iJournal

Reconciliation of Civil Hearts

2011-04-02T09:54:00.000+07:00

My friend, and fellow peace activist, Simon Moyle, recently journeyed to Afghanistan to be with the Afghan Youth Peace Volunteers. They recently posted this call to a nonviolent way for peace in their country.

Some particular highlights from this document, that I think deserves more than a cursory glance.

"We are struggling because it seems that nowadays, the voice of war has its space and its rights; we wonder if the voice of peace has equal space and rights. We wish to raise our voice of peace to give it a chance, without fear or shame."

"We desire to patiently build our nation. So, while we appreciate your friendship and partnership, we desire just as much to trek on our own paths, build our own parks and choose which of our own mountains to climb."

"We’re not willing for one more international soldier, one more Afghan soldier or one more of our countrymen to die a violent death."

"We do not accept the violent actions or solutions that the world seems to be counting on. We have become a terror to one another, in our inconsiderate actions and in our cowardly silence, and this must stop."

"We wish to refuse the ‘insurgent’ any further excuse to hurt us; brothers killing brothers, friends killing friends, humans killing one another."

ANV in Cambodia

2010-10-05T09:00:00.001+07:00

Cambodia is a beautiful country filled with natural resources and amazing people. But many communities are under attack for their land, fisheries, forests and other natural resources. Cambodian communities are learning to make use of active nonviolent resistance and this video shows a small part of their journey.

Reading Scripture, Rejecting Violence

2010-08-26T08:22:00.002+07:00

This last week several friends invited me to offer thoughts and resources on how to address the question of how do we read the violence contained in Scripture, and therefore, how do we respond to those whose theology makes room for the use of violence by Christians.

Interestingly, I had mostly put the first question aside as irrelevant, at least personally.

About two years ago I made a week-long retreat in Colorado with a good friend and spiritual director. I was deeply concerned about this issue and having a hard time moving forward in my spiritual path because of it. I was also in the middle of a difficult conflict that seemed to be intertwined with the scriptural issue. I didn't really seem to get very far at this time so shelved active attempts to resolve the issue, mostly.

In response to my friends' recent requests I've re-engaged the question searching out resources on the issue and come acrosss some interesting websites and blogs. Interesting on several levels. Firstly, to see the pretty big split in theological readings of Scripture towards violence. From one group assigning all actions to God, whether we perceive them as "good" or "bad", arguing that because God is totally good and has a perspective much larger than any human, God's actions may look bad to us now, but are in fact part of a much larger good. The other perspective is God is completely good and therefore will never do anything we percieve as bad or evil or violent. Violence, therefore, comes from outside of God, predominantly from Satan and other beings that work against God's purposes. The second level of intereset was the difficulty with which these two "camps" have in dialoguing with each other.

Web blog comments generally don't allow for a positive and transformative conflict experience. There will be one group who argue their point of view, another group arguing theirs, and much name calling and dire proclamations hurled back and forth. There may be one, or two individuals who raise a more conciliatory voice to the discussion, asking questions, seeking some understanding, but they seem to be generally ignored on the whole. So the capacity for healthy conflict in these discussions are low. This is also interesting to me as I prepare myself for moving to the US next year and consider how to approach the roots of violence there.

So how have I dealt with the problem of violence in Scripture? I have several propositions on dealing with this:

Firstly, a clear rejection of the use of Scripture to endorse or promote any act of violence (in all it's forms) towards one person or group on another. And this goes right down to the cultural level. Any attitudes of hatred, racism, sexism, genderism - any form of domination - are to be rejected. Scripture, distressingly, has been used to promote all kinds of violence, from domestic violence to genocide. I emphatically reject this reading of Scripture.

Secondly, a change of language that no longer refers to Scripture as "the Word of God". "The Word of God" is used synonymously with "Scripture" and I think that is problematic making room for the abuses I mentioned above. The Word of God, according to Scripture, is God who enlightens us, and I would also say enlightens our reading of Scripture. Scripture is certainly useful for "traininig in righteousness" but must be read in the light of Jesus, first, as well as in appropriate context. If not readings of Scripture that lead to violence and domination tend to creep in quite quickly.

Thirdly, I suggest the employment of Nonviolent Communication principles in reading Scripture, that is to say, working hard to understand the feelings and needs expressed by the author of Scripture, particularly with those passages we find most difficult to grapple with. For me those passages are the ones where violence is endorsed, directly or indirectly, and where God and Jesus are described as having violent characteristics as in the book of Revelation.

I actually spent some time writing down some "psalms of renunciation" to the violence within Scripture and done because of our violent interpretations of Scripture. I found that incredibly freeing and I have renewed energy to re-engage Scripture on the whole, and those parts I have generally avoided.

Hungry for Justice

2010-08-20T09:18:00.005+07:00

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled"

Earlier this week I spent two days with thirty community nonviolence activists from around Cambodia. In the evening of the first day I sat aside to read some Scripture. The passages I'm meditating on these days are the Sermons on the Mount, in Matthew and Luke, as well as Paul's version in Romans 12. I was surrounded by poor Cambodian farmers, fishing folk, foresters, day labourers, and villagers. Their homes, fishing grounds, forests, lakes and water ways are all under intense risk of destruction or appropriation. If anyone could be described as "poor in spirit", mourners, meek, seekers of righteousness (justice), builders of peace, and persecuted, these folk fit the bill. My eyes grew wide in awe as I sat amongst these blessed ones and watched Scripture come alive.

But how are these folk blessed? Regardless of current advocacy and legal efforts there are no concrete resolutions in sight for activists and their communities. A number of these folk have already lost everything.

What I saw, however, was a spirit of joy and thankfulness amongst them. Joy of being with others who know their struggles, pain, sacrifices and mistakes. Thankfulness that their story was being heard by each other, and one tall white foreign guy with a video camera on a tripod.

There is hope in togetherness. It is a fruit of the kingdom of heaven, it is comforting, it is an acknowledgement of an inheritance worth more than land and economic development. Their time together affirms their struggle for justice and the truth of their cause, an opportunity to show mercy for those in small acts amongst themselves, such as words of encouragement, promises to visit one another's village, and small acts of financial support.

And while I saw this hope, joy and thankfulness I know it is not enough. To stand aside resting in the assurance that God loves these folks is to turn aside from the gospel message itself, of liberation, freedom, concrete hope in a renewed reality. And so myself and many others work in supporting, advising and training in nonviolent tactics and strategies.

Women of Courage. 3 Stories

2010-08-03T12:32:00.000+07:00

International Women's Day, 2010

The Christians for Social Justice celebrating Int'l Women's Day

Shiprah, Puah and the Hebrew Midwives

The first recorded event of civil resistance is fittingly an event of women affirming life in the face of death. Circa 1300BC The Hebrew people were living in Egypt and found themselves under the power of a king (Pharoah) who was afraid of them. They were a strong people more numerous than the indigenous Egyptian population, and Pharoah conspired to a program of genocide lest the Hebrews overpower the Egyptians. The Hebrew midwifes in Egypt were then tasked by Pharoah to kill any male child born to them. But the midwives refused the command, risking their own lives in the process. Their story is immortalised in Exodus chapter one.

The Rosenstrasse Prison Protest

In 1943, Berlin, the Gestapo swept through the city to arrest and gather up the remaining Jewish men living in the city. They were brought to a building in Rosenstrasse, Berlin, very close to the Gestapo headquarters. Within hours of the arrest the "Jewish Radio", an informal phone network, flew into action and were able to discover the location of the arrested men. The wives of the men, nearly 6000 women, gathered en masse in front of the detention center and clamoured for their husband's release. After a few days the men were released. Some who had already been shipped to concentration camps were quietly released. Why? The men were married to Aryan women. These women stood in front of Gestapo officers and yelled for their husband's freedom, fully knowing the brutality capable by the most feared section of Hitler's war machine. Almost all these men survived the war.

You can read more in Michael Naglers The Search for a Nonviolent Future, and a full length study called Resistance of the Heart.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi

On August 8th, 1988 (8.8.88) Burma comes to a stand-still under a General Strike across the whole country. Led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the National League for Democracy were attempting to create space where the military junta would be forced to work towards democracy. Two years later in 1990 the NLD win 90 percent of the votes in a national election. Tragically the junta did not hand over power. Aung San Suu Kyi's face is an iconic representation of the people of Burma / Myanmar and to the unending resistance capable of those who practice nonviolent resistance.

These are simply three stories of how women have, and continue to, battle violence throughout the world. Often women bear the brunt of violence - physical, structural and cultural - in the most heinous ways. Yet women continue to respond with compassion to both victim and perpetrator.

Today is a celebration of all women, as well as a call to continued vigilance of violence in our world, particularly that which is directed at women. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon can be seen here making a video message on "equal rights, equal opportunities: progress for all".

Peace,
Chris Baker Evens

building a bike powered phone charger

2010-06-30T13:07:00.001+07:00

Here are some links I'm looking at and trying to decide which one to try out first.

http://greenopolis.com/goblog/derekmarkham/7-great-pedal-power-plans

http://www.stewardwood.org/resources/DIYcyclepower.htm

http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2009/06/how-to_pedal-powered_phone_charger.html

http://www.instructables.com/id/Bike-that-charges-your-cell-phone-as-you-ride/

Resisting Empire

2010-06-30T09:44:00.004+07:00

I've had some enriching discussions with folk since the last post on Empire, the US and Evangelicalism.

What's driving home to me now is that Empire exists in two locations: "out there" and "in here". The "out there" is in politics, economics, militarism, consumerism, domination, etc. Once you start seeing it, it is the easiest form of Empire to notice. For example: the US has over 700 military bases across 135 different countries, who's security is that really for? The US's economy and resource footprint is in the range of 80% for 20% of the population (those figures probably include OECD countries, not sure. You can look them up for yourself). We all agree that the US is "on top", the disagreement is whether this is a good thing or not.

For me I see it as a sign of Empire because there is little acknowledgement that the way we live in Empire impacts those outside of Empire. Well, that's not entirely accurate. Do we acknowledge that part of the Empire is left untended, has it's valuable natural resources transfered to the center of Empire and those left behind become the dumping ground for the center? Usually not. When we buy a consumable good, food, a mobile phone, a car, do we think beyond the cost-benefit equation to our self (usually in terms of money, time and effort) or to the planet (which requires thinking of product life-cycles, labour practices, environmental impacts, and the quality of human interaction? I'm guilty of the former for most of my consumption.

Jesus said, "why accuse your fellow human of participating in Empire when you are just as blindly complicit?" (my paraphrase). And I have to answer, "because it's easier to point the finger than seriously critique my own participation in Empire". It's time to stop that.

Martin Luther King Jr wrote in his famous Letter from Birmingham Prison that there are four phases to a nonviolent campaign: 1. collect the facts and decide if there is injustice going on. 2. negotiate with the relevant decision makers 3. spend time in "self-purification", and 4. engage in nonviolent direct action. I actually think that the beginning point is number 3 - "self-purification". When we are able to stand outside of the reaches of Empire, even for just a moment, we begin to percieve the injustices that we are complicit with, either passively or actively. At that point we are able to begin investigations, try to pursuade others to change and, if necessary, make the crisis of Empire so clear through nonviolent actions that change will become necessary (like the recent Avaaz.org campaign to prevent the increase in whale killing). But the key is self-purification.

Self-purification is not some high-faluting saint-like attainment. It is about reaching for the highest values that humans can attain, but humbly recognising how far off we are. Self-purification seeks awareness of all that binds us to Empire, whether it be job, status, education, possessions, area/zip code, make and model of car you drive. When we become aware of these sticking points, even temporarily, we are better able to see things from a bigger perspective. With compassion. What Empire is like for those not at the center and not connected to me? For the environment? For our families? It's not easy to do and I'm certain I've never attained perfect purification. But that, I don't think, is the point. Perfection is not the point. Rather, a gradual opening up of our awareness to how my life affects my neighbour's life, even if that neighbour is on the other side of the planet and I never ever meet her.

Gandhi used the word satyagraha, truth force, to help people understand that resisting an Empire requires a strong grasping on to the truth. Not just truth as in facts, but truth as in compassionate relationships. Satyagraha was the outward actions of defeating the British Empire. But it was also the struggle to ensure that those actions did not alienate the British, but allow them to leave as friends. And it worked. On both counts.

Islam has a similar understanding. It's called jihad, or struggle. The media feeds us jihad all the time as a militant islamic practice. However, jihad is first and foremost the inner struggle with Self. The Prophet, PBUH, called this the greater jihad.

The result of all this self-purification of mine is a growing desire to know the impacts of my life choices, as well as a growing list of potential new ways of living that resist Empire on a personal level. Gandhi is well known for his marches to the salt fields and facing down British military might, he is less well known for the constructive alternatives to Empire that he promoted. Village self-sufficiency was a huge part of what he called "constructive programme". His centerpiece was the charkha, or spinning wheel. Both tactically and symbolically it was genius. The British Raj organised the cloth trade so that India relied on cloth made in Manchester. It kept over a million textile workers in employment. But it kept 300 million Indians in dire poverty. He asked each Indian to spend half an hour or so spinning, carding and weaving their own cotton and cloth. It created massive self-reliance and employment in India. It demolished the English textile industry, but the workers were so convinced of the justice of Gandhi's approach they whole-heartedly supported it. So I'm looking for my own "charkha", that symbol of resisting empire which is at the same time practical and constructive. I also like the symbolism of the wheel, but I have no idea how to spin wool or cotton. But I have a bike. And bikes have wheels - two of them. Riding my bike reduces my reliance on oil. Oil is the life-blood of Empire. It's a start. But there's more bikes can do. The energy inherent in a bike (pedal power) can power lights, recharge batteries and run computers. So I've searched the net and come up with some designs for phone recharger from recycled materials and a bike-powered home generator, (2) and (3). I'm itching to give them a try, even though I'm no electrician.

I am also researching the product lifecycle of the technology I use (nokia mobile phone, hp laptop, Palm TX, the internet - the servers that keep it going and store this blog for you to read, cloud computing, ebooks, etc) and for ways to reduce the environmental impact of these while I use them (eg using human-powered generators to power them). There are some interesting and useful resources on the 'net. A Greenpeace report on computer, phone and game-console manufacturers rates how well they work towards products that reduce or eliminate toxic chemicals, pvc plastic and carbon footprints. There's more research to be done: labour practices throughout the component cycle of mineral extraction, manufacture and retail, etc.

The key to being prophetic is not being noisy, but practical. It's one thing to shout and yell "Empire is Evil", but what is the alternative, and is it liveable? I see this as part of my experiment with truth, of self-purification and inner satyagraha and my greater jihad.

Entering Empire (with eyes wide open)

2010-06-16T09:44:00.002+07:00

So the current plan is to move to the US in a year's time. And I feel concerned. US pretty much epitomises Empire for me and the thought of living there, bringing up children there, scares me. How do I resist Empire when living in the very heart of it?

The first thing that came to mind was what to do about taxes? Right now we don't earn enough to pay any to any government, so it's mostly an intellectual consideration right now. But it's possible we'd have to start paying tax at some point in the future. And I definitely don't want to pay for any of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, nor the 75 clandestine wars America is waging around the world (according to Johan Galtung www.transcend.org).

I watched The Story of Stuff (www.thestoryofstuff.com) and heard that US military spending accounts for 50 percent of tax revenue. My wife says, "you better check that out", not quite believing the assertion. Well, according to War Resisters International the stat is wrong. The figure is only 48 percent - regular military spending, then hidden defense spendings in other areas plus debt from previous military spending. That's a lot of dough and I don't want ANY of my money going to it. If I'm going to spend money on anything close to defense it would be for the rehabilitation of soldiers returning from active duty, to support their reintegration into society and recover from the trauma of battle.

Another area that scares me silly is Consumerism. I'll capitalise it for now as it really does seem like a religion. At the least it's a real economic philosophy. I don't want to turn into a Consumer. Or perhaps a better way of saying it is I want to get out of Consumerism. At least life in Cambodia there is a somewhat restriction on my consumption. It is still in stark contrast to my neighbours who mostly live in homes with dirt floors and pull drinking and washing water out of the local putrid open well. A lawn mower in Cambodia is a cow or a goat. And there are no ludicrous local codes preventing people from using FREE solar energy to dry their clothes on the washing line. Even in hard-baked Arizona people use drying machines - including my mother-in-law. But the fact that people "do it" is not so bad so much as how society is shaped so that healthy, non-Consumerism, environmentally-friendly options are made so difficult. Wal-Mart is a dangerous place. You go in there, look at the price tag and say to yourself, "It would be wrong NOT to buy this at such a cheap price!" Seriously!

The Story of Stuff also pointed out the process of extraction to refuse. The first being environmental destruction to get at the resources, the second is using the labour of the people who no longer have natural resources to use as cheap labour to work in the factories that are on the formerly pristine natural resources. A few years ago, in fact just one year ago, this would have felt like a complete academic reality. Ten minutes down the road from where I live this goes on RIGHT NOW. Kep Thmey, Rolous, Totung Tngay and Kilo Dawp Pii are four villages I can name off the top of my head and drive my tiny 90cc motorbike to in under 20 minutes. Some corporate genius thought it would make perfect sense (and a ton of money) to fill in the delicate mangrove coastal areas to build factories. In the meantime the land fill going into the coast kills off all the easy-to-reach aquatic life, killing off important sea grass that ensures the continuity of the most important fishery in the region and put out of work most of the local fishing community. "No problem!", says He, "I've got a factory just down the road you can all work in". Well, no one really wants a factory job, and the factory manager only lets in people with a 'decent level of education' which exludes most of the local folk who don't have a 'decent education'. If this is the happy Consumerist utopia, I want nothing to do with it! Easier said than done in the heart of Empire, I'd wager.

So what can I do to escape from the Latter Day Saints of Consumerism?

REDUCE CARBON OUTPUT AND USE OF NON-RENEWABLE RESOURCES
- I'd like to live where I don't need a car.
- I'd ride a bike or catch the bus or train instead.
- buy more things second-hand
- I'd like to limit plane travel (which is not easy being an international family and an international organisation)
- I'll limit how much I buy and the kinds of things I do buy (I'll need to clarify this point somehow)
- I won't have a TV and expose myself to all the Consumerist evangelist tracts and discipleship materials.
- remember to take the cloth bags to the market (less plastic bags)

ADVOCACY AND STRUCTURAL CHANGE
- advocate on behalf of ecological injustices
- I'd like to think of some symbolic economic symbol (like Gandhi spinning yarn) that undermines Consumerism.
- I'm not paying taxes to Uncle Sam, at least not the military part of them.
- change our investments to an approach that does not fuel the Consumerist economy, but compassionate economic practices, non-war, non-nonrenewable resources. is there a compassionate approach to investment? if so, how?

DEVELOP CONSTRUCTIVE APPROACHES
- I'd like to grow my own veggies.
- I'd like to put my savings into things that don't fuel further Consumerism or war.
- I'd like to promote the non-obsolesence of older computers by installing open-source operating systems and software like lubuntu which breath new life into old computers.
- I'd like to find ways to resist buying new and make use of used. Furniture, appliances, some clothes, technological equipment (computers, phones, PDAs, cameras), toys for the kids (and me).
- buy ebooks instead of paperbooks or secondhand paperbooks instead of new.

I'm doing my best to go with ebooks instead of paperbooks. I'm guessing that an ebook is better than a paper book. It's not made of paper. It doesn't require a massive bookshelf to keep them on. There's also tons of free ebooks online. But, obviously electronics rely on power consumption, much of it coming from fosil fuels (Australia and Cambodia) or nuclear power (US).

But I don't want to be stingey and ungrateful to live. I want to live with joy and hope and compassion. I don't want to judge others who are Consumers, but I do want to offer choice alternatives.

I'd like to begin each morning with silent meditation, practicing awareness, before starting work. I'd also like to engage in some form of productive physical activity - not just 'exercise'. Eg, growing veggies, yard work, community service, and also see housework (washing dishes, clothes, cleaning up) more part of my spiritual practices, not seeing it as a barrier to life but integrated with it.

One big bad habit I really need to work on is forgetting to take the cloth bags to the market. In Cambodian they have real markets. And Cambodia market sellers LOVE to give you plastic bags. I buy doughnuts at one bakery once and asked for a cookie. I got one plastic bag for the doughnuts, one for the cookie and one bag to put everything together!

I'm also giving up Evangelicalism. I'm not sure what this post has to do with Evangelicalism, but while I'm talking about giving up stuff this came to mind. I actually kicked the habit several years back, but I'm coming out of the closet with this one. There's too much baggage with it, and little positive in it that I can see. The focus on evangelism and a morbid atonement through sacrificial substitution just doesn't do it for me any more. Have you ever really read the Apostles' Creed - which surely was never written by any of the original apostles. In the very middle it says Jesus was born to the Virgin Mary and in the next breath dies under Pontius Pilate. Where's the rest of it? So Jesus' life and ministry has no theological value at all? It just doesn't add up. And since Evangelicalism is so closely aligned to American State Religion, which is the same as Consumerism, I'm done with it. I will engage with it, see the good in it, learn from it, and be compassionate to those who subscribe to it, but I'm signing the divorce papers on it for good.

While I'm at it ...

I've realised that I should get out of organisational development and focus more on what I'm passionate about in transformational education and learning design.

And,

that my focus is not really (perhaps never has been) poverty, but is rather Violence, with a capital V. Physical, Structural and Cultural Violence. I make it my work - professional and spiritual - to work at transforming violence and violent systems/contexts using peace and nonviolence.

What does a compassionate response to Militarism look like? engagement, offering alternatives, listening to the needs behind Militarism (fear, need for physical and economic security and safety).

Mango Count

2010-04-16T18:51:00.004+07:00

Yesterday (Thursday 15th): 43 mangoes
Today (Friday 16th): 33 mangoes

Menu:
Yesterday: plenty of smoothies, and we tried our first dish of chicken in mango and soy sauce. With very large macaroni pasta. Delicious! (Though Sam reckons it needed more soy sauce ... too sweet).

Tonight: mixed veggies in mango and soy sauce (and a dash of white wine) on rice.

Tonight's Mango Menu

2010-04-14T22:51:00.003+07:00

We all enjoyed mango smoothies throughout the day, making use of the blended pulp I made up last night - and which when frozen our family refers to as mango ice-cream. It kind of tastes like mango gelato ...

Then I had the 35 or so mangoes from today's drop to deal with.

I very nearly ignored the problem, or wondered if I should ask if anyone needs 35 mangoes. But I finally found the energy to deal with the issue. It's not like they'll go away. And there will be 35 more tomorrow to deal with.

So I figured I go with Sam's mango sauce idea.

Mango & Soy Sauce

1 large bowl of cut up mangoes
1 cup soy sauce
1 garlic 'pod' - what do you call the whole garlic thing?
2 onions
2 red peppers
1 tbsp oil

So basically, fry up the onions, add the garlic, then the peppers. Once they look done I threw in almost all the mango (enough so it wouldn't fall out of the frying pan) and then added the soy sauce. I was a little scared I'd thrown in too much soy sauce, but the taste test seems to suggest a winner.

I tried canning them, but the jars were too big for my big pots, so I'm not sure it worked properly. We'll just have to eat them quick.

Mango Count for Wed April 14th

2010-04-14T10:43:00.001+07:00

25 Mangoes. Twenty-four from the tree behind the water tank. One from the tree near the train station.

Tonight's Mango Menu

2010-04-13T21:37:00.004+07:00

Tonight I finally pulled myself together enough to battle the growing mound of mangoes in the kitchen. I think nearly 10 more dropped from the tree since 9am this morning.

I decided not to use all the mangoes from today, just the large bowl - so about 35. I have been searching the web for different mango recipes, and there's some interesting ones out there. Mango chutney and mango sauce look pretty good. I'm going to give them a try soon.

Today I couldn't get around to the hassle cooking a major mango fantasy - although last night I pulled together a pretty tasty mango chicken with soy sauce (if I may toot my own mango horn). Sam (wife) thinks I should come up with a mango bbq sauce of some kind.

Back to tonight. Well, we'd used up all our mango puree / ice cream yesterday so I decided to replenish our stocks. So after peeling (it's more like flaying) 35 mangoes, I blended and have a full medium-sized tuppaware (or Lucky Supermarket equivalent) of mango puree. Probably close to 2.5 litres. I'll freeze it tonight.

But I decided I couldn't really stop there. I had to enjoy the fruit of my labour (!) and asked Sam if a mango smoothie was in order. She readily agreed. I spooned about a cup and a half of mango puree back into the blender, another cup and a half of chilled milk (the carton straight out of the fridge, that is) and added my secret masala spice mix - about a teaspoon and a half - and blended till it looked mixed up well and good.

The result? Well, in my opinion, it was a rather muted flavour. Not the full-bodied sweetness of a straight mango smoothie, and the spices started off with a kick and then faded a little. I think the spice mix needs a little work. Perhaps just stick with cardamom.

Mango Count for Today

2010-04-13T09:37:00.004+07:00

As of 9am this morning there are 35 mangoes (all of which fell from the tree).

Here's a picture of the ant's nest I mentioned in yesterday's blog. (photo courtesy of friend, Simon). Each tree has three or four of these natural disaster areas in them.

If you ever wondered what ants sound like I can tell you. Like rice bubbles. That "snap, crackle, pop!" sound of breakfast cereal fame. It's weird walking past a tree and hearing that sound.

Mangoing Around

2010-04-12T15:31:00.009+07:00

It's hot season. Let me repeat. It's HOT season here in Cambodia. There is little to do other than mope around feeling hot, sweaty and itchy as the heat rash works it's way into every sweaty little crevice - elbows and backs of knees usually!

The benefit of hot season in Cambodia is, of course, MANGOES! I've lived in Cambodia a little over 6 years and we've only recently moved to a place where we have a real mango tree - five of them. And every day I pick up somewhere between 10 and 20 mangoes. It's getting a little overwhelming.

The first week we kept up - cutting, peeling, eating those freshly ripe mangoes. Then it got to be a little too much. Not to mention the mango allergy rash from the sap. Very itchy (adds to the heat rash). The other thing you have to watch out for is the nasty red ants that make their home in our mango trees. They pull several leaves together, stitch them up with what looks like spider's web, and make a nest. Bump one of those babies and you'll find thousands of angry acid biting ants crawling down the back of your shirt. Ouch!

So today I decided on a slightly different course. I had been cutting out the pulp, using the blender and freezing it - making really great mango ice-cream, which then goes into mango smoothies very well. Today it was time to take it to a new level - mango jam!

Not just mango jam, but spiced mango jam. I hit a winner on this.

I found a simple an interesting recipe on the web from eCurry (http://www.ecurry.com/blog/condiments-and-sauces/mango-jam/). And a few hours later, voila!, mango jam. I even was able to can them in old jam jars, which amazingly sealed! Awesome. 7 jars of spiced mango jam ... thats a lot of jam. What will I do with tomorrow's mango's?

Re: Recipe
> There are no lemons in Kampot, so I omitted the lemon juice.
> I had WAY more mangoes than three - I didn't count them, but 20 is a conservative estimate. It came to 10 cups of mango pulp.
> I estimated one mango equaled one cup of pulp and added one cup of sugar for every 3 cups of pulp
> I also included star anise to the spices

Re: Canning
> I washed old jam jars then heated them in the oven for a few minutes
> then I followed the instructions from the Wycliffe recipe book for sterilising the jam jars, which also seals them. I wasn't sure this would work (this being my first jam-making attempt) but 6 of 7 jars sealed. Cool.

Converting a paper book into an ebook using Ubuntu

2009-12-31T09:38:00.002+07:00

My task today, as the title says, is to convert a paper book into a text-searchable ebook on Ubuntu (a Linux-based OS).

I'm using an HP G60 Intel Core2Duo using Ubuntu Jaunty 64-bit.

My plan is to:

1. scan the book (about 100 pages) using Xsane scanner with my Epson Stylus CX3100 (old machine that she is) into TIFF files at 300 dpi
2. crop pages so only one page is showing (rather than two pages side by side) so that I can use tesseract for OCR. I'm hoping to use a batch processing plugin on the GIMP for that.
3. I will need to remove any blemishes from each page, such as shadows and scribbles in the margins from previous readers. Also hoping a batch process will do the lion's share of this.
4. living in Cambodia, this is a copy of an original book, so the 'original' is not that great. I'm expecting some OCR errors because of that.
5. Then I will need to collate the OCR text into a text file, can I batch this somehow? Manual copy-and-paste will be really tedious.
6. Using the text file will import to Calibre to create an ebook of any file I want (pdb, prc, mobi, lib, you name it!)
7. save to SD card for reading (I currently use a Palm TX)

Let's see how I go and I'll let you know any further steps I needed to use.

Exercise Postponed

2009-12-05T11:26:00.002+07:00

Sadly I was taken ill Thursday night and spent all of Saturday in a horizontal posture. Exercise will have to wait until I recover sufficient energy to attempt the ride to Kep.

Excerise

2009-12-03T17:29:00.002+07:00

One of my (ongoing) goals is fitness. But is like so many goals that
gets pushed to the end of the list, and simply missed in the craziness
of life. Well, the move to Kampot is facilitating excercise - somewhat.

Being a small country town it's not far from one end to the other, even
though we are at the very far north of town. Any further north and
you're on National Road number 3 on the way back to Phnom Penh.

The upshot is that I can easily ride my bike around town without getting
too sweaty - which is almost impossible to do anywhere in Cambodia
except for Mondulkiri or Ratanakiri in January.

The back routes (but not streets) are most favourable. One, they give a
wonderful view of Bokor Mountain range, and the rice fields bursting
with not-yet-harvested rice. Secondly, they give protection from the
blustery north wind that blows through this time of year. Riding on the
mainstreet back to my house is quite an effort against the wind.

Another positive to riding in Kampot (and most places in Cambodia) is
that it is very flat. So an easy way to get back into some physical
exercise.

Given these factors, I am riding my bike on a daily basis. I wouldn't
say it's a great workout, but it's better than nothing. The plan, then,
is to go somewhere farther afield, say, Kep. Kep is twenty to
twenty-five minutes away by car depending on how many cars, trucks and
pot-holes you have to dodge. A local guide suggests the ride to Kep from
Kampot (or vice versa) is about 1hr and 20minutes. I'm guessing that's
at not too hard a pace. So my plan is to try it out tomorrow, knowing
that my bum's going to hurt like mad, and my legs wobble like crazy.

I won't be wrestling for very long tomorrow night with Patrick and Isaac.

leadership

2009-04-05T12:53:00.003+07:00

Two and a half years ago I was asked to take on leadership for InnerChange's Cambodia team. I don't think anyone can be offered such a thing and not feel a measure of pride. I certainly experienced that. But simultaneously I felt fear of such a task. At the time we numbered around 14 team (plus kids). From my perspective at the time there were a lot of challenges for team leadership.

All teams have history and Cambodia was not exception. I was hesitant to face these on my own. Samantha and I were also having a difficult time in marriage. Adjusting to being new parents, as well as adjusting to Cambodia (we'd been there two and a half years by then I guess). I don't know that I felt I was adjusting to Cambodia, but our marriage was definitely exhibiting stress signs. The thought of adding team leadership to an already stressful home life felt foolish.

Eventually we (the team) hit on the idea of a leadership council, especially in the interim, allowing people's gifts to dictate how they would contribute to the council. I pushed for this option as I saw in it a way to leasen the stress from leading the team and the benefit of wisdom from two others. So Hayden became country director and Lisa and I served as his 'deputies' for a year. It worked well (from my point of view). I was able to contribute some systems thinking as we went through two years of transitioning people out of the team. First Mark and Susan, then the Colombaras, the Chos, the Everitts and lastly, Kent. That's a lot of team to say good-bye to. We also gained Matt and Heather in September 2007.

In April or May of 2008 we invited Kim Zovack from CRM Australia to take the team (then down to 8 adults - Hims, Baker Evens, Hayden, Kent and the Allans) through a process of clarifying our ministry direction. We didn't want to do a re-visioning process because we'd tried that before and could never get past a lowest common denominator result where we basically stated what we were doing, and giving no real vision. We also felt that InnerChange's vision statement was plenty enough and we simply needed to add "in Cambodia" to the end.
Kim was extremely helpful to us, and was able to draw out from each of us our desires, passions and distill them down to a more manageable size. We ended up with three focus groups: an exploration for a potential new team site, a focus on contextualised discipleship and a focus on peace and justice.

The following year gave us time to focus more on these three groupings, but I think we realised that they were still too broad, and we still were working broader than that: namely, Treasures from the Heart and Sunrise. But I think it gave us enough focus to be more positive about who we were as a team and to identify what we were calling new team to be involved in.
By the Conference in 2008 Kent was leaving the team and the team felt strongly it's identity as the "new" Cambodia team. It had taken over a year to really feel in our guts that we were now a fundamentally new entity standing on it's own two feet, making our way in the world. This was a great break-through as I had been encouraging us to see ourselves as a new team since the first people started leaving the year before. But, as I am finding out, change takes time. More than I'd like, but I'm coming to appreciate the time it takes, and the opportunity it gives us to go to deeper places of knowing each other and ourselves.

Following Conference I was feeling challenged to go deeper into Cambodian culture and language, and some of us began talking of spending a month in a rural area, I think Mondulkiri, to enhance our language skills. We didn't make it there, as we realised we had a lot of other work to do. And as it turns out, many people are from indigenous ethnic groups and don't speak Khmer so much! But it planted a seed.

Hayden began talking about his desire to live outside of the city before (possibly) ending his time with InnerChange in 2010. Matt had travelled with Dave while Dave was still in country and felt a desire to be 'out there'. The Hims were obviously thinking about being out of Phnom Penh as they were already looking to Battambang. Finally, Samantha and I were getting itchy feet. Though we were not thinking outside Phnom Penh. Rather, we felt we would stay in PP so Patrick could continue his schooling at Hope School, but that we'd look seriously at moving in with a community at-risk of being evicted. We wanted to support a community well before an eviction was inevitable, to build up their internal strength as a community so they could resist the tactics of those seeking the eviction. I approached colleagues in human rights and asked where they recommend we move. The response was essentially, "Phnom Penh has enough support, go elsewhere". That took Sam and I by surprise but quickly tapped into the ongoing conversation on the team. We decided, then, that we should check this out, "Maybe God is calling our team to something new?" we thought.

In January, not a week after the Hims had arrived home from a six-month furlough to the US, the fifteen of us (7 adults and 8 kids) squeezed into a minvan for a ten-hour drive to Mondulkiri, then Kratie and finally Kampot to look into what life and ministry could look like in these places.

We had a lot of fun.

Travelling to and discovering new places together brought us together in a way that excited us all. We also felt that "we could do this", that there was nothing major preventing us from a successful go in one of these places. Finally, today, we settled on Kampot. It's the 'easiest' place to live which is important. The risk-taker in me doesn't necessarily value this, but the process we've been through has taught me to value the place where all can go, not just the 'toughest'.
In the midst of all this, I felt a huge opportunity opening up for us as a team. Here was a real chance of us all starting something new at the same time. We will all need each others' support, and we can really build each other up and, in the words of Johnny Wilson, build trust, respect and acceptance for each other.

The future is exciting

As I mention above, time is crucial to change management, building trust and vision. If I was asked, "will you take two years to build up the level of trust on your team so that you might have a chance at pursuing a vision together?", I would have said, "No". When I was offered team leadership two and a half years ago (perhaps more) I wanted to say no. But as I look back I am inclinded to think it was all well worth it. Definitely the hardest part was the first year of saying so many good-byes. Some were harder than others. And having to make decisions that would exclude some (when inclusivity is such a high value). Then there was the long slow process of trust-building with team members who'd felt on the outer for a long time.

I would say that, paradoxically, inclusiveness can in fact become exclusive. There comes a time when a group, team or community needs to define itself. When it cannot it no longer becomes attractive and healthy. Yet an inability to accept a wide and diverse group of people to join the vision is also unhealthy and limiting. I have no hard and fast ideas on this, but there is a tension. To acheive a place where community can be healthy in it's diversity it cannot be amorphous and atomized. There must be cohesion and relational integrity. There needs to be focus and clear mission.
Peace,
Chris
___________________________________________________
Support human rights defenders in Cambodia

inform yourself:
http://peace-and-justice-cambodia.awardspace.com

sign the petition:
http://petitionspot.com/petitions/stoptheintimidation

What am I reading?

2009-03-30T13:46:00.002+07:00

Power-Under by Steve Wineman

Steve Wineman looks at the political implications of trauma in nonviolent resistance, suggesting that trauma has it's effects on both the politics of the left and the right. The left projects trauma onto systems and structures and push for social change using rage. The right projects trauma onto individuals and groups from minorities, thereby scapegoating them.

Trauma can also paralyse people and groups into inaction, creating greater suffereing. Trauma also has effects on the internal workings of social movements, usually by turning inwards and sidewards in power-plays and mistrust. Understanding trauma is important, then, for nonviolent movements to develop skills and tools for dealing healthily with trauma, and ensuring that nonviolent change is possible without treating others violently. Wineman also looks at the "interpenetration of oppression", that is the ability of an individual or group to simultaneously act as victim and perpetrator (eg, black men suffering racial and economic oppression using violence as a means to gain power over family and community).

In the Footsteps of Gandhi by Colleen ...

A gathering of interviews with a number of "spiritual activists" who have drawn strength and strategy from the work and writings of Mahatma Gandhi. These interviews are from a range of backgrounds including the Dalai Lama, Caeser Chavez, Joanna Macy, Thich Nhat Hanh, Joan Baez and Desmond Tutu. A strong theme of "love your enemy" comes through as these activists have come to see that no matter how much one seeks to be part of the solution, there is always more to do and ways in which we can change. Humanizing others, then, is a key factor in developing a spirituality of nonviolence. Another theme includes "sustaining the gaze" on human suffering. How do we maintain compassion for both oppressed and oppression in the face of overwhelming violence, hatred and suffering?

My Experiments With the Truth by M.K. Gandhi

The classic autobiography of the "father of active nonviolence". Gandhi reflects on his life and the way in which "satyagraha" developed as a spiritual and strategic response to British rule, and to all forms of violence.

The Last Week by Marcus Borg and Dominic Crossan

A theological reflection on the last week before Jesus is crucified. The authors use the Gospel of Mark as their text, seeking the meaning of the text and attempt to address misconceptions and misunderstandings that have developed over the ages.
Actually, I started reading this a while back and stopped mid-way. I'm picking it up again.

The Algebra of Infinite Justice by Arundathi Roy

A collection of hard-hitting political essays on economic violence in India and post September 11, 2001. Her insights are disturbing, challenging and frightening. One comes away from the book wondering what on earth can be done to stem the flow of hate and violence.

Healing Anxiety Through Meditation by John McConnell

A new book by the author of "Mindful Mediation". McConnell draws from the Four Noble Truths of Gautama Buddha, suggesting they are a helpful framework for dealing with anxiety. McConnell then helps the reader to use "vipassana meditaion" or mindful meditation techniques to address their own inner anxiety.

My friend the enemy...

2009-03-26T15:40:00.002+07:00

Dear friends,

The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU.com) released their findings that includes rating Cambodia with a very high risk of social instability (fourth out of 165 countries) due to economic challenges, underpinned by other social factors such as unemployment, inequality, lack of trust in institutions, etc. Also predicting social unrest (not addressed in the report) are factors like the presence of a large number of youth compared to the population overall, low levels of education, and the presence of lucrative natural resources like oil and minerals, trees, arable land, gems and precious metals. Rising nationalism is also of great concern to Cambodia.

Another factor that impinges on a country's stability is it's level of repression. High and low levels of repression increase the likelihood of social unrest, where as moderately repressive governments, or "pseudo-democracies" are less impacted by these factors. While most would recognise Cambodia as a country that is democratic in name only, it is concerning that during a time of world-wide economic stress and uncertainty, there are so many other factors present that often lead to unrest.

The question is, "what do we do about it?". There are many worthy organisations pressing for change at different levels within Cambodia from different angles. Fundamentally, are we working on the conditions which create division such as economic and social inequality, education, etc? and those which build connection such as common concerns and common identity.

I, for one, find it easiest to enter into the "name and blame" game - find someone I think is most responsible for the problems and vocalise my dissent. More and more I am being challenged by social activists from Gandhi to the Dalai Lama to change this attitude, to seek an attitude that my enemy is also my friend. Those in power who I so often love to despise are also capable of change in themselves and in the systems and institutions they are responsible for.

I suggest a greater emphasis on finding those "insiders" who are sympathetic to our cause of freedom, equality, justice and participation. These are the people we assume are our opponent because they are part of whatever institution we take issue with, but who are personally supportive of our goals. We can even find those who may not support us (yet), but aren't against us either. Indeed, we can even help to create space within institutions for those people who feel trapped into "towing the line", unable to challenge the way things are. The more we are willing to see our opponents as part of the solution the more we are able to find creative and effective methods of addressing the underlying issues, which exist no matter who is in charge.

Finding the strength to build bridges of connection with those we perceive as "the problem" is one of our greatest challenges as builders of a more peaceful and just world. Jesus said, "love those who hate you and pray for those who persecute you", Buddhists spend time giving "loving-kindness" to the world. There are many practices we can develop to change our own attitudes and perceptions. Making time and space for "active relationship building" with "the enemy" will also humanise those we may have come to despise. Spiritual leaders also point us to consider our own faults, not as a "woe-is-me" response, but as a way to realise that no one is all-compassionate or all-just or all-loving. We don't have the moral upperhand we often assume.

It is also important to remember the many good things going on right now. The good people struggling in difficult situations to change the world for good - like Palestinian and Jewish nonviolent activists working together as a beacon of hope that Palestinians and Jews can live in harmony. And the local communties in Cambodia building up their communal resources to use nonviolent means in resisting land-grabbing. And, of course, the love we give each other as family, friends, colleagues.

Much Shalom, Peace, Santaphiep, Paz to you all,
Chris

Note:
The report ranks 165 countries. You can go to the website direct at eiu.com or...
the link to the report:
http://a330.g.akamai.net/7/330/25828/20090318195802/graphics.eiu.com/specialReport/manning_the_barricades.pdf
___________________________________________________
Support human rights defenders in Cambodia

inform yourself:
http://peace-and-justice-cambodia.awardspace.com

sign the petition:
http://petitionspot.com/petitions/stoptheintimidation

I can poop!

2009-03-04T11:16:00.005+07:00

It's half past one in the afternoon. Both boys are down for a nap. For Patrick this is somewhat of a relief as he often forgoes the afternoon nap. But he's been sick the last week with an eye infection.

This morning Samantha and I woke to Patrick declaring, "Isaac pooped!". But no matter how much Sam asked, "where?" he wouldn't tell us. Eventually Isaac pipped up for himself and said, "I did poop!", in his shrill 2 year old voice. He was obviously very proud.

I finally made it up out of bed and discovered that Isaac hadn't simply pooped in one place, but several. Ah, the blessings of wooden floors! ___________________________________________________
Support human rights defenders in Cambodia

sign the petition:
http://petitionspot.com/petitions/stoptheintimidation

Lent - a reflection from Cambodia

2009-03-04T11:16:00.004+07:00

Lent always seems to come around too fast. Each passing Easter I say to myself, "I'm going to prepare myself for Easter better next year", and next year comes and it's the same old scramble. It's not just a calendaring thing, but a head and heart thing. This year, at least, I've been jolted into a somewhat earlier preparation as CRM, my parent organisation, is sending out a devotional guide for each day of Lent. Just having these, often unread, emails filling my inbox is enough to initiate some introspection.

So what is Lent and what does one DO during Lent? I'll be upfront ... I'm no expert in Lent. As I said before, it always catches me off-guard. The most 'in-depth' explanation I can give is that it is a time of preparing ourselves for the final journey of Jesus to the cross. Lent, I believe, is always the forty days preceeding Easter. I'm not sure if it's counting Easter Friday or Easter Sunday! Forty, is of course a biblically significant number meaning "completeness", "timely", "appropraite". So the forty days helps us to be complete (in a spiritual sense) for the death and resurrection of Jesus.

For me, the cross has political overtones. For many evangelical Christians it is a pietistic event that absolves us of our sins. For me it is a way of not expiating sin so much as thumbing our collective noses at "sin" - the Domination System, violence, hatred, deciet, lies. All that seeks to take away from Other with the desire to collect, grab and amass for Self. Jesus' total refutation of that system led directly to the cross. The powers-that-be could not contain such love. They had no framework for understanding it. And so they did what they knew how to do:- they killed Him.

The Ressurection is, at the very least, a theological statement of saying the Way of Love is stronger than the Domination System. Death is not the end.

Going back to Lent, a historic, traditional ACTION during lent is to fast. That usually means food. Sometimes a specific kind of food, like meat. But in our more sophisticated age fasting has become more sophisticated. Or rather we see that food is the least of our worries and our cooptation to the Domination System is symbolised by other icons of greed. I've been thinking, "I'm not going without food, but what would be an appropriate focus for a fast in preparation for Easter Week and the Resurrection? And it finally came to me, and I hesitate to type it down as I will feel a stronger commitment to carry it out!

Mobile phones are in abundance in Cambodia. I forget the exact stats on ownership, but it's strange the person you meet WITHOUT one. One simply cannot live or work without one. And I'm not going to try! What I am considering to fast is using the 3G functionality of accessing internet and email on my phone. I'm kind of sad to do it as it's helped me get back into blogging - I can lie in bed at night and thumb away a reflection from some experience that day. It's also helped me get out some urgent news when I couldn't get internet access otherwise. But it really does mean I'm connected all the time. I've taken time off work this week and not checking email as reflexively as I breath is like, well, not breathing. It's also like just waking up and needing that fix of Cambodian coffee I wrote about earlier, but not getting it quite soon enough. I feel agitated, expectant, not yet complete.

So maybe this ties in appropriately. Lent is about completeness (the forty days symbolism, anyway). In the sense that we are ready to journey with Jesus to the cross, knowing that His death is both painful and gruesome as well as momentary, and that the victory of resurrection is on the other side. By doing without phone-enabled internet access I'm (re-)opening myself up to being complete without constant connection, and hopefully more prepared for the spiritual journey come Easter Week.

Peace,
Chris ___________________________________________________
Support human rights defenders in Cambodia

inform yourself:
http://peace-and-justice-cambodia.awardspace.com

sign the petition:
http://petitionspot.com/petitions/stoptheintimidation

Intro to prophetic current quarter

2009-02-28T01:43:00.002+07:00

Week one. What is violence? How is it manifested? Week two. Personal
and direct. Three. Economic. Four. Structural. Five. Nature of
nonviolence. Six. Response, plan, strategy. Both gospel and non gospel
texts. Nt, ot. Maybe a focus on one or two communities. Pray for them
and their specific issues. Email team leaders for their input what are
the issues of violence for their teams, contexts. Reminder, info on
pico and other trainings.

--
Sent from Gmail for mobile | mobile.google.com

___________________________________________________
Support human rights defenders in Cambodia

sign the petition:
http://petitionspot.com/petitions/stoptheintimidation

Intro to prophetic current quarter

2009-02-28T01:34:00.002+07:00

So steeped in our worldview it's hard to imagine a world without it,
and may even feel it immoral to suggest that there is no place for
violence. What about national defence? Personal security? Terrorism?
Crime? Etc. I strongly believe that part of jesus' mission was to live
a life exemplifying nonviolence.

And that as christians we are called to renounce violence (evil) in all it's forms. How do we see jesus responding to violence? Gender violence- woman at the well, appearing
to women first at resurrection, healing of woman bleeding over jairus
daughter, structure/power, woes and discussions with teachers,
healings on sabbath, clearing out temple, was that really nonvidlent?
Direct violence, turn cheek, wall extra mile, other? If we are
followers of jesus, how well are we as ind and community doing in
violence? How are we promoting nonviolence? Building peace, working
towards anderson's 6 points - core issue, resist violence and
provocation to violence, etc. One way that i am exploring to
counteract the culture of violence is through reflective story
telling. I will be using ammunity stories to show that alternatives
are possible and normative, and effective. That violence is not
inevitable or necessary. So i invite you on a journey for the next 6
weeks to reflect on violence as a prophetic issue, and nonviolence -
peace by peaceful means - as the antidote. This is a scripturally and
prayer centered journey, ultimately looking to jesus as our model,
inspiration, and energy. And our teams, communities, families as the
fertile ground for practicing a new way of being. Perhaps most of us
don't struggle with violence, but are we working to reduce and
eradicte violence from our community and culture? Or relationships? As
we wall this journey, i'd like - love - to have your input and
engagement. You can send email to garden of prophets. What are your
experiments in peace by peaceful means? I know there are many!

--
Sent from Gmail for mobile | mobile.google.com

___________________________________________________
Support human rights defenders in Cambodia

sign the petition:
http://petitionspot.com/petitions/stoptheintimidation

Intro letter for prophetic current quarter

2009-02-28T01:12:00.002+07:00

Draft. Dear staff, the last year and a half has been a huge learning
experiment for me, to which i owe a huge debt of gratitude to many
people - not the least, Samantha, my team here in Cambodia, and many
patient human rights workers. Its been a journey of learning how to
deal with evil in it's specific manifestation of violence. A good
friend recently asked me what's my vision for Cambodia? My response
was to see Cambodians responding nonviolently to domination, violence,
aggression, intimidation, in the form of, and in response to
land-grabbing, forced evictions, illegal land deals, and massive
internal displacement of peoples due to unchecked and unregulated
investment and development. Some of which is actively predatory, some
in the guise of aid, eg the ADB. Those most affected by these issues
are the rural and urban poor, as well as ethnic and religious minority
groups, including indigenous groups. Responding nonviolently means
seeking peace by peaceful means, in the face of a world that seeks
peace and security, not to mention harmony, through violence and
domination. Many of you have followed the events at the Dey Krahom
community, so you've 'seen' peace and harmony at work. Walter Wink
writer of a myth of redemptive violence. In a nutshell he's saying the
'world' has bought a lie, believing that violence is a reasonable
method for solving problems, and is in fact a moral imperative for
those mandated with our security. Police, presidents, espionage
agencies, are invested with the power to use violent force 'to keep
the peace'. The prophetic is seeing this in a different light, that
violence and peace have nothing in common, and that violence begets
more violence, not peace. Give eg's here. Also explain direct and
indirect violence. This quarter will focus on the prophetic current,
and i want us to look specifically at the issue/problem of violence.
Not just in our communities, but in the structures around us, our own
lives, and possibly even innerchange and CRM. For many of us, violence
is so steeped in

--
Sent from Gmail for mobile | mobile.google.com

___________________________________________________
Support human rights defenders in Cambodia

sign the petition:
http://petitionspot.com/petitions/stoptheintimidation

Prophetic quarter ideas

2009-02-28T00:52:00.002+07:00

Bible passages for reflection. Method? Lectio or other? Have people
think of prophetic issues, esp around violence. Still use themes from
acts, but use bible. Then action options like CSJ. Also include
research options like meeting a community leader or human rights
group, peace building group. Critical thinking on what you're
observing. Etc. As well, extra readings for the ambitious. And links
to web sites and movies, documentaries. Is there time to send DVD of
all stuff to teams?

What passages? The usual, plus unusual? Micah 6 8, luke 4, acts 2,
turn other cheek, walk second mile, loving OTHER - good samaritan, ok,
check some of my writings. Put away your swords, blessed are the
peacemakers. What prayer exercises could be done to be interesting and
unique? Thinking, asking what is prophetic, justice, peace - for whom?
Listen to paul's song if he's ok. Links to website movies. Licadho, al
jazeera, movies - war on democracay, lions for lambs, war inc, jouex
noelle, etc. Film an intro by me?

--
Sent from Gmail for mobile | mobile.google.com

___________________________________________________
Support human rights defenders in Cambodia

sign the petition:
http://petitionspot.com/petitions/stoptheintimidation

New directions

2009-02-21T22:48:00.002+07:00

The last few weeks, since the Dey Krahom eviction, have been busy and
overloaded. I'm struggling to keep the website going since losing
Senim, and I've yet to secure any volunteers or staff to help the
newspaper mapping going, and i have many more ideas for expanding it
as an information source on land issues in Cambodia. I'm thinking to
rebrand it as a collaborative mapping project on land and natural
resource issues. I have begun adding pages on information of at-risk
communities. This is a massive undertaking, especially to keep it up
to date. Anyhow, there is still a lot of positive responses to the
site so I am considering options for volunteers and / or paid staff to
assist. But that will get expensive and i have limited funds
available.

The next project to begin bubbling away inside my head, and which I
have been promoting a lot lately, is what i currently refer to as the
nonviolent story project - peace by peaceful means, through epidemic
story-telling. The basic idea is that story-telling is a powerful
medium for communicating information on many different levels, and
importantly helping people to process that information more than if
they receive straight content.

I now have two short papers written on the theme of story as
nonviolent resistance. I will post them soon.

The first nonviolent story-telling project is underway, interviewing
former Dey Krahom residents about their experience.

In my papers i talk a lot about the processing that stories can
facilitate. I now need to research and develop a concrete plan to make
that happen. Just telling stories won't always ensure a
process-oriented learning cycle will occur. And sometimes all that is
realistic is the telling. So flexibility is a requirement.

Ultimately, story-telling should encourage a horizontal learning
environment. How do i support that without accidentally falling into a
heirarchical, hence vertical, learning environment?

--
Sent from Gmail for mobile | mobile.google.com

___________________________________________________
Support human rights defenders in Cambodia

sign the petition:
http://petitionspot.com/petitions/stoptheintimidation

Socheat

2009-02-18T19:11:00.002+07:00

Today I learned of Socheat, a brave young woman of 22 who faces court
tomorrow. Her crime: pulling a police officer off another community
member and protecting her from a serious beating. As a result Socheat
was beaten and charged. She faces 8 months in prison. But is willing
to do so. What a champion for peace, nonviolence and her community!

--
Sent from Gmail for mobile | mobile.google.com

___________________________________________________
Support human rights defenders in Cambodia

sign the petition:
http://petitionspot.com/petitions/stoptheintimidation

Fwd: DK update - February 16

2009-02-16T16:43:00.002+07:00

From Lee...

Sorry for the delay in updates. Internet access has been sporadic.

Today, we went to court to get the verdict for the three DK representatives regarding one of the bogus criminal cases against them. The courts found them guilty of 'assault' and 'destruction of property', and sentenced them to 1.5 years SUSPENDED sentence, with 5 years probation. The 7NG company asked for over $60,000 in damages but the court decided on $500 from each defendant. Just to spell it out for you, this is the best news we could have hoped for. Despite being innocent, nobody expected an innocent verdict but still hoped to keep them out of prison as the best-case scenario.

Tomorrow morning, it starts all over again with another case involving three charges. The community and the NGO's are very worried about the outcome of this case. We all praying the judge doesn't issue an arrest warrant tomorrow. The main representative, Vichet, is facing the most charges and most criminal cases in an obvious attempt to remove him from leading the community. He's kept a brave face in such scary circumstances. Friends of Dey Krahorm have started a petition to support Vichet and push back the courts from him. You can help today. PLEASE take a moment to add your names:

http://petitionspot.com/petitions/stoptheintimidation

Early last week, the Prime Minister's Cabinet of Ministers instructed the Municipality and 7NG Company to meet with DK to resolve this conflict. The meeting was set for Tuesday but the morning of the meeting the Municipality cancelled while 7NG didn't bother showing up. No word from the Big Man's cabinet since then. DK villagers continue to lobby at the Municipality, 7NG office and Hun Sen's house. The King of Cambodia has written a letter to the 'Prime time crime minister' asking him to intervene to resolve this conflict and 'end the suffering of Dey Krahorm families'. Silence. But onlysilence from the oppressors-DK refuses to be silenced and it's inspiring to all.

More than $16,000 of cash donations has been made to LICADHO for the support of Dey Krahorm families. [$10,000 has been spent already on food, water, transport and communication for families] This in addition to the mountains of clothes, shoes, jackets, blankets and other emergency items that have come in. Solidarity for Dey Krahorm continues to grow, EU Embassies, media, big international orgs [who would still NOT like to be named], over 5,000 views on the DK eviction video, and thousands of new members on the web networks, watching the story, getting involved, spreading the word. So while I have no tangible successes to share in regards to Dey Krahorm case, hope still floats. This isn't just about Dey Krahorm anymore and everyone knows it. This is a battle for the poor, for the threatened. And the international community must decide which side of the 'developmental' line they are standing on – the side of business rights or human rights. The era of everyone pretending that Cambodia is a democracy is coming to a close. Of course there are still those in denial.

Very upsetting to me is the lack of response and/or action from America on this eviction crisis, especially now that Bush is out of the way. The US Embassy here is disgustingly massive in Phnom Penh and do major business here, including nasty stuff like providing the armed forces with the gear worn when attacking innocent citizens for standing up for their rights. If we have any active Americans on this list, please think about this and consider writing/phoning to the American Embassy in Cambodia to insist they get involved and at the very least gather information before giving another penny to Cambodia's autocratic government.

Embassy of the United Sates - Ambassador: H.E. Carol Rodley

Tel: [855-23] 728 000

Fax: [855-23] 728 600

Email: wfr@state.gov

Website: http://cambodia.usembassy.gov/index.html

To end on a happy note, our Danish musician friends, now known as the Chopsticks band, put on a special concert to support DK and LICADHO Canada at an outdoor venue on this past Thursday. It has a heartfelt, powerful event, including a slide show of photos by a well-known eviction photographer Peter Harris. Approximately 100 people were at the concert and including 6 DK leaders and their families. We had so much fun, lots of tears, laughter, hugs and love. I've attached our invitation notice.

Love and solidarity

Lee

www.licadhocanada.com

www.licadhocanada.blip.tv

Every voice counts……are you using yours?

Nonviolent story project

2009-02-16T08:56:00.001+07:00

Peace and Justice: Cambodia's Nonviolent Story Project.

Building peace and ensuring justice in Cambodia one story at a time.

--
Sent from Gmail for mobile | mobile.google.com

Story telling as peace building

2009-02-15T23:03:00.001+07:00

What is story telling? Passing on the story to others. Action
reflection on the story - experience. Values personal exp as
learning-teaching tool and methodology. Transfers knowledge to others
that would otherwise be lost. Move from content focus to process
focus. But need to provide content. Answers the mythology problem of
creating nonviolent myth alternatives. Stories are creative, each
listener is at the same level, it creates a temporary alternative
reality as determined and controlled by story teller. Can be used in
different situations for different purposes. Others can tell story, or
insert their own. There are no right and wrong ways to tell a story.
Focus is on drawing lessons. Also on internalising the values of the
story. Helps communities realise they're not on their own, and not
starting from zero, helps communities avoid common traps and tactics
used by companies-other interests. Low cost. Can be done anywhere. Is
relational. Culturally engaging and normative.

--
Sent from Gmail for mobile | mobile.google.com

I just need my morning coffee

2009-02-12T09:09:00.002+07:00

After all these years ordering a coffee still gets me in a pickle.

To get an iced coffee with milk is quite a trial in the morning. To start I'm barely conscious without the ante meridian infusion of caffeine. My communication skills - in any language - are severely hampered. My patience for stunned waiters and waitresses at a foreigner speaking khmer is very low. And then I try to get the order out as fluently as possible. It rarely works. But I'm usually so desperate for my fix that I take whatever caffeinated beverage they decide I asked for - usually NOT what I thought I asked for.

For several naive years I asked for iced coffee incorrectly. One is supposed to say, 'coffee, milk, ice' in that exact order. It doesn't help that the khmer phrase is a tongue-twister at the best of times, the difficulty level upgraded by the lack of current caffeine supply in the blood-stream.

Once I realised I'd been saying, 'coffee, ice, milk' and not the correct order, after a kindly khmer friend corrected me, I thought my troubles would be over. Not so.

I would say my chances of a correct order have increased twenty per cent. But no more. There are mornings where I forget the correct order, or my tongue refuses to operate under direct instruction from the cerebral command center. There are plenty of times when my servers refuse to believe I'm even speaking a language they understand. And so I get a blank stare, then a polite shake of the head and a softly spoken, 'I Don't understand' to which I reply, 'you don't speak Cambodian'? Another smile and shake of the head. I repeat myself. This time my interlocutor turns around to find his/her eldest child who is studying English at school from a Cambodian teacher who learnt English from a non-native speaker. Then there is a brief tussle over who's second language skills are better than the other. If my Khmer is better we finally discover together that I really do speak Khmer and I want an iced coffee with milk, thanks very much.

Ninety percent the man I was

2009-02-10T20:33:00.001+07:00

I'm at the doctors the other day with kids and family in tow (or was
it me being towed?). We were getting shots/injections. Rabies for all
and tetanus boosters for Sam and I.
To keep the boys interested while doctor is preparing the
syringes, etc, we jump on the scales. My eyes nearly popped out of
their sockets - It read 88kg! I haven't weighed under 90kg since i
rowed crew more than 15 years ago. When Sam and I left Australia for
Cambodia in 2004 I was weighing in around 105kg - my heaviest.

I do no exercise - beyond throwing a two and four year old around
occasionally. But i have decreased how much I eat quite a bit.

So in 5 years I am now less than ninety percent the man I used to be.

--
Sent from Gmail for mobile | mobile.google.com

Our neighbourhood

2009-02-10T20:24:00.001+07:00

The talk of the street this past few weeks has been devoted to the
ongoing road works paving our street with concrete. Just yesterday
they finally reached past our front gate. We can now drive our car in
and out on nicely paved road instead of bumpy, rutted road
occasionally covered with broken bricks, sand, dirt and plenty of
rubbish. Hopefully by the end of next week the entire street will be
complete.

--
Sent from Gmail for mobile | mobile.google.com

Bushfires

2009-02-10T11:21:00.001+07:00

Dear Australian friends, family,

my heart and prayers go out to all affected by this devastation. I
hope that you and your families are safe from harm and injury.

Peace. Chris BakerEvens.

--
Sent from Gmail for mobile | mobile.google.com

Fwd: we can do something for justice in Cambodia this week!

2009-02-09T22:17:00.001+07:00

A CHANCE TO DO SOMETHING FOR JUSTICE IN CAMBODIA!

Dear friends,

3 important events coming up this week:

On this Tuesday (10th) at 8.00, there is a meeting at 7NG between 7NG (the company behind the violent eviction of Dey Krahom community two weeks ago (24th Jan) and Dey Krahom community representatives. 7NG, in collusion with the Govt and Municipality of Phnom Penh, have carried out a violent eviction, and have created a humanitarian disaster resulting in hundreds of Internally Displaced people with now inadequate access to shelter, sanitation, livlihoods, schools etc. This meeting is reported to be the Communities LAST CHANCE to gain compensation from 7NG.

We are appealing to all people of faith, and all those who long for justice in this nation, to come join us in a prayer vigil from 8.00am onward. If you can come for 20 minutes or an hour or all morning, if you want to pray or just stand in quiet solidarity with those violently evicted and who have had their homes destroyed - we would welcome you. We believe this will make a difference.

We will meet on the small park area directly in front of 7NG's entrance. 7NG office is at #15 Sotheros Boulevard, not far from Build Bright University, the Anana Center, and Lucky Seven Burgers.

Secondly: On Wednesday 2pm, at the Municipal Court, 3 community leaders of Dey Krahom appear to face trumped up charges of doing property damage to 7NG. These are cynical charges being used to intimidate those who dared to lead the resistance to the grabbing of tehir land. Again, please come and prayerfully show your solidarity (the exact time & location will be sent out in an e mail tomorrow).

Thirdly: on Friday evening, 6.00-9.30pm we have the first meeting of 2009 for CSJ (Christians for Social Justice) group. This is a group of people from various Christian faith traditions who meet regularly to reflect, discuss, pray, advocate and network to advance to cause of justice in Cambodia. We also have excellent partnerships and work collaboratively with several local human rights groups. There will be food as well! Location, Servants Team Center #119 (1st floor), St 440 (the street that runs along the northern edge of Toul Tom Poung market). The house is about 50 meters west of the corner of 440 and 155. (Unfortunately, on some maps St 440 is listed as St 444, so don't be fooled!). We will be discussing our strategy for 2009.

We'd love to see you at any of these events.

God Bless

Kristin Jack (017 348 164) and Chris Baker Evans (012 359 143). Contact either of us for more details.

We are calling upon all people of faith, and those who long for justice in this nation, to gather in the small park area immediately in front of the 7NG entrance for a prayer vigil. We will be praying gthru the morning for justice to be done, and fair compensation for land taken and homes and livlihoods destroyed. If you can join us for 20 minutes or an hour or all morning to offer prayer, or just stand in solidarity with the people viollently evicted from Dey Krahom, PLEASE COME AND JOIN US from 8.00 am onwards.

we can do something for justice in Cambodia this week!

2009-02-09T22:12:00.001+07:00

SONGS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS concerning Dey Krahom

Join us for a moving and inspiring night of great music on Thursday, January 12, 7pm at Gasolina #56-58, St. 57 Phnom Penh.

The Danish band "The Chopsticks" arrived in Cambodia in January of 2009 to release - "Love & Eviction" - a new album dedicated to and inspired by Dey Krahorm village and their 4-year, non-violent resistance to eviction. The Chopsticks and Dey Krahorm artists and leaders had planned to launch a solidarity concert tour for threatened and evicted communities at the end of January. But on January 24^th, instead of instruments and song-sheets, they grabbed cameras and human rights monitor vests and witnessed the brutal attack on Dey Krahorm friends, hope, and human rights in general.

Today, re-motivated by Dey Krahorm's continued resilience, The Chopsticks are picking up their instruments for a fund-raising concert in support of the hard-working volunteers of LICADHO Canada who have documented the trials and tribulations of Dey Krahorm side by side with the villagers. This documentation has been used as legal evidence, to support existing advocacy efforts and has been key in enabling Dey Krahorm to claim a loud voice.

The Chopsticks concerts will ensure LICADHO Canada continue to document this critical time in Dey Krahorm's story. A limited amount of the "Love & Eviction" albums will be available for minimum of $30 donation. Additionally, a selection of LICADHO Canada's hard-impact videos will be shown between sets and Borey Penn [LICADHO Canada] will share an update on the current situation of the Dey Krahorm evictees.

Join us for a moving and inspiring night on Thursday, January 12, 7pm at Gasolina #56-58, St. 57 Phnom Penh Contact Cornelius for details 017 799 716. [A special thank you to Gasolina for donating the venue]

Prayer for Dey Krahom

2009-02-09T09:56:00.001+07:00

Friends of peace & faith: Christians 4 Social Justice will hold a
prayer vigil at 8am tomorrow Cambodia time at park in front of
office of 7ng / Lucky 7 on Sothearos Blvde in support of Dey Krahom
negotiations with 7ng. All are welcome to pray.

This is a high-level meeting including representatives from the Prime
Ministers cabinet office, and could be the last real opportunity for
fair compensation for Dey Krahom evictee's. DK meet today to plan for
tomorrow. Your prayers for their preparation also appreciated.

On Wednesday Chan Vichet and two other DK community leaders will go to
court on false charges of destruction of property (charges made by 7ng
company). Many friends and supporters will go to the court house.
Again, your prayers deeply appreciated.

Peace. Chris.

--
Sent from Gmail for mobile | mobile.google.com

Tired

2009-02-07T20:42:00.001+07:00

After three survey trips and attempts at squeezing in my normal work
schedule I am completely EXHAUSTED. I've been lying around all day.
Vertical is too much energy expenditure for right now. Even Patrick
turned in at 7.30pm tonight.

--
Sent from Gmail for mobile | mobile.google.com

Kampot / Kep Survey - day five: the last ride home

2009-02-04T15:15:00.001+07:00

Well, I certainly hope it's the last ride home! We bought two seats
outright in the taxi-van so it's not too tight like in Snuol. We've
been sent home from Chenda's with three branches of coconuts. All very
sweet with plenty of meat.

Our final meeting with the pastor in Chuuk was hard to sit through. I
was done listening and talking in khmer, and this guy really know's
how to talk! All good stuff, gave us some important background and an
invitation to come partner with him and his partnership of churches.
But I was just exhausted.

--
Sent from Gmail for mobile | mobile.google.com

Kampot / Kep Survey - day five

2009-02-04T08:37:00.001+07:00

Heap and i are squished in the back of a taxi with two other
passengers. We're on our way to Chuuk. This is our last day, and last
meeting of the trip. Them we get to go home to our families. :)

The road is really bumpy. Up and down, side to side. There is some
road works indicating impotenents. But only a small section. It will
be a while before the road is any good.

--
Sent from Gmail for mobile | mobile.google.com

Kampot / Kep Survey - day four

2009-02-03T18:50:00.001+07:00

This afternoon's meeting was probably the most encouraging of the
whole trip, simply for the contrast to the more depressing information
and contacts.

We met a young pastor who finished bible school two years ago and came
to Kampot to start ministering shortly after.

Right now he has 15 groups involving 1000 children, a sunday morning
service for up to 100 children and another for 25 youth. He is not
strangely in need of assistance as if only has five helpers.

There was sonnetiing about this pastor that encouraged me. I'm not
sure what, and maybe i was in a better frame of mind after meeting the
community folk in the morning.

--
Sent from Gmail for mobile | mobile.google.com

Kampot / Kep Survey - day four

2009-02-03T18:05:00.000+07:00

Today's surveying has been encouraging for both Heap and I. We
travelled out towards Kompong Som this morning to meet with a
community losing two thousand plus hectares of land to a Chinese?
company. The legal situation sounds confusing and in the space of
legal fog the government and company have taken a large tract of land
(one side is 10 km long) on the mountainside where the community
relies on for agriculture and forest products that increases their
livelihood sustainability.

One community seems to be bold and face the company. But many are not.

--
Sent from Gmail for mobile | mobile.google.com

Kampot / Kep Survey - day four

2009-02-03T17:53:00.001+07:00

I'm not sure why, but I'm finding my language skills are coming
together well for me. My listening is by far the strongest element,
followed by speaking. My greatest liability is the size of my
vocabulary. As I engage more and more with communities I'm recognising
more and more words I DON'T know and can then go away and look them up
- if I'm not too lazy.

My speaking is definitely more confident than just a short time ago,
and I find being in situations without translation assistance is very
helpful as I've only my own skills to rely on. Having said that, Heap
has been invaluable this trip, and in Mondulkiri and Kratie, when I
really got in deep.

I think losing the Smith's and Everitt's has pushed me as I realise
that after Heap, I am next most experienced in language on team
(closely followed by Sam and Hayden). And that's scary knowing how
little I know. But I see that a move out of Phnom Penh is going to
accelerate my language skills immensely.

--
Sent from Gmail for mobile | mobile.google.com

Kampot / Kep Survey - day three

2009-02-02T21:43:00.001+07:00

After talking with the missionaries and pastor i feel less confident
that this is a great place to work. There is a lot of dependency -
expectation of money or material benefit - from much of the Christian
work done. It is a very hard dynamic to break. And there is still
plenty of pastors and groups willing to throw money around. Therefore
anyone not willing to play the game will find it hard to keep good
people as there is a well paid position to be had elsewhere. Or a bag
of rice for sitting through a sermon on the weekend. But the fruit is
obvious. Committed Christians - those convinced of the story of Jesus
as a life-changing and life-giving story, will stay away, while others
buy people's allegiance in the most obvious fashions. Like calling for
offerings and telling people God will not bless them unless they give
generously to the church, and immediately turning arounding and
handing out money to the participants. All the while video-taping the
proceedings as 'evidence' of such a faithful group of believers for
the foreign donor churches and agencies to see. How sad.

As such, a common answer to the question: how could we complement what
is already going on in Kampot, was - basic bible teaching to know the
values a Christian is to live by, and leadership development as many
people are supported by short term groups, but there are few who live
here permanently and walk alongside the pastors through the good and
bad times.

To me that seems like a big mess to wall through.

The pastor we met was not really inspiring to me. Maybe it was a bad
day for him. He seemed really young and his plans seemed unrealistic
to me - like wanting to teach local school teachers the bible so they
could teach the children. Even though the teachers are not Christian
themselves. Part of his motivation is that they teach evolution in
school - that we come from monkeys. That seems like an immature
response when there are so many other issues to consider. Surely
evolution is on the bottom of the list of concerns in Cambodia!

--
Sent from Gmail for mobile | mobile.google.com

Kampot / Kep Survey - day three

2009-02-02T21:24:00.001+07:00

This first thing that really strikes me, as a visitor from the city to
a small country town, is the silence and the new sounds it bring with
it - crickets, soft music from distant restaurants, the rush of the
ceiling fan. The sound of a dog scrummaging on the side of the road.
All of there are hidden in Phnom Penh.

Today has been quite busy, going from one meeting to the next. So I am
writing this reflection at the end of the day, and may need to split
into several installmets as my phone won't let me write an endless
note. Which is probably in the readers' favour.

In short, we net with four groups of people. Two missionary families,
one person who helped establish a local NGO, and a local pastor. I'm
going to refrain from using names on such a public venue as a blog.

The first meeting with the local NGO, but foreign founder, is someone
I've connected with before, and has connections in both the faith, and
human rights spheres. As such I admire his work very much and the
values he and his wife embody.

As i expected, Kampot is no stranger to land grabbing and the adverse
effects of economic land concessions. Mostly Korean and Chinese firms.
Agricultural and dams projects. Apparently 2000 Chinese workers live
around here to work on just one dam project alone. Communities are
constantly on the defensive, but have had some success. A couple of
months back one community marched on the governor and demanded a
solution or they would not leave. He signed a document giving them
their land back. You can probably find the article on my website from
last year.

From my respective, there is a great partnership opportunity with this
group. They have a good grasp of the issues and are looking to expand
operations in the coming years.

--
Sent from Gmail for mobile | mobile.google.com

Kampot / Kep Survey Trip - day two

2009-02-01T17:53:00.001+07:00

On the bus to Kampot now. Couple of Tuk Tuk drivers wanted to scam us
into buying tickets from them saying we wouldn't get on otherwise! The
bus driver has been more helpful.

If anything, this time has been an easing into our work in Kampot. We
have a full day booked for tomorrow, so no more leisurely strolls
along the beach to eat fresh cooked crabs in pepper sauce. Though
Kampot is not known for shabby food either.

I guess we got a good overall lay of the land from Luc and Ling. And
who have been incredibly hospitable.

And it takes about half a minute to remind me why i don't want to move
to Kampot - the road. The worst i've travelled on in Cambodia.

It also turns out that BAB work in Kep.

--
Sent from Gmail for mobile | mobile.google.com

Kampot / Kep Survey - day two

2009-02-01T15:28:00.001+07:00

Heap and I net with Pastor Soeung and the Kampong Trach home group.
They are the only group that meets weekly in all of Kep area that we
know of. Kep has about 30,000 people - I need to check that figure. So
this community is way out on their own and I'm sure appreciate all the
prayer support they can get. And it's good to know they recieve
encouragement and training from missionaries in Kampot.

--
Sent from Gmail for mobile | mobile.google.com

Spiritual Gift survey

2009-02-01T10:53:00.001+07:00

According to the questionnaire my gifts are:
1. Mercy, 2. Administration, equal 3. Giving, leadership, teaching, and wisdom.

According to my review of the characteristics of gifts i would say:
1. Service, 2. Helps, 3. Administration, 4. Prophet, 5. Exhortation.

I had to take a broad view of the characteristics because, again, the
language used and examples given don't relate well with me. And except
for service i didn't fit the definition 100 per cent of any of the
gifts listed. I suppose that's true of us all.

What it does confirm is that my primary 'leadership' gifts are
so-called supporting gifts, and i am secondarily gifted in 'equipping'
gifts. People tend to follow me because of who i am and what i do,
less because of what i say, or the vision i caste.

--
Sent from Gmail for mobile | mobile.google.com

Kampot / Kep survey - day two

2009-02-01T10:26:00.000+07:00

Nothing to report so far. Heap and I are relaxing by the beach,
working on our Paul Ford Leadership Grip questionnaires. Strangely
enough I struggle with the language it uses to ask question. Very
evangelical, and I'm just not evangelical. I moved on from
evangelicalism a long time ago. While I used to lap up spiritual gift
assessments - because I wanted to know how God intended to make my
life great - I now wonder if spiritual gifts are a reality or just a
fancy Christian label for personal attributes. On the other hand, the
basic question being asked by the questionnaire - how has God equipped
me for leadership - is sound and helpful. More so than checking the
boxes next to strangely-worded questions. I think I will go through
the descriptions of leadership 'gifts' to identify my own strengths
and weaknesses. That will be a better way forward than being
frustrated by evangelicalese.

The premise I value for leadership is to look back at the way we have
used various life opportunities to lead others. What was done well,
what was done poorly, do i work as an individual or in a team? Do i
see the bigger picture, or work out the details?

--
Sent from Gmail for mobile | mobile.google.com

Kampot / Kep: End of day one

2009-01-31T22:04:00.001+07:00

This evening we met Ling and Luc who live next to the Vanna bungalows
and have an amazing 180 degree panoramic view of the Kep seascape.
Astounding!

They have a partnership of some kind with OMF but are not
missionaries. They are building a retreat centre on the mountain /
hill behind their house.

Not that we are looking to move to Kep, but they gave us the low down
on the local church, which is that it is minimal. There is one 'home
group' of about 20 older farming folk, who we will visit tomorrow
afternoon. And a smattering of Christian families near their house.
There are only a Dey foreigners in Kep. Their was at one stage a
Quaker couple but it sounds as though they are gone now. Most of the
Christian community is based in Kampot and Chuuk.

There are several Cham fishing villages along the coast and according
to Ling are doing pretty well. No resource conflicts that she is aware
of.

At dinner there was a young foreign woman, seemingly on her own, but
later joined by an eager looking group of young khmer men, all
drinking beer. She spoke reasonable khmer and i couldn't tell if she
was a journalist or tourist or someone practising her khmer with the
locals. Don't know why I mention this. It just looked a little
strange, is all.

Well, i'm looking forward to a good night's sleep with no
interruptions from young kids early in the morning.

--
Sent from Gmail for mobile | mobile.google.com

Kampot survey trip

2009-01-31T13:56:00.001+07:00

Heap and I are sitting on the bus waiting to leave the station - it's
taking quite a while for some reason.

We have a good trip planned now. As is usual it's come together at the
last minute. And we're still trying to arrange meetings.

Our plan is to meet two couples in the sea-side resort town of Kep.
Both run retreat centers and can hopefully explain some of the
situation in the church. We will then go on to Kampot town itself and
meet NGO contacts there. Hallam and Katie from STT and possibly staff
from CLEC and Licadho. On monday or tuesday we will meet two community
leaders from a Cham (muslim) community. Following that we will meet a
pastor in Chuuk, which is kind of the Christian Mecca of Cambodia.
Although not without it's problems and scandals. This pastor
supposedly knows a lot of people and is well connected to the pulse of
the Christian community.

Both Heap and I are starting this journey tired. I confess to coming
close to postponing it for when i feel more energetic. But when will
that ever be? Both Heap and I have attended to several crises this
week - me with the Dey Krahom eviction, and Heap with staff in
Treasures.

But leaving now i feel more energized and expectant.

Trying to decide where we'll move as a team is getting hard. Each
place has great merits to them. It will come down to a choice between
three good options I feel. Though I'm thinking Snuol in Kratie
province would be most strategic in that there are few NGO's there,
but a number of healthy communities that would be great to partner
with. Kampot is beautiful and the whole team would be happy to move
there tomorrow. But already is well served by NGO's. Mondulkiri also
has NGO's and is less interesting given it's population is so small.
Each area has opportunities for working with ethnic minority groups,
so that is a plus.

I will also visit Chenda on wednesday on the way home, who just had a baby girl.

If you are reading this, take some time to pray for Heap and I on this
trip, as well as the whole team in these decisions.

--
Sent from Gmail for mobile | mobile.google.com

Peace-and-justice-cambodia website

2009-01-31T09:55:00.001+07:00

I'm been encouraged a lot this week over the
peace-and-justice-cambodia website where i'm collecting news articles
on land, natural resources, evictions and investment related issues
here in Cambodia. I then map these on a monthly basis using google
earth and google maps. Its a visually effective way to describe how
all-pervasive these issues are.

I want to expand this project to include more information coming
directly from communities themselves. I don't expect this to be a
complete covering of all that is being done, but an attempt at
real-time mapping of actions taken by communities in response to the
effects of investment, land concessions and encroachment.

--
Sent from Gmail for mobile | mobile.google.com

Dey Krahorm

2009-01-30T07:28:00.000+07:00

Dear friends,

Please find attached recent photos, statements and briefing paper about the violent eviction that took place in Dey Krahorm on Saturday at 6:00 AM. The series of photos attached was compiled by one of my Cambodian colleagues who found a way to express his sorrow and sadness. More information, DVD, photos are also posted at www.licadho-cambodia.org

Let me know if you do not wish to receive any more information about DK as I understand you receive many other emails and documents too.

I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you and your friends who have dropped off used clothing, toys, shoes and money to our office in the past few days. The response from individuals, families, schools, churches and NGOs has been overwhelming, we have received thousands of much needed items for babies, children and adults from DK and a few offers to house villagers temporarily. Many thanks to those who have dropped by to see DK villagers in our office to listen to their stories, comfort their pains and sorrows with kindness and try to assist individual families cope from day to day. Also, thank you to individuals and ICF in enabling NGO workers and volunteers to obtain professional counseling to cope with their own pains and sorrows. Many thanks to individuals who are working in different ways to continue lobbying for justice to DK families who are still fighting for justice and compensation and to the hundreds of DK families who are living in misery in the new dumping site.

Humanitarian distribution in this new dumping site (Dangkao district which is located about 16-20 km from PP) will take place this Sunday, email me or text me at 012 803 650 if you wish to join groups of NGOs and volunteers to distribute items, I will know more details including time of distribution by noon today.

All your support, caring, efforts, work and generosity is giving back the dignity and hope to DK families who were stripped of their possession and identity. We are committed to continue helping people who have been violated but it is the support of all of you that gives us the strength and clarity to continue working in such a violent and uncertain environment. Thank you again!

Naly/LICADHO

Engaging and Integrating Faith and Justice

2009-01-29T23:48:00.001+07:00

It's not as easy as I thought. And this week I've experienced a good
amount of dislocation as well as integration.

Often i'm living in one world or the other. But occasionally the two
come together. A lunch appointment had me discussing possible justice
oriented actions by Christians. And my own organisation has been very
responsive to the situation at Dey Krahom. But i still desire a more
integrated vocabulary for myself where faith meets justice more
harmoniously. To talk of prayer in a human rights meeting may seem
crazy, but is a fundamentally human act, as well as inviting the Human
One into the process.

The peace-building world seems most conducive to integrating these,
but I'm yet to collaborate closely with peace builders on a day to day
basis. I'd like that to change and I want my own perception of myself
and work to be more influenced and nuanced by peacebuilding concepts
and practices.

A year ago I sought to apprentice myself to a human rights group. I've
done that, not quite as I expected, but through partnership. I now
want to complement that with the peace movement. Why? Because it is
more wholistic and open to faith expression, as well as looking for
interventions in conflict systems that are less finger-pointing and
blaming and more about facilitating connections between currently
warring or fighting factions. And this is what I see as a gap in
Cambodia. There is little space for communities, authorities and
companies to dialogue. Often for obvious reasons, such as companies
seem and act so insular, having little vision for mutually bendicial
arrangements with a community.

--
Sent from Gmail for mobile | mobile.google.com

Dey Krahom - reflections

2009-01-29T22:48:00.001+07:00

After talking with friends from Dey Krahom tonight I realise I have
been disengaged from my feelings quite a bit since Saturday - the day
of the eviction. Each day the eviction kind of fades a little, even as
Dey Krahom members continue to be homeless - or worse. I heard tonight
that 7NG do food distributions to the people dumped on the side of the
road. Yet some still miss out. Those who get food and those who don't
is based entirely of the say-so of the original community leaders -
the ones who originally sold out Dey Krahom to 7NG in the first place.
Talk about re-traumatizing victims.

So i am feeling my anger and sadness and desire to support other
communities who are at risk of the same fate, yet have much less
support.

The family, Heap and I are going to Kampot on Saturday to meet
community leaders and survey the area for a potential Innerchange team
there. But I have done little preparation for it. It's been
over-shadowed by Dey Krahom's eviction.

DK is fighting on, however. Despite this huge loss, leaders are
determined to fight for compensation. I hope that they will help
prepare other communities, too.

--
Sent from Gmail for mobile | mobile.google.com

The perks of being relocated (evicted) by 7NG - take note Boueng Kak

2009-01-29T13:48:00.001+07:00

Whoever thought being evicted from their homes of 20 years or so was
hard luck should think again. The privatisation of the eviction
industry has taken the next step by offering a multi-layered
compensation package for the privileged few.

Those lucky enough to be evicted by 7NG will find themselves happily
housed in the privately owned 7NG village a mere 20 kilometers, or 40
minute, drive from central Phnom Penh.

This location is highly sought after by clientele hankering for a
simpler age, devoid of unnecessary mod-cons such as fresh running
water, electricity, sanitation, health care, education facilities and
work opportunities.

Did I say work opportunities? I speak amiss. For 7NG will kindly let
you rent a spacious market stall at the privately owned 7NG market.
And if you don't want to work there you can pay for the luxurious bus
service now in operation, and privately owned by, 7NG to Phnom Penh.

For those eager to know what promotional opportunities there are
within the 7NG philanthropic enterprise, a lucky few (hundred) may
well be chosen for the next community eviction as demolition experts,
recieving a generous daily stipend and all travel expenses paid.

If anyone thought that being evicted by 7NG was a dead-end they can be
sure that 7NG has their long-term future well taken care of.

That no community has ever asked to be evicted - nor even agree to
sell their land - be dislocated from family, friends, work, and school
should not matter. Nor even the mob-ish identity, or lack there of, of
7NG and company officers. Nor even that there is no street address to
send correspondence to, or protest in front of. We should not be
concerned that no reasonable attempt was made by the company or city
officials to sit down and listen to residents concern, nor accept
reasonable compensation demands. Any mediation and negotiations
efforts were top-down one-way affairs. And the rash of arrests,
intimidations, threats, court cases against residents. Not one case
brought by residents against 7NG has ever been heard.

--
Sent from Gmail for mobile | mobile.google.com

Counterpoint: New life

2009-01-28T20:48:00.001+07:00

After a week of bad news and destruction of people's lives, I was
heartened to hear of our friend, Chenda, who gave birth to her fourth
child today, at 8am, to a healthy 3.3kg baby girl named Donna.

As we are planning to visit Kampot this weekend as part of the team
survey, we will be able to visit on the way home. Chhuk is on the road
to Kampot.

Sadly, this is a bitter sweat celebration for Chenda and her family of
four kids as her husband recently left her for another woman. A whole
nother story of it's own.

But it is worth celebrating times such as these. And new life brings
with it so much hope, possibility and newness. Who can't be happy?

--
Sent from Gmail for mobile | mobile.google.com

Jan 27 update

2009-01-28T11:23:00.000+07:00

Dear all, please find links to updated headlines and newspaper scans to Tuesday Jan 27.

Articles:
http://picasaweb.google.com/peaceandjustice.cambodia/January262009#

Land Event Map:
http://peace-and-justice-cambodia.awardspace.com/2009_01January_Map.html

Land in the Headlines:

Tuesday, Jan 27

click here to view articles
Bassac residents fear further relocations. PPP (1-2) | Dey Krahom
FMs agree to scale back troops. PPP (1) | Border Dispute
Real estate market gets lift. PPP (1) | Investment
Evictees, city official meet after relocation. PPP (2) | Evictions
Fears mount for future of iconic Bassac apartments. PPP (2) | Evictions
Koh Puos chairman gives date for bridge. PPP (3) | Investment
Police release fishermen, detain employers in raid on illegal nets. PPP (4) | KChhnang
The grand theft of Dey Krahorm. PPP (6) | Letters
Real estate sector applauds lifting of 15pc loan cap. PPP (13) | Investment
RCAF Chief Fired Over Land: F'pec Official. CD (1-2) | Land Disputes
Few Results, but Minsitry Probe To Continue. CD (26) | Land Titles; Prey Veng; Kandal
Dey Krahorm Evictees File Complaint With NA. CD (26) | Dey Krahom
M'kiri Villagers Clash With Developers in Dispute. CD (26) | Land Grab
R'kiri Judge Summons 5 Over Burning Incident. CD (28) | Solidarity Groups

Monday, Jan 26

Relocated residents find homes, water lacking. PPP (1) | Dey Krahom; Evictions
Evictees request 7NG money. PPP (1) | Dey Krahom; Evictions
We have no homes, say evictees. PPP (2) | Dey Krahom; Evictions
Developing old battlefields key to national security: PM. PPP (4) | Investment; Defence
Villagers fight villagers, district chief, over farms. PPP (4) | Land Dispute; Siem Reap - Chi Kraeng & Anlong Samnor
Officials Forcibley Evict Dey Krahorm Holdouts. CD (1-2;34-35) | Dey Krahom
2008 Human Rights Violations Increase by 25%, Group Says. CD (33) | Licadho
Council of Ministers OKs Kuwait Agreement. CD (36) | Investment

Saturday-Sunday, Jan 24-25

Hundreds Released After Arrests Over Alleged Illegal Fishing. CD (11) | Tonle Sap; KChhnang

Peace,
Chris Baker Evens
InnerCHANGE Cambodia

Fwd: strength

2009-01-28T09:26:00.001+07:00

A quote sent from Canada to DK, LICADHO and LC:

Courage, it would seem, is nothing less than the power to overcome danger, misfortune, fear, injustice, while continuing to affirm inwardly that life with all its sorrows is good; that everything is meaningful even if in a sense beyond our understanding; and that there is always tomorrow.

- Dorothy Thompson

Keep on keeping on.

Khmai twer baap Khmai

2009-01-28T06:36:00.001+07:00

Translates as: Khmer treat each other with violence and evil. The
inference is that Khmer are somehow broken as a people and are the
only ones who do despicable things to their own people.

While it's true that some Khmer do treat other Khmer horribly, it is a
lie that this is the case only of Khmer.

I have heard this saying repeated over and over by the former
residents of Dey Krahom. And each time my response is: this is true of
all people, it is the way people treat each other, and the point is
that evil, and good, is a choice. We can choose the road to peace or
the road to violence. And its not just a choice for Khmer to make, but
Australian, American, Nepali, and every other nationality and
ethnicity.

--
Sent from Gmail for mobile | mobile.google.com

Dey Krahom

2009-01-27T22:08:00.001+07:00

Tonight I was called out to observe while Dey Krahom residents sleep
in front of the National Assembly. By the time I'd arrived the police,
with very large guns, had forced the residents to leave. They left
looking tired and dispirited and unsure what tomorrow will bring.

This came after the community held a press conference at the same
spot, which is of course over the road from the now deserted and
demolished remains of Dey Krahom itself.

Earlier in the day I joined a group of around 100 community members
who gathered from many different provinces to discuss how best to
protect their land from being grabbed by investors or 'other
interests'.

I also learned that of the 150 families who lived in Dey Krahom 300 of
them now live at the 'official' relocation site. Yes, 300. It turns
out that around 182 families who lived permanently at Dey Krahom were
not considered residents. They were market stall owners and never made
it in the official statistics. The relocation site is less than basic
- lacking water, electricity, housing, schools, health care, etc.

--
Sent from Gmail for mobile | mobile.google.com

Amnesty International Press Release - Cambodia: Hundreds left homeless after forced eviction

2009-01-27T06:34:00.000+07:00

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
PRESS RELEASE

Date 26 January 2009

Cambodia: Hundreds left homeless after forced eviction

The Cambodian authorities must stop denying people the right to housing and ensure adequate compensation and restitution for over 150 poor urban families who were forcibly evicted from central Phnom Penh at the weekend, Amnesty International said today.

Cambodian security forces and demolition workers forcibly evicted 152 families from Dey Kraham community in the early hours of 24 January 2009, leaving the vast majority of them homeless. At around 3 am, an estimated 250 police, military police and workers hired by the company claiming to own the land blocked access to the community before dispersing the population with tear gas and threats of violence. At 6 am excavators moved in and levelled the village. Some of the families were not able to retrieve belongings from their homes before the demolition. Officials from Phnom Penh municipality were present during the destruction.

"The most urgent task now is for the government to immediately address the humanitarian needs of these people, who have lost their homes and face imminent food and water shortages," said Brittis Edman, Cambodia researcher. "They will also need assistance for a long time to come."

Cambodia is a state party to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) and has an obligation to protect the population against forced evictions. Saturday's events show all too clearly how little respect Cambodian authorities have for these requirements.

The Phnom Penh municipality has provided less than 30 of the 152 families with shelter at a designated resettlement site at Cham Chao commune in Dangkor district, some 16 kilometres from the city centre. Most of the other structures at the site are still under construction and lack roofs. There is no clean water, no electricity, sewage or basic services. Earlier, most of the affected community rejected being resettled there because it was too far from Phnom Penh, where they work, mostly as street vendors.

Since the forced eviction, the Dey Kraham community has been told that the company, which has allegedly purchased the land, has withdrawn earlier offers of compensation, leaving families who have been living in uncertainty and insecurity for more than two years, now faced with rebuilding their lives with nothing.

Local authority representatives sold the land to the company, 7NG, in 2005 without the knowledge, participation or consultation with the affected community. Some 300 families were coerced into moving amid threats, harassment and intimidation, while 152 families continued to dispute the validity of the sale and refused to give up the land without compensation.

Just over a week before the forced eviction, the affected community told the authorities and the company that they were willing to move if they received adequate compensation for the land, where many of them have lived, uncontested, for decades and to which they have strong claims under the 2001 Land Law. The company then increased the offer of compensation, but the two sides had not yet reached an agreement.

"It is an outrage that the Cambodian authorities went ahead with the forced eviction, when progress was being made towards a mutual settlement. Now hundreds of children, women and men are left homeless", said Edman.

Background
Forced evictions are one of the most widespread human rights violations in Cambodia, and those affected are almost exclusively marginalised people living in poverty, in both urban and rural areas. In 2008, at least 27 forced evictions affecting over 20,000 people were reported in the media and by local organisations.

Hundreds of land activists are facing spurious charges, and dozens have been imprisoned, as the rich and powerful are increasingly abusing the criminal justice system to acquire land and evict those living there. At least nine community representatives from Dey Kraham have been charged for criminal offences as a result of their peaceful defence of their right to housing.

As a state party to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Cambodia is obliged to ensure, before any planned evictions, that all alternatives are explored in consultation with those affected by the eviction. Evictions may only occur in accordance with the law and in conformity with international standards, including genuine consultation with those affected; adequate notice and information on the proposed eviction; and provisions of legal remedies for those affected. Evictions may only occur if they do not render individuals homeless or vulnerable to the violation of other human rights.

In May 2009, the Committee Economic, Social and Cultural Rights will consider Cambodia's first and considerably delayed report on its compliance with the treaty.

END/

Public Document
****************************************

For more information please call Amnesty International's press office in London, UK, on +44 20 7413 5871 or email: carina.trimingham@amnesty.org

International Secretariat, Amnesty International, 1 Easton St., London WC1X 0DW, UK www.amnesty.org

Janice Beanland
Southeast Asia Team
Amnesty International
International Secretariat
1 Easton Street, London
WC1X ODW, UK
Tel: + 44 (0) 20 7413 5660

Working to protect human rights worldwide

DISCLAIMER

Internet communications are not secure and therefore Amnesty International Ltd does not accept legal responsibility for the contents of this message. If you are not the intended recipient you must not disclose or rely on the information in this e-mail. Any views or opinions presented are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Amnesty International Ltd unless specifically stated. Electronic communications including email might be monitored by Amnesty International Ltd. for operational or business reasons.

This message has been scanned for viruses by Postini.

www.postini.com

Dey Krahorm eviction

2009-01-26T14:14:00.000+07:00

Dear friends and colleagues,

As you might know, an eviction took place in Dey Krahorm (DK) at 6:00 AM on Saturday January 24, 2008 after approximately 250 mixed police including military police blocked entry/exist to/from DK starting at approximately 2:00 AM.

By 4:30 AM, more than five hundred 7 NG company workers wearing red, blue and green t shirts were trucked in near the entrance and back of DK. At 6:00 AM, military police armed with electrical batons, steel batons, wooden sticks, tear gas and guns moved towards the remaining DK families, most who own their land and some who rented houses, to the front, sides and back of DK.

Tear gas, sticks, water trucks and arms shooting rubber bullets were used against communities, media, foreign volunteers and NGO workers on site. This was followed by exactors and tractors that were used to destroy the houses along with company workers. Approximately 38 DK families are living in our offices, 213 DK villagers and relatives are also coming for meals, medical care, legal advice, photocopies and material assistance since Saturday. Hundreds of others, many of them who were DK renters, were dumped shortly after the eviction along the road to the new site or on the new "resettlement site" 16 km from PP at Damnak Trayoeng, Chum Chao, Dangkao district.

Humanitarian NGOs and several LICADHO staff have gone to see the new site, the houses are unfinished, there are no roofs, toilets or kitchens. The site has no basic infrastructure, lacks drinking water and no schools, health clinics or markets are nearby. Only about 27 families have been able to acquire houses.

The DK families living in our offices are attempting to continue negotiating with the municipality and 7NG company to obtain adequate compensation as they do not want to move to the new "resettlement site". There have also been groups coming in during the weekend that are sleeping on the streets of PP.

Please find attached slideshow of images for your information, other images, videos and information are available http://blip.tv/file/1703016/ [www.licadhocanada.blip.tv], http://hub.witness.org/en/node/11909, http://johnvink.com/story.php?title=Cambodia_Quest_for_Land_Dey_Krohom, http://ka-set.info/actualites/k7-media.html, http://cambodia.ka-set.info/k7-media/, http://picasaweb.google.com/peaceandjustice.cambodia/TimelineOfAForcedEviction#

and http://licadho-cambodia.org/album/view_photo.php?cat=43

Please also note media statement from NGOs below.

Thanks,

Naly

Naly Pilorge

Director of LICADHO

012 803 650

www.licadho-cambodia.org

Saturday 24 January, 2009

JOINT PRESS RELEASE

CIVIL SOCIETY GROUPS STRONGLY CONDEMN ILLEGAL EVICTION OF DEY KRAHORM
Phnom Penh, CAMBODIA

We strongly condemn the forced eviction of Dey
Krahorm residents which began at 6 a.m. on Saturday 24 January, 2009.
This was carried out by over 300 police officers and up to 500 breakers
hired by the private company 7NG. It is yet another example of the
violent evictions taking place across Cambodia which are in danger of
destabilizing the country.

Today's eviction was marked by excessive use of force endangering the
lives of Dey Krahorm residents, and resulting in over 18 injuries ‐ 5 of
which were serious. It also saw the systematic destruction of private
property, while the police and breakers hired by 7NG blocked attempts
by human rights observers and the press to monitor and report on the
event.

Further, the Dey Krahorm forced eviction resulted from an improper
land transaction between so‐called "community representatives" and
7NG. The forced eviction therefore had no proper or clear legal basis,
and has violated the possession rights of Dey Krahorm residents which
are guaranteed by the Constitution of Cambodia and Land Law 2001.

We urge the government to ensure that:

* affected families are given immediate humanitarian assistance,
including adequate food, water, shelter, sanitation, and medical
care;

* affected families are given just and fair compensation for the loss
of their property;
the illegal activities surrounding the eviction are properly
investigated and those responsible are held accountable;

*and
the trend of aggressive private interests overriding human rights
is immediately stopped.

Housing Rights Task Force (HRTF); ADHOC;
LICADHO;
CCHR;
CLEC;
Bridges Across Borders South East Asia (BABSEA); and
Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions (COHRE)

Timeline of a Forced Eviction

2009-01-26T11:23:00.001+07:00

Special:
Timeline of a Forced Eviction. A photo-essay
By 8.45am on January 24 Dey Krahom was completely demolished by crews of 'breakers' (hired thugs from previous eviction communities), 7NG employees, and military police. Here is a moment-by-moment view of Dey Krahom's final hours. enter here

or cut/paste this link:

http://picasaweb.google.com/peaceandjustice.cambodia/TimelineOfAForcedEviction#

Peace,

Chris

Fwd: Fw: appeal for humanitarian assistance for the residents evicted from Dey Krahom.

2009-01-26T11:02:00.001+07:00

Dear Patty, Esther, and Ali (Ali are you the right ICA contact?),

As a member of the Christian's for Social Justice (CSJ) network, I would like to appeal to the wider international Christian body in Phnom Penh to support LICADO financially (and otherwise) as they support those evicted forcibly last Saturday.

As you will be aware, the Dey Krahom community was forcibly evicted in the early hours of Saturday morning - by hundreds of police/troops and hired demolition workers armed with axes and crowbars. The eviction began with the storming of the community using tear gas and riot sheilds, with bulldozers and diggers plowing into the houses. It is incredible that no body was killed in the fear, panic and violence that was created by the company (7NG) and the police/PM's. I personally witnessed houses being aggressively bulldozed while folk were still trying to retreive precious possessions, with the bull dozer operateor refusing to back off. One of the really disgusting aspects of this display of 'naked power' was that the residents of Dey Krahom (reasonably) beleived they were still in the middle of 'good faith' negotiations over compensation, and therefore that no forced eviction would be thinkable at this point.

Last Friday, the Muncipality of Phnom Penh facilitated a meeting between the Dey Krahom residents and the company (7NG), in which residents were asked to submit their ownership documents and how much compensation they were seeking, to 7NG for consideration. The inference (if not promise) was that no 'action' would take place till these had been fairly considered. It now appears that this was no more than an elaborate rouse to catch the community off guard. The blitzgreig style storming of DK began with the village being surrounded and sealed of at 2.20 am saturday morning, with the actual storming of the community beginning at approximately 6.15 am with the tear gas barrage.

Our friends at LICADHO are coordinating the emergency response in terms of emergency food supplies and shelter for the hundreds of people displaced, whose homes have been bulldozed (the relocation site 'prepared' by the Govt and 7NG at Chum Chao is of course grossly unprepared with inadequate shelter, water, power etc).

As a member of the Christian's for Social Justice (CSJ) network, I would like to appeal to the wider international Christian body in Phnom Penh to support LICADO financially as they support those evicted forcibly last Saturday. I have talked with Naly Pilorge, and she informs me that they have sufficient emergency funds for this week, but will need extra funds by next week (they have been sheltering dozens of people in their offices since saturday). They are also appealing for donations of used clothing (baby child and adult) as soon as possible (as of course residents lost all possessions to the bulldozers). Please do consider what funding etc your fellowships could make available to help with this humanitarian situation.

Please contact Naly directly at director@licadho. Donations can be dropped off at the LICADHO office, #16 St 99.

God Bless

Kristin Jack (Servants to Asia's Urban Poor and member of CSJ)

Dey Krahom Eviction - Unfiltered video and pics

2009-01-26T11:00:00.001+07:00

Shocking video shot by human rights defenders inside Dey Krahorm during the eviction. Produced by PLATAPUS/LICADHO/LICADHO Canada:

http://blip.tv/file/1703016/ [www.licadhocanada.blip.tv]

New site for news articles and pictures of Dey Krahorm eviction:

http://hub.witness.org/en/node/11909

Lee

Re: update on Dey Krahom

2009-01-24T20:51:00.001+07:00

Dear friends, family, colleagues,
i last wrote you a hasty update early this morning around 5am Cambodia
time. I still held out hope for Dey Krahom yet because a year ago the
community was blockaded for several days and the crisis abated. But by
8.30am Dey Krahom was a pile of rubble, stunned faces, and broken
dreams.

It took 2 excavators, 2 bull dozers, 200 hired demolition 'workers',
and 200 police around two and a half hours to demolish 150 homes and
the lives of those who lived in them.

The good news is that no one was killed, and there could have been far
more violence. But there was still plenty. Several people were rushed
to hospital.

Thank you for your prayers, expressions of support, and sending of
appeal letters. While it may seem a useless task now, i still believe
it worthwhile. It provides another layer of accountability that is
lacking. And may well influence the next community in line for
eviction - Boueng Kak, a community of 4000 families.

At this stage Dey Krahom residents are likely to recieve no
compensation, and there has been no relocation plans put in place.
People are at the mercy of relatives and NGO's.

I Should note here that this is not an anomaly. Communities are
evicted regularly throughout Cambodia. Dey Krahom benefitted from it's
central position in Phnom Penh, and has stood as a symbol for other
less well documented, and more ruthless, evictions.

I will make this the last mass email, but you can follow my
reflections and further updates on my blog: bakerevens@blogspot.com
and web site: http://peace-and-justice-cambodia.awardspace.com.

Your prayers for peace in Cambodia are still very much coveted.

Peace. Chris.

On 1/23/09, Chris Bakerevens <chris.bakerevens@gmail.com> wrote:
> Dear all, police have blockaded Dey krahom. We are concerned special
> intervention forces are being deployed, who are more prone to violence
> than regular police. Please pray. Myself and other friends are
> observing. Most likely they will wait for morning light to do
> anything. Peace. Chris.
>
> On 1/20/09, Chris Bakerevens <chris.bakerevens@gmail.com> wrote:
>> Dear all,
>>
>> thank you for your concern and prayers for the Dey Krahom community.
>>
>> Here is a brief re-cap and update.
>>
>> The situation changes daily. Recently the municipality (re)ordered the
>> eviction of Dey Krahom, just after Christmas. The community rallied and
>> the
>> date came and went and nothing happened (no eviction), but the community
>> has
>> been very agitated, scared and angry.
>>
>> Later the company and municipality offered to meet and negotiate a deal
>> with
>> the residents, but backed out at the last minute. In response the
>> residents
>> went down to city hall themselves and demanded to meet the deputy
>> governor,
>> Man Chouen. He met and suggested a figure of $20,000 per house or to
>> prepare
>> individual requests.
>>
>> $20,000 is much lower than the figure the community are demanding - about
>> $50,000, so that they can afford to purchase property within the city.
>> The
>> company is offereing to relocate them a long way outside of the city.
>>
>> Two high profile residents who are masters of Cambodian traditional
>> music,
>> who are also disabled, were given $50,000 just last week, plus an extra
>> $8000. I think the community would agree to something like that.
>>
>> Peace,
>> Chris
>>
>
> --
> Sent from Gmail for mobile | mobile.google.com
>

--
Sent from Gmail for mobile | mobile.google.com

8:34am

2009-01-24T08:45:00.001+07:00

Re: update on Dey Krahom

2009-01-24T02:34:00.001+07:00

Dear all, police have blockaded Dey krahom. We are concerned special
intervention forces are being deployed, who are more prone to violence
than regular police. Please pray. Myself and other friends are
observing. Most likely they will wait for morning light to do
anything. Peace. Chris.

On 1/20/09, Chris Bakerevens <chris.bakerevens@gmail.com> wrote:
> Dear all,
>
> thank you for your concern and prayers for the Dey Krahom community.
>
> Here is a brief re-cap and update.
>
> The situation changes daily. Recently the municipality (re)ordered the
> eviction of Dey Krahom, just after Christmas. The community rallied and the
> date came and went and nothing happened (no eviction), but the community
> has
> been very agitated, scared and angry.
>
> Later the company and municipality offered to meet and negotiate a deal
> with
> the residents, but backed out at the last minute. In response the residents
> went down to city hall themselves and demanded to meet the deputy governor,
> Man Chouen. He met and suggested a figure of $20,000 per house or to
> prepare
> individual requests.
>
> $20,000 is much lower than the figure the community are demanding - about
> $50,000, so that they can afford to purchase property within the city. The
> company is offereing to relocate them a long way outside of the city.
>
> Two high profile residents who are masters of Cambodian traditional music,
> who are also disabled, were given $50,000 just last week, plus an extra
> $8000. I think the community would agree to something like that.
>
> Peace,
> Chris
>

--
Sent from Gmail for mobile | mobile.google.com

Fwd: DK update - January 23

2009-01-23T14:09:00.000+07:00

"Do not go gentle into that great night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light." Dylan Thomas

This quote passes my mind a lot these days and for me, it really sums up Dey Krahorm and their struggle. As powerful individuals/authorities circle in on Dey Krahorm, and 'realistically' no hope remains, the rage at injustice and violence against our loved ones gives the power needed to maintain hope and determination, especially after an almost 4-year struggle.

One of the definitions of 'rage' as a noun is 'a vehement desire or passion'. As a verb, rage can describe 'to continue with great force'. Rage helps us tap into determination and creativity to overcome the odds.

There is always hope until the last second, Dey Krahorm continues to be proof and they will rage on with various forms of creative non-violent resistant until it is indeed the end.

"It is not enough merely to call for democracy, freedom and human rights. There has to be a united determination to persevere in the struggle, to make sacrifices in the name of enduring truths, to resist the corrupting influences of desire, ill-will, ignorance and fear... " Aung San Suu Kyi

Solidarity in and around Dey Krahorm continues to grow. An average morning in Dey Krahorm sees many journalists and students sitting with village leaders asking questions and drinking coffee. All around are homemade signs calling for peace and justice interspersed with 'stop evictions' flags and banners of the document that proves their land rights.

Khmer and foreign monitors stop by throughout the day as a gesture of friendship but more so as a deterrent. And we have a regular team the rotates monitoring the nights.

The Urgent Action Appeal for Dey Krahorm sent out the other day is also applying some serious pressure. Ruth wrote yesterday to say two of the government's email boxes were full. Dateline and Channel 4 [UK Unreported World] are both also documenting Dey Krahorm, the latter is staked out at the hotel on the corner next to the village.

Vichet, Dey Krahorm village spokesperson, just wrote a new song in response the Municipalities final compensation offer to Dey Krahorm. [$20,000/house, an average of around $60,000 LESS than market price] The title is 'DO NOT ACCEPT' and explains why $20,000 will not allow them to survive. The villagers love it and want to sing again and again. Even the foreigners are learning the words to sing along. Our Danish friends play the music for the song; 2 guitars, 1 floor base, 1 violin. It's so wonderful to hear and clap along, to see the smiles on everyone's faces. Vichet will give it to the radio stations as soon as it's recorded. It will most likely piss the Municipality off but for regular Cambodians, they will be instantly addicted. [that's my own projection]

Saving the best news for last, yesterday, village leader Lor Seyha was released from prison on appeal! He was unlawfully convicted on trumped up charges in August of 2008. Seyha paid his way out on appeal and returned to Dey Krahorm to find a ceremony prepared in this honor. The monks cleansed Seyha from any evil that was clinging to him and then blessed all. Seyha's return raised the energy of the village considerably. Seyha himself seems a bit overwhelmed. When he went to prison, Dey Krahorm didn't have media support, international support, nor had they produced an activist CD, nor did they have business cards. Seyha was key in getting the villagers through the first few years and because he led them, he was eventually targeted and imprisoned. He was also the man that worked closely with Gen and I on the Dey Krahorm report. We've shared laughter, tears, heck he's even yelled at us in frustration. It was heart breaking to see him imprisoned and for us to be powerless to help for months. But he's BACK!

The Dey Krahorm villagers and friends who stand with them are taking one day at a time. The municipality has been very quiet these last days and noone knows what is up their sleeves. Until we know, we will keep on singing…..

On behalf of the whole Dey Krahorm family, thank you to everyone who sends prayers, lights incense, write letters or sends love to the team. All together, the solidarity is keeping the violence and eviction at bay while strengthening those on the front lines.

In Peace and Solidarity

Lee

Reclaim your name @ymail.com or @rocketmail.com. Get your new email address now!

Appeal for Dey Krahorm

2009-01-22T12:18:00.000+07:00

Dear friends, family, colleagues,

I am passing this on to you in the hope that you will support a key InnerCHANGE partnership here in Cambodia.

You possibly get emails like this from time to time, and hit DELETE, today I urge you to read on.

For some of you the Dey Krahom community is a familiar name. For others you may just now be hearing of it. The attached document gives you a very good overview.

Also included in the document is a very practical and HELPFUL way for you to be part of our ministry - especially since you likely don't live in Cambodia.

I urge you to at least send an email to the suggested addresses. A follow-up hard copy letter will add power, and will only take 10 days or so to reach Cambodia by mail. A well spent postage stamp!

Making clear to those in positions of influence and power that the world is watching will do much to promote peace in this tense situation at Dey Krahom.

Peace. Chris Baker Evens.

Urgent Action Appeal:

Please keep the pressure on the Cambodian government and authorities to NOT use violence against the villagers of Dey Krahorm. Show them the International community is WATCHING!

Media pressure is helping to keep authorities away from Dey Krahorm and forcing them to renew negotiations. Now we need the international community - that's YOU - to do their part.

See Urgent Action Appeal for Dey Krahorm Community.

In Solidarity,
Lee

A strange flower grows in the gardens of Sen Monorom

2009-01-21T13:10:00.001+07:00

Patrick, Davy and Reaksmy playing follow the leader at Sovannakiri restaurant in Sen Monorom last week.

2009-01-21T13:06:00.001+07:00

update on Dey Krahom

2009-01-20T13:46:00.001+07:00

Dear all,

thank you for your concern and prayers for the Dey Krahom community.

Here is a brief re-cap and update.

The situation changes daily. Recently the municipality (re)ordered the eviction of Dey Krahom, just after Christmas. The community rallied and the date came and went and nothing happened (no eviction), but the community has been very agitated, scared and angry.

Later the company and municipality offered to meet and negotiate a deal with the residents, but backed out at the last minute. In response the residents went down to city hall themselves and demanded to meet the deputy governor, Man Chouen. He met and suggested a figure of $20,000 per house or to prepare individual requests.

$20,000 is much lower than the figure the community are demanding - about $50,000, so that they can afford to purchase property within the city. The company is offereing to relocate them a long way outside of the city.

Two high profile residents who are masters of Cambodian traditional music, who are also disabled, were given $50,000 just last week, plus an extra $8000. I think the community would agree to something like that.

Peace,
Chris

Kratie

2009-01-15T20:48:00.001+07:00

Today we left Sen Monorom. All of us are tired from the trip so far,
Sam is tired and Patrick has been vomiting since last night. And
others are on slow mode, too.
The good news is that we've met a lot of people and gained some extra
insight into the province. Particularly the lifestyle issues for
families. I don't know that we learned a whole lot of new information
pertaining to the Bunong, but seeing it first-hand is helpful. We now
know what we are looking at in terms of people places and the COLD.
Each family and team member have their own desires and needs. We've
yet to sit down and put all the information together. That will
probably happen in a week or so.
We met with WWF today who have us extra leads to follow up. In terms
of place, Kratie is a charming town, quite similar to Kampot. A very
wide river, lots of tourists - both foreign and khmer. The town creeps
up on the unwary traveller, disturbing the fairly monotonous rural
landscape of agriculture and deserted highways. The locals are
friendly, and happy to chat to a rare foreigner who speaks passable
Khmer. I missed some opportunities to talk informally at the market in
Sen Monorom, so am trying to rectify that error here. So far its been
worthwhile from a social point of view, and to get some local info.
Such as the river not flooding for several years now, since '96 and
that many people pass through Kratie on their way to Ratanakiri.

--
Sent from Gmail for mobile | mobile.google.com

Re: Pray for Dey Krahom

2009-01-15T19:01:00.001+07:00

Dear friends, thank you for your prayers for Dey Krahom. As i
understand the situation, the municipality has now agreed to meet with
the community to discuss compensation for the evictees. Your prayers
for the negotiation are important. The good news is that the community
was not evicted today and the city is engaging in negotiations. We now
hope for the city - working on behalf of the company - will offer fair
and reasonable compensation, and that the community will continue to
hold together in this process, but also be willing to listen to
reasonable offers. This is a long term conflict and both sides have
invested much in their causes. It will be hard to know when to stay
firm and when to compromise.
Currently observers from the christian community and NGO's are
monitoring the situation on the ground.
Peace. Chris.

On 1/14/09, Chris Bakerevens <chris.bakerevens@gmail.com> wrote:
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: Chris Bakerevens <chris.bakerevens@gmail.com>
> Date: Wed, 14 Jan 2009 08:39:03 -0700
> Subject: Pray for Dey Krahom
> To: Chris.bakerevens@gmail.com
>
> Dear friends, over the past year i have sought to aid and encourage
> the Dey Krahom community stave off eviction. There have been many
> twists and turns in their journey. Every now and then rumors of
> imminent eviction surface, but no action by the company or authorities
> to carry out the threat. Though the community have been threatened,
> cajoled, manipulated, harassed, bad mouthed, imprisoned and extorted.
> Many outstanding persons have stood up on behalf of the community and
> from within the community.
>
> Over the last few days events have transpired that make it likely the
> entire community will be evicted tomorrow - thursday in cambodia,
> wednesday in the us. I ask for your prayers of intercession over this
> community, that God would change the hearts and minds of those with
> power and authority to stop the eviction.
> Peace. Chris.
>
> --
> Sent from Gmail for mobile | mobile.google.com
>

--
Sent from Gmail for mobile | mobile.google.com

Pray for Dey Krahom

2009-01-14T23:15:00.001+07:00

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Chris Bakerevens <chris.bakerevens@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 14 Jan 2009 08:39:03 -0700
Subject: Pray for Dey Krahom
To: Chris.bakerevens@gmail.com

Dear friends, over the past year i have sought to aid and encourage
the Dey Krahom community stave off eviction. There have been many
twists and turns in their journey. Every now and then rumors of
imminent eviction surface, but no action by the company or authorities
to carry out the threat. Though the community have been threatened,
cajoled, manipulated, harassed, bad mouthed, imprisoned and extorted.
Many outstanding persons have stood up on behalf of the community and
from within the community.

Over the last few days events have transpired that make it likely the
entire community will be evicted tomorrow - thursday in cambodia,
wednesday in the us. I ask for your prayers of intercession over this
community, that God would change the hearts and minds of those with
power and authority to stop the eviction.
Peace. Chris.

--
Sent from Gmail for mobile | mobile.google.com

I walked 10km

2009-01-13T06:37:00.001+07:00

Yesterday we spent the day walking around Sen Monorom town. Young was
a great guide and showed us the market and them walked the ring road
which leads to his house. He has a great place with an amazing view of
the valley. I'll post a photo later. After eating a pretty good lunch,
most of us went back to the hotel for a rest. Hayden, Dara, Darit and
i decided to a bit more investigating. We spoke to a few eco tourism
places, then set off to find the Sen Monorom waterfalls. They turn out
to be a beautifully secluded spot with an impressive falls, even
though water levels look low. I confess to being extremely sore by the
time we walked back to the hotel that night.

--
Sent from Gmail for mobile | mobile.google.com

Road from Snuol to Sen Monorom

2009-01-12T08:44:00.001+07:00

First morning

2009-01-12T07:08:00.001+07:00

As we expected, it's cold. The internet says 16C. I don't remember
that cold so i can't say if it's accurate or not.

This morning we will wall around Sen Monorom to see what is there,
what it's like, where to buy food and likely items we'd need, and
what's readily available and what we'd need to truck in.

One or two of the Hims kids were expressing reservations about moving
here, worsh about people they wouldn't be able to see any more.

It's going to be the line of note where we all lord ready access to
our friends, but have the opportunity for making new friends. It's
unclear how many foreigners live here, but i see that as a plus, and
many of us have expressed the desire to work in under resourced areas,
which means fewer foreigners. Kampot will be different in that regard.

--
Sent from Gmail for mobile | mobile.google.com

Fwd: Arrived in Sen Monorom

2009-01-12T06:42:00.001+07:00

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Chris Bakerevens <chris.bakerevens@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 11 Jan 2009 06:40:56 -0700
Subject: Arrived in Sen Monorom
To: Chris.bakerevens.ijournal@gmail.com

The drive from Snuol to Sen Monorom was over red earth gravel.
Obviously a lot of recent work, as the road was very wide and much
road work going on at different points. We travelled much slower, but
wasn't anywhere near the horror stories i've heard.
I'm really impressed how well everyone travelled - esp the kids. Sam
and Heather felt pretty sick by the end of it.
We wound through beautiful forests and rose up into the Mondulkiri
mountains. I believe they reach 1000m in places.
Patrick really enjoys the scenery and sang his favourite Collin
Buchanan song along the way - Every mountain. Every river, Every
waterfall, the one and only God, the one and only God, the one and
only God made it all. He sings quite well for a not yet four year old.

--
Sent from Gmail for mobile | mobile.google.com

On the way

2009-01-11T14:34:00.001+07:00

We've eaten lunch at a truck stop an hour from Kampong Cham. We are
now now on the dirt track to Mondulkiri, turning away from Kratie and
Stung Treng. The road is a little rough. We'll see how it feels after
three more hours.

Fortunately the signal is still strong enough for internet.
We have passed plantations of rubber, cassava, cashew, and pepper.
There are many large plantations i'm assuming are ELC's. Economic Land
Concessions. But i'd need to check on it.

--
Sent from Gmail for mobile | mobile.google.com

The journey begins

2009-01-11T08:46:00.001+07:00

As usual getting everyone to meet on time, at the same time is nigh
impossible. But we're only a half hour late.
I'm now riding on the back of a Tuk Tuk with all our bags and luggage
- 15 foreigners carry a lot of stuff. I'm told the road to Mondulkiri
is much improved from it's glory days of pitted dirt tracks and
impossible mud bogs. Fortunately for us we are travelling in the dry
season, so travel in and out of the area is possible. I'm not sure
about now, but just a few years ago, M. Was all but unreachable during
the wet reason. In addition, the area has only recently been re
electrified, after six months straight without. Now the area is hooked
up to hydro power from Viet Nam - much more reliable.

Cambodia has plans to build many many hydro power dams in the future.
It seems unrealistic to me - Cambodia is mostly plains and river delta
with very little elevation to aid a hydro power scheme. The costs are
high - Chinese companies with unreliable environmental credentials,
flooding that will disturb population of indigenous folk who are
already marginalised without the loss of vital and sacred land, as
well as the massive disruption to river ecosystems with the potential
to hinder the breeding migrations of fish that many Cambodians rely on
for protein, habitat of the near extinct freshwater dolphins of the
Mekong river, and huge tracks of land. I have read of one dam project
that would stretch for 10 kilometers at a height of 50 meters and
submerge nearly 900 square km of land. Cambodia is not a big place to
start with.

Dam projects were vigorously promoted by the World Bank for many
years, but are now realizing they rarely produce the intended benefits
and more often cause massive environmental degradation and social and
health woes. Arundhati Roy writes vigorously about the many gone-wrong
dam projects in India. The most affected by there projects are the
ones most marginalised and powerless, further diminishing their
ability to achieve happiness and wholeness, let alone political
equity.

--
Sent from Gmail for mobile | mobile.google.com

It's FREEZING!

2009-01-11T07:02:00.001+07:00

The last two mornings i've woken up to 18 degrees C. All four of us
are huddled together try to stay warm and failing miserably. And today
we're off to Mondulkiri where it's even colder. The upside is it will
be far more beautiful there.

Our main goal is to see how we could live sustainably there, or in
Kratie. We're all pretty sure we could live in Kampot without much
effort. The crazy thing is that Cambodia is quite beautiful - you just
need to get out of Phnom Penh.

Mondulkiri has the Bou Sra waterfalls and mountains, Kratie has the
Mekong river and freshwater dolphins, and Kampot has a river,
waterfalls, mountains AND is very close to the beach. Sounds like a
hard life!

--
Sent from Gmail for mobile | mobile.google.com

"There is no way to peace; peace is the way." A.J. Muste Fellowship of
Reconciliation

Chris Baker Evens
Country Director
InnerCHANGE, Cambodia
+855 12 359 143
chris.bakerevens@gmail.com
http://peace-and-justice-cambodia.awardspace.com/

Team Scout Trip

2009-01-09T14:22:00.002+07:00

Starting this Sunday the team (all 15 of us - adults and kids alike) will travel to Mondulkiri and Kratie to check out what is going on there and how we as a team could work there.

Over the next few months we will be checking out at least 3 sites: Mondulkiri, Kratie and Kampot. All of us have visited Kampot at one time or another and really wouldn't take much to get us to move there - it's beautiful, along the river in the cradle of the mountains and near the beach. What else could we want?

Oh, yes, and plenty of work opportunities. There are many poor communities in Kampot that could do with support and leadership development.

Test post

2009-01-08T23:22:00.001+07:00

This is a test. . .

--
Sent from Gmail for mobile | mobile.google.com

"There is no way to peace; peace is the way." A.J. Muste Fellowship of
Reconciliation

Chris Baker Evens
Country Director
InnerCHANGE, Cambodia
+855 12 359 143
chris.bakerevens@gmail.com
http://peace-and-justice-cambodia.awardspace.com/

2008-09-04T08:38:00.003+07:00

Exercise Regime for the last few days

Today (Thursday, 4th Sep):
40 minute run (a slower pace of the same run the last week.

Wednesday: Cross-training
knee push-ups: 20 20 15
sit ups: 10 10 10
dips: 15 15 11
jumping squats: 20 20 20

Tuesday: 35 min run
From home turned left at Dyke road, all the way to Sovanna, turned right through the back streets, another right down the long road that goes past the team office. Turn right at the Psaa Daam Sko round-a-bout, up the short hill to the dyke road, turn right and run back to the entrance to our street. 5 minute cool down walk.

Monday: Cross-training
knee push-ups: 20 15 15
sit ups: 10 10 10
dips: 15 15 15
jumping squats: 20 20 20

Sunday: rest

Saturday (30th)
30 min run, as described above, but in reverse

Friday 29: Cross-training
knee push-ups: 17 15 15
sit ups: 10 10 10
dips: 15 15 15
jumping squats: 20 20 20

Course Map

2008-08-28T08:53:00.001+07:00

http://www.angkormarathon.org/en/index.html

Training

2008-08-28T08:20:00.002+07:00

Running:

set the alarm for 5am. finally woke at 5:15am and dragged self out of bed. Got dressed and drove moto to the Olympic Stadium. Couldn't get on the track for all the razor wire! So I followed everyone else and ran around the circumference of the entire complex. Maybe 1km around? I have no way to know for sure. But I did 2 laps. I'll call that 2kms today. It felt pretty good, though my legs are a little sore right now (8:14am). Tomorrow is x-training. I'm thinking of going back to the stadium and joining one of the aerobics groups, or tai-chi!

Training

2008-08-27T15:50:00.001+07:00

Today is cross-training.

2x20 knee push-ups
2x10 crunches
2x20 squats

pretty pathetic really.

I'm planning to get up early (5am) to train at the Olympic Stadium tomorrow morning.

Angkor Wat Half Marathon

2008-08-26T12:57:00.003+07:00

I've decided to train for the Angkor Wat Half Marathon on Dec 7. This is quite the feat as I'm out of shape. I haven't done any kind of training for over a year. Also, I hate running. I like exercising (sort of), but I have NEVER liked running.

Anyway, Ive downloaded several training programs. It seems to go along the lines of:

Monday: cross training (fancy word for enjoy yourself while exercising)
Tuesday: run
Wednesday: cross training
Thursday: run
Friday: cross training
Saturday: run
Sunday: rest.

Today I went to find the local gym but I couldn't find it. It seems to have been either knocked down or replaced by a massage parlour (more fun than training I guess). So I then ran around the block. At best it's a kilometre around the block. I'm hot, sweaty and definitely out of shape.

I will try to get to the Olympic Stadium early on Thursday morning - I need to be finished by 6am or the sun will be too hot.

Blessed are the peacemakers

2008-03-09T10:42:00.000+07:00

Check out new website:

http://chris.bakerevens.googlepages.com/home

From Dominator to Partnership

2007-11-04T15:40:00.000+07:00

I first came across Riane Eisler's work "The Chalice and the Blade" while studying Community Psychology back in Australia. I was fascinated by the idea that there was archaeological evidence of different models of social structures that were able to balance the gender equation. Men and women, while physically different, with different roles even, were considered equals. I don't believe I ever read the book back then (1997 or so) but I read numerous references to it.

More recently, as I've begun the reading for the Master's in Conflict Transformation, I have encountered her name in several places. Amazingly, my wife Samantha found a copy in a second-hand bookshop here in Phnom Penh.

Just reading the intro and I can't wait to get into it. Her questions: "What is it that makes us so violent towards one another, and between men and women?" "How is it that such violent people are capable of creating poetry, music and search for justice and peace?". There is a such contradiction to who we are!

This book, published way back in 1987, parallels my own thoughts and reflections. But more often I personify them. "How can I, someone who wants to lead a non-violent life, striving for social justice, perpetuate interpersonal relational styles that are antithetical to my desired goals? Why, when faced with conflict, do I fight back instead of trying to understand the person and their situation? Why do I assume that my perception of the situation is the only right one? And, why do I seek to control situations in which I am threatened instead of allowing the threat challenge and grow me?" When I do manage to relinquish my violent domintor actions to the process of seeking peace I and the other are transformed and can communicate on a totally different level, without any hint of violence to each other. There is magic in those all-to-rare occasions.

I am hoping that my studies will not only give me skills to move institutions and society to a more just future, but also that I would be a more just person.

May Peace Reign!

Grass Roots

2007-10-30T14:27:00.001+07:00

Grassroots
Alisa Gordaneer

there’s a revolution afoot in the garden, the chickens
are scratching up resentment, the beans have surrendered.
it's become an all-out struggle, with worms,
beetles rambling in shiny coats
stolen
from the night’s shimmer.

at first it’s quiet, as though
you could imagine them fomenting quietly, muttering against
damp grass by moonlight, passing secret messages in
the scuttering of dry day. but the trees get wind of it, bushes
rustle, and suddenly the grasses know all, tell all
until the whole garden has rebellion on its leaftips, insurgency
in every seed.

it will go like this
despite the gardener, despite the scythe, despite
white flags waving from the laundry line.

Alisa Gordaneer is the 2005 Barbara Mandigo Kelly Peace Poetry Award Winner.

20 Frontiers of Global Conflict

2007-10-30T14:25:00.000+07:00

http://conflict-frontiers.beyondintractability.org/gateways/conflict-frontiers/slideshow-short.jsp

Freedom = Violence

2007-10-30T12:29:00.000+07:00

Researching I came across: http://www.classicalvalues.com/archives/2007/08/freedom_is_viol.html

This is my quick response, I couldn't post a response on the above-named blog...

Yes, you could say "Freedom = Violence". But only because the Capitalist Freedom believes in the inalienable right of every American (British, Australian, etc) to live as s/he desires regardless of the consequences to anyone else (outside of our country, thank you very much). Free Trade Agreements? how "free" do you think they really are? Has America stopped subsidizing it's farmers yet? I don't think so, yet America yells and screams for everyone else to cut tariffs to create an 'equal playing field', while giving it's own a giant leap into the stratosphere. South Korea has been planting rice for centuries and has the capacity to grow enough rice for it's population, yet subsized American rice undercuts market rates.

This is what us loonies in Peace Studies (and other associated fields) would call Structural Violence in the Name of Freedom. The real question is "Freedom for whom?", because it isn't freedom for all.

Conflict Transformation - the beginnings

2007-10-29T15:30:00.000+07:00

Dear Reader,

in less than a month I begin studies in Conflict Transfomation. What is CT and why would I want to study it? Where am I studying and what does it entail?

The Masters in Conflict Transformation is offered in partnership with ACTS (Action for Conflict Transformation) and the Pannasatra University in Phnom Penh. There are several other course run in other continents (Balkans, eg) through the global ACTs network. It is a two-year program designed to be integrated into participants work-places. The final year is a major research project which I currently plan to be based on the experiences at Cheas Ponleu / WDO where I have been working the last 2 years.

Conflict exists everywhere, and at every level of society. There are many reasons and theoretical explanations for conflict. I am particularly interested in investigating conflict at the institutional and international level. We are living in a global community, and we cannot ignore the global effects our small, local lives have. The well-worn motto "think global, act local" sums up this intent pretty well.

In a place like Cambodia, institutional conflict is all around us, yet the political institution is resistant in letting voices of discontent to be heard. I hope to explore ways for Cambodians to express their voices of discontent in constructive ways, so that oppressed/oppressor can find common future paths, rather than seeing mutually exclusive ones. Many people's revolutions have simply turned the tables in who is oppressing whom. Iraq has demonstrated that while Saddam Hussein was an insane mad man, he kept an unsteady balance between warring factions. The military pre-emptive incursion in Iraq has created a blood-bath far beyond Saddam's regime, and has destabilised not only Iraq, but the political shere in the region. This, too could happen in Cambodia (but on a smaller scale). Hun Sen is the 'king-pin' of Cambodian political life. He holds many factions together and in somewhat-peaceful balance. This balance ensures that anyone who feels they are entitled to a piece of Cambodian wealth has it. Of course, this mainly benefits the Cambodian fat cats and usually disempowers and disenfranchises the poor, ethnic minorities, and sub-culture groups.

The 'answer' to Cambodia's 'problems' is not the removal of Hun Sen and his cronies by the powerless poor, thus turning them into powerful demagogues destined to repeat the horrors of the past, but to find a common future, where all can enjoy freedom of expression (of who they are, of dissent, of where they live, how they express religion, sexuality, personhood). Freedom to be truly human, not afraid to be such.

Right now I am pretty idealistic about Conflict Transformation, but I hope this course and my research will give me greater insight and practical applications for making positive use of the conflicts around us.

Humility Meditations

2007-05-16T16:09:00.000+07:00

Each quarter of the year we spend a month or so reflecting on one of the
6 commitments of InnerCHANGE. This time around we are looking at the
commitment to Humility.

I suppose I have always thought of myself as humble, or at least, not
arrogant or self-seeking. But the past month has highlighted for me
times when I want to grab control of things. Especially as our team goes
through a leadership transition, I find myself dreaming of all the
things I could do with the team as part of the new leadership council.
And really I am looking at it as if our team were a blank sheet of
paper. But as I try to respect our former leader's contribution I
realise to actuate my plans right now, would be counteractive to the
commitment of humility. So I require patience.

Purple fingers

2007-04-02T13:44:00.000+07:00

Returning to Phnom Penh, we found that everyone has dyed their right
index finger purple. In the tradition known as "throwing the sugar palm"
(បោះត្នោត) each Cambodian person over the age of 18 casts his or her
vote in the commune elections (Communes, larger than villages, are
somewhat like local governments and are responsible for regulating
various areas of Cambodian life).

Cambodian political life is broken down into various layers: national,
provincial, commune and village.