Archive for 2016

THANK YOU for all your support to KAIROS this year!

December 28, 2016

As 2016 draws to a close, please accept a great big THANK YOU for all your support to KAIROS this year! We end the year deeply grateful for our resilient, inspiring partners in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East…

Post filed in: Executive Director

Students learn indigenous history by reenacting colonization in unique blanket exercise

December 26, 2016

Blankets, a script and a circle of people provides a powerful lesson to classes from the Toronto Catholic board The blankets represent Turtle Island (North America) before the exercise. As part of its endeavour to get students to learn history…

Post filed in: Indigenous Rights

Concern for KAIROS Partner Acción Ecológica

December 23, 2016

Acción Ecológica is a well respected partner of KAIROS, in Ecuador.  On December 23, 2016, KAIROS  wrote to the President of Ecuador asking for a halt to a Ministry of the Interior process that would withdraw the legal status of…

Post filed in: Ecological Justice, Gender Justice/Women of Courage

Bracing for violence, praying for justice 

December 21, 2016

DR Congo update – December 21, 2016. The Congolese people are bracing themselves for social unrest and violence after the mandate of President Joseph Kabila expired at midnight on Monday, December 19. Gerard Kwigwasa, the executive secretary of Héritiers de…

Post filed in: Africa

Spirited Reflection: Remembering the innocents of every age

December 18, 2016

Perhaps arising from my very catholic-thinking Anglican grandmother’s nurturing, perhaps because it’s exotic to reformed Protestants like myself, but I have always been interested in the feast days of the saints around Christmas. Stephen’s Day on December 26th reminds us…

Post filed in: Spirited Reflections

Upcoming KAIROS Blanket Exercise Facilitator Trainings

December 16, 2016

These sessions prepare you to lead the Blanket Exercise, a powerful teaching tool to foster truth and reconciliation. When and Where: Upcoming Facilitator Training: KAIROS Blanket Exercise Toronto Facilitator Training Thursday, January 19, 2017 10:00 am to 4:00 pm Coffee and…

Post filed in: Indigenous Rights

Hope in the struggle: KAIROS Christmas video for sharing

December 15, 2016

“Christmas offers a welcome reminder that God came among us in the very midst of repression, disrupting empire with a most unexpected peace.” Dear Friends, Here is the KAIROS Christmas video. I invite you to take a moment to watch…

Post filed in: Executive Director, Spirited Reflections

National day of prayer in solidarity with Indigenous peoples

December 15, 2016

For the past two years, after having followed a training course with KAIROS — of which Development and Peace – Caritas Canada is a member — I have the honour and privilege of being able to facilitate “the Blanket Exercise”…

Post filed in: Indigenous Rights

KAIROS Times: December 2016

December 13, 2016

Read the most recent issue.

Post filed in: KAIROS Times E-Newsletter

Standing in solidarity with migrant workers on December 18

December 13, 2016

“On International Migrants Day, let us commit to coherent, comprehensive and human-rights based responses guided by international law and standards and a shared resolve to leave no one behind.” – Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary General Globally, millions of people are forced…

Post filed in: Migrant Justice

New briefing paper: We can fight climate change and hunger at the same time

December 13, 2016

While droughts and warming temperatures are exacerbating global hunger, scientists are showing that it is possible to simultaneously fight food insecurity and climate change. The most recent KAIROS Briefing Paper describes how farming practices that capture carbon dioxide and store…

Post filed in: Ecological Justice

Spirited Reflection: We are the ones to listen

December 13, 2016

Psalm 80, Vs 3-7 Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved. O LORD God of hosts, how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers? You have fed them with the bread of…

Post filed in: Spirited Reflections

16 women of courage to inspire us during the #16Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence Campaign

December 10, 2016

A different woman of courage will be highlighted on Facebook every day. Please share with your networks.

Post filed in: Gender Justice/Women of Courage

Recognition to outgoing KAIROS Regional Reps for their outstanding contribution to the KAIROS Network

December 9, 2016

Earlier this fall, Bev McDonald stepped down from the role of KAIROS Atlantic Regional Representative after 8 years of service.  The role of Regional Rep is a big commitment that requires a lot of dedication and perseverance and all of…

Post filed in: Uncategorized

Congolese human rights defenders need our support

December 6, 2016

KAIROS asks you to keep the women and men of Congo in your thoughts and prayers in the midst of that country’s ongoing political crisis. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is a political tinderbox ready to explode as President…

Post filed in: Gender Justice/Women of Courage

Spirited Reflection: Listening to voices of young women

December 5, 2016

Advent readings: Isa 35.1-10 | Ps 146.5-10 | Mt 11.2-11 | Jms 5.7-10 Not many teenage girls make national headlines. One who has caught our attention in recent years is Malala Yousafzai, of Pakistan. Her courageous advocacy is a significant…

Post filed in: Spirited Reflections

Canadian government must support women’s rights organizations in these troubled times

November 30, 2016

More than words is needed to address gender-based violence around the world. In the wake of the U.S. election, when hope seems very dim for those committed to women’s rights and gender justice, we can be inspired by women’s rights…

Post filed in: Gender Justice/Women of Courage, Op Eds

KAIROS response to federal government decisions on pipeline projects

November 30, 2016

KAIROS is dismayed with the federal government’s decision to approve the expansion of the Trans Mountain pipeline, as announced by Prime Minister Trudeau on November 29. This decision is incompatible with the government’s commitment to respect and implement the UN…

Post filed in: Ecological Justice, Indigenous Rights

Spirited Reflection: Borderlands, illumination and preparing the way

November 29, 2016

3:1 In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, 3:2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” 3:3 This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, “The voice…

Post filed in: Spirited Reflections

On leaving Marrakesh: Reflections on the climate road ahead

November 29, 2016

Flying through the labyrinthine alleys of the Medina on a motorbike as the twenty-second session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 22) UN Climate Change Conference  came to a close in Marrakesh, Morocco, I found it an apt analogy to…

Post filed in: Ecological Justice, Spirited Reflections

Women’s role building peace and ending gender-based violence the focus of Colombian organization’s Canadian tour

November 23, 2016

Organización Femenina Popular, a Colombian grassroots women’s rights organization and KAIROS partner, visits Toronto, Montreal, Quebec City and Ottawa, November 23 – December 4 (Toronto, ON) – Women’s critical role in peace building in Colombia and bearing international witness to…

Post filed in: Gender Justice/Women of Courage, Media Releases

Spirited Reflection: Moonstruck

November 21, 2016

[The LORD]  shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any…

Post filed in: Spirited Reflections

KAIROS Times: November 2016

November 18, 2016

Read the November 2016 issue.

Post filed in: KAIROS Times E-Newsletter

Murder of young assistant from Guatemalan environmental organization is evidence of escalating risk to human rights defenders

November 16, 2016

Please respond to news of this horrible crime by taking action here . Also, any donations received by the Mining Injustice Solidarity Network this week, will be sent to Jeremy’s family. Please contact: Lisa Rankin, Maritimes-Guatemala Breaking the Silence Network, btscoordinator@gmail.com. North American organizations…

Post filed in: Media Releases

Celebrating women defenders of nature in Ecuador

November 16, 2016

From October 14 to 23, Rachel Warden, Latin America Partnerships and Gender Justice coordinator, traveled to Ecuador to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Accion Ecologica, KAIROS’ long time partner, and to participate in the Latin America Network of Women Defenders’ fourth…

Post filed in: Gender Justice/Women of Courage, Latin America

Spirited Reflection: Citizens in God’s commonwealth

November 16, 2016

When an alien resides with you in your land, you shall not oppress the alien.  The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were…

Post filed in: Spirited Reflections

Women’s critical role in peace building remains strong and visible in Colombia

November 16, 2016

The day after my arrival in Colombia I was travelling on the Magdalena Medio river in a small ferry with Gloria Amparo, coordinator of the Popular Feminist Organization (OFP),  to visit women’s centres (casas de Mujeres) in Puerte Wilches and…

Post filed in: Gender Justice/Women of Courage, Latin America

Faith leaders offer support to Canadian delegation at COP22

November 16, 2016

Assurance of prayers and support for the Canadian participants in the 22nd session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP22) Marrakech, Nov 7-18, 2016

Post filed in: Ecological Justice