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Kairos Times
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| We are a country of immigrants and refugees and the sign of the health of our country is how we treat the most vulnerable. Surely men, women and children without status are in the most fragile category. To suggest that sanctuary allows asylum seekers to enter Canada by the back door reflects a gross misunderstanding of the plight of human beings in danger of persecution and death. |
| Sister Pauline Lally, Sisters of Providence, in a letter on sanctuary to Immigration Minister Judy Sgro |
Join our 2003-4 campaign, Cultivating Just Peace! Contact us for information:info or toll-free 1 877 403 8933, extension 233. New resources are now available for ordering through orders or our website. You can also leave a message at 1 877 403 8933 x246.
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- Thank you for your urgent action responses
- Take action on low-income countries’ debts: G7 Ministers debate 100% Multilateral Debt Cancellation!
The latest news….
- Regional meetings set to get underway and card campaign closes
- KAIROS Anti-Poverty Fund looking for a few good applications
- WCC calls on churches world-wide to pray for peace on September 21
- KAIROS and other NGOs protest Canada’s vote
on Israel’s Wall
Take Action!
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Thank you for your urgent action responses |
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KAIROS has sent out an unusually high number of urgent action requests
of late, and we want to thank the many people who have taken the
time to respond to these. Justice issues don’t take a summer
vacation, but we hope you did, and thank you for interrupting that
to support people and partners in danger. We have had hundreds of
responses to the sanctuary/ refugee appeal division action circulated
to us, and we know that many more letters to Immigration Minister
Judy Sgro have been signed en masse in churches and communities.
That action continues, and was recently joined by actions on Darfur,
Sudan and on ongoing threats to partners’ lives in Colombia.
These can be found on the KAIROS website under Take Action. Your
response does make a difference! And for those wondering about follow
up to the refugee appeal action: stand by for a new petition campaign
calling on the government to finally implement the promised Refugee
Appeal Division.
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Take action on low-income countries’ debts: G7 Ministers debate 100% Multilateral Debt Cancellation on October 1! |
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On October 1, the Group of Seven Finance Ministers will convene in Washington to consider canceling 100% of the debts owed by some poor countries to multilateral institutions such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. The G7 Ministers will also consider a US proposal for writing off as much as US$90 billion of Iraq’s estimated US$120 billion in “odious debts” from loans contracted by the Saddam Hussein dictatorship and used against the interests of the people.
These are small but hopeful steps, and now is a critical moment to remind the Canadian government that they have yet to meet the demands of the 640,000 Canadians who signed the Jubilee debt remission petition in 1999-2000. We’re asking you to phone your MP, the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister and ask them to lend Canada’s support to CANCELING THE DEBT!
The latest news ....
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Regional meetings set to get underway and card campaign closes |
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It’s about kairos time for our 2004 regional meetings! Each
of the five regions in the KAIROS network holds an annual gathering
of local groups and folks from all backgrounds who have an interest
in justice. All are welcome, but you need to register soon. Please
see http://www.kairoscanada.org/e/network/KAIROSregionalMeetings2004.pdf
to download a flyer with all dates and contact information.
The Agenda for Just Peace card campaign is now entering its final
week. The deadline to send in cards is September 15. Many thanks
to all who signed the cards. We welcome your creative ideas for
presenting the 8,000 or so cards to the federal government; plans
will get underway when Parliament resumes in October. Please send
your ideas to Sara Stratton, Network Coordinator, at 1 877 403 8933
x241 or
sstratton
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KAIROS Anti-Poverty Fund looking for a few good applications |
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This year, over $98,000 from the KAIROS’ Anti-Poverty Fund has been distributed to 58 projects in Canada. Many projects assist the most marginalized groups, including youth, seniors, refugees and immigrants, injured and unemployed workers, and prisoners work for positive changes related to income security, employment, housing, transportation, and health care issues. Other projects focus on raising public awareness about poverty through interactive events, community newspapers, and the creative arts. Still others engage low-income people in helping one another directly, by starting a drop-in centre for youth, a homework club for children of immigrants and refugees, or a free meal program for adults and seniors.
Over $50,000 from the Fund still remains to be allocated this year,
so proposals are being sought from groups in most provinces. Please
visit the KAIROS website at http://www.kairoscanada.org/e/antipoverty/contacts.asp
to contact your provincial representative directly or contact Michael
Polanyi, Program Coordinator, Canadian Social Development at 416-463-5312
x 237 or
mpolanyi
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WCC calls on churches world-wide to pray for peace on September 21 |
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In the spirit of its Decade to Overcome Violence (2001-2010), the World Council of Churches (WCC) has called on its member churches to pray for peace on 21 September or on the Sundays preceding or following that day. This WCC initiative links to the International Day of Peace declared by the United Nations General Assembly, a world-wide effort intended as a day of global ceasefire and non-violence, and as an opportunity for education and raising public awareness.
WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia encouraged churches to arrange for 24-hour observances or vigils on 21 September, as well as to include prayers for peace in their services on the Sunday before or after that day.
This year, the WCC Decade to Overcome Violence (DOV) is focusing on the United States under the theme "The Power and Promise of Peace". In this context, Kobia also asked WCC member churches "to specifically pray for the churches and religious communities in the US who are committing much of their energy for peace and justice in these critical times".
Liturgical resources for the International Day of Prayer for Peace, including prayers, stories and concerns for intercession, are available on the DOV web site: http://www.overcomingviolence.org/peace2004
Additional information: Juan Michel,+41 22 791 6153 +41 79 507 6363 or media
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KAIROS and other NGOs protest Canada’s vote on Israel’s Wall |
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KAIROS joined with Jewish, Palestinian and other NGOs to send a letter expressing dismay at a recent Canadian vote at the UN. On July 20th, Canada abstained from a UN vote to accept the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The ICJ expressed its legal opinion that the Israeli "security wall" in the West Bank contravened international law and must be removed. The UN overwhelmingly approved the resolution but Canada found itself with a small group of countries with dubious human rights records who also abstained. In explaining its abstention Canada stated that the ICJ opinion and subsequent UN resolution were "unhelpful" in advancing the cause of peace. Earlier in the year, Canada voted against sending the wall issue to the ICJ, arguing that the issue was a "political" rather than "judicial" one.
"Canada's contention that these violations of international
law should be 'negotiated' seriously undermines the validity of
resolving conflicts through the application of law," states
the KAIROS endorsed letter. The full text of the letter can be found
on the KAIROS website under Media/ Letters and Statements. For further
information please contact Dale Hildebrand, Team Leader for Human
Rights and Peace-building, at
dhildebrand
or 416-463-5312, ext. 235.
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Last-ever edition of Solidarité now available |
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The last edition of KAIROS’ Canadian social justice quarterly magazine Solidarité has just been published and will be the final one of its kind. This edition focuses on ecology.
Solidarité began as a publication of the Aboriginal Rights Coalition, and for many years brought Canadians up to date and cutting analysis about Aboriginal rights issues that never hit the mainstream news. When KAIROS formed, the magazine expanded to cover Canadian justice issues, making links between ecology, poverty, Aboriginal rights, and refugees.
Canadian justice issues will now be reflected in the Global Economic Justice Report (GEJR) beginning in Fall 2004. Look for new developments in KAIROS publications over the coming year, as we explore new ways of showing the connections between a range of justice issues confronting Canada and our world. We are considering a new magazine that will integrate the full range of KAIROS’ work, and we welcome your ideas about this publication.
We would like to express our great appreciation for your support for our publications over the years, and hope you will continue as a valued subscriber or consider signing up.
For more information contact Joy Kennedy, Ecological Justice Program
Coordinator, 416 463 5312 x 222 or
jkennedy
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