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Kairos Times: November 2005 Vol 4, #9
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| We hear the cry for the Earth. We believe that caring for life on Earth is a spiritual commitment. People and other species have the right to life unthreatened by human greed and destructiveness. |
-- From A Spiritual Declaration on Climate Change |
Take action!
Updates
- Update on the Philippines urgent action: killings continue and our partners express their thanks for your support
- Summit of the Americas is a bust
- KAIROS presentation to Commons Committee on the International Policy Statement
- Peace in the Middle East and Morally Responsible Investment (MRI)
Resources
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Help KAIROS stop unjust trade! Take action on the WTO |
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Global leaders are gearing up for the WTO (World Trade Organization) Ministerial meeting in Hong Kong December 13th - 18th, 2005. Northern governments like the US, the EU (European Union), and Canada are warning that they do not want the trade talks to collapse, as happened in Cancun in 2003. It looks like they will do everything in their power to make sure a deal is struck in Hong Kong, even if it is a bad deal. KAIROS is working with the Make Poverty History Campaign, the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance and many of our global partners to call our governments to account by insisting that they refuse to sign any trade deal in Hong Kong that doesn’t:
- give countries the power to choose their own development path, including the ability to safeguard local markets that provide an affordable, reliable, and healthy source of food,
- allow countries the power to maintain public services like health and education and
- make trade negotiations transparent and accountable.
See complete background information at: http://www.kairoscanada.org/e/economic/trade/WTOHongKong.asp
What You Can Do!
Write to the Minister of Trade and the Minister of Agriculture. Trade talks continue to be dominated by a handful of countries, far from citizen scrutiny, with commercial self-interest overriding everything else. In reality, if a deal is struck, most in the Global South will come out worse off after these talks. Millions of small scale farmers, mainly poor women, will lose their earnings as multinational agri-business corporations continue taking over local markets. Workers will face layoffs as local firms are forced to compete with global corporate giants. Essential services may be privatized, leading to user fees that people simply cannot afford.
Through the Make Poverty History Campaign you can participate in a global lobby calling on governments across the world to stop negotiating unjust trade deals.
Write to Canada’s International Trade Minister Jim Peterson (Peterson.J ) and Agriculture Minister Andy Mitchell ( Mitchell.A ). Tell them you expect Canada to stand for just trade. Tell them Canada must refuse to sign any agreement that doesn’t. Please send your email letter before December 13th.
Uphold Just Trade and Human Rights at your church’s December
11th service. December 10th is International Human Rights Day. The
Day marks the anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration
of Human Rights in 1948. On the eve of these crucial trade meetings
in Hong Kong, take the time in your worship service or congregational
gatherings to pray for trade relationships between countries that
advance human rights. To see the suggested bulletin insert in a
ready-to-copy format, see http://www.kairoscanada.org/e/economic/trade/WTObulletinInsert0511.pdf
KAIROS will produce a Global Economic Justice Report on the current state of the WTO. We will be closely monitoring developments and traveling to Hong Kong to participate in parallel civil society events including an Ecumenical Conference sponsored by the Christian Conference of Asia and the Women and Economic Globalization Conference sponsored by the World Council of Churches.
For further worship, song or prayer ideas for December 11th check out the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance (EAA) at www.e-alliance.ch KAIROS is a member of the EAA.
For information on the Canadian component of the global Make Poverty History campaign: www.makepovertyhistory.ca
Please see the KAIROS web site for more information at: www.kairoscanada.org
or subscribe to our periodic trade e-bulletin by contacting Rusa
Jeremic, Global Economic Justice Program Coordinator at 416.463.5312,
ext.225 or
rjeremic
Top
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Climate change: the world gathers in Montreal |
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What’s COP11/MOP1? It’s the eleventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and the First Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol. It is scheduled for Montréal, November 28 to December 9, 2005. Representatives from over 180 countries will meet in Montréal to negotiate the future of action on climate change-- and faith community members from around the world will be there!
Check out our new web page on COP/MOP at http://www.kairoscanada.org/e/ecology/climateChange/copmop/index.asp
It includes a suggested action, information on the conference, and
many web links. Look for updates over the next month.
What’s the big deal? This is the first time that the COP has been held in North America, the Montréal talks are primarily about two things that are key to action on climate change:
- next steps in implementing the current plan, called the Kyoto Protocol, including resources needed by developing nations for adaptation to the impacts of climate change, and
- beginning a process of negotiation for a climate policy framework that will be needed once the Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012.
KAIROS and faith community partners will participate with other civil society and environmental groups, who are members of the Climate Action Network Canada. We are accredited to the meeting through the World Council of Churches, bringing together over 75 faith participants, including Southern partners, Canadians and Americans to the conference. It is significant that there will be so many people of faith witnessing to the seriousness of the threat of climate change to the well-being of Creation and its most vulnerable members.
In addition to sitting in and monitoring the negotiations, KAIROS
will hold three workshops on Energy Efficiency for Religious Buildings
and participate in several side events, which provide an invaluable
source of information on current issues in climate change. We’ll
be at the December 3 march in Montreal, along with millions around
the world who will take action on climate change! And on December
4 there will be an exciting intergenerational, interfaith service
at St Joseph’s oratory in Montreal. See our COP/MOP page for
details, and see also the Climate Action Network page for:
information
on cross-Canada events, basic
info on climate change, and to sign
the Climate Action Now Declaration.
For more information contact Joy Kennedy, Ecological Justice Program
Coordinator, at 416 463 5312 x222 or
jkennedy
Updates
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Update on the Philippines urgent action: killings continue and our partners express their thanks for your support |
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Many thanks to those who have written letters and made phone calls in response to the KAIROS urgent action on the continuing murder of activists in the Philippines. Carmencita Karagdag, of KAIROS partner Promotion of Church Peoples’ Response, says, “I am writing this note just to express our great appreciation for the timely action taken by KAIROS on the escalating political violence and extremely deplorable human rights situation in the Philippines which, in fact, prompted the WCC to put together a pastoral ecumenical delegation visit to the Philippines in July…which visited some of the most critical areas in the country.
The strong statement you sent to the Philippine authorities and demonstration of solidarity with the victims of political assassinations have been a source of strength for many of us actively involved in the peace and justice movement here. We have widely circulated your moving statement to our local and international network.
The sad and deeply troubling part, however, is that the human rights situation in the Philippines has since gravely deteriorated. To our extreme shock and dismay, another tragic killing spree, resulting in the death of some five activists and human rights advocates, took place in Central Luzon during the month of October alone.
We greatly value your abiding support and continue to beseech your prayers and solidarity during these difficult times.”
The urgent action continues. Please download it at http://www.kairoscanada.org/e/urgent/uaPhilippinesStopKillings.asp Please CC your letters to Connie Sorio (below) and tell us if you receive any replies from the Embassy.
If you want to distribute the action at your church, class or union local, please use the “Printer Friendly” button in the top right corner of our website, print out the action, and distribute freely.
For more information, please contact Connie Sorio, Program Coordinator,
Global Partnerships—Asia at 1 877 403 8933 x240 or
csorio
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KAIROS presentation to Commons Committee on the International Policy Statement |
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On Nov. 2, 2005 KAIROS appeared before the House of Commons Standing
Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade hearings on
the International Policy Statement issued by the government last
spring. The comprehensive brief, presented by Executive Director,
Mary Corkery and Global Economic Justice Coordinator, John Dillon,
outlines KAIROS concerns in the areas of economic and human development,
democracy, human rights, ecological sustainability, peace building,
disarmament and demilitarization. In addition to general observations
on the direction of Canadian foreign policy, the brief discusses
fourteen areas where KAIROS has specific policy recommendations.
To access a copy of the brief please click on the following link:
http://www.kairoscanada.org/e/media/letters/briefIPS051102.pdf
For more information contact John Mihevc, Economy of Life Team
Leader, 416-463-5312 ext. 228 or
jmihevc
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Summit of the Americas a bust |
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On November 5th the Presidential Summit of the Americas ended with
no clear decision on the FTAA (Free Trade Area of the Americas).
The official declaration includes the two opposing views on the
FTAA. The first reaffirms a “commitment to the achievement
of a balanced and comprehensive FTAA Agreement.” The second
maintains, “that the necessary conditions are not yet in place
for achieving a balanced and equitable free trade agreement.”
To that end, it was agreed to wait until after the WTO Ministerial
in Hong Kong before moving forward with a possible 2006 meeting
that would look at resuming talks. Most reports indicate that despite
commitments to meet in 2006, it is highly unlikely that the FTAA
project will go ahead.
On the occasion of the Summit of the Americas, the participants
in the KAIROS-sponsored church leaders delegation to Mexico sent
a letter to Prime Minister Martin stating that: “In Mexico
we found that the trade liberalization model that the Canadian government
continues to promote is failing the majority of Mexicans. Therefore,
it is with great concern that we witness your government's continued
commitment to this model.” Moreover, they urged the Prime
Minister to recognize the inherent failures of the free trade model.
To read the letter in PDF format see:
http://www.kairoscanada.org/e/media/letters/ltrMartinSummitofAmericas051102.pdf
While Presidents were meeting behind closed doors, thousands of
protesters held their own alternative Peoples’ Summit that
culminated in a massive march and Final Declaration calling for
an end to the FTAA, an end to militarization, and the cancellation
of debt while holding up respect for human rights, communities and
the Earth. For more information including on the ground reports
and the peoples’ Final Declaration, check out the Common Frontiers
website at www.commonfrontiers.ca
Disappointingly, at the end of the Summit Prime Minister Martin
chose to reaffirm his government’s commitment to free trade,
despite the overwhelming evidence of its negative impact. He stated:
“freer and fairer trade will lift more human beings out of
poverty than all of the assistance programs in the world combined.
We should make a commitment here to complete our negotiations for
a Free Trade Area of the Americas, an agreement that would complement,
not compete with, our ambitions for a successful completion of the
Doha Round.”
Stay tuned for more Trade Updates! These are also available
in French. Any questions or suggestions? Want more information?
Please contact Rusa Jeremic, Global Economic Justice Program Coordinator,
KAIROS,
rjeremic
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Peace in the Middle East and Morally Responsible Investment (MRI) |
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KAIROS was one of over fifty co-sponsors of an international conference on the Middle East and Morally Responsible Investment that took place in Toronto from October 26 – 29, 2005. The conference was mainly organized by churches and church related organizations but also involved participation from Jews, Muslims, and NGOs.
At present, KAIROS has no position on MRI. The KAIROS board has asked that KAIROS explore “economic advocacy measures” as one way to achieve justice and peace in Palestine and Israel. This exploration process will last at least until June 2006 at which point KAIROS will assess various options.
A statement released by KAIROS on November 16 following the conference is available on the KAIROS web site: http://www.kairoscanada.org/e/media/statements/smtSabeel051116.asp.
For further information, contact Dale Hildebrand, Team Leader
for Human Rights and Peacebuilding at
dhildebrand
or by telephone at 416-463-5312 ext. 235.
Resources
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Water, water, read all about it! |
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Want to keep up to date on the Ecumenical Water Campaign? Sign up for Streams of Living Justice, a monthly e-bulletin from Network and Campaigns Coordinator Sara Stratton. It included action updates, news, and analysis. The November issue featured analysis of the water crisis in Kashechewan, Ontario and tips on getting your municipality to sign the Water Declaration. To sign up, contact Sara at sstratton
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December 6 commemoration service, Women’s Inter-Church Council |
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Every December 6, women and men throughout Canada gather to remember
the massacre of fourteen women that took place in Montreal in 1989.
The Women’s Inter-Church Council of Canada offers an ecumenical
service outline every year. This year’s liturgy, On this Rock
We Will Build: A Service of Remembrance and Hope, can be found at
http://www.wicc.org/dec6/2005service-en.pdf
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