The Persecuted Church

Around the world, millions of people are imprisoned, persecuted and killed for their faith. In this month's main session, Justice Matters will be learning about the situation for Christians in different parts of the world and the organisations working to support believers in the face of persecution.

Please note that this session will not be taking place at our usual meeting place but at the Guy Chester Centre on Pages Lane in Muswell Hill (N10 1PR). We hope you can join us!

A well-earned break

We've has sessions on Fairtrade, on domestic violence, on water and sanitation. We've had discussions on Occupy and FGM. We've painted someone's flat and we've hosted a film screening. After all the hard work, we figured it was time for a night off just enjoying each others' company. So, for our first Wednesday in the month gathering in April, we'll just be hanging out at The Griffin pub in Whetstone. Whether you're a regular or you've not yet made it along to a gathering, please come along and join us for a few drinks. We'll be there (probably in the side room) from 7:30pm this coming Wednesday (4th April).

Our third Wednesday in the month will be focussing on the persecuted Church. More details to follow. ..

Blood in the Mobile

Free film screening

7:30pm, Wednesday 7th March

St Barnabas Church, Holden Road, Woodside Park

This Fairtrade Fortnight, joins us as we explore the next challenge for ethical consumers - conflict free minerals.

We love our mobiles but the production of phones has a dark, bloody side.

Many of the minerals used to produce mobile  phones come from mines in the Eastern DR Congo. In buying these conflict minerals, the West is financing  a civil war that, according to human rights organisations, has been the bloodiest conflict since the  Second World War.

With footage from inside Congo’s mines and interviews with mobile giant Nokia, Blood in Mobile is a film about conflict, consumerism and collective responsibility. 

As well as the film, there will be Fairtrade nibbles and market stalls with merchandise from ethical and Fairtrade jewellery companies. 

It's going to be a great evening, so we hope you can join us!

For more information

http://tinyurl.com/jmbloodmobile

Screened with permission of Dogwoof Documentary.

Ending violence against women

"In the UK, 25% of women will experience domestic violence in their lifetime. Both women and men need to stand together to end this horrific and all pervasive reality that affects so many women and children."

In January, Justice Matters were honoured to have Nathalie from Restored visit and share her story with us. Through her own painful life experiences she now works to raise awareness of domestic violence, equipping groups like ours to be better prepared to spot and support those suffering in this way. Her presentation was frank and unflinching in its details, provoking some lively discussion from members and practical responses for many.

We heard about the First Man Standing campaign which calls men everywhere to be the first in their family, club, church or workplace to stand up and speak out about ending violence against women. By signing up to be a First Man Standing, men are committing to:

1. Respect all women everywhere and demonstrate love and support for women and children in your family.
2. Challenge other men by speaking out to their friends and colleagues about ending violence and negative attitudes towards women.
3. Join the cause and make a personal pledge; “never to commit, condone or remain silent about violence against women”

More information on the campaign can be found here.

Continuing the theme of ending violence against women, our pub chat in early February looked at the link between glamazon culture, cosmetic surgery and FGM. Labiaplasty is on the rise in the UK (inspired in no small part by the influence of the pornography industry on public perceptions of female beauty), but women from FGM practising countries are banned from having this type of surgery, begging the question: how can the same medical procedure be considered mutilation for some and fashionable for others? We learnt about the origins of FGM as a practise to identify female slaves and considered the parallels with the objectification of women in pornography, and we explored practical ways to empower teachers and others to protect children who they suspect may be at risk of being taken abroad to undergo FGM.

Thanks to those who came and shared in the discussions. More information on the issues around FGM can be found on the 28toomany website, which is run by Justice Matters leader Ann-Marie.

February Update

Thanks to those of you who have dragged yourselves out of your warm homes to join us at gatherings already this year. Both our January session on domestic violence and the last week's pub chat on FGM were as uncompromising as they were engaging. You will be able to see a report on these discussions on this blog shortly.

With Fairtrade Fortnight on the horizon (27 Feb - 11 March), our next two sessions will be focused on the issue of trade justice. On the 15th February we will be hearing from Colin about why he is passionate about Fairtrade and how we can all make a difference to the lives of those who produce many of the goods we take for granted. Then we'll be putting that information to good use planning ways to promote trade justice in our work places, families and communities during Fairtrade Fortnight. As ever, come along from 7pm for food and networking before the main session. Let us know if you are coming on the Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/236630936419875/

On the 7th March we'll be doing something new and hosting a screening of the provocative documentary film, Blood in the Mobile. As well as the movie, which looks at the murky connection between the minerals that power our modern luxuries and the bloody conflict in DR Congo, there will be Fairtrade nibbles and stalls for ethical jewellery companies. This will be taking place in the Parish Hall at St Barnabas Church on Holden Road, Woodside Park from 7pm. The Facebook page for the event is here: https://www.facebook.com/events/361364947215687/

We're excited about both sessions, so we hope you'll be able to join us.

Welcome 2012

The Christmas wrapping paper is in the recycling box along with New Year's champagne bottles. Resolutions have been made, left-overs finished off and London has just been ravaged by an apocalyptic rain storm. Yep, 2012 is here and we are looking forward to a new and exciting year for Justice Matters.

Join us as usual on the third Wednesday in the month to "learn to do right, seek justice and defend the oppressed." eat with us from 7pm or join us at 8pm for the main event.

If you are looking for something else to fill you January, you might also be interested in this play about sex trafficking that a friend of Justice Matters is co-directing.

See you on the 18th...

Shedding light on sex trafficking

A friend of Justice Matters is co-directing a play this January. She describes it as a powerful and delicate take on one girl's journey from darkness to recovery, told in poetry, physical theatre and song. Anyone interested in going?

The birds, only the birds can see

Two stories intertwine with each other until they become one. 

The first story is told in the present. The play begins with a poem, it echoes into the past, where bells of truth make sounds that resonate to the heart. It may be disturbing and real, but the journey for Lilly is about to end. For those who are watching, the journey has just begun. 

Lilly unexpectedly finds herself in a poetry class. Maybe, just maybe, by finding a way to tell her story, it might release her from the past. Jason her teacher, a cold hearted man makes it all uncomfortable. Only the best are selected for the exam and she’s not one of them. Despite the rejection, Lilly has a choice, whether to give up and leave the course, or to fight? 

As the poem is being told, we jump to the second story, which is the past. Lilly’s wish is to be a dancer, an unexpected stranger arrives just in time. Thinking he’s about to change her life for the better, he takes her to a house to be sex trafficked. Lilly is beaten up and forced to give services to men. Unable to go anywhere through fear of being killed, her only hope is to find comfort in drugs. 

Too much of a wish, can destroy a dream. 

9 - 22 January 2012

7.45pm
Tickets: £12

Box office: 0208 932 4747
londontheatre@googlemail.com

Find out more via Facebook or by contacting the theatre.