Keep up to date with Quaker happenings across Canada.
Hello CYM Friends!
Please note that Iwill be away on vacation beginning April 9th and will return to the office on Wednesday, May 2nd.
Elaine Edwards, our Bookkeeper, will be in the office so all financial enquiries should still be directed to her as usual.
It may take some time to catch up on emails and mail correspondence upon my return; your patience and understanding would be appreciated.
Thanks!
Kerry MacAdam
Office Administrator
Posted in Uncategorized.
– February 27, 2012
The CFSC E-Newsletter is a monthly publication that highlights resources, actions, and quick updates on projects and activities.
The E-Newsletter is usually 2 pages – one or twice a year it expands to 4. Its a great way to stay current with news and action from CFSC. Quaker Concern, which is published three-times a year, carries less time sensitive information but more in-depth articles on CFSC work and witness.
If you would like to subscribe to the CFSC E-Newsletter, or to receive Quaker Concern via email, email cfsc [at] quakerservice.ca with your request.
To read current and past issues of the E-Newsletter, visit: http://quakerservice.ca/news-and-resources/e-newsletter/
To read current and past issues of Quaker Concern, visit: http://quakerservice.ca/news-and-resources/quaker-concern/
Posted in CFSC, News, Quaker Concerns.
– February 8, 2012
TO: Clerks of CYM Committees, Half-Yearly Meetings, Regional Gatherings, Monthly Meetings
From: Canadian Yearly Meeting Trustees
Date: November 14, 2011
RE: Joseph Ross Rogers Bequest: Allocation Process
In August 2011, Canadian Yearly Meeting received a bequest of $335,000 from the estate of Joseph Ross Rogers, who lived in Vancouver. J. Ross Rogers was the son of Samuel Rogers, after whom the Samuel Rogers Memorial Trust was established.
The bequest is not designated or restricted in any manner. In accordance with the CYM Bequest Policy, the first $5,000 has been transferred to the General Fund of CYM as income for 2011. The CYM Bequest Policy further states: “Amounts greater than $40,000 will be reviewed by the Trustees according to the policy on bequests and they will make a recommendation to Representative Meeting for its approval.” In the meantime, the funds have been deposited in a money market fund.
CYM Trustees believe this bequest gives Canadian Yearly Meeting the opportunity to fund projects that will improve our experience as Friends. We invite proposals in that light and we have set out some of the points that should be considered. Proposals should have been well “seasoned” in “the manner of Friends,” to ensure they have a broad base of support.
In order to make recommendations in time for the April 28 Representative Meeting, we have set a date for proposals to be received by the Trustees. If you can’t make that deadline let us know, including an estimate of when your proposal is expected to be available, and we will consider an extension.
Process:
Nov. 12: Representative Meeting approved the allocation process for the JR Rogers
Bequest
Nov. 14: The JR Rogers Bequest Allocation Process is distributed to Yearly Meeting Committees and Monthly Meetings
March 10: Deadline for proposals to be received by the Clerk of CYM Trustees
March 23: CYM Trustees review proposals, select those for recommendation and notify applicants of the status of their proposals
April 28: Representative Meeting reviews recommendations for approval
All applicants are notified of the decisions of Representative Meeting
Approved proposals can receive funds following approval.
Points to consider for proposed projects:
Proposals must include:
Proposals should be received by Trustees, by March 10, 2012. Forward to:
Barbara Horvath, Clerk, CYM Trustees (519-927-5588)
By Email: barbara.horvath@sympatico.ca
By post: 18692 Kennedy Road, Caledon, ON L7K 1X9
Posted in Action Item, National Issues.
– November 16, 2011
It’s never too early to plan for next year’s Gathering!!
Yearly Meeting 2012 will be held at Augustana University in lovely Camrose, Alberta, from August 10-18. More details will follow – but mark your calendars now!
Posted in Conferences, CYM.
– September 28, 2011
Quaker Book Service now has an email address: quakerbookservice@gmail.com.
Note that book orders will still have to be processed via snail mail, but at least you can communicate with QBS more quickly.
(Sorry… QBS still does not have a phone.)
Quaker Book Service
P.O. Box 4652, Station E
Ottawa, ON K1R 5K2
Canada
Posted in Uncategorized.
– September 19, 2011
It is with great pleasure that the Youth Secretary Committee announces the appointment of Katrina McQuail as CYM Youth Secretary. Her position takes effect May 9, 2011.
Katrina is a member of Kitchener Area MM and grew up in the Lucknow Worship Group. She now lives in Guelph, ON where there is a lively Young Friend presence. She has had experience working with youth within Friends General Conference. She is a graduate of Earlham College where she interacted with Friends from the Friends United Meeting and Evangelical Friends International traditions. Katrina served on the Editorial Board for the Quaker Youth publication Spirit Rising: Young Quaker Voices.
Katrina has been involved in organizing retreats for YF at Camp Neekaunis for many years and attended the World Gathering of YF as a CYM representative in 2005. She has attended CYM sessions and has served the YF community there as a recording clerk, program person, listener and representative to HMAC.
Katrina is also excited about social justice, community, and all aspects of food. She has worked in higher education, as an organic farmer, as a cook, and with social change organizations, governments and businesses. With a focused interest in sustainability and building stronger communities, she keeps herself busy by volunteering, traveling, running youth programs, cooking, baking, and helping on her family’s farm.
The position of Youth Secretary (YS) was first envisaged by the Consultation and Renewal working group (CnR). A committee of adult Friends and Young Friends nominated by Canadian Young Friends Yearly Meeting ( CYFYM) worked on the vision and eventual job description for this position. They see the key responsibilities as being Spiritual Vitality, a Communication Resource and an Information Resource; all aspects, which Katrina is well able and qualified to fill. The committee also sees the role of support from Monthly Meetings and Worship Groups as being vital to the success of this position.
Katrina is enthusiastic about connecting with YFs & YAFs across the country and having a strong relationship with CYFYM. She sees keeping YFs engaged and supported by their spiritual community as a way of nurturing their individual growth and development, and ensuring the future of the Religious Society of Friends in Canada. She invites Friends of all ages to get in touch with thoughts, ideas and hopes for ways in which she can best serve the community.
Friends can contact Katrina at katrina@quaker.ca, skype:mcquaka or by phone 519.831.0648 and visit http://young.Quaker.ca for more information.
Posted in National Issues.
– May 16, 2011
Effective immediately, Sue Starr, Quaker Education Program Coodinator, has new contact information.
In order to minimize long distance charges for Friends, you may contact Sue on her cell phone (number below) or send an email message.
–
Sue Starr
Quaker Education Program Coordinator
32776 Hood Ave, Mission, BC V2V 7R9
E-mail – qepc@quaker.ca
Phone – 1-604-557-3611
Fax – Toll Free 1-888-843-8401
Posted in Uncategorized.
– May 9, 2011
Download the AFG poster 2011 (PDF)
The AFG Planning Committee has responded to Friends’ requests for a more comfortable and warm meeting place, and we are very excited about this year’s location at Windhorse Farm Conference Centre. A lovely rural setting run by Buddhists with a particular concern for sustainablility and respect for the Earth. For even more details about AFG, see the complete information and registration form at http://atlantic.quaker.ca/afg
We have many interesting Special Interest Groups, led by both Quakers and Buddhists, and we have Sue Starr, our new CYM Quaker Education Programme Coordinator, who will be leading an interactive workshop on Saturday night. And a wonderful location in old growth forest, on a lake, and at a site that absorbs more carbon than it produces! http://atlantic.quaker.ca/afg/afg-2011-sigs Contact Vince if you would like to offer a SIG. vince.zelazny@gmail.com
We especially need Friends to REGISTER in advance this year, first because we are limited to 65 people at the site, and second because we need to know well in advance how many are coming so we can make appropriate plans. Please register soon, and at the latest by April 29th if at all possible! http://atlantic.quaker.ca/afg/afg-2011-register
Please spread the word far and wide about AFG. This would be a particuarly good year to invite enquirers or those new to Quakers to give them a good sense of who we are! Feel free to print out the attached one-pager poster and spread it around! AFG poster 2011
Looking forward to seeing you all there!
Bruce
Posted in Regional Events.
– March 21, 2011
Friends World Committee for Consultation (FWCC) World Conference will be held at Kabarak University, Nakuru, Kenya, April 17-25, 2012. At Yearly Meeting Sessions in August, 2010, Canadian Yearly Meeting (CYM) approved sending 4 delegates to this meeting, with a range of age and experience represented in CYM.
This opportunity is open to members of CYM and CYM Young Friends. On their return, delegates will be asked to share the experience with CYM in 2012.
Applicants must complete the application form (click on link below), affirmed by their Monthly Meeting Clerk, to be received no later than September 30, 2010.
In addition, a minute of support from the home Monthly Meeting must be received by November 8, 2010
Please note the 2010 due dates. Due to time constraints from FWCC late applications will not be accepted.
Posted in Conferences, Events, FWCC, Quaker Organizations.
– August 20, 2010
On behalf of Toronto Monthly Meeting, we would like to let other Meetings know about the “scrupling” session that we organized on the subject of the erosion of democracy.
Background: Scrupling is an old Quaker practice where we listen to each other, share our concerns and examine our consciences. It is not a debate, it is not a panel discussion, it is not an argument. John Woolman refers to scrupling in his Journals when discerning slaveholding.
We decided that scrupling would be an appropriate process to follow in addressing a concern that TMM has, namely the erosion of democracy. While it is the constitutional mandate of the Government of Canada to promote peace, order and good government in the country, it seems that actions of the present government do not represent or promote the interests of the people of Canada. Recent adverse actions include:
Removing individuals and committees who are guardians of the public good: eg Science Advisor, Canadian Biotechnology Advisory Committee, Nuclear Safety Watchdog; Military Watchdog; Court Challenge Program; Status of Women Offices;
Silencing Government bureaucrats from speaking out
International role: Climate Change (Copenhagen); Human Rights (Kairos; Gaza); War (Afghanistan).
Proroguing Parliament
Our current Federal Government is using public institutions, public money and political interference to pursue a partisan agenda. We felt that Canadians want what the people of Afghanistan want – a working Parliament where the Government in power is accountable to Parliament and where their views are articulated by and through their elected representatives.
Summary of scrupling session: The scrupling session was held at Friends’ House on February 7, 2010. Its purpose was to provide TMM Members and regular Attenders with an opportunity to meet with sitting Members of Parliament in order to have a serious but non-argumentative discussion of their concerns regarding the erosion of democracy in Canada.
Representatives of the three main political parties were invited and two local sitting members, Olivia Chow (NDP) and Carolyn Bennett (Lib) attended and took an active part in the deliberations. Although strenuous efforts were made to add an elected Conservative member to the session and 13 sitting MPs were contacted, none found it possible to come.
The co-clerk of Toronto Meeting welcomed the fifty people gathered and the session opened with silent worship; scrupling was defined and the‘ground rules’ were indicated. Two Friends, Anne Mitchell and Jeffrey Kraegel acted as co-clerks and ably facilitated the discourse.
The two questions around which we wished to scruple were presented:
1) Why do certain policy issues of concern to us and others not receive parliamentary attention/resolution?
2) What can we as a community do, after having tried the traditional means of communication so unsuccessfully?
The lively scrupling session lasted for more than an hour and closed with silent worship.
Based on the comments from those attending the scrupling session most people, including the MPs felt that this was a helpful and constructive event, and that the discussion had yielded many good insights. Many said this might be a useful format and approach for other communities to adopt as they attempt to stem the erosion of democracy in Canada and move discussions to a level of common and urgent concern.
Follow-up:
Feedback was received from members and attenders of TMM; there were also discussions with people in CFSC, the United Church and the Anglican Church. Ursula Franklin was invited to a follow up discussion at a community roundtable in St Paul’s hosted by Dr. Carolyn Bennett, MP.
There were no strong expressions of support for a scrupling approach. However, records of the session and other materials such as documents, e-mails received, follow-ups (such as the tape of Ursula’s talk at the St. Paul’s session) and comments will likely be collected and filed in the TMM library.
On May 6th, Ursula was a guest on the CBC’s “The Current”, where she spoke about her concerns about democracy in Canada, and explained the concept of scrupling.
We would be interested in hearing whether other Meetings would be interested in pursuing a similar course of action, and welcome suggestions, inquiries and feedback.
In friendship,
Wanda Forsythe
Co-clerk, Toronto Monthly Meeting
Posted in News from local Meetings, Social Justice.
– July 20, 2010
Dear Friends,
I have attached job descriptions (see links below) for two opportunities that have opened at Pendle Hill. It would be wonderful if you could make them available to Canadian Yearly Meeting Friends.
In friendship,
Sandy
–
Sandra Horne
Assistant to the Director
Pendle Hill
338 Plush Mill Rd., Wallingford, PA 19086
610-566-4507 x 144
800-742-3150
shorne@pendlehill.org
PDF file: 2010 Registrar
PDF file: 2010 Director of Education Programs
Posted in Employment Opportunities, Pendle Hill.
– May 24, 2010
Friends World Committee, Northeast Regional Gathering
Hosted by Atlantic Friends Gathering
University of New Brunswick, Fredericton NB, May 21-24, 2010
“Turning the World Right-Side Up:” *
Exploring the Role of Women in Re-Balancing Economic Priorities
Toward Right Relationship with the Whole Commonwealth of Life
Download Printable Registration Form (PDF format)
Toward a Moral Economy
From domination, competition, and violence to respect, nurture, and peace.
Social and Economic Change
The rise of women and the challenge to male domination in our time is a societal change of momentous consequences. After ten thousand years of patriarchy, this unbalanced, unfair, and damaging arrangement of spiritual, social, and economic authority is changing. This change is well underway in many important respects, but has yet a long way to go in the conduct of the economy.
The Spiritual Connection
In a profound sense both economics and ecology are domains of relationship. There is a deep sense of right relationship within a fully developed understanding of these domains. Our spiritual traditions teach us that in right relationship we touch the fullness of human meaning and the presence of the Divine.
Guiding Questions
How does the conduct of the economy need to change so its operation will serve the common good of all peoples and the whole realm of life?
How do Quaker testimonies advance the role of women in helping establish an economy based on respect, nurture, security, and peace?
*The title of our program is taken from the book by Patrick Kerans & John Kearney, Turning the World Right-Side Up: Science, Community and Democracy, Halifax, Fernside Publishing, 2006.
Outline of Program
Friday Evening
Background and overview – Barbara Aikman & Keith Helmuth
Plenary (open to the public): Marilyn Keyes Roper – How the Sacred Feminine Was Uprooted in Western Culture: Remnants and Renewal
Saturday Morning
Geoffrey Garver & Keith Helmuth – Right Relationship: Building a Whole Earth Economy
Saturday Afternoon
An intergenerational, experiential activity connecting with the natural world.
Saturday Evening
Keynote Plenary (open to the public): Ellie Perkins – Working Together Toward a Moral Economy: The Importance of Diversity
Sunday Morning
Meeting for Worship
Plenary (open to the public): Imelda Perley – Women and Right Relationship in First Nation Community Life
Sunday Afternoon
Jane Orion Smith – From Wrong to Right Relationship – What are the Means to the Ends?
In considering how to move towards “turning the world right-side up,” the means are critical to the ends. Friends may be clearer on their vision of a “peaceable kingdom” than on the way to get there, which will require engaging many ways of seeing, thinking and doing. Process is central to both feminist and Quaker methodologies. In this session, we will engage in exercises to help us envision the means, and some of the ends, toward right relationships within creation.
Sunday Evening
Family variety show with singing and skits.
Monday Morning
Meeting for Worship and final reflections.
Presenters
Marilyn Keyes Roper (NBMM), MS Archaeology, University of Pennsylvania: Coordinator of “War or Peace,” a three year program of the University Museum, University of Pennsylvania; conducting research on the evidence for the origins of war.
Ellie Perkins (Toronto MM), Professor of Economics, Faculty of Environmental Studies, York University. Special interest in ecological and feminist economics.
Imelda Perley (Neqotkuk First Nation), Lecturer, Mi’kmaq-Maliseet Institute, University of New Brunswick; Community educator in Maliseet language and traditional culture.
Geoffrey Garver (Buffalo MM, attender at Montreal MM), Consultant on Environmental Law and International Trade; Instructor in Law at Laval University and University of Quebec. Contributing author to Right Relationship: Building a Whole Earth Economy.
Keith Helmuth (NBMM), Secretary, Quaker Institute for the Future. Contributing author to Right Relationship.
Jane Orion Smith (Vancouver Island MM) serves as the General Secretary of Canadian Friends Service Committee, a committee of Canadian Yearly Meeting. She is a sojourning member of Toronto Monthly Meeting.
Recommending Reading
Eisler, Riane, The Chalice and the Blade: Our History, Our Future, New York, Harper, 1988. The first book for the general reader that brings together the archaeological and historical evidence for the loss of gender equality in Western culture and the rise of patriarchy, along with war making and environmental destruction. Lays out a hopeful program for the recovery of gender balance, and a caring and peace- making society. Became a best seller when published.
Flinders, Carol Lee, Rebalancing the World: Why Women Belong and Men Compete and How to Restore the Ancient Equilibrium, New York, HarperCollins, 2002. This is gem of a book. Covers some of the same material as The Chalice and the Blade but is much better written with a more profound understanding of culture. Carol Flinders is the co-author of the enormously popular cookbook, Laurel’s Kitchen. I don’t know if she has Quaker connections, but she references Quakers and John Woolman several times in Rebalancing the World.
Nelson, Julie A., Economics for Humans, Chicago, University of Chicago Press, 2006. This, too, is an excellent book. In 164 pages she provides an incisive and easy to understand guide to the field of economics, and a powerful critique of both the right and left ideologies from a feminist point of view. The author is a bon fide economist who knows the field inside-out. She is a leader in the field of feminist economics. This is a book for the general reader, well written, highly accessible, hopeful and practical.
Folbre, Nancy, The Invisible Heart: Economics and Family Values, New York, The New Press, 2001. “As paid work and market values come to dominate society, how can we ensure that people are truly cared for? Nancy Folbre provides a compelling answer. Along the way, she . . . exposes the ground on which traditional economists dare not tread, and moves feminism a step closer to its longstanding ideals of a better and fairer society. . . . Nancy Folbre is a must read!” (Juliet Schor, Lecturer, Harvard University)
Eisler, Raine, The Real Wealth of Nations: Creating a Caring Economics, San Francisco, Berrett-Koehler, 2007. Raine Eisler returns with a major book on economics from the feminist perspective. She builds on her analysis of the “dominator/partnership” dualism that she developed in The Chalice and the Blade, and shows why a decent future depends on the reemergence of the partnership dynamic in economic life.
Prepared by Keith Helmuth
Posted in Environment and Sustainabiliy, Regional Events.
– March 11, 2010
12 February 2010
Dear Friends,
Last summer, Canadian Yearly Meeting requested that CFSC consult with Meetings and Worship Groups about the tar sands so that CYM can better articulate Friends’ view on this issue, as this issue moves forward within KAIROS and potentially among Friends.
Materials to assist your Meeting or Worship Group in this discernment have been sent directly to MM and WG Clerks and Contacts, with a request that responses come to CFSC no later than 1 June 2010. Please ensure that this issue comes to the attention of your Meeting or WG.
Materials will be posted on 16 February in the “resources” area of the CFSC website for ongoing access:
http://www.cfsc.quaker.ca/pages/resources.html
We look preparing a report and recommendations for consideration by CYM this summer, based on the responses received.
in Friendship,
Orion
~
Jane Orion Smith
General Secretary
Canadian Friends Service Committee (Quakers)
Posted in Action Item, CFSC, Quaker Concerns.
– February 12, 2010
Friends,
We are shocked and grieved at the terrible plight affecting Haiti. In accordance with CFSC’s emergency assistance policy, a document with information has been prepared for sharing with enquirers about how to support relief efforts. It can be found on the News and Events page of CFSC’s website.
in Friendship,
Orion
Posted in Action Item, CFSC, International News.
– January 19, 2010
The CFSC and CYM Clerks along with CYM rep to the KAIROS Board have written to government twice in the past week, seeking both confirmation of the rejection of KAIROS’s application to CIDA for funding and a rationale. The Minister for International Cooperation, Bev Oda, has implied that KAIROS did not meet CIDA’s priorities – this is not true. When KAIROS applied for funding and when the application landed on the Minister’s desk in July with unanimous recommendation for approval, it clearly did fully fit CIDA priorities. It seems those priorities changed on 20th November (there was a public announcement and the priorities were posted to the CIDA website), just in time for CIDA to reject KAIROS on 30 November and provide the Minister with an “explanation” that is rather untruthful.
Efforts to have the decision reversed are in high gear (again, the Minister is not on record as yet rejecting the application). To stay abreast of the rapidly evolving situation, including actions to take to support KAIROS, visit the special area of their website created for this purpose: http://kairoscanada.org/index.php?id=645
There is also information off their mainpage (www.kairoscanada.org/e) on work underway on climate change in Copenhagen. The churches have worked in solidarity on this issue since the Kyoto Accord, thus creating a stronger voice for change.
Posted in Action Item.
– December 9, 2009
(Note: Read also the “Further background material” below before writing a letter. A sample letter from Marilyn Manzer is given at the bottom of the post.
A PDF can be downloaded for printing and circulating: KAIROS Urgent Action 031209
The latest info can be found on the KAIROS web site
URGENT ACTION:
RESTORE CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCY (CIDA) FUNDING TO KAIROS
On November 30, KAIROS received notice from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) that our project proposal for 2009-2013 had been declined. We were not given an explanation for this decision, other than that our program did not fit CIDA priorities.
Our 2009-2013 proposal was developed within two priority sectors of CIDA: promoting good governance (human rights) and advancing ecological sustainability (reducing the impact of climate change and addressing land degradation). It was approved at every level of CIDA before being declined on November 30.
This decision terminates a 35-year history of cooperation between CIDA and KAIROS and its predecessor organizations, and compromises the work of human rights and ecological integrity in the developing world. (For possible impacts on specific partners, please see the background materials below.) This decision also negatively affects the ability of Canadians to develop skills and knowledge in the exercise of their global citizenship.
Please contact your MP to discuss this urgent matter. Please, respectfully and politely,
- Speak about your own positive involvement with KAIROS;
- Express grave concern about this decision;
- Ask that CIDA restore its long-standing relationship with KAIROS;
- Emphasize the impacts of this decision on global partners and our work in Canada;
- Ask them to call on CIDA to reverse this decision.
Further Background Material
Situation
- KAIROS submitted a 4-year program proposal to CIDA on human rights and ecological sustainability. The total program cost of the proposal is $9,211,483 over four years (CIDA contributes just over $7 million of that amount). This is consistent with previous levels of CIDA funding to KAIROS.
– On November 30, we received a call from CIDA informing us that our 2009-2013 program proposal had been rejected and that KAIROS would no longer be receiving funding from CIDA. We asked for an explanation and were informed that our program did not fit CIDA’s priorities. This was the last day of an extension to our current proposal. No written explanation has been provided.
– This decision, if not reversed, would cut funds to 21 ecumenical and citizen’s organizations in Latin America, Africa, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East, and cut educational work that helps Canadians across the country to develop skills and knowledge in the exercise of their global citizenship.
Background
- KAIROS and its precursor organizations have been funded by CIDA since 1973.
– The KAIROS-CIDA 2006-2009 program received a positive audit report and an excellent evaluation.
– KAIROS staff worked closely with global partners to develop the 2009-2013 program proposal which focused on human rights and ecological justice.
– It was submitted to CIDA in March 2009 and went fairly quickly through all levels of approval. KAIROS made all adjustments to the program requested by our program officer.
- The proposal arrived on the desk of Bev Oda, the Minister of International Cooperation, in July 2009. It remained on the Minister’s desk for five months.
– In September 2009, when our agreement had still not been signed, we were granted a two-month extension on our previous contribution agreement. During this time we received no communication from the Minister’s office. On November 30, the last day of this extension, we received the phone call from CIDA informing us that KAIROS would not be funded.
CIDA priorities and human rights
- With the support of CIDA staff, and in collaboration with our partners, our proposal was developed within two priority sectors of CIDA: promoting good governance (human rights) and advancing ecological sustainability (reducing the impact of climate change and addressing land degradation). Our proposal was deemed by CIDA staff to be within CIDA criteria and priorities throughout the approval process.
– Our proposal places a strong priority on advancing human rights. States are obliged to protect, respect and ensure fulfillment of human rights. Canada is expected to collaborate to fulfill these rights, including providing international assistance for these efforts. Our proposal is one way in which the government can demonstrate that it is providing support to the fulfillment of rights around the globe.
– Our focus on human rights is completely consistent with the ODA Accountability Act which came into effect in June of 2008. The act requires all Official Development Assistance “to be consistent with international human rights standards.”
Impact of the decision
- This decision, if it is not reversed, will have a devastating impact on the work and well-being of our partners overseas, the hundreds of marginalized communities and the thousands of people who have benefited from their programs. Furthermore, it will decimate our education program in Canada, which enhances Canadian’s commitment to international cooperation.
– KAIROS supports partners in countries such as Sudan, the Congo, the Philippines, and Colombia who face extreme human rights and humanitarian crises as well as political repression. Many of our overseas partners risk their lives for the work that they do. KAIROS’ accompaniment, advocacy and education work with partners has saved lives.
– In the Congo, KAIROS funding means a women’s legal clinic to address rampant gender-based violence will be established. Loss of this funding to our critical human rights partner, Héritiers de la Justice, compromises this critical work to fight rape as a weapon of war.
– In Sudan, KAIROS is working with Sudan Council of Churches (SCC) and its members to mobilize greater action for democratic peace. The full implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in Sudan is essential to ensuring that basic humanitarian, food security, livelihood needs of women and children and their communities will be met. Without KAIROS funding, the SCC will not be able to adequately pressure parties to implement this peace agreement. In a country with very weak civil society networks, SCC has been an essential voice in negotiating and implementing peace.
– In Indonesia, KAIROS, through CIDA, supports KONTRAS: The Commission for Disappearances and Victims of Violence. KONTRAS is highly recognized as a credible human rights organization in Indonesia and internationally, working specifically on human rights monitoring, documentation and advocacy. KONTRAS plays a lead role in ensuring the Indonesian government investigates past military abuses and compensates victims (and the families of victims) of human rights violations and military atrocities. Without KAIROS funding, KONTRAS will lose ground on the achievements made over the years in widening democratic space in Indonesia and will be unable to hold the Indonesian government accountable for national and international human rights covenants.
– In Colombia, KAIROS supports a grassroots women’s human rights organization, Organizacion Femenina Popular (OFP), in Magdela Medio, a region that has experienced some of the worst human rights abuses in Colombia. The OFP now has a membership of 5,000 women in the region of Magdalena Medio and runs 22 women’s centers, offering programs which include integrated community development, human rights of women, health and legal services, and education. In a recent letter the OFP appealed to Minister Oda to continue funding to KAIROS, “so that our sons and daughters grow up without being recruited by armed groups, kidnapped or assassinated – so that they have the right to a dignified life.”
Update: KAIROS Urgent Action on CIDA Funding Cut
Thank you for your swift and immediate action on the cut to KAIROS funding. Some people have experienced difficulties with their emails going through to Minister Oda and Prime Minister Harper. If that has happened to you, we ask that you please try again with alternate contact information. We have some options below:
The Hon. Bev Oda, Minister of International Cooperation:
Oda.B@parl.gc.ca,
phone: 613-992-2792,
fax 613-992-2794.
It is particularly urgent that we get through to Minister Oda.
Please use whatever method works for you.
The Rt. Hon. Stephen Harper,
Prime Minister of Canada,
Harper.S@parl.gc.ca or pm@pm.gc.ca
Margaret Biggs, President of CIDA:
info@acdi-cida.gc.ca
The Canadian Press has been very actively following this story.
Please go online and contribute to the ‘Comments’ which follow each story.
It’s important that your voice be heard.
Toronto Star (Front Page Article)
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/733939–ottawa-starves-climate-critics-of-cash-on-eve-of-eco-summit
Globe & Mail (Michael Valpy)
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/social-justice-group-says-ottawa-cut-its-funding-without-warning/article1386190/
Metronews.ca (John Cotter)
http://www.metronews.ca/halifax/canada/article/385385–canadian-church-based-group-says-ottawa-cut-its-funding-for-foreign-projects
End of Kairos alerts. Sample letter follows
========================================================\
Letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Bev Oda, Minister of International Co-operation, Margaret Biggs, President of CIDA, and Scott Brison, member of Parliament
from Marilyn Manzer
53 Pleasant St.
Wolfville NS B4P 1M9
Re Cuts to KAIROS funding
Dear Mr. Harper, Ms. Oda, Ms. Biggs and Mr. Brison,
I am astounded and mortified that the Canadian International Development Agency would suddenly cut funding for the human rights and ecological sustainability work of KAIROS Canada. This organization, which represents coalitions of churches in Canada, has a very long history of partnership with CIDA in this kind of work. I have been following and supporting this work since the 1970′s and have considered it to be among the most important social justice work being done in Canada and by Canadians abroad. The work of KAIROS has received high evaluations by CIDA and the process for developing the 2009-2013 funding proposal was supported by CIDA staff. This carefully developed proposal sat on Minister Oda’s desk for five months, and was then suddenly rejected on the last day of the extension of previous funding, with no reason given.
This is deplorable behaviour on the part of the government of Canada for many reasons. These are the ones that come immediately to mind:
1) Millions of caring Canadians, whose churches are members of KAIROS, will lose access to their means of supporting work for human rights and ecological justice.
2) Millions of overseas partners, who have been depending on assistance from KAIROS staff and finances, will lose their ability to undertake their courageous work to mitigate the abuses under which their people struggle
3) KAIROS itself, which is already under financial stress requiring staff reductions, will be severely compromised.
4) The voluntary sector of Canadian society working for human rights and ecological justice is being given the message that CIDA is not trustworthy. It is a huge undertaking to develop a multi-million dollar proposal for funding, and when it is for social justice work, most of the non-government participants are working without remuneration during on their voluntary time. That CIDA would take an organization all the way through a process of developing such a proposal and then deny funding at the last minute with no explanation IS A HUGE BLOW TO THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR.
I feel ashamed that Canadians have a government that would behave in such a way toward Canadians and their overseas partners who work so diligently on behalf of those who suffer the most in our world.
I urge you to redress this and to require that CIDA approve the KAIROS funding proposal immediately.
Yours truly,
Marilyn Manzer
Please copy your letters to KAIROS at info@kairoscanada.org.
Posted in Action Item, CFSC, Environment and Sustainabiliy, National Issues, Peace and Non-violence, Social Justice.
– December 3, 2009
Mark Lewis, 10.09.09, 02:42 PM EDT
http://www.forbes.com/2009/10/09/quaker-business-meetings-leadership-society-friends.html
Posted in Publications - Regional, Quakers in the News.
– October 12, 2009
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[From Friends World Committee for Consultation Section of the Americas Newsletter]
John Irving Ocol, a member of the Philippines Friends Church, has alerted us to the scale of the flooding caused by Tropical Storm Ketsana. At the height of the flash floods, he wrote: “All Friends Churches in Pasig and nearby town are under flood. |
| All members of the Friends church are affected. Our houses including mine are totally destroyed by the 15-18 feet of water. My mother-in-law (Lydia Tabingo) and I are now living in the second floor of the church. We are in great need. We need food, medicine, water, blanket, etc. We do not have any resources to buy all the things we need. All our properties and appliances are totally destroyed by the water. On behalf of my yearly meeting, I am asking a help from your good heart. Members of the church are praying for the help especially to us living in Pasig because we are the most affected.”FWCC’s Asia West Pacific Section Executive Secretary Valerie Joy says that the Friends she has been able to contact in Manila (part of an unprogrammed worship group) “are all safe, though one hid in her roof for several hours. They are taking in large numbers of refugees into their homes.”
So far, more than 240 people are confirmed dead in the country. The FWCC Asia West Pacific Section is accepting donations to relieve immediate need. Those wishing to contribute can do so via the Section of the Americas. Please reference “Philippines.” |
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Posted in International News.
– September 29, 2009
To: Monthly Meetings and Worship Groups within CYM
From: Quaker Peace and Sustainable Communities Committee of Canadian Friends Service Committee
May 22, 2009
Draft Canadian Yearly Meeting Policy Statement on Israel/ Palestine
and Accompanying Resource Materials
Introduction
In August 2008, Canadian Yearly Meeting (CYM) asked CFSC to offer advice to Friends on effective advocacy for peace in Palestine/Israel[1]. In response, we recommend that CYM adopt a policy statement that can form the basis of corporate and individual action as opportunities for advocacy develop over time.
The draft was developed after reviewing 10 years of CYM minutes, and upon reflection on CFSC supported activities over the years. The draft statement begins by briefly outlining four general principles that inform our thought, and then proceeds to describe a more specific position, rooted in the Quaker experience. We offer six background articles and a list of recommended books and websites to show the context from which the draft was developed.
We ask that Monthly Meetings and Worship Groups consider the draft policy statement as a way to prepare Friends in their Meeting who will be attending CYM to be able to participate in the discernment and decision-making at Canadian Yearly Meeting’s Annual Sessions in Kemptville, ON in August. We welcome receiving minutes from Meetings should they feel led to prepare them. Please email to Gianne Broughton, QPASC Programme Coordinator, at qpasc@cfsc.quaker.ca
The Background Articles
These articles are attached to this post.
•1) Palestinian Nonviolent Resistance to Occupation since 1967. This article was published by American Friends Service Committee in 2005, based on the experience of their Middle East Quaker International Affairs Representatives and other long-standing peacebuilding programming. The draft CYM statement emphasizes co-operation with nonviolent actions by Palestinians and Israelis.
•2) Paralysis over Palestine: Questions of Strategy, by Jeff Halper. An Israeli working nonviolently to resist the occupation and bring about a foundation for peace lays out his thinking about effective advocacy. Jeff Halper is the Coordinating Director of the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions in Jerusalem <http://www.ichad.org>. He was a nominee, together with the Palestinian activist and intellectual Ghassan Andoni, for the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize. He taught at Friends World College from 1987 – 1995.
•3) Interview with Ghassan Andoni. This article shows the logic upon which the non-violent International Solidarity Movement (ISM) is based, analyses both Palestinian and Israeli violence and explains why we do not hear many Palestinians outspokenly condemning Palestinian violence: “while it is nonviolent, [ISM] recognizes international laws that permit persons in occupied territories to resist military occupation by armed resistance and won’t condemn people who do that.”
•4) Sixty Years of WCC Policy on Palestine/Israel, 1948-2009 (in brief). This is from the World Council of Churches. Many of the principles of WCC policy are reflected in the draft CYM policy but we do differ on one point: WCC recommends a two-state solution, and the draft CYM policy recommends that local people should decide what constitutional arrangements will work for them.
•5) KAIROS Policy Statement on Israel-Palestine: Our Continuing Hope for a Just Peace in the Palestinian/Israeli Conflict. As a member of KAIROS, CYM and CFSC are parties to this policy. It is a very interesting model. It also calls for a two-state constitution.
•6) Israel-Palestine: Apartheid or Confederation? also by Jeff Halper. Having noted the difference between WCC and QPASC on the two-state solution, we looked for an article that offers an analysis that supports alternative ideas; the most concise one turned out to be from Jeff Halper.
Recommended Books and Websites
•1) Ali Abunima’s One Country is a good argument for a one-state solution.
•2) Jeff Halper’s An Israeli in Palestine deals with a variety of possible scenarios (especially one-state and regional confederation) in the context of assuming a simple two-state solution is no longer a viable option. This book gives analysis on a number of themes, not just constitutional options.
www.afsc.org/israel-palestine – American Friends Service Committee’s reporting on its programming to support nonviolent resistance and refusal.
Posted in Drafts for Consideration, Peace and Non-violence, Quaker Organizations, Social Justice.
– June 29, 2009
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