PWRDF UPDATE March 2008
Welcome to Update - The Primate's World Relief and Development Fund newsletter and information bulletin for subscribers.
PWRDF is the Anglican Church of Canada's agency for international development, relief, refugees and justice issues. This list is an outgoing communication service from PWRDF only. Please contact Yvonne Lane for more information on any of the following items.
1. Our work is your story
2. Canadian Council of Churches – G8 tour
3. Local Heroes
4. Donations
5. PWRDF Regional Meetings
6. justgeneration youth initiative
7. Refugee Network
8. 50th anniversary of PWRDF
9. 2008 Family Calendar
10. Earth Hour – March 29, 2008
11. National Fair Trade Weeks – May 1-15
1. Our work is your story
March is a busy month for staff travel:
Mahjabeen and Elsa are currently in the Philippines, Zaida in Burundi and Mozambique, Naba in Sri Lanka, and Suzanne will shortly be leaving to visit partners in El Salvador, Guatemala and Mexico.
PWRDF, together with the United Church of Canada, Romero House and the Jesuit Migrant and Refugee Service, recently organized a seminar at Regis College, University of Toronto on “Why Refugees from Mexico?” at which three experts from Mexico and a Canadian academic explored the root causes of the increased refugee claimant flow from Mexico. You can read Suzanne’s report – Rampant violence in Mexico sends refugees to Canada, February 10 on our website.
Naba Gurung is currently visiting seven project partners in Sri Lanka that are implementing tsunami rehabilitation and reconstruction projects. Two-thirds of the coastal areas of the country were affected by the tsunami disaster. In addition, Naba also intends to visit development projects in the southern part of the island. Many of these areas are districts that have been the hotbed of ethnic violence, and sporadic violence has now spread in other parts of the island. The projects he will be visiting include home gardening and biodiversity promotion, microfinance and income generation, people’s empowerment and leadership development, a permanent housing project with double displaced population (by violence and tsunami), and non-violent peace committees for tsunami rehabilitation.
Kumi Samuel, former board member of PWRDF, was recently in Toronto en route to Calgary and spoke to Church House staff over lunch about her work as director of the Women and Media Collective in Colombo, Sri Lanka, and their work in peace-building and peace-making. See her interview with Keith Knight.
2. Canadian Council of Churches – G8 Tour
The Canadian Council of Churches, in collaboration with the G8 Research Group based at the Munk Centre for International Studies in the University of Toronto, has recently launched a five city cross-country tour of educational, inspirational public events. Professor John Kirton opened the tour on February 25 at Convocation Hall, University of Winnipeg. Future dates are: March 30 – St. Matthews United Church, Halifax, April 13, Vancouver School of Theology, and then Toronto and Montreal in the fall of 2008.
CCC encourages everyone to join the journey to 2010 when Canada will host the G8 and also the parallel religious leaders’ interfaith summit which will be speaking out on behalf of peace and justice for all God’s children.
3. Local Heroes – thanks to ALL our volunteers
Who are our local heroes? You – our local volunteers, parish representatives, treasurers, diocesan representatives, coordinators, clergy, bishops – who work so tirelessly to promote the work of PWRDF across Canada. Thank you for all that you do. In terms of Church House local heroes, the Finance team has completed the mailings of all tax receipts for 2007.
4. Donations
Christmas card sales generated over $38,000 in income for 2007, making a net profit for PWRDF programs of $23,000. PWRDF appreciates the support of all who purchased the cards and, since 2007 was a memorable year for selling out so quickly, we shall ensure that we print additional quantities in 2008 in order to accommodate more requests.
5. PWRDF Regional Meetings
Two rounds of regional meetings will be held this year in the four ecclesiastical provinces. After having reviewed meeting locations since 2002, tentative themes and locations will be: May, Nova Scotia/Newfoundland, theme -- Canadian Development Program June, Kamloops, B.C., theme -- Latin America Program Fall, Saskatoon, Saskachewan., theme -- Asia Pacific (food security) Nov 14-16, Ottawa, Ontario, theme -- Africa Public Engagement staff are working on the logistics for the first three and once there is more information it will be announced on the website. Those eligible to attend are diocesan representatives, coordinators, parish representatives and others with a strong interest and commitment to our work. Travel subsidies will be available.
6. justgeneration.ca
Are you interested in making positive change in the world? Why not consider working at justgeneration.ca? The various websites (pwrdf.org, anglican.org., justgeneration.ca) list the job posting and position description for a 4/5 time facilitator. PWRDF is also accepting applications for summer interns!
The PWRDF Youth Council will meet in Montreal at the end of April. Please keep their deliberations in your thoughts and prayers. If you have anything you'd like to have talked about at the council, please email your suggestions to: info[at]justgeneration.ca
Many groups are registering for Off-The-Grid! If you of a parish that has an active youth group, send us their name and we'll send them a free copy of this amazing new resource.
7. Refugee Network
The Canadian Council for Refugees (CCR) is taking on a media campaign on a specific rule that relates to Family Reunification: ‘excluded family members’ rule that also touches on sponsored refugees:
As part of our ongoing efforts to overcome the problems associated with Regulation 117(9)(d) (excluded family members), the CCR is preparing to do a public media campaign, highlighting the devastating impact of this rule on families. We are looking for affected people who are willing to have their story told in the media. The cases must of course be sympathetic. Ideally, we want people who are willing to speak to journalists, but it will also be useful to have some cases that we write up in the background materials, even if the individuals are not ready to be interviewed. Where necessary we can use only first names, or a pseudonym, if that is a concern. Media attention on a case could potentially help to get the case resolved, although there is of course no guarantee of that.
If you know of appropriate cases, please contact Janet Dench.
If you need more information to understand Regulation 117(9)(d), consult
"Families Never to be United: Excluded Family Members", April 2005, at the CCR website.
8. 50th Anniversary
Did you know that PWRDF was created in 1959 by the General Synod – national assembly of the Anglican Church of Canada, after 167 coal miners died in a 1958 coal mine disaster in Springhill, Nova Scotia? We have many accomplishments to celebrate after our first 50 years in responding to emergencies and disasters and long term development needs, so in preparation for our celebrations, one of the many initiatives being developed is 50 Images.
We need your help. If you have photographs, slides or any story that you think should be part of our collection, please forward them to the PWRDF office to the attention of Mahjabeen Chowdhury or Heather Pearson. It doesn't matter which decade or country, all submissions will be considered.
Please provide your contact information so we can follow up with you on the names of the individuals involved. If you have any questions please send an email to hpearson[at]pwrdf.org.
9. 2008 Family Calendar
Check the website for a monthly focus to link the family calendar with relevant stories and activities. The February focus of the PWRDF Family Calendar is Ancestry: Family ancestry and First Nations. For more information on Supporting Cultural Recovery with the People of the Flint, Family Activity, Storytelling with Family Elders, and activities for children, please see our website.
Please engage your children as PWRDF leads up to the 50th anniversary celebrations. You are encouraged to submit photographs and stories as part of the learning from the 2008 PWRDF Family Calendar. All submissions will be considered for inclusion in the 2009 PWRDF 50th Anniversary Calendar.
Contributions from each diocese is our goal.
It's never too late to request a Fair Trade chocolate bar. Send the coupon from the calendar to PWRDF and we’ll send one on its way.
10. Earth Hour – March 29, 2008
KAIROS WANTS YOU TO TURN OFF YOUR LIGHTS FOR AN HOUR AT 8 PM ON Saturday, March 29! Why? Because our use of fossil fuels is contributing to global climate change. In 2007, the people of Sydney, Australia, decided that they could send a powerful message for change by turning off all their lights at the same time. More than 2 million citizens and businesses did so. Now, the World Wildlife Fund is taking Sydney’s history-making moment global by encourage people, businesses, and communities all over the world to turn off their lights and demand action on climate change. Learn more and get an Earth Hour kit and worship resource...
11. National Fair Trade Weeks – May 1-15
The theme for this year’s events will be “Choose Fair Trade – Everyone Wins”. TransFair Canada is producing new materials, including a poster highlighting the principles of Fair Trade certified products and mailable postcards. The 2008 Action Kit is available to order through www.transfair.ca.
In addition, please see the January link to the family calendar on Fair Trade http://www.pwrdf.org/give/families-for-pwrdf/january-fair-trade/ -- Why do we need it, is it fair? etc.
