Witness for Peace: A Story of Resistance / Edition 1

by Ed Griffin-Nolan

Overview

In this graphic, thought-provoking book, Ed Griffin-Nolan depicts the experiences of Witness for Peace (WFP), a group of Americans who bore witness to the war in Nicaragua—an event that resulted in the killing and wounding of many innocent Central American civilians. Griffin-Nolan explains how WFP participants spent weeks in the war zones in order to understand the impact of U.S. policy on simple people living, as one member of the group phrased it, "at the end of a gun barrel." He describes how WFP participants labored to bring stories of war back to the United States, and how many of them lost their jobs and even their marriages in the process. He concludes by showing that the efforts of WFP saved lives and possibly prevented "another Vietnam" from developing in Central America.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780664251796
Publisher:	Westminster John Knox Press
Publication date:	05/01/1991
Edition description:	1st ed
Pages:	256
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Ed Griffin-Nolan has lived more than half of his adult life in Latin America, working among the poor and seeking to to understand how the United States' foreign policy affects Latin Americans. From 1985-1988, he served on the staff of Witness for Peace in Nicaragua.

Editorial Reviews

The Witness for Peace (WFP) movement grew out of the commitment of some U.S. citizens to halt their government's support for the Nicaraguan contras in the bloody war against the Sandinista government. From 1983 to 1990, nearly 4000 Witness participants visited war zones, most for short stays, others for protracted periods. By placing themselves in villages vulnerable to assault, Witnesses hoped to prevent contra attacks. They also placed great emphasis on the power of prayer and on the power of the press to bring pressure on the U.S. government to withdraw support for the contras . In their own words WFP participants describe how their experiences changed their lives. Descriptions of the reactions of Nicaraguan campesinos to the arrival of vehicles laden with yellow-shirted gringos are insightful and often humorous. The book presents a thoughtful, balanced assessment of the effects of the WFP program overall. Recommended for public library collections.--Ruth M. Mara, Agency for International Development, Washington, D.C.

Library Journal