Author Archive

Philippines partners’ visit, August 23- September 3, 2019

September 12, 2019

At the partners’ roundtable on the first day of our visit to the Philippines, Bishop Rex Reyes challenged us to be “credible, consistent and courageous” in our solidarity and advocacy work. This became a theme throughout our trip as we…

Post filed in: Asia-Pacific, Gender Justice/Women of Courage

I don’t have words to describe what I saw.

December 11, 2014

On a tour of two of the world’s most contaminated mining communities, a delegation of women activists from across Latin America realize that while their stories may differ, what unites them is their work defending communities and Mother Earth.

Post filed in: Gender Justice/Women of Courage

Tribunal at Peoples’ Summit calls for a UN Declaration on the Rights of Nature

December 10, 2014

The Tribunal on the Rights of Nature at the Peoples’ Summit on COP20 in Lima has no legal authority beyond the integrity and respect generated from its process and participants, but the hope is that by revealing the impacts of…

Post filed in: Gender Justice/Women of Courage

Anti-mining activist killed and Ecuadorean partners harassed on eve of Lima meetings

December 4, 2014

What was supposed to be a celebratory launch for KAIROS partner Acción Ecológica’s delegation to the People’s Summit and COP20 meeting in Lima, Peru turned into a nightmare as delegation members were detained and harassed and news came in of…

Post filed in: Ecological Justice, Gender Justice/Women of Courage, Latin America

Making the invisible visible: The Wayuu in Guajira face a humanitarian crisis

December 2, 2014

The Wayuu people are one of 43 Indigenous groups in Colombia facing extinction. In this blog, Wayuu leader Matilde Lopez speaks with KAIROS’ Rachel Warden and Audrey Huntley from No More Silence about the threats facing her people.

Post filed in: Gender Justice/Women of Courage

KAIROS Delegates at the UNPFII – intro video blogs!

May 19, 2014

Delegate Alma Brooks arrived early with us and Ana Guadalupe from Guatemala and Mila from the Philippines have been here for the first week so we were able be begin our orientation. We have also had the opportunity to film…

Post filed in: Gender Justice/Women of Courage, UNDRIP Blog Updates

Prairies North Statement at TRC National Event in Edmonton

April 4, 2014

As part of its Expression of Reconciliation, KAIROS Prairies North presented a quilt blanket as “a symbol of a restored relationship of trust and warmth” between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada.

Post filed in: Indigenous Rights

Sisters are mining for the truth

March 6, 2014

Rachel Warden, gender justice coordinator at KAIROS, draws the relationship between the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) Convention in Toronto, International Women’s Day, and violence against women in this article published in Toronto’s NOW magazine.

Post filed in: Gender Justice/Women of Courage, Indigenous Rights, Latin America

Getting ready for the delegates…

November 18, 2013

Rachel Warden writes on the purpose and prospects of the Guatemala mining study tour with the United Church of Canada. It will include visits to Canadian owned mining projects, and conversations with the communities where these projects are located.

Post filed in: Gender Justice/Women of Courage, Latin America

KAIROS Delegation to DRC Tour Photos

June 20, 2013

The DRC delegation is underway and delegates have sent us some wonderful updates and photos.  This first series of photos gives us a sense of their first few days – the excitement of their arrival in Bujumbura, Burundi, their meetings…

Post filed in: Africa, Gender Justice/Women of Courage

Wabanaki Water Convergence ceremony

May 28, 2013

This weekend, I had the opportunity to travel to Fredericton, New Brunswick to participate in the Wabanaki Water Convergence ceremony, which took place where the waters of the Saint John River (WOLASTOQ) converge with the tide’s end.  The importance of…

Post filed in: Gender Justice/Women of Courage

Women’s Days greetings from the UN CSW

March 8, 2013

Happy International  Women’s Day! This year I had the opportunity to spend Women’s Day and a few days leading up to it at the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) at the United Nations in New York City.   This…

Post filed in: Gender Justice/Women of Courage

WOMEN’S REGIONAL COURT FOR JUSTICE, TERRITORY AND PEACE IN CALI – Final Verdict

December 10, 2012

WOMEN’S REGIONAL COURT Justice, Territory and Peace PUBLIC HEARING Cali, November 27th and 28th, 2012 The Women’s Regional Court was conceived as a space for the recuperation of memory, for truth, justice for women, the defense and conservation of territories, reparation…

Post filed in: Gender Justice/Women of Courage

Regional Women’s Court in Cali – the importance of Territory

December 10, 2012

After the women’s court in Bucaramanga, I went on to Cali to participate in the regional women’s court for the region of Cauca. This court had a very strong Indigenous identity and presence, as well as a focus on territory.  There…

Post filed in: Gender Justice/Women of Courage

WOMEN’S REGIONAL COURT in Bucaramanga – Preliminary Ethical Ruling

December 7, 2012

                          WOMEN’S REGIONAL COURT Justice, Territory and Peace PUBLIC HEARING Bucaramanga, November 24th and 25th, 2012 Preliminary Ruling   The Women’s Regional Court was conceived as a “space…

Post filed in: Gender Justice/Women of Courage

Preparing for the Regional Court Women’s Court

November 30, 2012

I spent the day before the regional Women’s Court in Bucaramanga with OFP staff. As you can imagine, they were busy confirming the program and the content, and finalizing logistical details including finding accommodation and food for the 150 people who are arriving from different communities…

Post filed in: Gender Justice/Women of Courage

The Regional Women’s Court in Bucaramanga

November 30, 2012

On November 25, the International Day to End Violence against Women, I had the privilege of participating in the regional Women`s Courts for Justice, Territory and Reparation in Bucaramanga, Colombia. KAIROS was invited to be a part of a symbolic…

Post filed in: Gender Justice/Women of Courage

Talking Peace in Colombia

November 20, 2012

My first day in Colombia coincided with the first day of the official peace negotiations taking place in Cuba between the Colombian government and the FARC. In my meetings today with partners I was able to get a sense of the…

Post filed in: Gender Justice/Women of Courage

Bringing messages from Canada to the Women’s Courts for Justice, Territory and Peace in Colombia

November 19, 2012

I am on my way to Colombia to participate in the Women’s Courts for Justice, Territory and Peace, organized by our partner, the Popular Women’s Organization (OFP), and the Movement of Women against the War and for Peace.   I go…

Post filed in: Gender Justice/Women of Courage

Reflections on the 40th Anniversary celebration of the Organización Feminina Popular (OFP) by Susan Ferguson

August 13, 2012

by Special Guest, Susan Ferguson     I was privileged beyond measure to attend this celebration of the OFP, an organization which has been a partner of KAIROS and the Latin America coalitions that preceded it for more than a…

Post filed in: Gender Justice/Women of Courage

Living Courage in South Brook, Newfoundland – Of Jigg’s dinner, Music, Laughter and Hope

June 19, 2012

I knew it was going to be an extraordinary event the minute we turned off the high way into South Brook, a community of 500.   Hope Rowsell  was waiting for us in the parking lot of the convenience store and…

Post filed in: Gender Justice/Women of Courage

The Power of Storytelling

June 13, 2012

Following an early flight to Halifax and then a bus to Antigonish, I arrived at the Coady International Institute in time for the start of the Living Courage event. I was glad I didn’t miss anything. After only four days…

Post filed in: Gender Justice/Women of Courage

Whose Development? Reflections on my visit to the Marlin Mine and meeting with community members

April 24, 2012

By Rachel Warden “They said the mine would bring development, but they didn’t mean development for us, unless they meant the development of sickness, environmental damage, of social conflict and threats,” – community member from San Miguel Ixtahuacan We were…

Post filed in: Ecological Justice, Latin America

An Article on Living Courage by delegate Vernie Yocogan-Diano

November 18, 2011

Living Women’s Courage Against Extractive Industries and for Rights By Vernie Yocogan-Diano Cordillera Women’s Education Action Research Center cwearc09@gmail.com 11 November 2011 On the launching of the Canadian Tourism and Hospitality Center on 6 November 2011, Canadian Ambassador Christopher Thornlay…

Post filed in: Gender Justice/Women of Courage, Indigenous Rights

Living Courage in Vancouver

October 21, 2011

After a beautiful ferry ride from Victoria, we were warmly received and hosted in Vancouver.  This warmth and support continued throughout our stay.  The public event on Saturday at St. Michael’s Anglican Church drew a diverse crowd of about 60…

Post filed in: Gender Justice/Women of Courage

Living Courage in Victoria

October 18, 2011

By Glenys Verhulst Glenys Verhulst is a volunteer with the Victoria Philippines Solidarity Group, a small, grassroots organization that seeks to raise awareness about and seek justice for human rights issues that link Victoria and the Philippines, including mining and…

Post filed in: Africa, Gender Justice/Women of Courage

Jill Harris on visiting Penelakut Island with Chantal

October 14, 2011

BY JILL HARRIS As I told different stories from personal experience and from what I had witnessed, Chantal agreed that many of these were similar to stories in her context. The visit by KAIROS’ Women of Courage, Living Courage tour was…

Post filed in: Africa, Gender Justice/Women of Courage

Living Courage tour begins tomorrow

October 11, 2011

Living Courage Tour Website >> Tomorrow, the Living Courage tour  begins.   We will all meet in Victoria, after travelling from different parts of the world: Chantal from Congo, Rebecca from Sudan, Vernie from the Philippines and Julie and I the…

Post filed in: Gender Justice/Women of Courage