What now?

This question of what one can do after learning and being challenged through experiences here is one that comes up again and again; a question that we want groups to struggle with and one that we ourselves struggle with on a daily basis. How can we connect our experiences here to our lives at home? What can we do? Is it even possible to do anything in the face of so many huge issues? An email I recently received from a group leader expresses this inner struggle well:

"It’s very strange to realize that it’s almost been a month since we’ve been back in Canada. It sometimes feels like it’s so easy to lose touch with experiences such as what we had. One thing I always struggle with when I travel is how to reconcile the two realities. It boggles my mind that flying 6 hours can put you in such a different situation."

In the work we do with MCC, we often use this great word "advocacy" as an answer to these questions. But really, do we even know what advocacy means? How can advocacy be turned into concrete actions that make sense in our daily lives? Rebecca Bartel, former policy analyst for MCC Latin America and the Caribbean, has written a great article that outlines some basic steps in starting this process; see below for highlights from her article. For more information on what MCC is doing and how you can become engaged, contact the current policy analyst at: policyanalyst@laca.mcc.org
MCC Latin America Advocacy Blog

What is Advocacy?
A tool for carrying out MCC’s mission by
fomenting change in the structures and
policies that create injustice, as well as
creating the conditions necessary for
sustainable development,
reconstruction, peace and justice work
to be possible. It is a necessary tool in
the building of God’s Kingdom.

Advocacy is more than only witnessing to
government; it is a process of raising awareness
in ourselves and in our communities about the
root causes of the issues we are working with in
our service assignments. Advocacy is about
taking concrete situations of poverty, violence,
injustice and lack of human dignity, to a
broader level of analysis which looks at the
structural and systemic reasons for the
problems we work to address in our work with
communities and churches.

How you can get involved
SEE – Experience
What do I know of this issue?
What have I experienced of this?
Who are affected most by this and how?
How has the issue arisen?

JUDGE – Analyze
Why is this happening?
Who gains from this situation?
Who loses out?
Why does this situation continue?

REFLECT – A Faith Perspective
What particular insight/view does our faith, church teaching, and scriptures give us on this issue?

ACT - Advocate
What needs to be done to resolve this situation? What can I/we/my church community do?
How will your action change those involved?
How can you tell if it is successful?

And...A Few Action Ideas
(thank you to the staff at the Canadian Foodgrains Bank for sharing these)

SHOP WISELY: Choose and ask for environmentally sustainable goods and services, and Fair Trade. Avoid products subject to boycott due to severe violations of human rights, and labour rights.

SPEAK UP: Communicate your interest in these products to stores and businesses that don’t offer them at present. Research alternatives.

GIVE: Volunteer and financially support organizations doing good work for hunger and food security, caring for Creation, protecting human rights, bringing about trade justice, etc.

SHARE: Communicate your views with your elected government officials— MP’s , MLA’s, the PM. Write a letter, email, or postcard. Or call them up and ask for a visit.

ADVOCATE: For civil, provincial, and federal adherence to the highest internationally binding environmental, and human rights standards, peace campaigns, etc. E.g. the Human Right to Food.

LEARN: Cultivate a spirit of passionate curiosity. Keep yourself informed about the issues. Keep learning and share what you learn with colleagues, family and friends.

WATCH: Peruse the internet, radio, television, newspapers, magazines and other media for signs of hope and struggle.

DISPELL: Be a myth buster, avoid perpetuating stereotypes and prejudices about people, and poverty, anywhere in the world.

BUILD: Incite solidarity & compassion for all people facing hunger and injustice, at home and abroad.

USE: Consume God’s gifts of Creation wisely. Use less fossil fuels, energy, water.

PRAY: For these issues, for the people you have met, for an end toinjustice, hunger and oppression.