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Archive for the ‘KAIROS’ Tag
Canada Day message from KAIROS
Global Day of Action
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Desmond Tutu’s visit to Canada’s Tar Sands
KAIROS Canada connects with Archbishop Desmond Tutu over climate change, resource extraction and Indigenous rights

Jennifer Henry, KAIROS’ Executive Director and Ed Bianchi, Program Manager, were thrilled to meet with Archbishop Desmond Tutu in Fort McMurray at the As Long As the Rivers Flow: Coming Back to the Treaty Relationship in Our Time conference, May 31-June 1, 2014. Archbishop Tutu says climate change is a moral struggle and that we must all consider how Alberta’s tar sands impact the climate, Indigenous rights, and the global community – a position echoed by KAIROS.
The conference explored how treaties protect the environment, shape resource development, and address the promise of reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada. Following the conference, Jennifer and Ed visited Fort Chipewyan to follow up on a delegation to the tar sands organized by KAIROS in 2009 that was comprised of leaders from Canadian churches and church organizations, as well as Indigenous representatives from British Columbia, Ecuador and Nigeria.
Jennifer and Ed’s Blogs
We are all connected, by Jennifer Henry
His was a clarion call: we need to move away from fossil fuels dependence towards cleaner and safer energies that protect the people and the planet. Read more.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu: A Voice To be Heard, by Jennifer Henry
I worked as a Christian Education worker in an Anglican church in Winnipeg in the late 80’s. Like others in the churches, we were actively involved in the struggle against apartheid in South Africa. Read more.
It’s time to decarbonise, by Ed Bianchi
Winona LaDuke wants to change the terms of the discussion. She says we are in a spiritual moment, and we have a choice to make. Do we want to live for another 500 – 1000 years, or another 50? Read more. This blog also appears in Rabble.ca – Changing the discussion on the high carbon economy.
We do have choices, by Jennifer Henry
There was rain in the morning, but when it came time to fly to Fort Chipewyan the sky was beautifully clear. It was a chance for me to see directly something of what was highlighted at the last two days during the So Long as the Rivers Flow Conference. Read more.
Fort Chipewyan: Time for Treaty Renewal, by Ed Bianchi
In so many ways, Fort Chipewyan’s story mirrors that of Canada. Its rich history includes Indigenous peoples, explorers, fur traders, disease, corporations, governments, treaties, residential schools, and the church. Read more.
For more on KAIROS’ visit to Fort McMurray, click here.
Climate justice – divestment (3)
Movement to Divest from Fossil Fuels Gaining Strength |
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Two recent events signify how the movement to withdraw investments from fossil fuels is gaining momentum. On Sunday February 23, the congregation at Trinity-St. Paul’s United Church in Toronto voted unanimously to ensure that none of its funds are invested in any of the world’s 200 largest fossil fuel corporations. Then, on Saturday March 1, Greening Sacred Spaces and the Green Awakening Network hosted a forum on Divestment or What? Economic Tools for Creation Advocacy in a Time of Crisis.As Jeanne Moffat, speaking on behalf of the Climate Justice Group at Trinity-St. Paul’s, said “For too many years governments have not dealt decisively with the impending climate chaos, largely to the peril of low- income countries and low-lying regions of the world.” While this is the first example in Canada of a church deciding to divest, the climate advocacy group 350.org lists 19 religious institutions, nine post-secondary institutions, 22 municipalities, 2 counties, and 17 foundations in the U.S. as having made this commitment.
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Unbearable Pain, Startling Hope – by Jennifer Henry
Unbearable Pain, Startling Hope: 40 years of Bold Witness to Ecumenical Social Justice – by Jennifer Henry
January 27, 2014 by Jennifer Henry

KAIROS Canada Executive Director Jennifer Henry reflects on ’40 Years of Bold Witness’ framing her thoughts with four characteristics of the “‘natural habitat’ of prophetic voices” outlined by Walter Brueggemann in “The Prophetic Imagination.” It is well worth a read for Jennifer’s strong knowledge of history and inspirational passion for justice.
One of Jennifer’s comments is:
“As an ecumenical social justice movement, we are to be a people of a “long and available memory,” (Brueggemann, xvi) recalling not just the last forty years but the faith based movements that preceded our own–anti-slavery, social gospel, civil rights, the first wave of feminism—each inspiring and foundational. We must reach back even further to movements of the early church, the Jesus movement, and the Exodus movement of the Israelite people. Our scriptures are a rich repository of memory, movement narratives, stories of graceful trouble makers, divine radicals, who sought to witness to their faith in words and acts of justice.”
Read the whole reflection at:
http://www.kairoscanada.org/who-we-are/jennifer-henrys-blog/?utm_source=Kairos+Times&utm_campaign=de8022e91c-Kairos_Times_February_20142_11_2014&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_8ba241f29d-de8022e91c-88902073
Watershed moments by Sara Stratton
Orca Carving by Dora Edwards. Photo: Sara Stratton, 2013.
This reflection by KAIROS staffer Sara Stratton could be a “watershed moment”. Sara reflects on the connections between the Truth and Reconciliation commission and the pursuit of Watershed Discipleship. What will your “acts of kindness bespeaking kinship” be?
I hope that it will help you begin 2014 with hope for our common future, and peace for all God’s creation. To see the entire reflection, please click here.
UN Climate Talks Move Backwards
UN Climate Talks Move Backwards: Developed States Refuse Meaningful Action |
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Christmastide blessings from KAIROS
” I have trouble some days believing peace is possible. In our work in the Democratic Republic of Congo or in Israel-Palestine, confidence in transformation can be easily tested.
But we work with the people who don’t give up, who can’t give up, who take the prophetic message to heart, who believe that peace, that well being is possible, and work hard, and at great risk to make it so. “
Those are the words of Jennifer Henry of KAIROS Canada. Her full message of hope can be found at: http://vimeo.com/82197142
Nation to Nation Bike Tour, 2013
Look for this story in your local, corporate – controlled media …
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On July 27, the first-ever KAIROS and OteshaNation to Nation Bike Tour gets underway! Twelve Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth will start in Akwesasne and end in Tyendinaga; these are Kanien’kehaka (Mohawk) communities that share the waters of the St Lawrence and Lake Ontario. In between, the cyclists will be hosted by non-Indigenous communities and groups.The participants will be learning and sharing as they go, offering a new version of the Blanket Exercise in the communities they visit. There’s more information available on the KAIROS site. All events are currently posted to the KAIROS calendar and we’ll be adding more information as specifics are confirmed. Nation to Nation Bike Tour events posted to this calendar are open to all. |
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After four days of programming in Akwesasne, the tour gets underway on July 31st with smudging, Mohawk prayer and opening address, words from Grand Chief Mike Mitchell, and songs from the A’nowarakowa Arena youth group singers. Local media will be present. Many thanks to Akwesasne radio CKON-FM 97.3 for an excellent interview on the bike tour!In the words of the Akwesasne planners, “ This is an important event as it acknowledges a new friendship that was created and teachings shared between Mohawk members of the community and the KAIROS youth group. Community support will be present to meet, give thanks and to help support the visitors’ journey.”In turn, the KAIROS community would like to say nia:wen, thank you, to the Akwesasne community for their gift of starting the group’s time together in this good way. The community and the people are showing enormous generosity to the riders and KAIROS, as ceremonies, teachings and hosting are all shared. We also offer thanks to Tyendinaga for hosting the end of the tour. Without these good words and actions, we could not continue KAIROS’ commitment to a new relationship built on justice and respect.KAIROS’ gratitude also goes to the church communities who will also host the bikers. There are Lutheran, United and Presbyterian churches along the way who are hosting and caring for the riders. Thank you! We’ll update information about all the generous hosts as it’s confirmed.And of course, the people who have offered donations to help cover the riders’ expenses are also very much a part of this work. Any amount helps and you can still donate!For more information please contact:
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