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Puerto Rico Update
#30, Summer 2000 Fast for Peace in Vieques: An Appeal to the Conscience of President Clinton On Tuesday, July 25, 2000, representatives from churches and popular movement organizations and people of faith and conscience will begin a fast in front of Camp Garcia, the entrance to the bombing range on the eastern end of the small island of Vieques. The Camp Peace and Justice for Vieques will host the fast. The purpose is to appeal to the conscience of President Bill Clinton so that he grant a long-requested meeting with representatives from Vieques who oppose the Navy bombing of their island. This will be a rotating fast where each organization or individual will take turns fasting for one day a week. The co-coordinators of the fast are: Colleen McNamara of the Alianza de Mujeres Viequenses and Angel "Tato" Guadalupe, brother of Ismael Guadalupe who is one of the most visible and outspoken leaders demanding that the Navy stop using Vieques as a bombing range. Other individuals who will join the fast will come from the following organizations: Committee for the Rescue and Development of Vieques, the Catholic Church, and the United Methodist Church. In Washington, a fast begins on July 25 with the same simple request. Organizations and individuals are invited to join the fast in any way they feel called. Supporters will hold vigils in front of the White House every day from 4 to 8 p.m. Some participants in this witness will carry on an open-ended, liquid-only (no calories), fast for a minimum of 30 days if the request is not granted. If there is no movement whatsoever on the part of the Clinton Administration, the fast will continue indefinitely. All who share the commitment to stop the bombing in Vieques are invited to support this fast in any way. We are looking for individuals and organizations to be part of the support team; to participate in the one-day, rotating fast; to consider fasting for a longer period of time, to help organize fasts in other cities and countries and more. For more information please contact: Andrés Thomas Conteris, the FOR Task Force on Latin American and the Caribbean. Tel.202-232-1999 E-mail: viequesfast@mail.com or Colleen McNamara in Vieques: lacolina@excite.com.
Fellowship of Reconciliation ©2001 Fellowship of Reconciliation |