Take Action for Indigenous Rights and to Protect Water! June 2 and 9 in YOUR Church!
You and your church community can to be part of a very simple, brief act of solidarity on June 2 or 9! KAIROS is taking action for right relations with Indigenous peoples and to help protect Canada’s waters from recent changes in environmental legislation on Sunday June 2 and Sunday June 9 — and we’re asking YOU to join us! Learn more and download a bulletin insert here!
New KAIROS resource: Invitation to witness to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in Alberta and British Columbia
The national Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) will be holding numerous hearings in Alberta and British Columbia this May through September. This is your invitation to get involved by attending in person or watching online, praying, and witnessing to the stories of those living with the consequences of the Indian Residential Schools system. Please see [...]
Take action: Ask the government to clearly identify Israeli settlement products sold in Canada
(Support for a United Church of Canada action) The United Church of Canada is inviting the ecumenical and justice community to write to the Foreign Affairs and Trade ministers, asking for proper identification of Israeli settlement products in Canadian stores and an end to tax exemptions for products from the settlements. The United Church is [...]
Changes to the Temporary Foreign Workers Program do not address the vulnerability of migrant workers in Canada
On Monday, April 29 the Government of Canada introduced changes to the temporary foreign workers program (TFWP). KAIROS welcomes some of the changes announced by the federal government, such as the decision to remove the provision that allowed employers to “legally” pay migrant workers 5-15% less than the prevailing wage, and the cancellation of the Accelerated Labour Market Opinion program, which allowed employers to expedite the hiring of migrant labour. However, the announcement fails to address fundamental flaws in the TFWP.
KAIROS Earth Day Action to Protect Water!
Earth Day greetings from KAIROS! Today, as we honour creation, KAIROS asks you to join us in advocating with your MP for the protection of Canada’s waters, and for right relationship with Indigenous peoples. Omnibus bills C-38 and C-45 have imposed changes on more than 100 federal laws without adequate consultation with First Nations, Inuit [...]
Keystone Debate is Heating Up
While ecologists and Indigenous peoples are increasing pressure on President Obama to deny a permit to the Keystone XL pipeline, Canadian government and oil industry executives are lobbying hard for its acceptance. This bulletin updates KAIROS’ analysis of the debate emphasizing the urgent need to prevent catastrophic climate change.
On June 11 walk and write letters for culturally based equity for First Nations children
Our Dreams Matter Too is a walk and letter writing event supporting the rights of First Nations children. You can participate in this event and communicate to Canada that First Nations children should receive the same opportunities to succeed as other children. Don’t forget to register your support and participation!
Hopes and Prayers for Colombia: KAIROS sends messages to the Ecumenical Forum for Peace in Colombia
On May 18-19 hundreds of church leaders, clergy, ecumenical organizations and representatives of social movements gathered for the Ecumenical Forum for Peace in Bogota, Colombia under the banner “from an ethics for peace to a peace with ethics”. The forum, convened by an impressive number of church leaders and representatives from the Mennonite, Methodist, Evangelical [...]
Colombian paramilitaries torture and murder Benedicta Joya Aponte while seeking her brother
Note from KAIROS: Just days before an Ecumenical Forum on Peace, May 18-19, we received terrible news from church partners in Colombia. Benedicta Joya Aponte, a campesina woman and sister of a local priest, was brutally murdered in their home. Paramilitaries came to the door looking for her brother, Father Pedro Elias Joya Aponte, who [...]
Manitoba Government Extends Health Care Coverage for Seasonal Agricultural Workers
The Government of Manitoba has acknowledged the importance of migrant workers to Canada’s standard of living by extending health care coverage for seasonal agricultural workers. The hope is that other provincial governments will follow Manitoba’s lead.
Stormed by the Holy Spirit (a reflection for Pentecost) – By Fr. Bob Holmes
Bob is a Catholic priest, a member of the Congregation of St. Basil, and has been involved in the Peacemaking ministry of CPT for 13 years serving in Canada, Palestine, Iraq, Mexico, Colombia and Congo.
Prophets: patterns and examples – By Jane Orion Smith
Jane Orion Smith serves as the General Secretary of Canadian Friends Service Committee (Quakers). She served on the Board of Directors of KAIROS (2000-2010), including as Chair and as Treasurer.
Be Not Afraid – By John Dillon
KAIROS’ Economic Justice Program Coordinator John Dillon reflects on speaking out against injustice in the face of fear. KAIROS is celebrating 40 years of speaking out for justice through it’s predecessor coalitions. Join us on May 8th at Church of the Redeemer in Toronto for an ecumenical service celebrating 40 years of bold witness for ecumenical justice!
Mining in Mexico … Through Canadian Eyes
In February 2013, KAIROS network member Janette McIntosh (who is also a Presbyterian appointment to and co-chair of our Ecumenical Circle of Collaboration on Sustainability) represented KAIROS on a delegation to mining-affected communities in Mexico. Her thoughtful reflections on this experience offer a challenge to us all.
