KAIROS Times: June 2017
- Remembering John Dillon / Recordando a John Dillon
- Hundreds participated in largest KAIROS Blanket Exercise ever
- Seeds of truth: Reflection on the KAIROS Blanket Exercise Youth Exchange with Guatemala orientation
- Philippine delegates on TVO’s The Agenda
- KAIROS statement of solidarity and prayer for peace in Mindanao
- Momentum builds during Month of Action for Mining Justice
- TAKE ACTION to demand justice for Topacio Reynoso and her father
- The KAIROS 2016 Annual Report is now available
- KAIROS Blanket Exercise in the news!
- Donor testimonial
- Upcoming
- Featured Partner
- Featured Resources
- Spirited Reflections
Remembering John Dillon / Recordando a John Dillon
John passed away suddenly of complications related to cancer on June 5, 2017, surrounded by his loving family. He was 68. He is survived by his wife, Marianne, and two children, Timothy and Norah. John will be deeply missed by his colleagues at KAIROS, civil society allies, and partners in movements around the world who will carry his commitments forward.
John served the Canadian churches in ecumenical social justice for 44 years. He was a researcher, writer, analyst, but most importantly a persistent and faithful advocate for marginalized peoples everywhere. It was to the needs and concerns of women, Indigenous peoples, poor communities, and the cries of the earth that he held himself to account. Read more. Leer en espagnol.
Hundreds participated in largest KAIROS Blanket Exercise ever
Despite the threat of rain, about 800 people converged on Parliament Hill on June 2 for the largest KAIROS Blanket Exercise ever. They came to mark the second anniversary of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action and renew their commitment to reconciliation. Read more.
Seeds of Truth: Reflection on the KAIROS Blanket Exercise Youth Exchange with Guatemala orientation
There were just a few actual seeds, but so many more metaphorical seeds of truth, friendship, and solidarity. It was the seeds of truth that first brought us together. The KAIROS Blanket Exercise (KBE) is less than an hour of truth-telling; a few small but crucial kernels of the history of Canada. A quick sketch on the chalkboard and a compressed overview of the history of Guatemala confirmed for the whole group what our Guatemalan partners had told us: the history of colonization, a history of attempted genocide, has so many commonalities between our countries. Read more.
Philippine delegates on TVO’s The Agenda
TVO’s The Agenda interviewed Bishop Ablon and EcuVoice’s Anie Baptista, delegates from the Philippines, during the Toronto leg of a cross-country tour organized by KAIROS to highlight the impacts of Canadian mining in their country. Joined by Emily Dwyer of the Canadian Network on Corporate Accountability, they discussed the impacts and what Canada can do to make Canadian overseas mining operations accountable. The segment aired on May 31. View.
KAIROS statement of solidarity and prayer for peace in Mindanao
On March 23, 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 rights organizations are expressing grave concern that the imposition of martial law will further destabilize the already fragile peace and result in more human rights abuses in the region. KAIROS issued a statement of solidarity and prayer for peace in Mindanao. Read the statement.
Momentum builds during Month of Action for Mining Justice
KAIROS was active during the May Month of Action for Mining Justice, a campaign of the Canadian Network on Corporate Accountability, of which KAIROS is a member. KAIROS took part in several aspects of the campaign, which followed the visit to Canada by Philippine leaders. Read more.
TAKE ACTION to demand justice for Topacio Reynoso and her father
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 planet in the fight against Tahoe Resources’ Escobal mine in neighboring San Rafael las Flores, Guatemala. Three years later, little has been done to bring Topacio’s killers to justice. Take action now.
The KAIROS 2016 Annual Report is now online
Download the 2016 annual report of KAIROS’ activities and financial performance.
KAIROS Blanket Exercise in the news
The KAIROS Blanket Exercise continues to make the news….
CTV – Blankets help Saskatchewan students learn about Indigenous history
CBC – KAIROS Blanket Exercise bridges cultural gaps between First Nations and Alberta RCMP
Donor Testimonial
Upcoming Events
Atlantic Tour with Guatemalan Partners
Halifax: June 18
Antigonish: June 19
Charlottetown: June 20
Fredericton: June 21-22
Have a wonderful summer!
The next KAIROS Times will come out in September. We wish you and your family a wonderful summer!
Featured Partner
Breaking the Silence is a voluntary network of people in the Maritimes who began organizing in 1988 to support the efforts of Guatemalans struggling for political, social, and economic justice. The network is committed to supporting structural transformation in both Guatemala and Canada. Inspired by Guatemalans working for peace with justice, Breaking the Silence works with partner organizations to create relationships and projects based on solidarity, friendship, and human rights advocacy.
Featured Resources
Let Justice Roll: Implement the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
This resource provides a guide for taking action to ensure that the Government of Canada takes the necessary steps to revise federal legislation so that all relevant legislation is consistent with the UN Declaration. Download resource.
Q&A on fossil fuel divestment
In May 2016, KAIROS convened Divest for our Future – a day of learning and discernment on fossil fuel divestment for its members, including church staff responsible for finance, pensions or social/climate justice, the KAIROS Steering Committee, and the Ecumenical Circles of Collaboration. Through theological reflection, discussions on climate change, and ecumenical sharing of divestment experiences, participants assessed divestment as a faithful response to the climate crisis. As part of the process of continued research and reflection on this issue, John Dillon developed a resource with frequently asked questions and answers around divestment. Download resource
Spirited Reflections
Reconciling Trinity, by Ryan Andersen
We sat around the glowing rocks. The rattle, glowing above the rocks, kept rhythm, while the drums played and William sang. Dave, a United Church Pastor, and I sat next to each other, surrounded by the heat and darkness of the sweat lodge. We had been invited, to ground the reconciliation work we were a part of in ceremony. Read more.
Another session of the KAIROS Blanket Exercise, by Judith Ramsay
I came across the Blanket Exercise last spring when I was looking for ways to engage in Indigenous rights issues. Why Indigenous rights issues? Because it seems to me that the relationship with Indigenous peoples is foundational for who we are in this place. If that relationship is not based on mutual respect and if it doesn’t provide positive outcomes for both groups, then all we have built here is like the proverbial house built on sand. Read more.
Pilgrimage for Indigenous Rights, by Esther Townshend
Earlier this month, I joined a group walking from Kitchener-Waterloo to Ottawa, called the Pilgrimage for Indigenous Rights. Organized by Mennonite Church Canada and Christian Peacemaker Teams, the pilgrimage had two primary goals. Read more.
Serious Thought, Ray Jones
Our lands/territories are sacred in the Gitxsan Nation like yours. When the Gitxsan entered into negotiations with the Federal Government and the Provincial Government in 1994, we presented the following tenets or precedents to both Governments and these still this hold to this day. Read more.
Riding on the bus, by Esther Epp-Tiessen
I have always struggled with the traditional spiritual disciplines. But I’ve come to realize that there are many more spiritual disciplines than those the church has typically held up. And for me, personally, what has become an important way of encountering the Spirit is through the very mundane act of riding the bus to work. Read more.
Call for Submissions: Aim to Inspire
As a key part of KAIROS’ commitment to faithful action for ecological justice and human rights, we are seeking new Spirited Reflections to help inspire our constituents and others. Read more.
