AMERICA/BRAZIL - “Youth Standing Up Against Violence” is the motto for Citizens' Week 2009

Brasilia (Agenzia Fides) – The Youth Pastoral Ministry of Brazil is calling on all youth in the country to participate in the Citizens' Week 2009, which will began yesterday, April 14, and runs until April 21, with the theme: “Youth and Crime” and the motto: “Youth Standing Up Against Violence.” According the Youth Ministry Office, the goal of the encounter is to show the various factors that lead to crime among the youth and encourage discussion and concrete proposals for building a more just society.
“The youth of Brazil are organized into various groups in the communities, schools, rural areas, and neighborhoods, and other places. In this Week, we hope to encourage a great March for Life.” Fr. Gisley Azevedo, National Youth Ministry Coordinator for the Bishops' Conference, commented. He also mentioned that the youth of Brazil are often involved in or suffer the consequences of crime every day. Thus, it is the responsibility of all to do all they can to stop it. With this encounter, Youth Ministry in Brazil also hopes to be the voice of the black population of Brazil who call for racial equality, the indigenous peoples who call for a just division of lands, of the small farmers who call for agricultural reform and of the urban populations who call for reform in the city, and for all oppressed peoples. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 15/4/2009)