Arthur J. Block

Arthur J. Block is a senior student of Intercultural Studies at the Columbia Bible College in Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada. We liked AJ’s writing style and his knowledge of some crosscultural principles and theories. So we invited him to be a part of our team who collects, analyzes, and communicates the data and information we learn from our Peace and Reconciliation mission fields.

Most commented posts

  1. PEACE, CONFLICT, AND CULTURE: A REFLECTION ON OUR TRIP TO KALINGA — 2 comments
  2. PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE FOR DATU HUSSAYIN AND THE BAJAU PEOPLE — 1 comments

Author's posts

KALINAW YOUTH MOVEMENT, PEACE THEOLOGY, AND THE EVANGELICAL CONSCIOUSNESS

The character of a nation’s youth can never be underestimated when judging its health and efficacy. The same can be said of any movement, whether it be for peace, rights, politics, a religion, or even a sports team. This is the basis for our optimism with the Kalinaw Youth Movement based in Valencia City in …

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Permanent link to this article: https://peacebuilderscommunity.org/2015/05/kalinaw-youth-movement-peace-theology-and-the-evangelical-consciousness/

INDIGENOUS RIGHTS AND THE MENNONITES: FROM PANAMA TO THE PHILIPPINES

One of the most distressing calls for justice around the world today comes from the Indigenous voice. Amplified by the indignities suffered through historic theft and displacement of their life and land, their marginalization today is a story told to many but heard by few. As the world changes so must they, but how they …

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Permanent link to this article: https://peacebuilderscommunity.org/2015/02/indigenous-rights-and-the-mennonites-from-panama-to-the-philippines/

RELIEF OPERATIONS ON PACE IN EASTERN SAMAR

Disaster Response Networks (DRN’s) coordinated and led by PBCI relief operations trainer Kriz Cruzado have been traveling around Eastern Samar distributing aid since December 19th. As the area was hit by Tropical Storm Seniang in late December, regional needs have ramped up from the already high level caused by Typoon Hagupit. This has not stopped …

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Permanent link to this article: https://peacebuilderscommunity.org/2015/01/relief-operations-on-pace-in-eastern-samar/

A DIFFERENCE OF PERSPECTIVE: NATURAL DISASTERS AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

  Recently, I have been tasked with researching the history of the CPP-NPA, or the Communist Party of the Philippines and its New People’s Army. Under the banner of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, there has been a communist presence in the Philippines for over 40 years now, and they have been waging …

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Permanent link to this article: https://peacebuilderscommunity.org/2015/01/a-difference-of-perspectiv-natural-disasters-and-social-justice/

OPERATIONS CHANGE TONE AS STORM RECEDES

Typhoon Hagupit has all but left the country into the South China Sea, as of Tuesday, December 9th. The storm hit Manila, but by that time had slowed to winds of less than 100 Km/h and rains had receded from their torrential caliber. Downgraded again from a tropical storm to a tropical “depression”, the destruction …

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Permanent link to this article: https://peacebuilderscommunity.org/2014/12/operations-change-tone-as-storm-recedes/

SUPPORT AND FIELD OPERATIONS INTENSIFY AS HAGUPIT RAGES

After making landfall in Dolores, Samar on Saturday night, Typhoon Hagupit has hit several more towns in the Samar region. It is expected to move through the central islands before touching the greater Manila area and exiting westward on Wednesday. Although no longer super-typhoon status, affected areas are seeing intense rain, flooding, landslides, and storm …

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Permanent link to this article: https://peacebuilderscommunity.org/2014/12/support-and-field-operations-intensify-as-hagupit-rages/

PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE FOR DATU HUSSAYIN AND THE BAJAU PEOPLE

The Mindanao Solidarity Conference on the Bangsamoro in Davao on December 4th brought together leaders from a number of civil society organizations involved in the ongoing peace process. Representatives of the tri-people of Mindanao – Migrants, Lumads and Moros – came for the two day conference to listen and connect with other people of interest …

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Permanent link to this article: https://peacebuilderscommunity.org/2014/12/past-present-and-future-for-datu-hussayin-and-the-bajau-people/

OUR COMMUNITY DECLARES ‘RED ALERT’ AS HAGUPIT LASHES AT EASTERN VISAYAS

Introducing “Ruby Hagupit” Typhoon Ruby, now internationally known as Typhoon Hagupit (Tagalog, “lash”), is expected to make landfall on Saturday evening. Forecasts and trajectory reports indicate confusion and disagreements between different weather agencies. European predictions suggest a direct hit on the country, starting in Leyte or Eastern Samar and making its way northwesterly through the …

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Permanent link to this article: https://peacebuilderscommunity.org/2014/12/pbci-declares-red-alert-as-super-typhoon-hagupit-at-eastern-visayas/

FAITH, FAMILY, AND COMMUNITY: A VIEW OF THE “OTHER” IN NORTH COTABATO

When a team from the Peacebuilders Davao office headed out for a short trip to North Cotabato on November 18th, it was with the intent of spending time with Pastor Dann’s adopted Magindanaoan family and some other folks in the Muslim community, as well as for a speaking engagement at a pastor’s conference in Midsayap. …

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Permanent link to this article: https://peacebuilderscommunity.org/2014/11/faith-family-and-community-a-view-of-the-other-in-north-cotabato/

PEACE, CONFLICT, AND CULTURE: A REFLECTION ON OUR TRIP TO KALINGA

On November 3rd, 2014, a team from the Peacebuilder’s Davao office set off for the mountainous Kalinga province in Luzon. Once there, we met our PAR community leader in the area, Twinkle, to be our guide for the duration of the field trip. Our express intent was to lead some PAR, coffee, and livelihood workshops; …

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Permanent link to this article: https://peacebuilderscommunity.org/2014/11/peace-conflict-and-culture-a-reflection-on-our-trip-to-kalinga/

CELEBRATING TALAANDIG DAY

Never has getting up at 2:30 in the morning felt so worth it. Walking the rarely quiet streets to the Peace Builders’ office and hopping in the truck, our team set off on a quick pace courtesy of our transporter, Kuya Toto, to the Talaandig grounds in the Lantapan district of Bukidnon. Watching the unfolding …

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Permanent link to this article: https://peacebuilderscommunity.org/2014/10/celebrating-talaandig-day/

OUR GLOBAL PEACE COMMUNITY

We are sent by Mennonite Church Canada Witness in partnership with our international community.