Author Archive
How the Indigenous Blanket Exercise destroyed my ego
November 4, 2020
Last January, the charity I worked for held its quadrennial staff gathering in Ottawa, where my department participated in an Indigenous Blanket Exercise. And boy did that not go as I expected.Note: this post is not sponsored or affiliated in…
Post filed in: Indigenous Rights
Letter to the Editor: If Canada is serious about ending systemic racism, take a hard look at temporary foreign worker program
November 4, 2020
Written by Connie Sorio, Migrant Justice Program Coordinator at KAIROS. Originally published in The Hill Times on November 4, 2020.
Post filed in: Migrant Justice
5 Years of Truth and Reconciliation
November 3, 2020
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) released its Final Report in December 2015. Since then, KAIROS has worked hard to keep the TRC Report and 94 Calls to Action at the forefront of our social justice and education work in…
Post filed in: Indigenous Rights
Coalition for the Human Rights of Indigenous peoples calls on federal and provincial governments to honour and uphold Mi’kmaw fishing rights
November 2, 2020
The members of our coalition are appalled by acts of violence and intimidation against Mi’kmaw fishers exercising their Constitutionally protected, legally affirmed, inherent and Treaty rights. The federal and provincial governments bear responsibility for their long-standing failure to ensure that rights affirmed…
Post filed in: Indigenous Rights
CALL FOR CONTRIBUTIONS: Raise up the Year of Prayer Bundle, from coast to coast
November 2, 2020
Beginning on March 11, 2020, the KAIROS Steering Committee began a Year of Prayer for the persons, families and communities connected to The Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, and the National…
Post filed in: Indigenous Rights
KAIROS Regional Gatherings
November 2, 2020
Join us at the virtual gathering for your region to meet other social justice activists in your area. Or choose the theme and time that suit you best. Each online event is hosted and presented by people in the region. Everyone is welcome. BC-Yukon Region Fall Book…
Post filed in: Regional News
Les groupes confessionnels canadiens lancent une initiative de conversation sur le climat
November 2, 2020
Pour l’amour de la Création publie des plans pour des groupes de discussion locaux et un forum en ligne à l’échelle nationaleTerritoire algonquin non cédé (Ottawa, ON) – Les églises canadiennes et les organisations confessionnelles sous Pour l’amour de la…
Post filed in: En français, Media Releases
Canadian faith groups launch climate conversation initiative
November 2, 2020
For the Love of Creation releases plans for local discussion groups and nation-wide online forumUnceded Algonquin Territory (Ottawa, ON) – Canadian churches and faith-based organizations under For the Love of Creation have launched two programs to increase dialogue on climate…
Post filed in: Media Releases
Reaffirming women peace builders, 20th Anniversary of UNSCR1325
October 30, 2020
“I came to (the Wi’am human rights) session to fulfil a requirement for my law professor. I always thought that women’s issues were important, but I thought we had to decide between these issues and Palestine’s sovereignty. I did not believe we…
Post filed in: Gender Justice/Women of Courage
Demand that the Government of Canada Support Peace in Colombia
October 29, 2020
Violence in Colombia continues undaunted, and in some ways aggravated, by the COVID-19 pandemic. Just days after public health directives were put in place to contain the spread of the coronavirus in March, Carlota Isabel Salinas Pérez, a member of the Organización Femenina Popular (OFP) was killed. Carlota is…
Post filed in: Gender Justice/Women of Courage, Latin America
Letter to the Editor: Industry not being realistic about oil and gas emissions
October 23, 2020
Re: “Majority of Canadians support our natural gas and oil sector, says CAPP,” (The Hill Times, Oct. 12, p. 22).Pointing to a recent poll, the head of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers writes that Canadians believe that the natural…
Post filed in: Ecological Justice
Raising concerns about ongoing human rights violations in the Philippines
October 23, 2020
In solidarity with our partners in the Philippines, the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) and Ecumenical Voice for Human Rights and Peace in the Philippines ( EcuVoice), KAIROS, the United Church of Canada, and the Anglican Church of Canada have…
Post filed in: Asia-Pacific, Gender Justice/Women of Courage
KAIROS Steering Committee Announcement
October 22, 2020
After eight and a half years as KAIROS Executive Director, 27 years overall with the ecumenical justice coalitions and KAIROS, Jennifer Henry will be leaving, effective December 31, 2020. “It has been an honour and privilege to serve this incredible…
Post filed in: Executive Director
Women of Courage: Women, Peace and Security year two at a glance
October 15, 2020
KAIROS needs to raise funds to match the government’s contribution and we need your help! Every dollar you donate to these four Women of Courage: Women, Peace and Security partners will generate an additional $3 in funding from Global Affairs Canada (GAC).DONATE…
Post filed in: Gender Justice/Women of Courage
Re-engaging on Global South debt cancellation in a just transition
October 7, 2020
KAIROS partners, members and allies are renewing calls for debt cancellation as the crisis provoked by the Covid-19 pandemic intensifies. In many countries, the pandemic has provoked an economic recession, increased inequality and further delayed action on the climate emergency. At the…
Post filed in: Gender Justice/Women of Courage
Thanksgiving video message for sharing
October 7, 2020
As we gather on Thanksgiving, there is no doubt that this year is different. However, I am looking forward to it for the reminder it brings to turn our hearts to gratitude. And there is so much to be thankful for. I am particularly grateful to the migrant workers who bring…
Post filed in: Executive Director, Spirited Reflections
KAIROS and Partners sign on to open letter marking the 20th anniversary of UNSCR 1325
October 6, 2020
KAIROS Canada and two of its Women of Courage: Women, Peace and Security program partners – Héritiers de la Justice (DRC) and Wi’am: Palestinian Conflict Transformation Centre (West Bank), have signed on to an open letter published by the NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security…
Post filed in: Gender Justice/Women of Courage
Rights for People, Rules for Business!
October 5, 2020
A Virtual Rally for Real Canadian Corporate AccountabilityJoin the Canadian Network on Corporate Accountability (CNCA), of which KAIROS is a member, on Sunday, October 18th at 4:00PM EDT for a virtual rally in support of corporate accountability. Surpassing the initial goal of 4,000 signatures, 6,130…
Post filed in: Corporate Accountability, Ecological Justice
Femmes de courage: Femmes, paix et sécurité: aperçu de la deuxième année
October 5, 2020
La participation active des femmes à la paix et à la sécurité offre des possibilités uniques et essentielles de créer des solutions transformatrices de l’égalité des sexes et, en fin de compte, des sociétés plus inclusives, égalitaires entre les sexes…
Post filed in: En français, Gender Justice/Women of Courage
KAIROS Blanket Exercise Teaching & Sharing Circles: November 24
October 5, 2020
‘Building Positive Relationships between Indigenous & non-Indigenous Peoples’Led by Indigenous Knowledge Keepers with extensive experience facilitating the KAIROS Blanket Exercise (KBE), these interactive Zoom-based sessions aim to build positive relations between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people through truth, sharing, and open dialogue. Based in an Indigenous-world view and using Indigenous teachings and protocols, this…
Post filed in: Indigenous Rights
Just transformation needed now: KAIROS responds to the 2020 Speech from the Throne
September 30, 2020
The Government of Canada addressed the pandemic – “our generation’s crossroad” – and how it plans to “build back better” in the much-anticipated Speech from the Throne on September 23. The speech touched on racism, gender and income inequality, the environmental crisis, dislocation, and the struggles facing Indigenous and global communities. While the government addressed each issue separately, they intersect and are amplified by a pandemic that exacerbates human rights…
Post filed in: Ecological Justice, Gender Justice/Women of Courage, Indigenous Rights, Migrant Justice
Climate Action Month wrap up
September 30, 2020
Today we wrap up the second annual Climate Action Month. For the last 30 days, we have reflected, gained new understanding, amplified voices, lamented, celebrated, and taken collective action to address the climate crisis. The content, events, and actions that KAIROS shared this month were intended…
Post filed in: Ecological Justice
Spirited Reflection: Poem by Albert Dumont on Orange Shirt Day
September 30, 2020
Sir John A. Macdonald by Albert Dumont © We, the Anishinabe, search the lifeless eyes Of the many portraits proudly painted for Canada To honour a man Canadians believe Was an emblem for ‘decency, righteousness and vision’ “A hero” they say, “a…
Post filed in: Indigenous Rights
Canada’s climate-stressed watersheds
September 29, 2020
In 2017, WWF-Canada completed a national assessment of Canada’s 25 major watersheds, which contain a total of 167 sub-watersheds. The assessment identified priority actions to ensure all waters in Canada are in good ecological condition by 2025. The reports look at threat indicators such as…
Post filed in: Ecological Justice
Watersheds are lifeboats
September 28, 2020
As we experience impacts of climate change like drought, flooding, extreme weather, and more, remembering Brock Dolman’s words, “Your watershed is your lifeboat,” can be instructive. When we place these impacts in the context of our local watersheds, we see how they impact everything from habitat, to the…
Post filed in: Ecological Justice
Introduction to water week
September 27, 2020
This week, Climate Action Month wraps up on the theme of water. Over the next couple of days, we’ll celebrate rivers, explore how taking a watershed approach can help us build resilience to address the climate crisis, and learn about climate impacts on…
Post filed in: Ecological Justice
