MAY 2011 - IN THIS ISSUE

1) Roll with the Declaration Update
2) KAIROS Circles of Ecumenical Collaboration
3) Ecumenical Conference on Mining - Final Report

FEATURE RESOURCE
The Blanket Exercise

FEATURE PARTNER
Rev. Iteffa Golbe Molte

SPIRITED REFLECTIONS
Women Working for Justice

Roll with the Declaration update

Things are moving!

On November 12 the Canadian federal government endorsed the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. This is one step in a long journey towards right relations; we must travel even further together if we are to truly live out the Declaration. Please join the KAIROS community as we celebrate the Declaration alongside Indigenous communities and leaders this June 14-21across the country and in Ottawa. From BC to Newfoundland we're making banners and bringing them to the train to send them to Ottawa where we'll make a giant banner for June 20.

Check out our updated 'Roll with the Declaration' page with a new Google Map showing all the Banner Train events across the country and all the resources you'll need to participate.

Join us on Facebook where we've created a special 'Roll with the Declaration' Facebook page.

Follow and post on ongoing events on Twitter at #kairoll.

Plan or join in a simple local event to put banners (and supporters) on the train to Ottawa.

KAIROS is honoured that a number of Indigenous and non-Indigenous groups have signed on to the June action and have expressed support for the UN Declaration. We’re also hearing about many creative events and worship services at which people are making beautiful banners. A slide show of banners is being added to daily on the Roll with the Declaration main page, and we ask you one final time to consider making a banner if you’ve not done so already. Your banner expresses your commitment to Indigenous peoples’ rights, and it will be your voice on Parliament Hill on June 20.

We also have an ecumenical bulletin insert for June 19, the Sunday before National Aboriginal Day. Consider using this alongside your own denomination’s resources.

The grassroots group planning the Ottawa events for June 20 will soon have a detailed agenda available on the KAIROS site.

Stay tuned!

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For info on planning an event or anything else that we can help you with please contact Anne Herteis at connect@kairoscanada.org or call toll-free 1 877 403 8933 x243.

KAIROS Circles of Ecumenical Collaboration

On May 10th – 11th, the KAIROS Circles of Ecumenical Collaboration came together to pray, reflect, plan and celebrate our  faithful movement for human rights and ecological justice.  The circles are the structural bodies that bring forward representation from the different denominations, church-based organizations, and partnerships that make up KAIROS.
 
This spring, the focus was on theological courage and looking at ways to build stronger alliances with diverse communities and youth.   We were very fortunate to hear voices from our partners as we examined the meanings behind theological courage and what implications it has on us as we live our lives and do our work.

KAIROS is grateful to all those who attended and brought forth energy, ideas and support.  In particular, our deepest thanks go out to our partners who had to travel such long distances and be away from home and whose insight and courage inspired our discussions and enriched our experience. We hope to incorporate the ideas and suggestions brought forth from each of the circles and circle members as we continue to move forward.

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For more information please contact:

Caroline Foster
Companions & Communities
connect@kairoscanada.org
416-463-5312 ext. 221
1-877-403-8933 (toll free)

Ecumenical Conference on Mining - Final Report

From May 1 to 3 in Toronto, KAIROS hosted an international Ecumenical Conference to discuss the impact of Canadian mining operations, accounting for 75% of the world's mining and mineral exploration companies, on communities and the planet. Gathered under a banner bearing Psalm 24’s reminder “The Earth is God’s, and all that is in it”, about 150 people from all parts of the Earth considered the impact of Canadian mining companies on their communities and offered some signs of what must be done differently. Almost 50 participants from Latin America, Asia & the Pacific, and Africa met with Canadians, Europeans and people from the US in a rich encounter across languages and cultures.

Please read the final report on this important conference, which includes recommendations in the fields of Education, Legislative Action, Legal Action, Theology, Investment, and the Role of the Churches.

We're still following the conference on Twitter: #Ecumining >>

Special thanks to Simon Chambers for his great photos of the event >>

For more information please contact:

Ian Thomson
Ecological Justice through Corporate Accountability
ithomson@kairoscanada.org
416-463-5312 ext. 222
1-877-403-8933 (toll free)

FEATURE PARTNER

REV. ITEFFA GOLBE MOLTE
All Africa Conference of Churches

REV. ITEFFA GOLBE MOLTE is currently the All Africa Conference of Churches' (AACC) envoy to the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and a member of the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches. Rev. Iteffa Gobena was president (2001 - 2009) of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (EECMY) which is a member of both the Lutheran World Federation and the World Alliance of Reformed Churches.

KAIROS is very grateful for Rev. Gobena's participation in the Ecumenical Mining Conference, and in his consultation with us during our Movement Building Circles.

SPIRITED REFLECTIONS

Women Working for Justice

Connie Sorio reflects on the status of women's rights on the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day, in an era of globalization and corporate dominance.