Archive for May 2017

Momentum builds during  Month of Action to make Canada open for justice

May 31, 2017

KAIROS has been active during the May Month of Action for Open for Justice, a campaign of the Canadian Network on Corporate Accountability, of which KAIROS is a member. This campaign calls for an independent Ombudsperson and access to Canadian courts…

Post filed in: Ecological Justice

MEDIA ADVISORY: Canada’s colonial past to unfold on Parliament Hill, June 2

May 31, 2017

Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples to participate in mass reconciliation event: KAIROS Blanket Exercise (Ottawa, ON) – Canada’s history of stolen land, broken promises and cultural genocide will unfold on Parliament Hill, June 2 from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m. with the…

Post filed in: Indigenous Rights, Media Releases

KAIROS statement of solidarity and prayer for peace in Mindanao

May 29, 2017

On Tuesday March 23, 2017, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte placed the island of Mindanao under military rule following  an armed encounter between the Maute militants and the Philippine military in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur.  Philippine church leaders and human…

Post filed in: Asia-Pacific

Spirited Reflection: Another session of the KAIROS Blanket Exercise 

May 29, 2017

It’s over. The Narrator has finished speaking. The room falls quiet. The few participants, still standing, glance at each other. The Narrator then asks everyone to think back to what the room looked like at the beginning of the Exercise…

Post filed in: Spirited Reflections

By the end of May these youth will have shared the Blanket Exercise 29 times to over 1000 people in Saskatchewan

May 26, 2017

Although he is just finishing his Grade 12 education, Michael Cardinal is already teaching five centuries of Indigenous history. “Assimilation, residential schools, the 60s scoop, Canada’s history,” said Cardinal. Cardinal is one of eight Bert Fox Community High School students…

Post filed in: Indigenous Rights

Spirited Reflection: Pilgrimage for Indigenous Rights

May 25, 2017

But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their…

Post filed in: Indigenous Rights, Spirited Reflections, UNDRIP Blog Updates

New video: Kitchi Blanket Exercise

May 24, 2017

Please share this video with your network. Let’s all ‘show up’ on June 2, to participate in the largest Mass Blanket Exercise ever! #reconciliACTION150

Post filed in: Indigenous Rights

Spirited Reflection: Serious Thought

May 18, 2017

Genesis 1, Verses 10, 12 10: “And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of waters called his seas and God saw that it was good.” 12: “And the earth brought forth grass and seed after his…

Post filed in: Spirited Reflections

KAIROS Blanket Exercise bridges cultural gaps between First Nations and Alberta RCMP

May 15, 2017

‘It’s going to help me to be more attentive to what the Native people have gone through.‘ Photo: RCMP members from Alberta take part in the KAIROS Blanket Exercise in Cochrane. (Laurent Pirot/CBC) RCMP Staff Sgt. Lauren Weare tries in vain…

Post filed in: Indigenous Rights

Discomfort, ‘real feelings’ felt by Yellowknifers during exercise about history of Indigenous North Americans

May 11, 2017

‘Blanket exercise’ represents Aboriginal people being separated from their original home and traditions Peter Workman is determined to learn — even if it makes him feel uncomfortable. “I’m part of a generation that didn’t receive a lot of training or…

Post filed in: Indigenous Rights

TAKE ACTION to demand justice for Topacio Reynoso and her father

May 11, 2017

On April 13, 2014, unknown gunmen attacked 16-year-old Topacio Reynoso Pacheco and her father, Alex Reynoso, killing Topacio and leaving Alex seriously injured. Both were active in their municipality of Mataquescuintla, standing up for land and the health of the…

Post filed in: Indigenous Rights, Latin America

KAIROS Times: May 2017

May 5, 2017

One Month to the Kitchi Blanket Exercise! KAIROS Blanket Exercise Youth Exchange with Guatemala expands to include Canadian tour Winds of Change blow in Manitoba Let Justice Roll: campaign update May is a month of action for mining justice “These…

Post filed in: KAIROS Times E-Newsletter

Letter to the editor: Coal calculations

May 5, 2017

Re B.C.’s Clark To Target Thermal Coal Regardless Of U.S. Softwood Outcome (May 4): Christy Clark’s attacks on thermal-coal exports through B.C. in the name of fighting climate change are hypocritical, given her support for exporting liquefied natural gas. Yes,…

Post filed in: Ecological Justice

May is a month of action for mining justice

May 4, 2017

Through the Open for Justice campaign, KAIROS and the Canadian Network on Corporate Accountability network continue to call for an independent ombudsperson to investigate human rights violations and environmental damage from Canadian mining companies in the Global South, as well…

Post filed in: Ecological Justice

Wi’am – Occupying space with courage, resilience and humanity

May 4, 2017

It was my first time in Israel and Palestine. From April 1-10, I joined a Canadian delegation, which included representatives from the United Church of Canada and the Presbyterian Church in Canada, to visit partners in the region and finally…

Post filed in: Middle East

An exercise in understanding: the KAIROS Blanket Exercise

May 3, 2017

The floor of Wallace Hall is criss-crossed with colourful blankets. Participants move from blanket to blanket, greeting each other quietly, occasionally trading items – a cornhusk doll for a braid of sweet grass, a piece of leather for a dreamcatcher….

Post filed in: Indigenous Rights

A call to action regarding human-made famine and conflict in South Sudan

May 3, 2017

South Sudan’s church leaders are calling for the world’s and Canada’s attention and action in the midst of a human-made famine in the conflict-riven, fragile state. While KAIROS members are contributing to humanitarian responses through the ACT Alliance (Action of…

Post filed in: Africa

Spirited Reflection: Riding on the bus

May 3, 2017

Ihave always struggled with the traditional spiritual disciplines – contemplative prayer, disciplined scripture reading, meditation, fasting. I have tried them all many times, and fallen away every time.  I have often felt like a failure. But I’ve come to realize…

Post filed in: Spirited Reflections