TOWARD TRUE ALTERNATIVES
TO COCA: Ways Forward for USAID
in Colombia
(download PDF)

OTHER LWR PROJECTS


Fair Trade
Coffee
Project

Fair Trade
Chocolate
Project

Fair Trade
Handcraft
Project

ADVOCACY RESOURCES,
TIPS AND TOOLS

Take action now--see LWR's latest action alert on Colombia.

• Involve Your Congregation and Community in Advocacy
• Educational Resources on Colombia
• Work With Your Local Media
• Meeting with Members of Congress

INVOLVE YOUR CONGREGATION AND COMMUNITY IN ADVOCACY

New LWR resources to guide prayer, reflection and action on peace in Colombia.

Congregations and individuals interested in learning more about peace and conflict in Colombia can download these materials directly or order copies by calling 800.LWR.LWR.2 and indicating the item#.

A background on the Colombian conflict item# GPAP1	Bulletin Insert item# GPAP2	A guide to Prayer and Worship item# GPAP3	LWR advocacy "asks" for Colombia item# GPAP4

• Make Paper Dolls and Help Stop Displacement
  in Colombia
  Organize a Doll-Making Party.
  For more information click here.
  
  
• Advocacy Ideas That Work - 7 ways to make advocacy a part of your church's ministry.
  
  
• Ask Others to Advocate with LWR - Sign-Up Sheet
  Initiate your advocacy efforts is in your home community. Ask your congregation, neighbors, family and friends to join with you in working for peace, justice and dignity for our brothers and sisters around the world by signing up to receive occasional LWR advocacy updates. Copy this resource and send filled in copies to LWR.
  
  
  
• Talking Colombia - How to host a teach-in style educational forum on the conflict in Colombia
  
  
• "Charlas Colombianas" (Colombian Chats) - A guide to gathering small groups in your home to talk about Colombia.
  
  
• Talking About a Resolution - Your Guide to Drafting Official Community Statements on Colombia
  
  
  
• Vigil for Peace in Colombia
  
1. A suggested service outline for use in your community, church or with your family.
   
   
2. Diverse resources to assist you in planning your vigil.
   
   
3. Adapt this flyer to publicize your vigil.
   

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EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES ON COLOMBIA

• Congress sends strong message to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton asking her to take a lead on improved policy in Colombia. LWR constituents played an important role in securing the support of many congressional representatives for this letter. To read the content of the letter, download here.
  
  
  
  

• Defend the Defenders Campaign. An international campaign supported by LWR to protect the lives and rights of those defending human rights in Colombia. Download and read the campaigns initial report "Under Fear" and recommendations. To join the campaign e-mail aromoser@lwr.org
  
  
  
  
  

• After Plan Colombia. An important report evaluating initial Colombia and US government support for "integrated action" — a civic-military model representing the newest phase of Plan Colombia. Download here.

   

• A report released by Human Rights First highlights new attempts to silence human rights defenders in Colombia. The report, entitled “In the Dock and Under the Gun: Baseless Prosecution of Human Rights Defenders in Colombia,” documents 30 cases in which human rights defenders have been illegally imprisoned and details how the legal system in Colombia is being used to silence human rights defenders and weaken their efforts.  Continued U.S. emphasis and support for judicial reform in Colombia is essential to ending this persecution against Colombian human rights defenders.  (visit the website)
  
  
• Toward True Alternatives: LWR launches an innovative report and recommendations aimed at improving alternative development work in Colombia and supporting the goals of small farming communities.
  
  For questions or to order the report contact Annalise Romoser at aromoser@lwr.org. (download PDF)
  
  
• Plan Colombia
  United States Government Accountability Office Report to the Honorable Joseph R. Biden, Jr., Chairman, Committee on Foreign Relations, U.S. Senate October 2008
  (download PDF)
  
  
• A Compass for Colombia Policy
  An excellent document that outlines detailed recommendations for the next U.S. administration and Congress regarding Colombia. LWR is pleased to share this informatve 32-page document with you and encourages you to use it as a resource as you continue to educate yourself about U.S. - Colombia policy, carry out your own important advocacy on this issue and work in partnership with LWR to promote a more just and peaceful U.S. policy for Colombia.
  
  ( download PDF in English ) ( PDF En Español )
  To order a free hard copy contact Annalise Romoser at aromoser@lwr.org
  
  
• A Call To Peace: Lessons from Communities of Faith in Action
  (download PDF)
  
  
• A Mass for El Salado
  Report by Patricia Forner written from Barranquilla, February 27, 2005
  
  
• Colombia Education Packet - A four-part guide for groups.
  
  
• Footprints that Cannot Be Erased: The Shameful Trail to Bogota - video from LWR partner CODHES about the plight of the displaced in Colombia. Includes study guide. (Borrow the video from LWR's resource center at 1-800-LWR-LWR2).
  
  

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WORK WITH YOUR LOCAL MEDIA

• The Basics: How to Work With Your Local Media - 4-page guide on writing letters to the editor, meeting with an editorial board, and more.

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MEETING WITH MEMBERS OF CONGRESS

• Contact information for President and
  Members of Congress
  
  Capitol Switchboard:
  202-224-3121

  Online contact information:
  U.S. House of Representatives website
  U.S. Senate website
  

• Schedule a Meeting with your Member of Congress
  This helpful LWR tool clearly spells out how to schedule a meeting with your Representative or Senators.
  
  
• Preparing to meet with your Member of Congress
  Use this resource to prepare for your meeting with your Representative or Senators. Remember to contact LWR so we can help you through the final planning stages.
  
  

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