have kids, I don't want for my kids to live in my situation. I don't want that. Even if I have been in a perfect school, a perfect university, I studied theology in Bethlehem University, and as a tour guide, my situation is good, my parents are the perfect persons. If I asked for something, they give it to me. I am not afraid from these things. I am afraid of my kid tomorrow will ask me 'why, why are we living here? Why do we not immigrate?'. I don't want to put myself in this situation, because it is really hard. All the time when I was a kid and I was looking at the TV saying, 'oh! I wish I could, for example, I could skydive. I wish we had in Palestine a Disney Land. I wish I can play everywhere'. All the time, “I wish I wish I wish” And I grew up without out this. We don't have the right to movement."

"I don't know if its justice, but we have government, we have rules, we work on it. Justice for us is to get our freedom, that is justice. To be equal, to get our human rights. As I said, we don't have our human rights. We live like the dogs, the dogs live better than us!"

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"I think that God put me in Palestine because I have a message, and to spread it all over the world. What I did today [successfully advocating justice for Palestine with WSCF], it was just an amazing thing for myself. I texted my best friend and told her, finally, finally I have done something for my country. Finally. It was – sorry! (starts crying).

"It was my dream to talk and share with people what we are living, what we are suffering, all these things I have said. Its not about movement! It's about how we don't have an airport. We have only one way to go outside Palestine, which is through Jordan (And in Gaza, through Egypt). Also, the Israeli controls our water, they control everything! OK, let Israel control this water – but why do they not give us our right on water? I know families in Beit Sahour who suffer in this. They don't have water for 14 days and more and more. Sometimes we don't have water in our houses for one month and more! We want to have showers, we want to cook, we want to clean! We are trying now to stop drinking water from the tap, and we are buying water. Maybe then we will reduce the water we use, and we can use it to clean or bathe. When I was in Lebanon, they asked me to wash some tomatoes. I was opening the water so slowly, because I don't want to waste water. They just opened it fully and said, we have water!"

"Even though we lived with all these things, I have to say that we still keep hope alive."

Portraits of Justice #22: Marcelo {Montevideo, Uruguay}

It's week #22 with Portraits of Justice, returning from a long hiatus of travel, photography, and research. I introduce you to my dear friend Marcelo, from {Montevideo, Uruguay}. I had the privilege of meeting Marcelo in Bogota, Colombia, again in the Alps of Italy where these photographs were taken, and a third time in Sicily this last December. Travelling the world for the work of justice, this has become a familiar face.

Marcelo shares his vision of justice for his country, battling injustice with strides towards equality with his faith and work in environmental justice. He is currently based in Buenos Aires for work. 

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"Justice is strong word. Prophetic and beautiful. It appeals to the utopia of the men, women and nature, taking place in dignity and equality in a relationship with each other."

"[Justice] is something that as Christians, young people, whom seek the kingdom of God, we cannot forget even for a minute. It is the ethical north of all our actions and behaviors, or should be. Justice is the place where God is present, and is the place where we have to positioning ourselves. And it's part of our main work, to love God and our neighbors as the same one. It is in fact the starting point and the point of arrival."

"Justice in my country, or perhaps in my region, is something that is under construction. No peace without justice, no justice without righteous men and women, being the example". I could talk about processes that walk towards justice, individual and collective actions, of governors or movements. In Latin America, especially in countries of South America these processes have started with the attitude of many social and political leaders supported by movements who have taken action and created policies to greater distribution of wealth with the most vulnerable. "

"In some countries it has reduced poverty by 80%, thanks to these social policies. Uruguay, my country, wasn't the exception .Although much remains to be done, to correct and deepen, we must continue working, recognizing [justice] and advocating for greater inclusion and equity. Uruguay is a country not suffering a major internal conflicts, however access to quality education, and access to opportunities and a better quality of life, are urges to the most vulnerable population. Justice in my country, is something that is being built, but always with the controller of social movements and political actors, as an exercise of a better democracy."

Some churches have played an important role in my country. especially in advocating or witnessing in public policies aimed at greater equality, quality of life and dignity of populations that have been submerged in poverty. Many of them have played the role as an alternative to neoconservative sectors processes, that have been consistently against the rights of minorities and the right of women to decide. In Uruguay, the debate on equal marriage, sexual and reproductive rights has occurred in recent years, with the results of a change in public policies in favor of greater inclusion of sexual minorities and women. And some Christian and churches have played a constructive role against the reactionary sectors of the Uruguayan society. Being a secular country where church, religion and faith has always been underestimated this  prophetic public witness is very valuable

Tell me something beautiful that you've witnessed in your country

"Environmental justice is also part of building peace and comprehensive justice. One of the most important acts of justice in my country has been the synergy that between unions, social movements and political movements have been generated and styling to nationalize water resources and water."

"The big move to make water a common good of all and change the constitution occurred in the early years of the decade of 2000. In 2005 Uruguay became one of the first countries in the world to nationalize and make water a common good, where any individual, firm or corporation may exploit. Also, the same social and political actors were instrumental in the creation of laws that enable equal marriage and the right of women to decide. This is important because it shows how students, civil society, unions and political actors have played together for more justice. This is not new, and is a very good practice. People of Uruguay have a long history of to be together facing their rights regarding land and natural resources"

Portraits of Justice # 21: Clare {London, England}

It's week #21 with Portraits of Justice, and I introduce you to Clare,  from {London, England}. I had the privilege of meeting Clare in Bogota, Colombia, and photographing her atop a bell tower in the heart of Stockholm, Sweden. Her interview response reached me through the magic of technology. 

Clare has thoughtfully reflected on how her context of justice in England is a part of a larger context, in particular England's response to the refugee crisis. 

Encounter this story, and hear beauty in the broken, from a beautiful voice with a beautiful vision.

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“The steady flow of refugees into Europe from other areas of the world, particularly North Africa and the Middle East, has gradually became a torrent. The issue of granting asylum to these individuals suddenly became headline news throughout Europe in summer 2015. In the UK, much of the press coverage was dishearteningly negative. The most popular newspapers gave these people a blanket label of “economic migrant”. This misunderstood the complicated long-term issues which led to these people seeking help. Then a little boy drowned.”

“He wasn't the first little boy, nor will he be the last, but somehow the tragic deaths of him and his family changed the tone of the UK's press coverage overnight. Public opinion spun with it, and many individuals from all walks of life began to ask questions of the government.”

“Crisis meetings were held between leaders across the EU, and eventually the Prime Minister of the UK, David Cameron, announced that 20000 refugees (around 0.03% of the UK population) would be brought into the country from camps in the origin regions of migrants and settled in the UK. This would occur over a five year period. But was this justice?”

“Many individuals, including myself, believe that so long as multiple thousands of people are walking thousands of miles, are risking their lives in rickety boats in the Mediterranean... wealthier countries such as the UK must cooperate to welcome people into safe places.”

“The Church has often been complicit in other-ing those who have come from elsewhere. We must now turn from this attitude and welcome the stranger, feed the hungry, heal the sick, clothe the naked. And churches and other groups of Christians throughout the UK are indeed doing these things, in a variety of ways depending on their own local contexts. We see churches sending parcels of food, clothing and other resources to the 'jungle' camp at the Calais port. We see groups quite literally welcoming refugees into their church buildings and into their homes. We see neighbourhoods coming together across religious and political boundaries to petition the government to do more.”

My vision of justice in this nation is that this crisis will spur the people of the UK to continue to act in situations where others are in such desperate need. I long for a future where we no longer need food banks to enable parents to feed their children. I hope for the day where we no longer have to argue over whether Muslims in the UK should be entitled to live their life and worship God freely. I pray that the connections built by reaching out to refugees can be strengthened by serving one another more.

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What does justice look like where you are? Anything like this?

Portraits of Justice #20: Douglas {Harare, Zimbabwe}

This week marks the story #20 from Portraits of Justice - and I would like to say how profoundly grateful I am for the support all the way around the globe that I have received for this project. You do these powerful stories honour with your attentions. 

This week I share with you the story of Douglas from {Harare, Zimbabwe}, in the south of Africa. I originally met Douglas in Ottawa, Canada, and then interviewed and photographed him in Prali, Italy. Douglas is powerful young voice for justice, speaking in the face of political oppressions in his home spaces. A member of the the Student Christian Movement of Zimbabwe, he is an inspiring leader for a rising generation.

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 "In my country justice is a privilege for the affluent, and a privilege for those who are politically correct – when I say 'politically correct,' I mean those are linked to the ruling party. If you do not have connections to the ruling political party justice is something that you might not realize. Our justice system is controlled by the ruling party. It is only those who are politically connected that can enjoy justice in my country"

"We have witnessed a lot of injustices to the opposition, or those who are perceived to be the opposition. Even if you want to demonstrate or to raise concerns against the government, you will find yourself arrested or being tortured by the government. I myself, being a political activist in my country, have been jailed several times,because of standing for the rights of students and standing against the injustices that the student communities experience. 

So in general justice is something that is determined by your political connection."

"The role of Christians and church in my country is to stand up and speak loudly against any type of injustice. We have joined hands with other christian communities to stand up to any type of injustice. For instance, one thing that we have done is to reach out to the student community and young people to work with the elections, which we just did in 2013, whereby we mobilized the young people to stand up against the abuse from politicians, to stand against any form of political violence, and to stand up against any form of political intimidation."

"We draw our inspiration from the book of Esther. It calls us during trying times to our duty to stand up and speak against any type of injustice, like Esther did. This is what we are doing as a christian community. We strongly believe that it is our duty to stand the rights of voiceless, to stand for the rights of the downtrodden. Even during our colonial times the churches played a major role in supporting the marginalized. We still strongly believe that it is our duty that the christian movement, and the ecumenical movement to voice and stand against any form of injustice. It is our duty to give hope, to give encouragement, and to give strength to those who are facing any sort of injustice."

Tell me something beautiful you have witness in your country

In 2013 my country had one constitution that was around from independence. This constitution was not good for us, it had so many flaws. Up to 2013 is had been amended several times. We saw that, as a country, it was not good for us, in terms of building democracy. So it was that I and my colleagues worked tirelessly in terms of mobilizing young people to have voice, because we are drafting a new constitution. And I am happy to say that right now we have new constitution that implicitly states and protects the rights of the citizens. This is something I am proud of, and this something that is good for the future of our country. We still have a lot of work to do in terms of operationalization of the constitution but I strongly believe that since we do have a constitution that binds us everything else in the future will fall into place and do good for future generations, in terms of building democracy for my country. 

Portraits of Justice #19: Aruna {Chennai, India}

 In week #19, I introduce you to the brilliant eco-feminist theologian that is Dr. Aruna Gnanadason, from {Chennai, India}. It was an honour to meet her, learn from her wisdom, and adventure with her to the tops of the Alps in Italy. Her beauty comes from within.

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"Working for justice is a daunting task in India today.  There is huge global publicity about India being a incredible country; to be one of the fastest growing economies in the world, the producer of generic drugs, of alternative energy sources (we have one of the only fully solar energy powered airports in the world!). But then we have gross levels of poverty; of farmers committing suicide due to indebtedness, of soaring prices that leave the majority of the people with no access. Today millions of people do not have access to clean drinking water, to health, to education."

"Added to this we have an Indigenous and religiously sanctioned form of graded subjugation of people, called the caste system. Some 25% of the population of the country are relegated as "outcastes" because they engage in the most degrading and "polluting" tasks, cleaning the toilets, the roads, the drains. These are birth based occupations. Dalits (as they call themselves now) are getting organized and demanding justice for themselves."

"To this, one has to add patriarchy, which is strongly embedded into Indian society - recently dubbed the "rape capital of the world.” Indian women experience the worst forms of discrimination and violence. Working for justice is hard because so often economic structures interplay with caste and patriarchy giving us a complex and difficult agenda."

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"About 3% of Indians are Christian (that is about a huge number given the population of India which is roughly 1.3 billion!).  But then our minority consciousness strangles us!  Additionally we are a fragmented community, as much of what exists in the society of economic disparity, caste and patriarchy has been infused the churches too! Our theology too is still very much a slave to our colonial past. (There is of course and ecumenical movement and a liberation theology movement particularly Dalit, Indigenous Peoples' and feminist theology posing strong questions to the church.)"

"We do today face some real threats from the Hindu majority (not all Hindus....the majority have lived in harmony with minorities for all our history as a nation.  But a core of Hindu fundamentalists with a huge following have disturbed the equilibrium of the country by claiming that this is a Hindutva (a country for Hindus).  What makes it frightening is that this is the ideology that undergirds the ruling party that is in power - cultural nationalism is a real threat as they try to influence education, the media, the right to propagate one's faith, etc."

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Tell me something beautiful you have witnessed in your country:

“This story is on going. One of the insidious efforts by the Hindutva ideologues and their followers was to call for a ban on cow slaughter and the eating of beef!  It is based on a conviction that the cow is a sacred symbol in Hinduism. What makes it difficult is that cow slaughter has been for centuries the occupation of Dalits additionally for farmers who depend on rearing cows. Literally thousands will lose their livelihood if this becomes a national law,as is being proposed.  Just a few days ago a Muslim old man was murdered for eating beef!" Additionally it is the cheapest form of protein for millions of Dalit and Indigenous people and Muslims (and many others like me!)."

"It has been amazing the amount of support those opposing the slaughter ban have received from eminent Hindus, journalists and others, who are demanding the rights of Dalits, Muslims and others be given more serious attention than cows! “

http://www.therealmard.org/ 

"The other good story is a campaign started by a prominent film star Farhan Akthar, called "Men Against Rape and Discrimination"  (MARD), the symbol of which is a moustache!  He has been mobilizing Indian men to think and act against the horrific forms of violence Indian women experience." 

 Appreciate these stories? Leave a comment with your curiosities!

Portraits of Justice #18: Mo {Yangon, Myanmar}

In week #18 of Portraits of Justice, we head over to {Yangon, Myanmar}, (formerly known as Burma) to meet the spunky and fierce Mo. 

There are many ethnic groups living in Myanmar with different cultures, traditions, contexts and religions since the ancient time. There are 8 major groups with 135 tribes. Mo is from the Karen ethnic group, one of the major ethnic groups. 

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"Myanmar has been in military dictatorship since 1962. As the result the governing of a military regime, everything was under controlled: transportation, education, economic, health care, natural resource management. The people of Myanmar suffered a lot the human rights violations and lost their standard rights. A kind of civil war happened, wherein th local ethnic groups were oppressed by government military. Local people suffered human rights violation; their houses, property, family lives, lives of women, and children’s education were destroyed by government soldiers. All that issues are happened because of the militarization mechanism."

"The word “justice” is the utopia word for the people from Myanmar. They don’t dare to use the word of peace, justice and freedom in a time of military government."

"The root of the problems has happened in the time of the military regime. The people competing are those that have power, and those who are powerless. Different social statuses have different powers. Unjust things happen because of power abuse. The important things in society are power sharing, to appreciate and acknowledge the different powers, and use it correctly. "

"Justice is aiming to reconciliation, it is not about revenge there are many ugly historic violence happen in my country, the incidents are already happen and we need to get lesson learnt from there. The most important thing in justice is confession and transparency and not blocks the history. Justice makes human beings equal and it aims to have peace and reconciliation and a peaceful future for next coming generation."

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"Tell me something beautiful you've have witnessed"

"Before 2012, when it comes to the words of PEACE, JUSTICE and FREEDOM, these words are allergic to our government. In 2012 September, the civil society and community based organizations were trying to celebrate the International Peace Day. At the same time, it was happening during the civil war in Kachin region (northern part of Myanmar) - the ethnic armed forces and government military were fighting for the land and natural resources. The local people from this area suffered the impact of war, and so we didn’t have a permit from authorities to celebrate the event."

"The authorities intimidate the civil society groups. But our organization, Student Christian Movement decided to participate by distribution the peace letters, slogans. We SCMers distributed to the public a pamphlet with peace message and. That move was very dangerous for us - we might have been arrested because that event wasn’t approving by government. Some leaders of this event were sued by local authority.  I was pleased myself participated in this event.  Although I know that it was not easy work according to situation, and although I was in fear, I choose to participate in that movement. I was proud of myself although it was just a small work."

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Encouraged by Mo's words? Let her know, and leave a comment!

Portraits of Justice #17: Mabel {Hong Kong, China}

In Week# 17, I introduce you the Mabel, of {Hong Kong, China}, of who I consider among the most lovely and brilliant of minds I've met in my travels. I photographed Mable in the cities of Turin and Riomaggiore, in Italy. 

Contextually it might be helpful to understand that under British colonial rule, Hong Kong operated as a separate entity for many years. It returned to Chinese rule in 1997 with a promise of a high degree of autonomy, judicial independence, and freedoms not enjoyed on the mainland China, under a formula known as “one country, two systems."  With recent changes in the ruling the government, the Chinese Communist Party, independence and democratic procedures are being slowly undermined and eliminated. Injustice lays in the wake. 

Mable is a part of the SCM and the Umbrella Movement, which is a group that is seeking for democratic reforms in Hong Kong. It has required dedication, sacrifice, and perseveration -- and it makes me proud to call her a friend. Here's what justice looks like in her world..

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“Hong Kong’s judicial independence is coming under political pressure. Core values such as freedom of speech, human rights, rule of law, democracy and professionalism have become shaky. Democracy is what Hong Kong people long looking for, but it's a yet achieved goal. The dual universal suffrage stipulated in the Basic Law has been rejected by Chinese government. They've insisted that candidates for the position of chief executive have to be pre-screened. It means that Hong Kong people cannot freely choose the city’s next leader in 2017. It is how injustice happening recently in Hong Kong.”

“Worst, injustice by judicial punishment has been used by authorities to suppress peaceful demonstration. A deputy magistrate convicted a protester who used her breasts to bump into a police office. Later, the female protester has been sent to prison for 3 1/2 months with a charge of bringing threats to a police office with her ‘big’ breasts. Female breast is now considered as offensive weapon. It is how injustice happening in Hong Kong!”

“Six plainclothes officers took a man to a dark corner behind a nearby building and threw him to the ground during umbrella movement. Some kicked and beat him, while others kept watching. Pictures were posted on Facebook and reported in television showed obvious cuts and bruises on his face and neck as well as circular welts running down his back. It is definitely a “real” threat to personal safety, ironically, none of the officers has been sent to jail. It is how injustice spreading and threatening Hong Kong.”

"In 2014 July 1, after a grand protest against the HK government, a group of students decided to escalate the protest by occupying a road in Central until the next morning. They were demanding reformation and universal suffrage in Hong Kong. There were six ministers, pastors, and theology students among the arrested protestors. It is said that their participation is to witness the presence of God among the protesters. God is with the poor and the oppressed. I am so proud of them who are willing to sacrifice personal freedom after arrest, for a greater common good of society. Christians are playing role contributing to a better world through fighting for justice being the good example in China."

"In Hong Kong every June 4th, there is a memorial vigil to commemorate the anniversary of China’s bloody military suppression of protests in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square. It is to witness the wickedness and brutality of the authority. People once again are being reminded of the plea made by the students in 1989, which they bravely yearned for a democratic political system in China. We commemorate the victims of the incident and all the people who yearn for reformation in China. This is an action to display the solidarity of Hong Kong people with all activists, to understand what happened in 1989, as well to calling people to continue fighting for freedom of press, human right, democracy and justice in both Hong Kong and mainland China. I met SCM members and some other my friends in the vigil yearly.”

It is my luck to witness the Christians in Hong Kong responding to the Occupy Central protest, as well as umbrella movement, in prayer and actions. On July 1, 2014, a group of students decided to escalate the protest by occupying a road till the next morning.

I was one of them. I saw a group of Christians sitting in a circle inside the park and praying for the protestors, universal suffrage and justice in Hong Kong. Christian symbols are highly visible during protests as demonstrators form prayer groups, carry crosses and openly read bibles. It is beautiful  hear that churches are supporting the protestors during umbrella movement with food and shelter while others were offering first aid, snacks and refuge to the protestors. It is so beautiful on witnessing the solidarity of Christians in fighting for common goods of society

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Portraits of Justice #16: Esteban {Buenos Aires, Argentina}

Can you believe it's already week #16 of this project? WOW! Today I introduce you to my good friend Esteban from {Buenos Aires, Argentina}. I met Esteban in Italy, and had the privilege of taking his portrait at the very top the Alps. He officially holds the position of portrait at the highest altitude!

Esteban does work with a community in Argentina, the Community of Sant'Egidio, seeking to bridging the vast gaps of inequality that exist in his home spaces. 

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"The definition of what comes to my mind when I think of justice is the equality of opportunity."


"I am going to give an example, why I think the definition of justice for me, is equality. I am a member of this community, Community of Sant'Egidio. It is a worldwide community that was born in Rome, but it is also in Argentina. We have this program called School of Peace, for little kids who are living in marginalized neighbourhoods. In English people call it a “tutoring program”, for kids between 6 and 10 years old."

"They live in places that are super violent, and very marginalized. They are kids that are born in families that live in these neighbourhoods and they don't get to choose where to live. I think everyone should deserve the same chances, access to education, food, health. I know that some of them are not eating well nutritionally wise, and that's not helping their upraising, their development. Even though we call it school, it is an informal like-school. Everyone is invited, even though it's a Catholic community we don't ask their denomination – even Muslims. Everybody is invited to work on peace."

"I have many many opportunities. I don't like calling myself rich, because people think rich is money – but I am rich with opportunity, and not money. Right now the kids won't have the same opportunities in the future, and I think that is not fair. I'd like everyone to have the same opportunities. I think that having opportunities is going to change the way you are. I'm convinced about it, I really am."

We also visit elderly in nursing homes. It's nice to know that even though right now my grandparents are not with me I can be adopted by many of the elderly I visit. And with the kids – I'm not married, I don't have kids – but I still have many friends who are little kids. I'm not a father, but I have kids. I have grandparents even though they're not my parents' mother and father. In a way this community helps me grow my family. Even though we don't live together we are a family.So, that's what I do to bring the equality of opportunity to many realities that I encounter. That's my way."


"With this community I have found a way to help overcome this inequality, to bring people together, to bring this equality into reality."

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Tell me something beautiful you have witnessed in your country

"One time we set up a stage in the middle of a park and we had people play music. We brought the kids from the slums of the city into this park, which a is super fancy place in the middle of a residential area. An then we also invited kids from this area. It was beautiful to see kids that would have never been together, be together. Even though they were not wearing the same clothes, and of course they did not share the same interests, they were together, in peace."

"It's very difficult to define peace, but that is peace. Being together over our differences, and realizing that it is really nice. Most of the time I define peace as a feeling, and in that moment I felt really good. It was the beginning of hope, and it was simple to make that moment possible. "

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Portraits of Justice #15: Marco {Udine, Italy}

Hello my beautiful friends from around the globe! I greet you this week (#15) from the beautiful Alps in Italy, and wish to introduce to you my friend Marco from {Udine, Italy}. I met and photographed Marco in Bogota some time ago, and share his story with you today, from his home country. 

Marco is a pastor and activist, and has long been involved with the global justice movement through WSCF. 

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In my everyday life and commitment in Italy, I think  justice has to do with inclusion, with fighting against discrimination. Different groups of people are suffering from this, in different ways, but showing the same pattern made of ignorance, prejudice, incorrect information aiming to create fears and to transform people into escapee goats. Victims of this are, of course, minorities. Sexual minorities, discriminated on the basis of an outdated, closed and unfortunately “christian-washed” mentality.

Among sexual minorities should also be paradoxically included women, who suffers similar situations for the same reasons. In this time when our country has become more and more the door of Europe or of the West (become rich sacking for centuries all the other cardinal directions), other minorities suffering discrimination are all the people that are labeled as “strangers”, including migrant workers, italian citizens with foreign origins, refugee, asylum seekers (of course only if coming from less rich countries, much worst if “arabs”) and, above all, the people on whom all the hatred concentrate (even in alleged progressive milieux): the Roma people. Hidden or non-acknowledge racism and homophobia are the causes, whose toxic fruits are discrimination, mainly in terms of access to rights (building a life and a family, work, security…) and way too often violence, perpetrated by individuals who feel tolerated, justified or even authorized by the common sense.

Justice would look like a society of differences and equals, where the stories, needs, rights, loves, problems and hopes of each and everyone deserve and receive the same care.

I believe it is a precise christian responsibility to work to overcome this face of injustice and build a more just society. I am not always sure churches are enough into it. The responsibility is — at least — twofold: on one side has to do with the healing of the wounds, the other cross-cutting the different dimensions of the life of the church. So, preaching and diaconia have a role in offering empathy and re-humanizing relations, helping each one to realize her/his own dignity, that for us, christians, is to let every human being created in God’s image to shine in the reverberation of Grace.  Again preaching and diaconia have to be directed to dismantle the ideas that are the basis of discrimination and to teach and show the possibility of an alternative way.

A theological reflection is needed to bind all these aspect together and to give depth to this vision. In particular to seek the truth beyond and often against hegemonic descriptions of reality, of the world and of the identities of its inhabitants, functional to keep the power in the hands of the few. All along its narrative, Bible tell of this continuous struggle to affirm the liberating word of God against the dehumanizing political, economic and religious powers. Moses, Deborah, Elijah, Esther, Hosea… and Jesus Christ. This is the most powerful narrative to inspire us.

Tell me something beautiful you have witnessed

“Lo Sciopero dei Fiori d’Arancio” (The Orange Blossom Strike): it is a group of straight couples, really wanting to get married, decided they will not, until this will be a right for everyone. A prophetic gesture of love, that could inspire other in many situation (and healthy provoke churches, for example), with the rationale of self-suspending our own rights or interests to help affirm others’.

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