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Messages Are Posted To This Page Regularly. Last Update: August 15, 2008. To Go To A Particular Article, Simply Click On The Blue Link Found Under CONTENTS.
Please Note: The Views Expressed On These Pages Do Not Necessarily Reflect Any Official Parish Position.
CONTENTS
ECUMENICAL BODIES CALL FOR CEASEFIRE, NEGOTIATIONS AND URGENT RELIEF IN THE CAUCASUS REGION
THE ONTARIO AND CANADIAN GOVERNMENTS WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU ABOUT POVERTY!
ECUMENICAL BODIES CALL FOR CEASEFIRE, NEGOTIATIONS AND URGENT RELIEF IN THE CAUCASUS REGION
Jointly Issued By WCC And CEC
A Public Statement From The World Council Of Churches (WCC) And The Conference Of European Churches (CEC) Has Called For Prayers And Assistance For Those Affected By The Recent Conflict In The Caucasus. The War Begun Five Days Ago And Despite Its Brevity Has Already Killed Hundreds Of People, Displaced Thousands Others And Severely Damaged Homes, Buildings And Property In Several Cities.
The Statement Issued Today By The WCC And CEC Expressed Alarm And Distress At The Violent Events Of Recent Days In The Caucasus. "The Use Of Force In The Dispute Over South Ossetia And Abkhazia Has Cost The Precious Lives Of Civilians And Soldiers, Risks Destabilizing A Fragile Region, And Reawakens Deep Fears There And Far Beyond" The Statement Reads.
The Statement Affirmed The Interventions Of The Russian Orthodox Church, The Georgian Orthodox Church As Well As The Evangelical Baptist Church Of Georgia, All Of Which Have Called For A Ceasefire, A Negotiated Solution To The Conflict And Urgent Relief For Those Affected.
"We Encourage Churches Around The World To Support These Sister Churches And The International Ecumenical Emergency Appeal Initiated By Action By Churches Together," The Statement Says. "The Well Being Of People Who Have Fled Their Homes And Of Those Whose Homes Have Been Destroyed Must Be A High Priority In The Coming Days."
The Joint WCC-CEC Statement Also Calls For “Military Forces To Return To Positions Held Before The Current Violence." It Affirms That "It Is Fitting That Europe Gives Leadership In Making Peace." It Calls On The United Nations To "Ensure The Territorial Integrity And Political Independence Of Georgia In Accordance With The UN Charter And By Collective Action Of The UN Security Council."
The Statement Adds That "Authorities Who Resorted To The Use Of Force Are To Be Held Accountable For The Loss Of Life They Have Caused."
The Full Text Of The WCC-CEC Statement Is Available At:
Http://Www.Oikoumene.Org/?Id=6188
Action By Churches Together:
Http://Act-Intl.Org
Additional Information: Juan Michel,+41 22 791 6153 +41 79 507 6363 Media@Wcc-Coe.Org
The World Council Of Churches Promotes Christian Unity In Faith, Witness And Service For A Just And Peaceful World. An Ecumenical Fellowship Of Churches Founded In 1948, Today The WCC Brings Together 349 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican And Other Churches Representing More Than 560 Million Christians In Over 110 Countries, And Works Cooperatively With The Roman Catholic Church. The WCC General Secretary Is Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, From The Methodist Church In Kenya. Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.
THE ONTARIO AND CANADIAN GOVERNMENTS WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU ABOUT POVERTY!
April 11, 2008
*Dear Faith Community Members:*
Over The Next Six Months, You Have A Unique Opportunity To Push The
Ontario Government And The Government Of Canada To Take Significant
Action To Reduce - And More Importantly - Eliminate Poverty In Canada.
Between Now And The Fall, Both Levels Of Government Will Be Consulting
With Canadians About What To Do About Poverty.
The Ontario Government Has Committed To Develop A Poverty Reduction
Strategy For Children By The End Of 2008, And The Federal Government Is
Exploring Whether Or Not It Should Develop Its Own Poverty Reduction
Strategy.
Faith Communities Are Involved In Providing Emergency Supports And
Services To Poor People In Our Communities.
Now Is Our Opportunity To Push For Bold And Significant New Government
Action To Address The /Causes/ Of Poverty – Something That The
Governments Of Quebec And Newfoundland-Labrador Have Already Moved Ahead
On!
We Need To Push For Comprehensive Poverty Reduction Plans For Both
Ontario And Canada That Commit To A /Minimum/ 25% Reduction In Poverty
By 2013 And A 50% Reduction By 2018, And That Include Specific Measures
To Ensure Livable Wages For Workers, Livable Incomes For Those Unable To
Work, And Affordable Housing, Child Care, Education And Transportation
For All.
What Can You Do?
*1) Educate Yourself And Your Community:*
· Read The “25-In-5” Declaration On Poverty Reduction For Ontario (To Be
Released Next Week At Www.25in5.Ca <Http://Www.25in5.Ca/>). Circulate It
In Your Community.
· Participate In An Upcoming Poverty Advocacy Workshop:
O Ending Poverty In Ontario From The Grassroots Up, Friday April 25,
OSIE, 252 Bloor Street West, Toronto (There Is A Fee To Attend But Child
Care And Subsidies Are Available For Low-Income People). See
Www.Torontocdi.Ca <Http://Www.Torontocdi.Ca/>.
O Advocacy – Why? What? How?: Getting Stated With A Social Justice
Ministry In Your Parish, Saturday, May 3, 9 Am-12 Pm, Epiphany @ St.
Mark Anglican Church. RSVP By April 30 To Gail Turner, 416-531-8677,
G_Turner@Rogers.Com <Mailto:G_Turner@Rogers.Com>.
· Host A KAIROS-Led Advocacy Training Workshop In Your Community (KAIROS
Can Offer Facilitation And Financial Support For This – Contact Michael
Polanyi At Mpolanyi@Kairoscanada.Org <Mailto:Mpolanyi@Kairoscanada.Org>
Or John Mihevc At Jmihevc@Kairoscanada.Org
<Mailto:Jmihevc@Kairoscanada.Org> For Information).
*2) Take Action *
· Request To Appear Or Submit A Written Brief To The Ontario
Government’S Poverty Hearings By Contacting Deb Matthews, Minister For
Ontario’S Poverty Reduction, Tel : 416-212-2278 Or Email
Dmatthews.Mpp@Liberal.Ola.Org .
· Request To Appear Or Submit A Written Brief To The Federal
Government’S Poverty Consultation By Calling (613) 996-1542 Or Emailing
HUMA@Parl.Gc.Ca <Mailto:HUMA@Parl.Gc.Ca>.
Please Let Us Know What Actions You Take, So We Can Share Your News With
Others. Blessings To You.
Michael Polanyi
Coordinator/Coordonnateur
Canadian Social Development / Développement Sociale Canadien
KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives /
Initiatives Œcuméniques Canadiennes Pour La Justice
129 St. Clair Avenue West
Toronto, Ontario M4V 1N5
Tel. 416.463.5312 X237
Fax. 416.463.5569
Mpolanyi@Kairoscanada.Org <Mailto:Mpolanyi@Kairoscanada.Org>
Www.Kairoscanada.Org <Http://Www.Kairoscanada.Org>
Join The KAIROS Bi-Monthly, Bilingual E-Update On Poverty In Canada From
A Faith Perspective. Email Mpolanyi@Kairoscanada.Org
<Mailto:Mpolanyi@Kairoscanada.Org> To Sign Up.
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