Vol. 24 No. 3, September 2005

In God's Image is an Asian Christian women's effort to provide a forum for expressing our reality, our struggles, our faith reflections and aspirations for change.

Editorial

Our initial call for papers for this edition of In God’s Image was made in view of the forthcoming 6th ministerial conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO) that will be held in Hong Kong this December 2005. As various people’s organizations and non-governmental organizations, including church and ecumenical bodies, not only in Asia but also in other parts of the world, are gearing up to make their voices heard around this time, we thought it appropriate to call our Asian women theologians and Asian women who are doing theology to share their reflections on the impact of globalization, especially as related to world trade relations. 

Although In God’s Image has had globalization for a theme at least twice before, the WTO 6th ministerial conference is supposed to highlight specific issues related to agriculture, services (e.g. labor, water, education, health), intellectual property rights, among many other things. For example, there are some plants and food items that some of our communities have always used or eaten, and which for centuries did not belong to anybody but were there for the whole community. But with this whole notion of intellectual property rights, or copyright and patenting, and without these communities knowing it, these items are now owned by some corporations from the powerful countries. 

Created in 1995, the WTO is a global trade institution that is responsible for administering international trade agreements and declarations, handling trade disputes, monitoring national trade policies, and operating as the forum for global trade negotiations. It functions to ensure that trade flows will go “as smoothly, predictably and freely as possible”. Apart from an international status equivalent to the United Nations, WTO also has a legal personality and carries the powers and tools of a global government – i.e. legislative powers to override national laws; judicial powers to make decisions through tribunals composed of trade and corporate lawyers; and executive or enforcement powers to give trade sanctions and fines when its regulations are not respected. Thus, we can rightfully say and bemoan the fact that the WTO is behind so much disparity and injustice in trade relations between the powerful and the powerless countries in the world today. 

Indeed, there are many women’s groups in the frontline of preparation for this big gathering in Asia – including peasant farmers, laborers, migrant workers, academicians, theologians, economists, and activists, to name a few. But we will most likely get to hear their thoughts, reflections, and aspirations by December, during and after the event. And perhaps it is much better that way.

Nevertheless, we did get some responses to our call for papers, a good number coming from new or first-time contributors and another good number coming from older or regular contributors. A few contributions have to do with the impact of globalization on women – e.g. the issue of mining in the Philippines and the link between poverty and AIDS; and on youth – e.g. what is mission for and by youth in the context of globalization? An interesting medium, i.e. a role-play script, that contextualizes the story of biblical Ruth and Naomi is used by a male contributor. This contribution also highlights issues of justice, peace and migration.

Other contributions are interesting and solid reflections on topics that continue to touch women’s lives especially here in Asia – honor and shame, especially in relation to sexual violence and rape; and a daring attempt at a feminist ethical analysis of abortion.

There are also interesting contributions in various forms or media. One is an interview with feminist theologian Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza who visited Malaysia recently. More news about her visit and the events co-organized by the AWRC with two other women’s groups in Malaysia are published in the October 2005 edition of womenet. There are three poems by three women and a report on a national program activity that focused on the challenges of and responses to structures of patriarchy.

Thus, this edition has turned out to be a mixed issue. To summarize all the concerns expressed by the various contributions, we have chosen the theme, “Affirming Life in its Fullness”. 

We hope that these contributions will shed some light on various issues affecting the most vulnerable groups of our society – women, youth, children, and environment. May they also inspire you to articulate and share your own reflections on such and other issues as you remain steadfast in your commitment for peace with justice, right where you are. 

Publications Secretary

If articles listed in the table of contents interests you, and you would like to have a copy of this journal, please write to igi@awrc4ct.org.