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Kairos Times
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| This Advent season, take time to reflect on
the refugee experience. Remember that the Christmas story is
also the story of a refugee family, desperately seeking shelter
in Bethlehem, then fleeing to Egypt after they learn that the
powers that be are planning a massacre of Hebrew infants. The Christmas story continues today, as violence forces millions of people worldwide to flee their homes and seek asylum in a foreign country. Read more below—and download our Appeal for Refugee Rights petition. Make your voice a gift for people arriving at our borders in search of security and welcome. |
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- Canadian churches respond to disaster in Asia
- Urgent action: KAIROS partner murdered in the Philippines
- Christmas: A time for refugee rights
- KAIROS partners advocate peace with Canadian government officials
- KAIROS marks second Global Day of Action Against
Debt Domination
- New KAIROS resources… just in time for Christmas
- Latest edition of Trade E-Bulletin now on the website
- New on our website…. and a recommended
Christmas site!
The latest…
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Canadian churches respond to disaster in Asia |
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Canadian churches respond to Asian disaster
Groups around the world are responding to the terrible aftermath
of an earthquake and tsunamis that have hit eleven countries in
Asia and Eastern Africa. Many of KAIROS’ member churches have
church and NGO partners in
the countries hardest hit, and have launched emergency aid appeals
that will be channeled through partners on the ground. KAIROS itself
has numerous partners in the region, including Indonesia, Thailand
and India.
(See http://www.kairoscanada.org/e/partners/partners.asp for a complete list.)
What you can do:
* Keep the victims and survivors in your thoughts and prayers. Offer support to people in Canada who have lost loved ones or are unable to contact them.
* Give to the many emergency appeals underway—any amount is important.
The following KAIROS members have issued appeals:
Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace:
http://www.devp.org/testA/news/communiques2004_37-e.htm
Christian Reformed Church in North America (Canada):
http://www.crcna.org/whatweoffer/pressroom/news/2004dec28_tsunamiaid.asp?WhatWeOfferMenu
Mennonite Central Committee:
http://www.mcc.org/respond/rapid_respond/asiaearthquake/index.html
Presbyterian Church in Canada:
http://www.presbyterian.ca/pwsd/ap04tsunami1.html
Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund:
http://www.pwrdf.org/news/news-db.php?news=208
United Church of Canada:
http://www.united-church.ca/response/news/041229.shtm
At this time we cannot contact some of our partner groups. We will
continue to update you, but in the meantime, we hold in prayer all
who have survived this appalling tragedy, those who have lost loved
ones, and those offering aid.
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Urgent action: KAIROS partner murdered in the Philippines |
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Two gunmen believed to be members of the Philippine military summarily executed a KAIROS partner in the Philippines on November 10, 2004. Joel Baclao was gunned down in front of his wife. He had received death threats a few days before his violent death. There were also reports stating that military men had been asking neighbors about Mr. Baclao’s whereabouts several nights before he was killed.
Mr. Baclao was the regional coordinator of the Promotion of Church
People’s Response (PCPR), a lay preacher of the United Church
of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP), and a volunteer of Andurog
Mayon, the relief and rehabilitation program of the National Council
of the Philippines in the Bicol region. The Promotion of Church
People’s Response is a KAIROS partner.
Mr. Baclao was a staunch advocate against large-scale mining and
rampant military atrocities and human rights violations in the Albay
region. His determination to uphold human rights and bring justice
and meaningful change may have earned him the ire of the powers
that be.
Mr. Baclao now belongs to a growing list of people who have been murdered under the Arroyo government for their principled stance against government policies that are detrimental to the people. This recent spate of killings is an evidence of the grim fact that church-workers are being targeted and permanently silenced, in the context of escalating human rights violations against people who are actively promoting human rights and working for social justice in the Philippines.
We ask you to write to the President of the Philippines and other government agencies. More background and a sample letter can be found at: http://www.kairoscanada.org/e/urgent/uaPhilippines.asp
Many thanks for your support. For more information on the current human rights situation in the Philippines, please contact Connie Sorio, Program Coordinator, Asia Partnerships at 1 877 403 8933 x240, csorio@kairoscanada.org or Nancy Slamet, Program Coordinator, Human Rights (Militarism/“War on Terror”, Asia and the Middle East), x226 or nslamet@kairoscanada.org
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Christmas: A time for refugee rights |
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Last year, over thirty thousand people filed refugee claims in Canada. For some, Canada has become a place of shelter. But the continued lack of a long-promised appeal process means that some refugees are wrongly denied protection and sent back into danger, with no opportunity to restate their case. This is why some churches have decided, in particularly compelling cases, to offer sanctuary, a “room in the inn” as refugees wait for a more permanent solution.
Make your voice a Christmas gift for people seeking security:
- Add to your Advent, Christmas or Epiphany services a reflection on the refugee experience, an experience shared by Mary, Joseph and Jesus.
- Invite refugees in your community to share their stories.
- Pray for those in sanctuary, for those sent back into danger, and for those who continue to seek our hospitality.
- Encourage members of your faith community or work place to sign
our petition calling on the Canadian government to implement the
Refugee Appeal Division, so that asylum will not be denied to
those who need it. You will find the KAIROS Refugee Rights petition
and relevant background information on our website at
www.kairoscanada.org/e/action/campaign.asp
The Catholic Organization for Overseas Development has worship
resources for an Advent service focused on refugee issues. You will
find this information on the web at
www.cafod.org.uk/resources/worship/liturgies_and_services/parish_liturgies/advent_service
In your upcoming worship services or Masses, you may want to use a Refugee Rights bulletin insert developed by KAIROS. Find this bulletin insert on our website at www.kairoscanada.org/e/action/Refugees_Sunday_BulletinInsert.pdf Or, consider joining KAIROS members across the country in planning a Refugee Rights Sunday for February 6 2005. Look for further details in the New Year.
For more information, contact Tanya Chute, Interim Coordinator for the Refugee and Migration Program, at 1-877-403-8933 X230 or tchute@kairoscanada.org
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KAIROS partners advocate peace with Canadian government officials |
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On December 7, three KAIROS partners met with a variety of Canadian officials at Foreign Affairs and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) to urge the government to increase its efforts for peace in their countries.
Amneh Badran, a Palestinian from the Jerusalem Center for Women, Ana Teresa Lozada, a Colombian from the Organización Feminina Popular, and Elizabeth Majok, a Sudanese from the New Sudan Council of Churches have been touring Canada as part of a KAIROS Women and Peacebuilding tour. All three women come from countries in the midst of longstanding conflicts. Having visited the KAIROS network, faith, Aboriginal and peace groups in British Columbia, Manitoba, Northern Ontario, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and PEI, they came to Ottawa to speak with officials about the impact these wars have on women, and the contribution that women are making to achieve peace.
All three women emphasized the importance of Canadian efforts to intervene in the interests of a just peace in their countries. For more information on the work of these women and their organizations contact Rachel Warden (Colombia) rwarden@kairoscanada.org or 1 877 403 8933 ext. 242; Jim Davis (Sudan) jdavis@kairoscanada.org ext. 238; or Hanadi Loubani (Palestine) hloubani@kairoscanada.org ext. 239.
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KAIROS marks second Global Day of Action Against Debt Domination |
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December 8, 2004 is the second annual Global Day of Action Against Debt Domination. On December 5, KAIROS released a statement outlining why expectations of an imminent cancellation of unjust and illegitimate external debts have risen over the last year.
The KAIROS statement contrasts the inadequacy of the bilateral (country to country) debt relief that Canada has offered so far with the much larger debts owed by impoverished countries to multilateral financial institutions such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
In a hopeful development, some creditor countries have recognized
the failure of the official Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC)
initiative and have called for remitting up to 100% of the debts
impoverished countries owe to multilateral institutions.
KAIROS calls on Prime Minister Paul Martin and Finance Minister
Ralph Goodale to support the immediate and unconditional cancellation
of 100% of the debts owed by low-income countries to multilateral
creditors.
Furthermore, KAIROS cites the recent agreement to write off most of the debts accumulated by the Saddam Hussein regime in Iraq as a precedent that should lead to the remission of all “odious debts” burdening peoples formerly ruled by repressive dictatorships in such countries as the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Argentina.
Noting that African governments spend an average of US$14 per person a year on debt service and just US$5 per capita on health care, KAIROS asks how creditors can collect even one dollar in debt service from impoverished African countries where 25 million people are living with HIV/AIDS?
For a copy of the two-page KAIROS statement click on the following
link.
www.kairoscanada.org/e/media/statements/smtDebt051205.asp
For more information contact John Dillon, Program Coordinator, Global Economic Justice, telephone 416-463-5569 extension 231 or jdillon@kairoscanada.org
New Resources
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New KAIROS resources… just in time for Christmas! |
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If you’re looking for good gifts look no further!
- Africa’s Blessing, Africa’s Curse:
Resource extraction in modern Africa by transnational mining companies takes place occurs in conditions reminiscent of early colonialism. This publication invites critical and ethical reflection on the impact this type of “development” has on the lives of millions, and the role Canada plays. It is presented in the spirit of global solidarity with affected communities. (16 pages, $16.00 including postage—bulk rates available.)
- New Global Economic Justice Report: Food, Hunger, and Global
Trade:
The Winter 2004 issue of the Global Economic Justice Report is almost ready. In this report we look at the real story behind agricultural liberalization policies. Some of the issues covered include an update on WTO talks including a timely analysis on the July 2004 Framework Agreement and an examination of some of the major assumptions regarding trade in agriculture. To conclude, a Ten-Point Justice in Agriculture Agenda is presented as a viable and just alternative to the free trade model. To receive your complimentary copy of this issue please send an e-mail to orders@kairoscanada.org citing the Kairos Times offer or call toll free1 877 403 8933 x221. You can also subscribe to all four issues for $20!
- Welcoming Uprooted Peoples Post 9-11: SECOND EDITION
A 24-page booklet with interactive stories illustrating some of the obstacles faced by refugee claimants an migrants in Canada; ideas for “myth-busting”; and suggestions for working with the media. Newly updated with stories on emerging “security” issues. ($9)
- An Appeal for Refugee Rights: Petition and backgrounder (4
pages; 11 by 17 flyer)
A photocopy master of a formal petition to the federal government, plus two pages of frequently asked questions and background. FREE! (Donations to cover postage are appreciated…. You can also download the petition from our website but PLEASE remember: always photocopy back-to-back!!!
- Cultivating Just Peace Year 2: Action Booklet: An update to the 2003-5 Education for Action Guide. Includes further information on the Refugee Appeal Division, ideas for public art and MP visits, and resources for public vigils. 16 pages, 8.5 by 11. ($3)
To order all resources, see our website order form at http://www.kairoscanada.org/e/resources/orders.asp
Or email orders@kairoscanada.org
or call toll free: 1 877 403 8933 x221.
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Latest edition of Trade E-Bulletin now on the website |
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The latest issue of the KAIROS Trade E-Bulletin in now on-line
in both English and French. The KAIROS Trade E-bulletin is a quarterly
publication offering the latest analysis on trade talks globally
and at home.
Writes one subscriber: "I have read the KAIROS Trade E-Bulletin
and find it an excellent and comprehensive review of present Global
Trade issues. You have avoided a lot of the jargon that characterises
discourse on trade matters. As a result it is more readable and
easier to comprehend."
To read the latest issue please see http://www.kairoscanada.org/e/economic/trade/e-bulletin.asp
For French please go to: www.kairoscanada.org/f/economique/commerce_bolletin.asp
If you would like to subscribe, please contact Rusa Jeremic Program
Coordinator, Global Economic Justice, KAIROS. rjeremic@kairoscanada.org,
416.463.5312, ext.225.
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New on our website…. and a recommended Christmas site! |
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Check out a new theological reflection on poverty, published recently
in the Toronto Star:
http://www.kairoscanada.org/e/antipoverty/polanyi_StarSubmission.asp
Our NEW events posting feature can be found at http://www.kairoscanada.org/e/events/listing.asp Please tell us about your event—follow the instructions on the website.
And finally: the KAIROS seal of Real Christmas approval goes to:
www.buynothingchristmas.org
Why? This funky site gives good advice for getting off the Christmas
consumption train, and walks us through alternatives that respect
the Earth and workers.
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