The Office of the Americas is a non-profit organization based in Los Angeles, California and founded in April 1983 by Theresa Bonpane, who along with her husband, Blase,[1] continue as the Director and Founding Director, respectively, of the organization. The OOA is dedicated to furthering the cause of justice and peace through broad-based educational programs, and is a recognized source of documentation and analysis of current international events with a focus on the foreign policy of the United States.
For more than 50 years, Bonpane broadcast the weekly World Focus. In June 2018, he announced that the program had come to an end.[2][3] Sundays from 10:00 am to 11:00 am on Pacifica Radio's KPFK out of Los Angeles.[citation needed]
Blase Bonpane authored many books, based on his radio commentaries, and his experiences as a former priest working in Latin America. Blase' autobiography, Imagine No Religion, was published by Red Hen Press in 2011.[4] In 2015, he published a book of commentaries about Pope Francis' 2nd Encyclical, laudato si (Praise be to you): On the Care of our Common Home.[5] His most recent publication is The Nicene Heresy - Christendom and War - Reverence and Critique.[6]
Programs of the Office of the Americas include:
- Offering information and commentary to mainstream and independent media as well as to scholarly publications
- TV and radio commentaries, including World Focus, a weekly broadcast on Pacifica Radio
- Press conferences and background briefings
- Assisting in documentary, feature film and TV productions
- Publishing "Blase Bonpane Reports", a weekly e-newsletter
- Lecturing at universities and peace and justice groups nationally
- Providing information on legislative issues
- Providing services and networking with other peace and justice organizations
References
edit- ^ Bonpane, Blase; Cardenal, Ernesto (1985). Guerrillas of peace : liberation theology and the Central American Revolution (3rd ed.). San Jose, California: ToExcel. ISBN 0595004180. OCLC 52533905.
- ^ "Blase Says Goodbye to World Focus after Half a Century of Broadcasting". Office of the Americas. May 15, 2018. Archived from the original on December 14, 2018. Retrieved October 22, 2019.
- ^ "World Focus". Archived from the original on February 28, 2011. Retrieved February 1, 2011.
- ^ Bonpane, Blase (2011). Imagine no religion : an autobiography: from Central America to the Middle East, the life story of a leader in the movement for social justice and peace (1st ed.). Pasadena, CA: Red Hen Press. ISBN 9781597096706. OCLC 729341812.
- ^ Pope Francis (December 26, 2016). The complete encyclicals, bulls, and apostolic exhortations. Notre Dame, Indiana. ISBN 9781594717390. OCLC 952971259.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ Bonpane, Blase (April 2, 2016). The Nicene heresy - Christendom and war: reverence and critique. Los Angeles, California. ISBN 9780692674130. OCLC 968216757.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
Sources
edit- National Catholic Reporter, November 22, 2002: "Peace Group Lauds Activists"
- Los Angeles Times, April 2006: "Speaking Their Peace: Stoked by a Spiritual Fire That Grew Into Political Activism, Blase and Theresa Bonpane Have Dedicated Their Lives to Justice for the Poor" (archived)
- Los Angeles Times, December 1997: "Vigil Held for Woman Imprisoned in Peru" (archived)
- Los Angeles Times, June 1996: "Peace Day Aims at Teaching Students How to Avoid Violence" (archived)
External links
edit- Official site
- World Focus, radio program on Pacifica Network
- Guerrillas of Peace: On the Air, Blase Bonpane, Red Hen Press, 2000
- Common Sense for the Twenty-First Century, Blase Bonpane, Red Hen Press, 2004
- Civilization is Possible, Blase Bonpane, Red Hen Press, 2008
- Blase Bonpane as featured speaker on SpeakOut!
- Imagine No Religion, Blase Bonpane, Red Hen Press, 2011
- Office of the Americas YouTube Channel
- Office of the Americas Facebook page