JULY 2010 - IN THIS ISSUE

1) Women of Courage
2) URGENT ACTION: Shooting of Guatemalan community leader opposing Canadian-owned mining project
3) KAIROS Fall Regional Meetings
4) G8 - G20
5) KAIROS Briefing Paper: G20 Surrenders to the Money Traders
6) The struggle against impunity in the Congo: an interview with Maurice Namwira

IN BRIEF
1) What will be the fate of Canada’s Responsible Mining Bill?
2) 'Irregular Migration, Migrant Smuggling and Human Rights: Towards Coherence'

FEATURE PARTNER
Yolanda Becerra Vega

NEW MEDIA
KAIROS on Twitter

REFLECTION
'The Great Turning', Joanna Macy

From August 15 - 25, 2010 KAIROS partners and supporters from the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Philippines and Canada will travel to Colombia as part of the 'Women of Courage' delegation. They will visit Colombian communities that face militarization and daily violence, before participating in the Women and People's Summit of the America's Against Militarization and a KAIROS sponsored roundtable focused on developing strategies to overcome violence against women in countries of conflict.

Click on the map above to learn more about the delegates, KAIROS' ongoing campaign for gender justice in areas of conflict where women are most vulnerable, and the Women and People's Summit of the America's Against Militarization.

For more information please contact
Rachel Warden
Latin America Partnerships Program Coordinator
rwarden@kairoscanada.org
416-463-5312 x 242
toll free 1-877-403-8933

or

John Lewis
Human Rights Program Coordinator
jlewis@kairoscanada.org
416-463-5312 x 224
toll free 1-877-403-8933

URGENT ACTION:
Shooting of Guatemalan community leader opposing Canadian-owned mining project

KAIROS is deeply saddened and shocked to learn of the shooting of Theodora Antonia Hernández Cinto, a community leader, in the municipality of San Miguel Ixtahuacán in Guatemala. Theodora had been actively involved in leading community resistance against large-scale mining in their region, and was shot only two weeks after President Colom suspended GoldCorp's Marlin Mine operations in the region

This news leaves us greatly concerned for the well-being of Naty Atz Sunc, director of KAIROS partner CEIBA and a strong community leader and mining activist, who spoke passionately about the communities that have been resisting foreign-owned mining projects during the KAIROS G20 tour in Canada in June.

We ask that you take the time to write a letter, announce this action in church, and keep Theodora, Naty and all human rights defenders in Guatemala in your prayers at this difficult time.

Click here to go to KAIROS' Urgent Action page for more information and a sample letter >>

KAIROS REGIONAL MEETINGS 2010

KAIROS welcomes you to its annual regional meetings!!

Whatever your background, join the KAIROS network for a day or two of community and learning. We’ll look over the past year and plan for a new year of grassroots action for social justice. We'll explore our annual education for action campaign for 2010-11, focused on Indigenous rights and resource extraction. All are welcome, and don't hesitate to ask for support if registration fees pose any kind of barrier.

Caroline Foster
Partners and Networks Associate
cfoster@kairoscanada.org
416-463-5312 x 221
toll free 1-877-403-8933

From June 14 to 17, KAIROS undertook a Climate Justice Tour of Canada, with stops in St. John's, Halifax, Fredericton, Victoria, Yellowknife and Regina. Isaiah Kipyegon Toroitich (Program Officer for Policy and Advocacy at Norwegian Church Aid in Kenya), and Naty Atz Sunuc (General Coordinator of CEIBA, the Association for Community Development and Promotion in Guatemala) joined staff and network members on the Eastern tour while Francois Pihaatae (Ecumenical Animator on Climate Change for the Pacific Conference of Churches) and Fred Sangris, a Yellowknives Dene member who studies climate impacts on wildlife, joined us in the West and North. Naty and Isaiah then came to Toronto for the G8/G20 Peoples' Summit, and Francois attended and gave a keynote address at the Interfaith Leaders' Summit in Winnipeg.

Participants at the well-attended events had the opportunity to hear first hand about the disproportionate impact of climate change on Southern countries and Canada's North, and to discuss with partners what real solutions to these crises might look like. Suggestions included the adoption of science-based targets and timelines to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, greater conservation in the North, a meaningful shift towards renewable energy, and increased international development funds to ensure the ability of Southern communities to adapt to the changes --such as drought, flooding, food shortages and forced migration-- that are already happening as a consequence of climate change.

Voices Unheard: KAIROS Statement on the occasion of the G8/G20

Canada’s Indigenous peoples, threatened human rights workers in Congo and Colombia, HIV-infected mothers in Malawi, and Pacific Islanders whose homes and livelihoods are being destroyed by rising waters due to climate change were among the strong articulate voices unheard at the G8 and G20.

Urgent global issues were ignored. Leaders of the world mobilized inadequate resources for maternal health. By focusing on deficit reduction without the implementation of a “Robin Hood Tax” on speculation, they ensured that the burden of the financial crisis will be borne by the very people most in need of pensions, health care and social services, rather than the financiers who created the crisis.

Ignored were the world’s poor people whose lives so dramatically depend on actions of the G8 and G20. Also ignored were the non-governmental organizations whose long relationships with partners in the South inspire advocacy calls on their behalf.

More than ten thousand peaceful protestors strove to reach out with their message of solidarity, justice and compassion and yet were sidelined as press and public focussed on a small minority who employed vandalism and violence. The enormity and overwhelming nature of policing this summit caused many who would have participated in a peaceful march to stay home out of fear. The massive number of arrests evokes public concern that those arrested may include peaceful demonstrators and bystanders, and raises important questions about Canadian civil liberties.

If the leaders of the world had tackled climate change, or implemented a tax on speculation, or mobilized the resources required to end premature maternal death, this might have begun to address the concerns over the immense financial and social costs of these events.

Now is the time to start over, raising the positive, life-saving messages of people and their organizations in Canada and overseas. We call on the media to focus on issues ignored during the G8-20 that may help our country make decisions of hope that build a more just and peaceful global community.

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For more information please contact
Sara Stratton
Education and Campaigns Program Coordinator
sstratton@kairoscanada.org
416-463-5312 x 241
toll free 1-877-403-8933

G20 SURRENDERS TO THE MONEY TRADERS

KAIROS latest Policy Briefing Paper provides an in-depth analysis of the G20 Meetings and Final Statement. The paper examines how the outcome represents a caving in to pressure from the same bond and derivative traders whose irresponsible actions caused the financial crisis in the first place. With its emphasis on deficit reduction the outcome will certainly mean added pressure on the poor and vulnerable to pay for the financial bailout of speculators. The paper concludes with a consideration of the future of both the G8 and G20 Summits and the prospects for important issues like the Financial Transfers Tax.

Read the full article here >>

THE STRUGGLE AGAINST IMPUNITY
IN THE CONGO:
AN INTERVIEW WITH MAURICE NAMWIRA

In a recent interview with Christian Aid, Maurice Namwira, Executive Secretary of KAIROS partner organization Héritiers de la Justice, speaks about the struggle of human rights defenders for political space and protection in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). With the recent attacks and threats against individuals like Floribert Chebeya and Emmanuel Lubala Mugisho (president of Héritiers de la Justice), Maurice explains how it is “very important to maintain an open dialogue with authorities about their responsibilities to protect and promote human rights and their duty to guarantee universally recognised fundamental freedoms.” And, how it is “vital to invite the political authorities in the DRC to work towards establishing a legal framework which guarantees the rights of all and the welfare of the people.” Read the entire interview here: http://allafrica.com/stories/201007221134.html

For more information please contact
John Lewis
Human Rights Program Coordinator
jlewis@kairoscanada.org
416-463-5312 x 224
toll free 1-877-403-8933

FEATURE PARTNER

Yolanda Becerra Vega
Colombia
National Director,
Popular Women’s Organization (OFP)

Yolanda Becerra Vega is a well-known human rights defender and leader of the grassroots women’s movement in Colombia. She is the national director of the Popular Women’s organization (OFP), based in Barrancabermeja and founding member of the Social Movement of Women Against the War and for Peace in Colombia. Regionally, she is a member of the network of human rights workers in Magdelena Medio which includes active participation of the Diocese, social movements and unions. She is also a member of the regional social forum.

Internationally, Yolanda has travelled extensively in Latin America, Europe and North America, bringing concrete testimonies of the impacts of human rights violations and the war on women in Colombia and calling for international solidarity and support. She has participated in meetings of the World March of Women and Women in Black. Yolanda has been recognized nationally and internationally for her courageous work in human rights and as a leader of the women’s movement. Among other awards, she received the prestigious Per Anger human rights prize from Sweden in 2007 and was nominated as one of the 1,000 women to receive the Nobel Peace prize in the campaign One Thousand Women and One Nobel Peace Prize in 2005.

IN BRIEF

What will be the fate of Canada's Responsible Mining Bill?

When the House of Commons returns in September, one of the first things on the agenda will be Bill C-300, a private member’s bill designed to establish minimum standards for Canadian mining, oil and gas companies operating in developing countries. But what will be its fate? You may recall that it narrowly passed a second reading vote in April 2009, by a margin of 137-133. KAIROS firmly supports the bill and has been encouraging members of our network to show their support by writing to MPs.

After hearing damning testimony about Canadian mining abuses from witnesses in Canada and from abroad, the parliamentary foreign affairs committee was expected to review the bill and consider some amendments earlier this month. Liberal MP John McKay, who introduced the bill last year, was hoping to amend it to make it more palatable for some of his colleagues who appear to be sitting on the fence. However, efforts to amend the bill were thwarted when members who are opposing it filibustered and ran out the clock. It has now left the committee and will return for debate in the House in late September.

The autumn will be a critical moment for Bill C-300. If you speak to your Member of Parliament over the summer, be sure to ask him or her to support the bill and hold Canadian companies to account.

'Irregular Migration, Migrant Smuggling and Human Rights: Towards Coherence'
The new policy brief and report from the International Council on Human Rights discusses the issues and definitions of migration, human trafficking, trends in law enforcement, economic policies and the legal frameworks to protect migrants.

Click here to read the brief >>

KAIROS now has over 200 followers on Twitter, where we post links to all our material, as well as 'retweeting' articles and links by other organizations and individuals that we follow.

Nik Beeson, KAIROS' New Media Program Coordinator, is using his twitter feed to follow, PWRDF, the United Church, Amnesty International, Embassy Magazine, Oxfam, War Child, Make Poverty History, Steve Paikin, Africa Files, Quakers Canada, Canadian Council of Churches, Presbyterian News, CRC Justice, 350.org, and many more.

Twitter is a great way to keep track of the people and organizations that are important to you, and to broadcast good ideas to the same.

Join us on Twitter!
https://twitter.com/kairoscanada