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Kairos Times: October 2006 Vol 5, #8
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Take action!
- KAIROS introduces online donations
- Roundtables on resource extraction continue with KAIROS Calgary
- KAIROS Sunday 2007 is coming up
- October 28: Canadian civil society protests war
- Workers attacked at Wal-Mart supplier factory in the Philippines: KAIROS partner calls for letters of support
Updates
- Voices of Victims tour highlights the courage of Colombian activists
- Standing Committee on International Trade passes resolution on Canada-Central America Free Trade Agreement
- New KAIROS Briefing Paper compares petroleum policy in Bolivia, Norway and Canada
- Canada can do better than “Clean Air”
- Our events calendar is open 24/7 for you: Please
use it!
KAIROS introduces online donations
As you read through this edition of Kairos Times you’ll see we're keeping very busy. As we begin our new four-year program plan we’re excited by the challenges that lie ahead. And we’re very aware that we couldn’t do this work without people who give their time, skills, and financial gifts. KAIROS is very fortunate to be supported by a web of partners, network members, and donors.
And now we’ve completed a new website section that will make donating easier. Making a donation through our website is simple, secure and fast, whether you want to make a one-time donation or support us through monthly deductions.
On-line giving is a great way for KAIROS to reduce our costs. Please go to http://www.kairoscanada.org/e/support/donate.asp and follow the links. Tax receipts are issued for all contributions and we use a secure server.
Bonus: If you donate before November 30, we will send you our new 2006 Water Campaign package!
To learn more about options for donating or how KAIROS uses your
gift, please contact Fahira Golich, Donor Relations at
fgolich
or 1 877 403 8933 x221.
Top
of pageRoundtables on resource extraction continue with KAIROS Calgary
“You have the chance to make a real difference,” said Rev. Clint Mooney of St. Matthew’s United Church, Calgary, in a passionate plea before a federal government roundtable on corporate social responsibility. Rev. Mooney was addressing oil and gas industry executives, human rights experts, union leaders and federal civil servants who were meeting in Calgary on October 10-12 to discuss corporate accountability in the Canadian oil, gas and mining sectors. “When I talk to people in my local congregation, they are deeply concerned about what Canadian companies are doing in developing countries. Those activities reflect on our reputation as Canadians.”
Rev. Mooney, also a member of the KAIROS Calgary local committee, urged the federal government to introduce mandatory human rights and environmental standards for the overseas operations of Canadian companies. Ian Thomson, KAIROS Program Coordinator for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), also spoke at the roundtable, calling for new CSR standards for Canadian companies to protect the rights of indigenous peoples over their lands and resources.
Across the country and around the world, people are taking up the call for mandatory regulation. Take a look at Year Two of KAIROS’ water campaign action, which focuses on this issue. The Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace (CCODP), a KAIROS member, is running a mining-focused call for regulation and both the United Church of Canada and the Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada have also called for mandatory regulation. And the Canadian Network on Corporate Accountability, of which KAIROS is a member, has begun a petition campaign with a similar call.
The federal government has already hosted three roundtables on corporate responsibility this year, in Vancouver, Toronto and Calgary. The fourth and final roundtable will take place in Montreal on November 14-16. KAIROS is encouraging supporters to attend one of the two public sessions of the Montreal roundtable:
NATIONAL ROUNDTABLE ON CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY IN THE CANADIAN
EXTRACTIVE SECTOR
Morning session: November 14, 9:00am – 12:00pm
Evening session: November 14, 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Location: Doubletree Plaza Hotel Montreal
505 Sherbrooke Street East
Montreal, QC
Submissions to the roundtables by KAIROS and Canadian churches
are available online:
http://www.kairoscanada.org/e/corporate/roundTable.asp
For more information, please contact Ian Thomson, Program Coordinator,
Corporate Social Responsibility, KAIROS, at tel. 416-463-5312 ext.
229 or
ithomson
KAIROS Sunday 2007 is coming up
People have already begun asking about KAIROS Sunday 2007. We suggest the last Sunday before Lent (17 February 2007) as KAIROS Sunday, but any Sunday at all can be a KAIROS Sunday. It’s your chance to promote justice work in your faith community by focusing on any aspect of KAIROS’ work, and/or any justice and peace work underway in your own community. We have a new full colour poster with an ecumenical liturgy on the reverse available for you; more online resources are coming. Check out http://www.kairoscanada.org/e/network/sunday/index.asp for updates and resources.
If you’re planning a service or event, or have any questions
at all, please contact Sara Stratton, Campaign and Network Coordinator,
1 877 403 8933 x241 or
sstratton
October 28: Canadian civil society protests war
As public concern and debate about Canada’s role in Afghanistan grows, many Canadians also remember the thousands of Iraqis killed over the past year in that country’s ongoing violence. In memory of the victims and survivors of war, the Canadian Peace Alliance and many other groups are calling on Canadians to protest war on October 28. The CPA’s site lists all known local events to date—please let them know if you have more to add. http://www.acp-cpa.ca/en/Oct28Events.htm
Workers attacked at Wal-Mart supplier factory in the Philippines: KAIROS partner calls for letters of support
Armed police have attacked striking Filipina workers who produce clothes for Wal-Mart, according to the Workers’ Assistance Centre (WAC), a KAIROS partner in the Philippines. The Philippines Economic Zone Authority ordered the attacks on the peaceful strike on September 25 and 27, where more than 40 strikers – mostly women – sustained head injuries and bruises from clubbing.
Workers desperately need your support to put a stop to their employers’ attempt to destroy their union through violence, mass firings and intimidation. Please send a letter to the Director-General of the Philippines Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) to protest this blatant violation of worker rights. WAC has prepared a sample letter to PEZA, which is accessible online: http://www.wacphilippines.com/?page_id=34
KAIROS also encourages you to pressure Wal-Mart to intervene in
this case. Although the company has never been a friend of the labour
movement, its corporate policies include a commitment to respect
the right to unionize in its supplier factories. A sample letter
to Wal-Mart is available from the Maquila Solidarity Network:
http://www.maquilasolidarity.org/alerts/Chong%20Won%20Phillipines-Sept%2027.htm
Thank you for supporting these workers in their struggle for justice
and fair working conditions. For more information, please contact
Ian Thomson, Program Coordinator, Corporate Social Responsibility,
KAIROS, at tel. 416-463-5312 ext. 229 or
ithomson
Voices of Victims tour highlights the courage of Colombian activists
A recent tour by Colombian human rights activists José Diaz and Lilia Solana made it clear that survivors of Colombia’s ongoing violence will not be silenced. The Voices of Victims tour highlighted victims’ proposals for peace with justice in Colombia and connected with both the Canadian public and government officials.
Learn more about the tour’s focus from this Embassy Magazine article.
Youth are often the targets of military and paramilitary violence in Colombia, yet their voices are rarely heard-- making seventeen year-old José’s testimony all the more important for us to hear. Robin Buyers of the Canadian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) writes, “José Diaz (his name has been changed here) sports baggy jeans with an oversized shirt from his favourite soccer team, and a streak of blond through his dark, spiky hair. It’s easy to imagine him hanging around with friends in any urban center in North America, sharing a laugh. But this 17-year-old has a very different story to tell.
José’s story is one of the repression of young people in the displaced community of Cazucá in Ciudad Bolívar, just outside of Bogotá. Last June, a CPT investigatory team reported on dress codes and a 6 p.m. curfew imposed by paramilitaries in neighbourhoods here, and on the fatal consequences for those found on the streets after curfew. José testifies to this deeply disturbing reality: he is the only survivor of a massacre that left 4 of his friends dead.
That night in 2004, José and 6 friends were working in a bakery and found themselves short of supplies. Hoping for safety in numbers, they set out together, bought what they needed, then headed back. But they were followed. As they crossed the local soccer field, the 4 men behind them showed their weapons, accused the boys of being armed, and demanded to see their guns.
“But we had no guns,” says José. “We had only what we needed to make bread.”
José ran for his life. “I decided that, if I was going to die, I would rather die running,” he says. He had not gone very far when he heard shots. He turned, and saw his friends fall. He did not stop running again until he reached home.
An army battalion was stationed only two blocks away, but did not respond to the gunfire. Even though José named two of the killers in a statement to the police, there was no investigation. José and his family are now in hiding. The only other survivor of the massacre has since been killed.”
Colombians have struggled against extreme violence for decades.
Anyone who speaks out against armed groups is put in danger, whether
they’re church members, students, union members, women’s
leaders or Indigenous people. KAIROS and many other Canadian NGOs
and church groups will continue to accompany partners in their courageous
work. You can read more about Colombia at
http://www.kairoscanada.org/e/countries/colombia/index.asp
For more information, contact Rachel Warden, Program Coordinator,
Latin American Partnership Program at 416-463-5312 ext 242 or
rwarden
Standing Committee on International Trade passes resolution on Canada-Central America Free Trade Agreement
Since 2001 KAIROS has closely monitored the behind closed-door
negotiations of the Canada-Central America Four Free Trade Agreement
(CA4FTA) that includes Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua.
As a result of civil society pressure, the Standing Committee on
International Trade finally held a hearing on the proposed deal
on June 21st, just as Parliament was winding down.
At that time KAIROS partner, Salvadoran economist, trade activist,
and Hemispheric Social Alliance member Raúl Moreno testified
at the hearing. In addition, KAIROS and the APG (Americas Policy
Group) made a presentation before the Committee, presenting a series
of recommendations.
We stated again our call for full public debate and suspension of
the negotiations until such time as there is full and immediate
disclosure of all draft texts, further study on the Canada-Central
America Agreement by the Committee, and mechanisms developed for
real public debate.
When the Committee reconvened October 17th, NDP trade critic Peter
Julian put forth a motion in support of our recommendations. Except
for the demand to officially suspend negotiations until gathering
further information, the remaining recommendations were passed.
Though currently stalled, official negotiations are not suspended.
Regardless, the Standing Committee is now obligated to begin a process,
which we hope will work to ensure further accountability and transparency.
Moreover, it could set in motion a new approach to trade that ensures
accountability, transparency and responds to public opinion on the
matter. Now the hard work begins!
To read the full text of the KAIROS submission to the Standing Committee
go to: http://www.kairoscanada.org/e/economic/trade/submissionCAFTA_APG0606.pdf
To read the actual motion go to: http://cmte.parl.gc.ca/cmte/CommitteePublication.aspx?SourceId=176564
For more information, please contact Rusa Jeremic, Global Economic
Justice Program Coordinator 416.463.5312, ext. 225 or
rjeremic
New KAIROS Briefing Paper compares petroleum policy in Bolivia, Norway and Canada
“Bolivia Emulates Norway; Why Doesn’t Canada?” is a new policy briefing paper written by KAIROS economic justice program coordinator John Dillon. The paper describes how Bolivia’s recent nationalization of its petroleum industry is rooted in years, indeed centuries, of frustration on the part of indigenous Bolivians over the plunder of their natural resources. It explains how Norway’s approach to dealing with transnational petroleum companies serves as a model for Bolivian policies.
The paper compares the relatively low revenues that Canadian jurisdictions derive from petroleum extraction with the higher standard set by Norway and reviews some of the ecological costs of excessive tar sands development. Finally, we ask why Canada does not emulate Norwegian policies with respect to capturing a larger share of revenues for public use, a carbon tax in order to meet targets set by the Kyoto protocol on greenhouse gas emissions, and a new $3.4 billion dollar fund for investment in renewable energy and energy efficiency initiatives.
A copy of the briefing paper can be downloaded at
http://www.kairoscanada.org/e/resources/policyBriefing4Bolivia0610.pdf
For more information contact John Dillon, Economic Justice Program
Coordinator, at 416 463 5312 x231 or
jdillon
Canada can do better than “Clean Air”
For years, the Canadian churches have made care for the Earth an integral aspect of their justice work. There is no greater threat to our collective future than the destruction of the ecosystems upon which all life is dependent. Caring for Creation is a spiritual commitment to God that is not optional in our faith.
So we note with great concern that the Canadian government’s Clean Air Act announced on October 19 as the centerpiece of its so-called “Made in Canada” Green Plan for Canada lacks the vision and courage to seriously tackle climate change. Click here to read the full KAIROS statement: http://www.kairoscanada.org/e/media/statements/smtCleanAir061020.asp
Canada can do better, and organizations across the country are showing the way. Churches who have participated in the KAIROS energy efficiency program can tell you that; youth groups who have taken the Suzuki Challenge can tell you that; and so can citizens from all walks of life who believe that climate change is both a crisis and an injustice. Have a look at It’s Getting Hot in Here, a youth movement against climate change: http://itsgettinghotinhere.org and the website for the Canadian Youth Climate Coalition at http://www.ourclimate.ca/
Check our links page to find out what you can do:
http://www.kairoscanada.org/e/resources/links.asp#climate_change
For more information on KAIROS’ climate change and energy
efficiency work, contact Joy Kennedy, Ecological Justice Program
Coordinator, at 1 877 403 8933 x222 or
jkennedy
Our events calendar is open 24/7 for you: Please use it!
If your KAIROS committee, community group or faith community is
planning an ecumenical, community or regional event focused on social
justice, drop us a line at
info
or contact your
regional rep! We’ll post your event on our national listings,
giving preference to events with an ecumenical or interfaith angle.
Check out the events posting page and note what kind of information
we’ll need from you: http://www.kairoscanada.org/e/events/index.asp
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