wfn.org | Globalization: Lutheran Youth Say There are Signs of Hope, But

["Frank Imhoff" <FRANKI@elca.org>]

Globalization: Lutheran Youth Say There are Signs of Hope, But
Negative Aspects Outweigh the Gains
Young Indonesian Women, Active but Silent Players in Batam
Island's Trade Zone 

BATAM ISLAND, Indonesia, 12 December 2003 (LWI) - Is there
chance for a better life for all people in today's world economic
order? Yes, according to an international group of Lutheran
youth. But  it will probably not result from current forms of
economic globalization or 'free trade'. There are signs of hope,
the youth affirmed, but negative factors generally outweigh the
positive. 

After a week on Indonesia's Batam Island, a center of both
international tourism and industrial production and export zone
near Singapore, Lutheran youth from 16 countries completed their
formal role in the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) International
Youth Program-Transformation Through Participation (IYP - TTP),
an initiative aimed at equipping young people for leadership in
church and society. The meeting was coordinated by the LWF Youth
in Church and Society (YICAS) desk, Department for Mission and
Development.
 
During 15-month internships in their own congregations, the IYP
- TTP participants not only focused on the negative effects of
economic globalization, but also "found ways to challenge and
oppose them," by using language and stories that are relevant to
their contexts. They identified, participated in and led local
and global actions to overcome an increasingly homogenized global
culture that negatively affects the dignity and well-being of
workers and communities

Indonesia, with a population more than 200 million, is the
world's fourth largest country and has the largest population
of Muslims worldwide. 

The IYP - TTP participants' experience in the context of Batam
Island was equally important: Thirty years ago the island had a
population of 6,000 people. Today over 500,000 residents, mostly
industrial, service and tourism sector workers from every corner
of Indonesia - an archipelago of 17,000 islands - make Batam one
of the country's busiest and most densely populated manufacturing
centers. 

Perspectives on the island and other areas of Indonesia were
provided by Ms Benny Sinaga of the Protestant Christian Batak
Church (HKBP) and Imelda Sikmangusong, who also helped interpret
local culture and context in visits to workers' dormitories,
churches, Christian and Muslim families, and a mosque.

How does economic globalization present itself on Batam Island?
A summary of the situation was given by the IYP - TTP Indonesian
hosts: The workforce is made up of mainly young single women who
migrated from far away, looking for employment and a better
living standard. They are paid low wages, work long hours, have
little personal time and will probably lose both health and
livelihood benefits before "retirement age" as understood in the
global labor market. Many of them are afraid to ask for higher
wages, as they would probably lose their jobs. And if wages
become too high, the employer will probably move the factory to
another country where labor is cheaper.  

Global Concern for Increased Emphasis on Material Goods 

 From the discussions that followed it was evident that economic
community context, but with similar results: "We notice a global
final meeting noted.
trend whereby those who are rich are becoming richer, and those
who are poor are becoming poorer," participants in the IYP - TTP
globalization takes on a different appearance in each country and

A dialogue with Bishop Dr Edison Munthe, Simalungun Protestant
Christian Church (GKPS) in North Sumatra, focused on youth
decision-making processes and provided cross-cultural
perspectives on power, gender and culture, and how a global
culture is currently influencing changes that have repercussions
worldwide. "As young leaders of the church," participants said,
they are concerned about the "worship of material goods" and "the
export of a homogenized global culture." 

At the end of the November 23-28 meeting, the IYP - TTP
participants adopted ten recommendations addressed to the LWF
member churches and the wider Lutheran communion. They underlined
issues such as the right to safe drinking water, adequate
nutrition, shelter, health care and education for all. They also
raised concern about their fear of private and public violence,
and about the need for participatory decision-making processes on
issues that especially affect young people. In a separate message
addressed to young people in the wider communion, they identified
so-called "signs of hope." 

The young men and women called on the LWF to prioritize the
YICAS focus on economic globalization and help member churches to
implement the program. They emphasized the need to involve
religious, social and political leaders worldwide in the search
for "a better life for all people." Future YICAS programs, they
said, should include ecumenical and inter-faith participants.
(758 words)

(By LWI correspondent Lance Woodruff, Thailand)

(The LWF is a global communion of Christian churches in the
Lutheran tradition. Founded in 1947 in Lund (Sweden), the LWF now
has 136 member churches in 76 countries representing over 61.7
million of the 65.4 million Lutherans worldwide. The LWF acts on
behalf of its member churches in areas of common interest such as
ecumenical and inter-faith relations, theology, humanitarian
assistance, human rights, communication, and the various aspects
of mission and development work. Its secretariat is located in
Geneva, Switzerland.)

[Lutheran World Information (LWI) is LWF's information service.
Unless specifically noted, material presented does not represent
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