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The hands in the shape of the heart over the broken earth signify the need as well as the hope of overcoming violence. The yellow earth stands for hope amidst turmoil, while the sharp edges of the green shape emphasize the danger the earth is in. The movement around the earth signifies the dynamism of this global initiative. The logo is available in four languages: English, French, German and Spanish. It is obtainable her or by sending us an e-mail request. Invitation to Christians to a "Lenten Fast From Violence" On the occasion of the common dates of Lent, the common celebration of Easter on 15 April 2001, and the inauguration of the Decade to Overcome Violence, US member churches of the WCC are inviting all Christians to a "Lenten Fast From Violence". During Lent 2001, Christians from all traditions are invited to enter into this special period of time with a focus on the growing violence throughout the world and the need for peace and reconciliation. During Lent three spiritual disciplines are uppermost: prayer, fasting and charitable giving. During this period, US Christians are thus invited to: pray the prayer of St. Francis daily: "Lord, make me an instrument of your peace"; refrain from violence, and abstain from ways in which we consume and support violence, individually and communally; give to those efforts that address the causes and consequences of violence and that support peace and reconciliation.

WCC PUBLICATIONS: AVAILABLE THROUGH THE WORLD COUNCIL OF CHURCHES BOOK STORE Transforming Violence, Linking Local and Global Peacemaking by Robert Herr & Judy Zimmerman Herr Overcoming Violence: The Challenge to the Churches in All Places by Margot Kässmann Small Arms, Big Impact: A Challenge to the Churches WCC Publications, 1997 Peace to the City:Video Series & Companion Book 7-part video series - Book by Dafne Plou OTHER RESOURCES: Gewalt überwinden (Series: Christ sein weltweit) Available from Evangelical Missionswerk in Germany Email: einewelt@emw-d.de Youth Peace Training Manual All Africa Conference of Churches, 1999 Available from All Africa Conference of Churches Email: aacc@maf.org Also at the WCC book store Möt volden-Kirkelig Arbeid mot makteslöshet (meeting violence-the churches work to help the powerless) Available from Kirkens Nödhjelp Tel: (+47.22) 09.27.26 INSTITUTIONS AND COURSES Life & Peace Institute P.O. Box 1520 SE-751 45 Uppsala, Sweden Courses: The role of religion in conflict and peace Human rights and economic justicebr> Conflict transformation International University of Peoples’ Institutions for Peace Palazzo dell’Istruzione Corso Bettini, 84 I-38068 Rovereto, Italy Tel: (+39.464) 42.42.88 Email: iupip@inf.unitn.it Courses: three-week courses sponsored by UNESCO and the University of Trento People’s diplomacy Non-violence - Human governance - Global solidarity Join the e-mail group for the Decade to Overcome Violence As a communication instrument for DOV, churches in Germany started an e-mail group for sharing of information during the Decade. If you are interested, please subscribe to: gewaltueberwinden-subscribe@egroups.de, only in German . For any events, courses and books related to DOV you would like to include in the calendar or resource list, please email us: DOV office

© Elly Wamari, AACC Elly Wamari Oudo is a cartoonist and editorial assistant for Tam Tam, a quarterly magazine of the All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC).

Is there hope in a world of violence? In response to the DOV questionnaire on "What are your hopes for the Decade to Overcome Violence?" people answered: That the church becomes a body that genuinely incarnates the peace of Christ rather than actually contributing to the world’s brokenness. Cynthia Yuen, Christian Conference of Asia in Hong Kong. To change hearts, minds and behaviours by raising awareness of different forms of violence. Student Christian Movement, Belarus.

That the DOV will cease all forms of violence, in particular violence due to racism, ethnic hatred, violence among youth, socio-economic violence, violence within the church, home and family. World Vision, India.

That Africa will learn non-violent methods of resolving conflicts, whether they are in our homes, in churches, in communities or global conflicts. DeEhe Wald Beghtol, Mindolo Ecumenical Foundation, Zambia.

To grasp that involvement should start with protecting people from violence. Interchurch Peace Council (IKV), The Hague, Netherlands.

To give stature to mediation as a tool for resolving conflict. Centre de Recherche sur la Médiation, Belgium.

That peace be seen as an active commitment to a non-violent society. Quaker Peace Centre, South Africa.

WELCOME!... to the first issue of Overcoming Violence - the Decade to Overcome Violence (DOV) newsletter. It aims to communicate and share information from member churches and civil society on issues related to the Decade and the struggle against violence. You are urged to send in your contributions, not only on how we can improve our future publications but also on issues which are of prime concern to your region/country. Overcoming Violence will be published four times a year and distributed free Produced by: WCC Public Information Team Editorial Team: Karin Achtelstetter Diana Mavunduse Miriam Reidy-Prost Sara Speicher For further information write to: Overcoming Violence WCC Communication P.O.BOX 2100 1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland Telephone: (41-22) 791 6111 General Fax: (41-22) 791 0361 Communication Fax: (41-22) 798 1346 Material can be reproduced freely: please credit the WCC Design: Marie Arnaud Snakkers Printed in Switzerland © WCC

Meeting of historic peace churches The DOV has inspired a theological consultation of historic peace churches (HPC) 24-29 June 2001, to convene at Bienenberg Theological Seminary in Switzerland The gathering of theologians from the Brethren, Mennonite and Quaker churches will identify common axioms of peace theology under the theme "Theology and Culture: Peace-making in a Globalized World". These churches are planning the consultation, with theologians from the south as well as from Europe and North America. Boston says "no" to violence The World Council of Churches’ Peacebuilding and Disarmament Programme hosted its first training workshop for the Peace to the City network, 14-17 November, in Boston, USA. The Boston training workshop on urban violence and human security brought together members of the clergy, police and community organizations from eight cities to experience first-hand the peace-building strategy of the Boston Coalition. Jim Wallis, editor of Sojourners magazine and a supporter of the Ten-Point Coalition, was keynote speaker. Faced with growing urban violence, especially gang-related gun violence, Boston clergy, police and community workers have come together to address the problems. Ten-Point Coalition founders have taken an extremely active role in community life, through school and after-school programmes, community policing, and court advocacy. This positive presence, and a strong collaboration between the church, police and community agencies, have led to a drastic reduction of violence on the streets of Boston. Participants in the workshop heard first-hand testimony about Ten-Point through a series of panel discussions with clergy and youth in the programme, plus conversations with members of the Boston police department and its gang unit, the district attorney’s office, and the department of youth services. On "ride-alongs" with the police, participants saw the programme in practice and also heard from street workers involved directly with the gangs. Peace to the City network members who participated in the training workshop each developed an individual city plan, borrowing from the Boston model. Taking into consideration their own municipal structure, resources and external problems, the participants examined the problems to address, key players, and potential steps to be taken in order to adapt the concept of Ten-Point to their context. This training workshop was held within the framework of the Decade to Overcome Violence. In bringing together church representatives, community workers and police to examine the issue of urban violence, the World Council of Churches provided a cross-cultural forum for sharing and learning which it is hoped will be a template for future workshops.