WSCF LAC Declaration on the Current Situation of International Conflict

Cárdenas/ Buenos Aires, September 9, 2013

Brothers and Sisters:

Lately rumors of wars and armed conflicts have circulated among us, filling us with uncertainty and hopelessness. But fortunately, a few weeks ago we celebrated half a century since Martin Luther King’s memorable “I Have a Dream” speech. God has brought to our memory the prophetic voice of Martin Luther King, encouraging us to reintroduce ourselves with those dreams of peace, justice, liberty, equality: the dream of “Buen Vivir,” living well, being possible for everyone.

This inspiration, together with the prophetic voices of civil society which have been lifted up in Latin America and in other contexts, denouncing the injustices of oppressive powers, inspires us to affirm and declare, as the World Student Christian Federation, that:

• We advocate for a peaceful solution to the internal conflicts which devastate Syria and Egypt. We join in with a perspective of dialogue, forgiveness, and reconciliation which can end the conflicts in these countries.
• We reject the belligerent and interfering proposals of the governments which threaten to intervene militarily in Syria under the guise of restoring peace, when actually they speak of "protection" of some in detriment to the rights and safety of many others.
• We affirm that the use of chemical weapons is an aggression against God’s creation, which groans in the face of ecological outrages; their use it completely in opposition to the peace process for the world. We affirm life, before any other discourse.
• We pray for dialogue towards peace in Colombia; for the struggle supported by the farmers and other members of civil society who are reclaiming their rights; for the churches in Colombia, and the ecumenical organizations which contribute daily to the path of peace with justice. We pray because this dialogue is accompanied by a spirit of equality and social justice.
• We pray for the situation of conflict and violence which is being lived in Mexico, for the hundreds of voices silenced and disappeared, victims of a veiled conflict, which becomes normal with time; because the struggle of these people is in our thoughts and prayers.
• We add our voices to the demands for peace with justice for the world and we join in with the prayers of all the brothers and sisters who dream with a new house, where peace reigns and where God’s justice dwells.
• We join in with the journey of solidarity for the liberation of the five Cuban anti-terrorists, prisoners in the United States. We pray for their families and we join in with the cry for justice upon remembering this September 12 one more anniversary of their unjust imprisonment.
• We accompany our prayers with concrete actions which affirm these dreams in the educational and liturgical spaces of our faith communities.

We continue walking together with Jesus, in solidarity and hope.

In the love of God, Solidarity, and Justice 



Sarahí García Gómez 

WSCF- LAC President

Marcelo Leites 

WSCF-LAC Regional Secretary