Archive for January 2011

KAIROS solidarity letter to Israeli human rights group B’Tselem

January 26, 2011

On January 5 2011, Members of the Israeli Knesset voted for a parliamentary inquiry to investigate the funding of Israeli human rights groups allegedly helping to build war crimes cases abroad against Israeli military personnel. The scope and details of…

Post filed in: Middle East

Déclaration des Nations Unies sur les droits des peuples autochtones – Foire aux questions

January 26, 2011

L’Assemblée générale des Nations Unies a adopté la Déclaration des Nations Unies sur les droits des peuples autochtones en septembre 2007 par un vote de 144 à 4. Le Canada, l’Australie, la Nouvelle-Zélande et les États-Unis ont voté contre la…

Post filed in: En français

The Canadian government must publicly commit to supporting the Sisters In Spirit Initiative

January 24, 2011

For the last five years, we have stood alongside the Native Women’s Association of Canada to promote vigils across Canada to honour the lives of missing and murdered Aboriginal women and girls. In these five years, the Sisters in Spirit…

Post filed in: Indigenous Rights

Le gouvernement canadien doit s’engager publiquement à appuyer l’Initiative Sœurs par l’esprit

January 24, 2011

Au cours des cinq dernières années, nous nous sommes tenus aux côtés de l’Association des femmes autochtones du Canada pour promouvoir l’organisation de vigiles partout au Canada en vue d’honorer la vie des femmes et des fillettes autochtones disparues ou…

Post filed in: En français

Endena Cogasi, A Woman of Courage

January 19, 2011

Presented by Vernie Yocogan-Diano, on behalf of Innabuyog, an alliance of Indigenous women’s organizations in the Cordillera, Philippines,  on 9 December 2010 during the Gawad Tanggol Karapatan or Awards for Cordillera human rights defenders by the Cordillera Human Rights Alliance…

Post filed in: Asia-Pacific, Gender Justice/Women of Courage

Budgets are Moral Documents

January 19, 2011

We are in the middle of budget season here in Canada, not only at the federal level but also right down the line to municipalities. Difficult decisions need to be made, especially during this period of economic downturn. I was…

Post filed in: Spirited Reflections

What’s next for Sudan?

January 16, 2011

Voting wound up Saturday afternoon in Southern Sudan’s referendum on self-determination. A local singer in Juba referred to this entire process as simply “doing the paper work” of secession. It’s true, the result may be foregone. But now that voting…

Post filed in: Africa

KAIROS Times: January 2011

January 15, 2011

Read the January 2011 issue.

Post filed in: KAIROS Times E-Newsletter

An inspiring story from Sudan

January 14, 2011

I read the article below in the Juba Post this morning. It’s one story of many, but it’s similar to what we witnessed at a couple of polling centres over the last week and I think it’s worth excerpting here:…

Post filed in: Africa

Inside an observation mission

January 13, 2011

There are only 2 days of voting left (assuming that the Referendum Commission doesn’t extend voting). Several observation teams are discussing preliminary statements, including the Carter Center and the EU. We are, as well. What to put in a statement…

Post filed in: Africa

Images from the Referendum in Southern Sudan

January 12, 2011

Posted are some images from the referendum on self-determination in Southern Sudan taking place January 9-15, 2011. Day One Yei Day Two Congo Road Day Three Maridi Road Day Four Juba Road ——————————————- John Lewis, KAIROS International Human Rights Coordinator,…

Post filed in: Africa

Climate Change Challenges Us to Choose between Life and Death

January 12, 2011

After a welcome break to celebrate God’s incarnation among us, I am revisiting the blog I wrote on the final day of the UN climate conference, Cancún Accord Mirrors Copenhagen Accord While Keeping Kyoto Protocol Alive. Rereading the Cancún documents…

Post filed in: Ecological Justice, Spirited Reflections

Self-determination: some questions remain

January 8, 2011

It’s hard not to get caught up in the enthusiasm the people of Juba feel for the coming days. Tomorrow, Jubans and their neighbours throughout Southern Sudan begin voting in a referendum on splitting up Sudan. In a few months,…

Post filed in: Africa

The virtue of patience: freedom and lost luggage

January 7, 2011

Good people have many virtues, including patience. By that account, the people of Southern Sudan must be good people. They have exercised remarkable patience over the last few decades, waging a struggle for independence which included 20 years of war…

Post filed in: Africa

Drumming for the future

January 6, 2011

 The Lethbridge Herald covers KAIROS ‘Beat the Drum’ Day of Action http://www.lethbridgeherald.com/local-news/drumming-for-the-future-12610.html

Post filed in: Indigenous Rights

SpOILer?

January 6, 2011

There is a lot of talk of oil in Juba. The referendum on splitting up the country which begins on Sunday will begin to clarify positions on who benefits from the considerable oil revenues of Sudan. It won’t be the…

Post filed in: Africa, Ecological Justice

Will there be blood?

January 5, 2011

It’s the question on everyone’s mind: will war break out after the referendum? The short answer is: I don’t know. And it’s possible, nobody does. The president of Sudan, Omar Al Bashir, was in town on Tuesday saying all the…

Post filed in: Africa

Juba, finally

January 5, 2011

After a journey that lasted too long (sailing up the Nile would have been quicker) I am in Juba, Southern Sudan. What is immediately apparent is that, if this town is going to become a new national capital (and it…

Post filed in: Africa