Twenty years ago, on October 31, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security, reaffirming the important role of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts, peace negotiations, peace-building, peacekeeping, humanitarian response and in post-conflict reconstruction. The anniversary is an opportunity to highlight the work of KAIROS partners in these areas. Join us on November 26 from 10:00 am to noon EST for the KAIROS South-South Gathering public event where partners and beneficiaries will share stories of change and reflect on each others’ work. (Also see Upcoming.)

Launched on Earth Day 2020, For the Love of Creation is a national initiative that invites Canadian faith communities and faith-based organizations to come together under a unified banner to mobilize  education, reflection, action and advocacy for climate justice.  

A new resource, Faithful Climate Conversations, is a series of guides in English and French designed to facilitate small group dialogue and draw people into conscious and thoughtful awareness of climate change and committed action towards climate justice. (See Featured Resources.)

A series of four fall online forums will run every Monday in November, starting November 2. (See Upcoming for themes and dates.)

A group of diverse Colombians living in British Columbia has started an online petition calling on the Government of Canada to use its voice to pressure the Colombian government to implement the 2016 Peace Accord and to condemn the massacres, targeted assassinations and police brutality in Colombia. KAIROS encourages you to sign the petition and to share it with your networks and church.

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. 

The For the Love of Creation e-petition to the federal government calling for a just recovery to the pandemic resulted in 2,500 signatures. Its sponsor, Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, Member of Parliament for Beaches-East York, is scheduled to delivered it to the House of Commons on November 5.

KAIROS 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), signed an open letter published by the NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security calling on all UN member states to prioritize women’s full, equal and meaningful participation in all aspects of peace and security. 

The Coalition for the Human Rights of Indigenous Peoples, of which KAIROS is a member, is 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 by the Supreme Court 21 years ago are protected and respected. It is our hope that the shocking events of recent weeks can still lead to a positive outcome for the Mi’kmaw people and their Treaty partners.

In solidarity with the National Council of Churches in the Philippines and the Ecumenical Voice for Human Rights and Peace in the Philippines, KAIROS, the United Church of Canada, and the Anglican Church of Canada sent a letter to Philippe Champagne, Minister of Foreign Affairs, calling on the Canadian government to use its voice at the UN and with the Philippines government to raise concerns about ongoing human rights violations and impunity in that country. 

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.

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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 on December 31. The KAIROS Steering Committee thanks Jennifer for her many contributions over the years. The organization has grown and expanded under her leadership. Opportunities to send public messages of farewell will be arranged before the end of Jennifer’s tenure.

Join these hour-long sessions every Monday in November at 7:30 pm EST. The themed forums are: Communicating Climate Change (November 2), Advocating for Climate Justice (November 9), Grieving, Healing and Connecting with Creation (November 16), Creation Care: A Letter of the Faithful (November 23), and Climate Action Now! (November 30).

Hear stories and reflections from partners and beneficiaries of KAIROS’ Women of Courage: Women, Peace and Security program on November 26, 10:00 am-noon EST. We encourage you to register early.