Newsletter: Spring, 2003

The Art of Peacemaking
— Patricia Mathes Cane, Ph.D. Capaticar Founder/Co-Director

Capacitar recently participated in the international conference of the UN Commission on the Status of Women held in New York. While the United Nations Security Council negotiated the imminent possibilities of war next door to the conference, women grassroots leaders from around the world met to collaborate on strategies to stop the escalating violence that deeply affects the lives of women and children in most countries.

Capacitar's presence was sponsored by the International Presentation Association of the Sisters of the Presentation, the Temple of Understanding, and Tribal Links Foundation. These three UN NGOs (non-governmental organizations) coordinated our workshop that gave an overview of Capacitar's work and the skills we teach to heal the violence and trauma suffered by women and girls internationally. Women from Cuba, Mexico, the Ukraine, Armenia, Northern Ireland and the United States shared in our presentation. Many of these women were themselves involved in the challenging work and the art of peacemaking in their communities. It was inspiring to see so many positive grassroots efforts, in the midst of the global tension. And many of the women spoke passionately about the hard work we must do and the skills we must learn to change the behaviors and attitudes that are destroying our world.

We are reminded of our meeting last summer with a Tanzanian bishop who was involved in resettlement efforts with many thousands of refugees from Rwanda and Burundi. He asked: "How is it possible for these people to build peaceful and just societies, when all they know is violence and trauma?" The behaviors and values of past generations are no longer sufficient for our current situation. What is desperately needed now is a new kind of literacy in the vital art of peacemaking. This requires: Learning ways to heal our personal wounds and trauma so these are not projected onto the community. Learning skills in nonviolence, conflict resolution and reconciliation within families and societies. And learning how to embody and practice daily the behaviors and the art of peacemaking.

There is great hope in the growing numbers of people and groups who are embodying the art of peacemaking. Capacitar recently collaborated with some of these groups in different parts of the world. In Quiché, Guatemala, Utz K'Aslemal, the Mayan Mental Health Team, works with rural indigenous communities to heal the war trauma suffered by thousands of Mayans. In Thiotte, the Haiti Medical Mission of Wisconsin offers medical care, support and friendship with thousands of Haitians who suffer the impact of poverty, violence and economic sanctions. In Tucson, AZ and Nogales, Mexico, Borderlinks creates valuable solidarity exchanges and collaborative programs across the US-Mexico border where people deal with the negative impact of globalization. And in Indonesia, Bali and East Timor many grassroots groups are learning Capacitar practices to give them skills for creating peaceful societies. This newsletter describes some of these groups.

Capacitar in Nogales, Mexico
In February Capacitar led a bi-national holistic conference sponsored by Borderlinks of Tucson, Arizona, and Nogales, Mexico. Sixty men and women from both sides of the border enthusiastically participated in the training led by Pat Cane at Casa Misericordia in Nogales, MX. The training also involved the sharing of traditional healing practices and Aztec dances.

Borderlinks grew out of the Sanctuary Movement of the 1980's focusing on the plight of refugees. It currently works with issues related to the impact of globalization on border communities. Borderlinks programs range from border solidarity visits of church groups and university students, to micro-credit and community banking, adult education and a hot lunch program that feeds over 300 children a day.

Capacitar in Haiti
Capacitar recently collaborated with the Haiti Medical Mission of Wisconsin (HMMW) in Thiotte, Southeastern Haiti near the Dominican border. Since 1997 HMMW Founder Maureen Murphy-Greenwood, M.D., and teams of Midwest doctors and medical professionals have worked in this rural community of 25,000 people, where the nearest hospital is 4 hours away. Haiti is a country of 8 million, where the vast majority survive on less than $250 a year and have no access to health care.

Pat Cane led Capacitar workshops for the medical team and for hundreds of Haitians who waited daily to see the doctors. Fingerholds for fear and anxiety were used by patients awaiting surgery. Doctors and nurses taught patients acupressure points to give them something they could do for themselves. During the visit, Pat worked with translator Daniel Massillon to develop a new manual in Creole to be published later this year, to make Capacitar practices accessible to the people of Haiti and the Caribbean.

Capacitar in Indonesia
Toward the end of a three day training in Manado, North Sulawesi in Indonesia, the participants were relaxed and enthusiastic about the possible ways of incorporating Capacitar into their work of healing and transformation in their areas which are experiencing severe conflicts. At that point, one person who participated in a previous workshop began to share his own experience. "I was so happy after Jakarta! Ready to return home with wonderful plans for the work! But several weeks after my return, I had a real crisis and began to experience so many effects of trauma." He explained to us that he could no longer work, no longer pray, he didn't know himself. He asked for some time away from everything and everyone and was able to go to a quiet place far away.

Although his time was cut short because of new conflicts that arose in his area, he had begun to use the practices he learned in Jakarta and experienced his nervousness fading into calm. He described for us the change of attitude that grew as he spent time each day in Tai Chi meditation. It helped him remain calm, even relaxed in the very tense situation of conflict. In addition - here, he gave us a big grin and patted his stomach with satisfaction - he lost a good deal of the weight that was adding to his tension! He continues with the Tai Chi and other practices now and is sharing them with others.

He impressed all of us with the fact that healing and transformation don't come overnight! The first rest and relaxation is often followed by even keener experience of the symptoms of trauma, but we have some ways to help ourselves. And if we make these part of our daily life, then we have ways to help others, too.