Rev John Whyte’s reflections on Saskatoon
August 14, 2012
Rev. John Whyte is a United Church minister in Regina, SK and was present at the historic Truth and Reconciliation Commission national event in Saskatoon June 21-24 2012. Here are his personal reflections, shared with his congregation and shared here…
Post filed in: Indigenous Rights, Spirited Reflections
Report on Living Courage Eastern Tour and TRC, June 5-25, 2012
August 13, 2012
KAIROS partners, Claudia Castellanos, from the Popular Feminist Organization (OFP) in Colombia, and Lucy Talgieh from Wi’am: Palestinian Conflict Resolution Center in Bethlehem, Occupied Palestinian Territories visited communities in Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, Ontario and Saskatchewan during the Living Courage tour,…
Post filed in: Gender Justice/Women of Courage, Indigenous Rights, Latin America, Middle East
Economy of Life, Justice, and Peace for All: A Call to Action
August 13, 2012
In June 2012, the Global Forum on Poverty, Wealth and Ecology of the World Council of Churches (WCC) concluded with a strong call for action to build an “economy of life” that focuses on eradicating poverty, challenging wealth accumulation and…
Post filed in: Ecological Justice
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
Solidarity and Support for the Indigenous communities in Northern Cauca, Colombia
July 30, 2012
KAIROS is concerned with the situation facing Indigenous communities in Northern Cauca, Colombia and in particular with the escalation of violence in recent weeks.
Post filed in: Indigenous Rights, Latin America
Expression of Reconciliation presented to the TRC by KAIROS Saskatoon
July 25, 2012
What better way to start a blog on examples of reconciliation and truth-telling than with an Expression of Reconciliation? These Expressions are part of every Truth and Reconciliation Commission national event, and can be offered by individuals, organizations, government bodies,…
Post filed in: Gender Justice/Women of Courage
Truth and Reconciliation Commission: Every story needs a listener
July 25, 2012
This blog is an invitation to you. Canada is in the midst of a national Truth and Reconciliation Commission on the Indian Residential Schools system, but many Canadians don’t know this, or may not feel this journey belongs to them….
Post filed in: Indigenous Rights
Migrant workers deserve to be treated with fairness and equity – Toronto Star Op-Ed
July 19, 2012
View article in Toronto Star The parking lot near St. Michael’s Church in Leamington is full but not with cars — with bicycles — the only mode of transportation most temporary foreign workers can afford. Many have ridden 30 minutes,…
Post filed in: Migrant Justice
Thank you from Colombia
July 17, 2012
July 13, 2012 Dear friends, Thank you so much for taking action to protect the lives of human rights defenders in the wake of the threats received last week. Your letters do make a difference and can save lives. Lilia…
Post filed in: Latin America
Ethical Reflections on the Northern Gateway Pipeline
July 13, 2012
In its Fall 2011 meeting, the KAIROS Ecumenical Circle of Collaboration on Sustainability identified the Northern Gateway pipeline as a topic of concern for the work on tar sands, energy, and climate change. Given its proposed route, the pipeline is…
Post filed in: Ecological Justice, Indigenous Rights, Spirited Reflections
Serious Threats to Human Rights Defenders & Partners in Colombia
July 9, 2012
KAIROS is extremely concerned about recent news of a serious death threat to human rights defenders and partners in Colombia. Thirteen human rights defenders—among them Lilia Solano of the Justice and Life Project, a KAIROS and United Church of Canada…
Post filed in: Latin America
KAIROS 2011 Rapport Annuel
July 3, 2012
Plus que jamais, le travail de KAIROS en 2011 s’est fait sous le signe de la créativité. Les compagnons et les communautés, membres de l’organisation et l’équipe de son personnel talentueux et dévoué ont collaboré à l’exécution d’un programme dynamique…
Post filed in: En français
Lucy’s Sermon – A Service for the World Week for Peace in Palestine Israel
July 3, 2012
Gower Street United Church, June 17, 2012 My name is Lucy Talgieh. I am a Palestinian Christian from a place called Bethlehem. Bethlehem is supposed to be a holy place but, unfortunately, it is facing unholy acts living under occupation…
Post filed in: Gender Justice/Women of Courage
Reflection on Living Courage in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia – by Sue Deschene
June 29, 2012
Thank you to KAIROS for bringing the “Women of Courage” tour to Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, on June 12 (and thanks to all who made this possible). By Sue Deschene, Shelburne Claudia, a human rights lawyer and advocate with the…
Post filed in: Gender Justice/Women of Courage
Motion Condemning Gender Violence and Rape in Conflict Receives Unanimous Support in House of Commons
June 25, 2012
Last month KAIROS joined human rights and women’s organizations and partners from around the world in endorsing the International Campaign to Stop Rape and Gender Violence in Conflict. Founded by the Nobel Women’s Initiative, the campaign calls on political leaders…
Post filed in: Gender Justice/Women of Courage
Spirited Reflection: Back to the Circle
June 22, 2012
Time and again it comes back to the circle. The first day of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Saskatchewan National Event begins with the lighting of the sacred fire and ends with a round dance. In her poem, “Reconciliation”, Rebeka…
Post filed in: Indigenous Rights, Spirited Reflections
Policy Briefing Paper #31: Whose Green Economy
June 22, 2012
In the twenty years since the historic 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, calls for “sustainable development” have been heard over and over again. Governments, corporations and civil society groups have all used the term, each in its own…
Post filed in: Ecological Justice
Spirited Reflection: Living out our faith
June 22, 2012
We sat in a circle. Lucy from Palestine, Claudia from Colombia, Jill from Penelakut First Nation, members of KAIROS Saskatoon, Regina and Swift Current, and many others from church and community. The topic was women of courage – women human…
Post filed in: Spirited Reflections
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 Bridgewater Nova Scotia Leg of the KAIROS Living Courage Tour
June 15, 2012
By Bev McDonal 15/06/12 Lucy loves Tim Horton’s coffee and Claudia sells great soy based cookies! These are things we learned having representatives of two KAIROS partners among us. The two women and Rachel Warden were waiting for me at…
Post filed in: Gender Justice/Women of Courage
Education and action campaign to raise awareness of Inuit food security issues
June 14, 2012
KAIROS Indigenous Rights Circle member-at-large, Deborah Tagornak, and four other Inuit women met in KAIROS’ Ottawa office today to launch an education and action campaign to raise awareness of the impact on the Inuit of the extremely high cost of…
Post filed in: Indigenous Rights, UNDRIP Blog Updates
KAIROS Policy Briefing Paper – Rio + 20: Whose Green Economy?
June 14, 2012
When the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development convenes in Rio de Janeiro on June 20th marking the twentieth anniversary of the original Earth Summit, government delegations and civil society organizations will debate contrasting visions for a “green economy.” KAIROS…
Post filed in: Ecological Justice
Where do you get your courage?
June 13, 2012
What keeps you going? Where do you get your courage? These questions have been asked at every meeting Claudia and Lucy have attended so far in Atlantic Canada. And their answer is always the same: “From people like you. Your…
Post filed in: Gender Justice/Women of Courage
We are fighting the militarization of our minds and consciences
June 13, 2012
Antigonish Women Centre, Antigonish, NS June 9, 2012. Claudia and Lucy met with a group of people, mostly women, at the Antigonish Women’ Resource Centre, including Lesbia Morales from Guatemala’s Highland Small Farmers Committee (CCDA). Lesbia is on a Canadian…
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
Our Dreams Matter Too
June 11, 2012
On the fourth anniversary of the federal governments’ official apology to the former students of Indian residential schools, KAIROS joined over 500 elementary school students who walked from Victoria Island to Parliament Hill today to call for culturally based equity…
Post filed in: Indigenous Rights, UNDRIP Blog Updates
A Sustainable Energy Policy is Possible
June 11, 2012
In July 2011, federal, provincial and territorial energy ministers called for a public debate on a national energy strategy presenting KAIROS with an opportunity to elaborate on its vision for a just and sustainable energy policy. KAIROS envisions a transition…
Post filed in: Ecological Justice
Transforming the World: An Ancient Vision
June 11, 2012
Micah 4:1-4, Revelation 21: 1-6 Working for justice can make us hungry. We are hungry for a vision of a world transformed, a vision that can sustain and nourish our efforts. One place to look for that vision is in…
Post filed in: Spirited Reflections