[Shadow_Group] Fw: STUFF to do and get involved with - Global Justice

[shadowgroup-l at lists.resist.ca]

STUFF TO DO AND GET INVOLVED WITH, FOR GLOBAL JUSTICE

- Delegation to Haiti.
- Network in Solidarity with the People of Guatemala (NISGUA) seeks
executive director.
- PBI (Peace Brigades International) - Overseas human rights work with Peace
Brigades.

* Please re-distribute this info.  If you want on-off this elist:
info at rightsaction.org<mailto:info at rightsaction.org>

===

"LET HAITI LIVE" WOMEN'S RIGHTS DELEGATION

Dear Friends of Haiti,

The crisis in Haiti only made headlines for a few short weeks, but Haitian
women have suffered grueling repression for centuries. Their traditional
burdens of grinding poverty, legal and social discrimination and chronic
insecurity were exacerbated by February's coup d'etat: food prices rose,
while government social programs were slashed, unaccountable paramilitary
gangs control much of the countryside, and members of the brutal army have
been integrated into the police ranks. Women's groups in Haiti report that
the current political instability has resulted sharp increases of rape and
other gender crimes, as well as massive internal displacement, economic
vulnerability, and an increase in prostitution in some areas.

Please join Let Haiti Live: Coalition for a Just U.S. Policy in a delegation
to investigate the current situation of Haitian women. The ten-day
delegation will meet with grassroots women's groups, human rights activists,
community organizations and national and international agencies to document
the problems facing women in Haiti in light of the current political
instability. The delegation will issue a report that will then be used as a
tool to advocate for the improvement of conditions for women in Haiti. The
tentative dates of the delegation are January 11-20, 2005.

It is growing clear that the events of February's regime change were only
the beginning of a dramatic re-shifting of Haiti's political, social and
economic life. Already former members of the disbanded Haitian Army have
taken over cities in the North and the South of the country. Soldiers are
joined by resurgent paramilitaries throughout Haiti's countryside. The
unelected Latortue regime has called members of these paramilitary groups
"freedom fighters" and has cut taxes for the rich in the poorest country in
the western hemisphere.

All of this is taking place in the midst of the worst humanitarian crisis in
our hemisphere. The traditional female-headed households of Haiti's mostly
rural population are bearing the brunt of Haiti's destroyed economy and
internal displacement without the benefit of even the most basic social
services.

In order to gain a broad understanding of the true parameters of the Haitian
crisis, the delegation will visit several geographical areas, interviewing
women from a broad range of backgrounds. Topical focus will be on the
challenges facing women and the status of their social, economic and
political human rights. I am seeking participants who bring expertise in
areas such as women's health, HIV/AIDS, violence against women (including
rape), human rights, and labor rights. At the end of the trip, participants
will spend time preparing a report of their findings.

A sample itinerary is attached here and represents the scope and location of
meetings the delegation may have. It is impossible to guarantee a final
itinerary due to changing security conditions and other circumstances on the
ground in Haiti. Please note that the delegation is planned for ten (10)
days to allow travel to several destinations, and the cost per participant
is $1,100. This fee includes: all-in country travel, lodging, breakfast and
dinner, drivers, translators, and coordination. Participants are responsible
for airfare to and from Haiti (check www.aa.com<http://www.aa.com/> for fares), exit fee ($30)
and lunch each day.

I hope you will consider taking part in this important delegation. Contact
me at Melinda at HaitiKONPAY.org<mailto:Melinda at HaitiKONPAY.org> for more information or to find about more
about how to participate.

For a more just world,

Melinda Miles, Co-Director*
Konbit Pou Ayiti/KONPAY
www.haitikonpay.org<http://www.haitikonpay.org/>
and Let Haiti Live
www.lethaitilive.org<http://www.lethaitilive.org/>

*Most recently I was the Co-Director of Haiti Reborn at the Quixote Center
in Washington, DC. I have planned and co-coordinated more than a dozen
delegations to Haiti in the last six years. I am now in Haiti working full
time with KONPAY.

===

NISGUA SEEKS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Dear NISGUA Friends,

Below is NISGUA's revised Executive Director Job announcement. Please send
this out to your networks, post to your websites, and talk to people you
think would be appropriate candidates.

In addition, pasted below is information about the upcoming protest and
vigil at the gates of the School of the Americas/WHISC and information to
buy NISGUA's 2005 Arte Maya Calendars.

FYI, the Former Civil Patrollers (Ex-Pac's) carried out major blockades of
highways and airports last week to pressure the Guatemalan Congress to
approve legislation that continues the FRG initiated payments for "Services"
during the internal armed conflict. Congress, shortly after the protest,
passed the law declaring the issue an urgent national issue. Orphans,
widows, and other victims of the war are receiving reparations that amount
to, on average, 1/6 the amount that former paramilitary members will
receive.

The struggle continues...

Matthew Kennis
NISGUA

The Network in Solidarity with the People of Guatemala (NISGUA) seeks
candidates for the position of Executive Director.  The Executive Director
oversees NISGUA's program and operations; raises funds and coordinates
fundraising; and provides strategic leadership. In addition to the ED
position, we have two full-time and one part-time staff members in
Washington DC and two full-time and one part-time staff members in
Guatemala.

The Network in Solidarity with the People of Guatemala (NISGUA) is a 23-year
old, U.S.-based grassroots organization working for social justice and human
rights in Guatemala. We work to support civil society and democratic
processes in Guatemala and to democratize and de-militarize U.S. foreign
policy towards Guatemala and Central America as a whole. We work to educate
and activate people in the US to work in solidarity with the people of
Guatemala through programs such as annual speaker tours, publications,
delegations, campaigns, etc.  Through the Guatemala Accompaniment Project we
recruit, train and manage a team of volunteer human rights monitors in
Guatemala.

Responsibilities include:

           Strategic leadership: Assure implementation of the program
consistent with NISGUA's mission.  Maintain ongoing communication with the
board of directors to assure strategic focus. Implement strategic priorities
and articulate them to NISGUA base, allies, U.S. policy-makers, funders and
the public. Integrate program to maximize coordination of program areas and
resources.  Hire and supervise staff in our D.C. and Guatemala City office.

       Fundraising and fiscal management: Assure that NISGUA, with an
annual budget of approximately $390,000, meets budget projections.
Supervise staff involved in fundraising and assume primary responsibility
for grant-based and direct mail fundraising.  Monitor finances and assure
NISGUA's financial stability, in close cooperation with the Board.

       Program development and policy work: Work closely with the board to
determine program and policy. With staff, set priorities for NISGUA's
program implementation. Lead the organization's advocacy efforts and
participation in coalitions to influence U.S. foreign policy.

The Director is not expected to perform all of the tasks in all of these
work areas on her/his own but is, instead, expected to mobilize the
enthusiasm and energy of different parts of NISGUA (Staff, Board,
Volunteers, Donors, Allies, etc.) to achieve the organization's goals.

Qualifications:

        Demonstrated strategic and leadership skills in a progressive
non-profit organization.
        Minimum two years' supervisory experience.
        Demonstrated fundraising ability.
        Strong management and team-building skills.
        Hands-on experience with campaign and program development.
        Excellent communications and interpersonal skills.
        Excellent writing skills and fluency in English; Advanced reading
comprehension and
         spoken Spanish
        Proven commitment to human rights and social justice.
        Latin American experience (Guatemala experience preferred).
        Understanding of international solidarity essential.

This position is full-time and is located at our Washington D.C. office.
NISGUA offers a competitive benefits package (health and dental, 3 weeks
paid vacation). Salary competitive with similar organizations and depending
on experience. Minimum 2 year commitment expected.

Preferred start Date: January. Position Open Until Filled

To apply:

Please email, in one document, a cover letter, resume, two short writing
samples, your salary requirements and a list of three professional
references to: Executive Director Search, nisgua at igc.org<mailto:nisgua at igc.org>.

For further information, see http://www.nisgua.org<http://www.nisgua.org/>

===

OVERSEAS HUMAN RIGHTS WORK WITH PEACE BRIGADES

Have you ever wanted to do effective human rights work overseas?  Have you
ever imagined yourself as a Peace Brigades International volunteer?

We invite you to our upcoming PBI Orientation Weekend, to be held in
Washington, DC.

For prospective applicants to PBI field projects, the Weekend offers insight
into many aspects of PBI's work, including the overall organizational
culture.  You also get a feel for the training methodology used by PBI field
projects (small group discussions, role-plays, etc).

This event is also a great opportunity if you are thinking about interning
in our office.  For more information about internships, please see
http://www.peacebrigades.org/usa/internship.html<http://www.peacebrigadesorg/usa/internship.html>

PBI ORIENTATION WEEKEND
http://www.peacebrigades.org/usa/usaorientweekend.html<http://www.peacebrigades.org/usa/usaorientweekend.html>

A great introduction to PBI's work!  Join us for two days of insightful
presentations on the four countries where PBI currently operates, first-hand
personal accounts of what it's like to be a volunteer there, group
discussions, role-plays, and other interactive exercises. We also invite
country specialist from ally organizations to present on the human rights
situations in Mexico, Indonesia, Guatemala, and Colombia.  The weekend is
highly recommended for anyone considering an application to attend a PBI
training.

* Dates: 11 - 12 December 2004

* Registration deadline: Wednesday, 8 Dec.

* Location: Eastern Market neighborhood of Washington, DC

* Participation Fee: $10 - $50 sliding scale, based on ability to pay

* For a registration form, please contact Nicky Parkes intern at pbiusa.org<mailto:intern at pbiusa.org> or
202-544-3765

NOTE: This weekend is NOT the actual training required of potential
volunteers before they are chosen to join a PBI team, which last 7 - 10
days.  Each Peace Brigades field project has it's own application, training,
and selection process.  This information is detailed further at the
Orientation Weekend.

We hope you will join us!  Do not hesitate to be in touch with questions you
might have.

Peace Brigades Int'l / USA
428 8th St. SE 2nd Fl.
Washington, DC 20003
202-544-3765
www.peacebrigades.org<http://www.peacebrigades.org/>

===





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