Archive for 2018

Spirited Reflection: Where there is darkness, be light

December 23, 2018

Advent is a time to pause and reflect on the action of God in our lives. It is both an opportunity and a challenge to set aside the busyness of this time of the year and pay attention to the…

Post filed in: Spirited Reflections

KAIROS Christmas video for sharing

December 21, 2018

“This Christmas, let’s settle only for great joy—not for the few, the powerful, the privileged—but for all. Peace and goodwill for all peoples.” Dear Friends, With Christmas approaching, I would like to share with you a short video message and…

Post filed in: Executive Director, Spirited Reflections

Les femmes qui construisent la paix valent l’investissement

December 20, 2018

La consolidation de la paix a l’air noble et est souvent perçue comme relevant de la responsabilité des dirigeants mondiaux et des acteurs armés. Elle se manifeste aussi assez souvent dans le travail inlassable des femmes et de leurs alliés…

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

Spirited Reflection: A story of women’s solidarity

December 18, 2018

From 1987 to 1989, I worked with wives of theology students at the United Church of Zambia Theological College in Kitwe, Zambia; their education ranged from Grades 5 to 12. While there, I led a weekly Bible Study session with…

Post filed in: Spirited Reflections

Needs Improvement: Educators make progress on Indigenous curriculum, but more work to do

December 14, 2018

In the wake of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s call to include more study on Indigenous issues in school curriculum, it appears educators across the country are taking the recommendations to heart. In its second report card on how Canadian…

Post filed in: Indigenous Rights

Jessica’s report after the first week at COP24

December 12, 2018

It’s been an incredibly busy week of tedious negotiations, energizing side events and impactful demonstrations at COP24 in Katowice, Poland. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released a report this year showing the significant adverse effects of reaching an…

Post filed in: Ecological Justice

KAIROS joins church leaders in condemning violence against migrant caravans

December 11, 2018

On the week of International Human Rights Day and the 70th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, KAIROS, along with representatives of churches and communities of faith, have signed a letter to Prime Minister Trudeau asking the Government…

Post filed in: Migrant Justice

Spirited Reflection: The time to act for justice is now

December 10, 2018

Following on the Scripture readings: Jeremiah 23: 1-6; Luke 4: 16-21 Jeremiah was one of the Hebrew prophets who insisted that living in right relationship with God was not enough. They knew that because the root of spiritual life is…

Post filed in: Spirited Reflections

Canadian youth speak up at COP24

December 7, 2018

Earlier this morning in Poland, Jessica Steele, one of KAIROS’ delegates to COP24 spoke at a Canadian youth press conference organized by BCCIC.  Jessica spoke of how women, particularly Indigenous women disproportionately bear the brunt of climate impacts and Indigenous…

Post filed in: Ecological Justice

KAIROS Times: December 2018

December 6, 2018

Hot off the press! The December 2018 KAIROS Times Newsletter.

Post filed in: KAIROS Times E-Newsletter

Migrant Worker Story: Meet Teresa

December 6, 2018

After Teresa filed a report against her farm employer for sexual assault, he asked her how much money it would take for her to retract her statement. In the spring of 2014, Teresa (not her real name) was attacked by…

Post filed in: Migrant Justice

“We’re definitely not the best nation in the world,” school children learn about colonialism

December 5, 2018

“Getting to the truth was hard, but getting to reconciliation will be harder. It requires that the paternalistic and racist foundations of the residential school system be rejected as the basis for an ongoing relationship. “Reconciliation requires that a new…

Post filed in: Indigenous Rights

Canadian ecumenical community supports women’s participation at COP24

December 3, 2018

Today marks the official start of COP24 – the 24th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) – in Katowice, Poland and Jessica Steele and Georgine Kengne are there representing KAIROS Canada under…

Post filed in: Ecological Justice

The KAIROS Blanket Exercise in Ireland

December 3, 2018

A KAIROS Blanket Exercise (KBE) team travelled to Ireland in November to facilitate the exercise for Trócaire, a development and emergency relief agency that works “to support the most vulnerable people in the developing world, while also raising awareness of…

Post filed in: Indigenous Rights

MEDIA RELEASE: Two women frontline climate activists lend their voice at COP24

December 3, 2018

KAIROS-led delegation is sole Canadian church presence and will participate in new UNFCCC Gender Action Plan (Toronto, ON) – Two women climate activists representing KAIROS Canada under the accreditation of The United Church of Canada are in Katowice, Poland as…

Post filed in: Ecological Justice, Media Releases

Spirited Reflection: Living Hope

November 30, 2018

Jeremiah: 33: 14-16 Luke 21: 25-36 As we begin this Season of Advent, the passage in Jeremiah is a message of hope and promise. The One who will come will bring justice and righteousness. God will not abandon the people….

Post filed in: Spirited Reflections

Women of Courage: Perspectives from inaugural Global Partners gathering

November 30, 2018

KAIROS is truly honoured to have hosted ten partners at the inaugural Women of Courage: Women, Peace and Security global partners gathering in Toronto and Ottawa, November 19 – 27. The gathering highlighted the critical role that women’s grassroots organizations…

Post filed in: Gender Justice/Women of Courage

NEW RESOURCE: Canada’s golden opportunity for a just transition to clean energy

November 30, 2018

KAIROS Media Briefing Papers are written to help inform public discourse on key domestic and foreign issues. Download this resource.

Post filed in: Ecological Justice

Streams of Justice: KAIROS Atlantic Gathering 2019

November 29, 2018

All are welcome to join us for a diverse, inter-generational gathering May 2 – 5, 2019 at Mount Allison University in what is known as Sackville, NB, part of the greater territory of Mi’kma’ki, to learn about the work of…

Post filed in: Regional News

Migrant Worker Story: Meet Ryan

November 22, 2018

Ryan Aporbo was desperate when he lost his job as a restaurant cleaner amid Alberta’s economic recession and faced possible removal to his native Philippines. Then the temporary foreign worker said he found an ad from Toronto-based A&L Hammer Workforce…

Post filed in: Migrant Justice

Ecumenical Community writes PM regarding recent Supreme Court decision

November 21, 2018

On November 9, in response to the Mikisew Cree First Nation v. Canada Supreme Court of Canada decision, KAIROS Canada and Mennonite Church Canada (MCC) wrote to the Prime Minister urging him to ensure that Indigenous Peoples are fully involved…

Post filed in: Indigenous Rights

Spirited Reflection: Women of Courage – making visible the women who work for peace

November 21, 2018

I am not a theologian, but when I hear the passage from Luke 19 and Jesus’s words as he enters the city of Jerusalem: “If you, even you, had only recognized on this day the things that make for peace….

Post filed in: Gender Justice/Women of Courage, Spirited Reflections

#HearMeToo: women-led grassroots organizations are best chance to end violence

November 19, 2018

Research by UN Women also tells us that only five per cent of international funds are allocated to programs targeting gender equality and women’s empowerment in fragile states. Canada can change this chronic underfunding by investing in the best chance for sustained peace…

Post filed in: Gender Justice/Women of Courage

Spirited Reflection: Pondering the apocalypse

November 14, 2018

Mark 13:1 As he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!” 2 Then Jesus asked him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will…

Post filed in: Spirited Reflections

KAIROS Women of Courage global partners visit Toronto and Ottawa, November 19-27

November 12, 2018

KAIROS Canada will host an inaugural Women of Courage: Women, Peace and Security partners gathering from November 19 – 27, 2018 in Toronto and Ottawa,  bringing together for the first time our five international partners: Héritiers de la Justice –…

Post filed in: Gender Justice/Women of Courage

Migrant Worker Story: Meet Maria

November 8, 2018

When Maria came to Canada she was envisioning a bright future in her dream country. She came under the Caregiver Program hoping that after two years of working as a live-in caregiver she would be able to apply for permanent…

Post filed in: Migrant Justice