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DECEMBER 2011 - IN THIS ISSUETRUTH, RECONCILIATION & EQUITYELCIC Writes to PM Harper Regarding UNDRIP DURBAN 2011: UNITED NATIONS CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCEKAIROS Pre-Durban Statement LIVING COURAGE TOUR: WOMEN OF COURAGE 2011
Women's Roles in Peacebuilding and Defending Human Rights ON THE BLOGBeauty & Struggle in Durban FEATURE RESOURCETruth, Reconciliation & Equity: They Matter to Us! FEATURE PARTNERChantal Bilul from Héritiers de la Justice, Democratic Republic of Congo OTHER NEWSExecutive Director Job Posting  "For the mistakes of the past, Canadians need to hear and tell the truth.
Attawapiskat: Urgent Action
The Cree community of Attawapiskat in northern Ontario has declared a state of emergency
as hundreds of residents face winter in tents and sheds. The deplorable
conditions in Attawapiskat First Nation recently caught media attention
and calls for immediate intervention are growing. KAIROS has joined
this chorus through an urgent action. We are encouraging support for
Attawapiskat by asking our supporters to engage their federal and
provincial politicians on this issue.
Put yourself in the picture!
We all know that KAIROS companions are a photogenic lot, so it's
time to put those picture-perfect smiles to good use! Show your support
for KAIROS Campaign 2011-2012: Truth, Reconciliation & Equity:
They Matter to Us! by creating a photo op just like the Great Lakes
- St. Lawrence Regional Meeting Organizing Committee did. Honouring the Children“For far too long the hopes and aspirations
of indigenous peoples
have been ignored . . .” Former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan
KAIROS and the First Nations Child and Family Caring Center of Canada have responded to these pressing issues in a shadow report, Honouring the Children, to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child. An executive summary of the report is also available.
KAIROS Pre-Durban StatementThe 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Durban, South Africa, November 29th through December 9, 2011, will be a crucial test of the willingness of the international community to undertake decisive action to avoid catastrophic climate change. In preparation for this event, KAIROS prepared a statement calling on Christians to take action on climate change. This Pre-Durban Statement asks members of our KAIROS churches and all people of good will to join in urging the government of Canada to champion the goals of the Durban conference. An executive summary of the statement is also available. Is Durban the world's last, best hope to avoid climate disaster?
KAIROS staffers Jim Davis & John Dillon crafted an excellent policy brief in preparation for Durban. This brief offers up helpful visuals and data to orient you to the commitments of past climate change conventions, Canada's own climate change policies, the nature of ecological debt, the particular challenges to Africa and Indigenous peoples worldwide, and what it means to live well in harmony with nature. You can find the easy to read and share PDF here. Canadian Interfaith Call for Leadership and Action on Climate ChangeKAIROS is among more than two dozen faith-based organizations and churches to sign a Canadian document calling for leadership and action in response to global catastrophic climate change. This timely statement identifies a number of practical and critical measures necessary to secure the well-being of the planet for future generations of life. The full text of the statement is available here.  
Our cross-country tour wrapped up in late October. The delegates, Vernie Yocogan-Diano from the Philippines and Chantal Mayanga Bilulu from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, enlivened audiences from Victoria to Montreal with their stories about defending human rights and building hope int he face of miltarization, climate change, unethical mining practices and war. It's not too late to share in this Living Courage. On our Women of Courage page you can learn about the delegates and their organizations, check out photos from the events, and read & share blog entries from these truly remarkable women. Women's Roles in Peacebuilding and Defending Human RightsKAIROS has authored four sets of recommendations to the Canadian government on Canada’s responsibility in advancing women’s roles in peacebuilding and defending human rights. These papers focus on KAIROS' countries of concern - Philippines, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the Sudan - as well as one overview on the subject. Each of these offer insights in the unique conditions women face in these countries. You'll definitely want to check out these quick, enlightening reads! Find these papers on the Women of Courage homepage. |
   
FEATURE RESOURCE
Truth, Reconciliation & Equity:
This resource offers two distinct ways to engage your church or community on issues of Indigenous rights. The first is an interactive workshop that can easily be tailored to suit your space, time, and energy. Everything you need from material lists, to notes for facilitators, to learning goals and links to other KAIROS resources is in right here in this booklet. The second half of this resource is a customizable worship service that integrates elements from Christian and Indigenous traditions. There is no doubt you will find this helpful as you engage your worshipping community in Truth, Reconciliation & Equity! Simply click here to download the resource. For print orders of resource material please contact KAIROS at orders@kairoscanada.org or 1.877403.8933 x221 KAIROS can help to organize educational workshops on Indigenous Rights in your community. Don't be shy to reach out to us at workshops@kairoscanada.org. ON THE BLOGBeauty & Struggle in Durban FEATURE PARTNERChantal Bilulu:
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A Climate Justice PrayerGod of light and life, we see you in the rising sun, |
Vincent Van Gogh |
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KAIROS Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives |
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The Interim Report of the Canadian Government’s Standing Committee
on the Status of Women states: “[C]hildren often come into the
care of child and family services not for abuse, but rather because
their families are unable to provide the necessities of life.”
This inability is due to historic and ongoing Government of Canada
policies and practices that contradict traditional Indigenous holistic
ways of being, fail to uphold Indigenous peoples’ rights, and
discriminate against First Nations, Inuit and Métis families and children.
These government policies and practices touch on all aspects of an
Indigenous child’s life and represent a failure by Canada to
meet its obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights
of the Child. 
