Between early December and late January some 10,000 people in South Sudan were killed in hostilities between opposition forces and troops loyal to the government. On January 23 the parties signed a ceasefire in Ethiopia.
 MCC is making arrangements to provide supplementary food to about 2,000 children under the age of five in South Sudan. The children are among thousands displaced from their homes because of the recent violence. In response to the conflict, two MCC partners in Canada sent letters to the government on Canada's response. Project Ploughshares urged increasing contributions to the ongoing peace process in South Sudan and providing immediate humanitarian assistance in the conflict. KAIROS reiterated the call for humanitarian assistance, particularly for women and children. In response to widespread reports of sexual violence, it also urged full documentation of human rights abuses. Read a blog by Heather Peters, former MCC worker in South Sudan.
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Accountability for mining companiesAs the culmination of more than a year and a half of work, last month the Resource Revenue Transparency Working Group--a collaborative civil society-industry initiative, led by Publish What You Pay Canada and including two of the country's largest mining associations--launched its framework for implementing mandatory disclosure requirements in Canada. This framework, released on January 16, recommends Canadian companies disclose how much money they pay (including taxes, royalties, license fees, etc.) to all levels of government on a project-by-project basis in countries where they operate. Joe Oliver, Minister of Natural Resources, welcomed the framework's recommendations.
 Additionally, on January 31, Liberal MP John McKay's Private Member's Bill C-474 received an hour of debate at second reading in the House of Commons. If passed, this bill would also require mining companies to disclose payments made to foreign governments or officials in securing mining concessions.
MCC remains convinced that enhancing revenue transparency is an important step towards ensuring that local communities may better benefit from the extraction of minerals, oil and gas.
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New resource:
Intersections issue on colonialism
The latest issue of Intersections focuses on Legacies of Colonialism. Compiler Valentina Satvedi, former MCC staff person, says that confronting the legacy of colonialism is an ongoing multi-layered struggle. She urges readers to join the long-term journey of "unraveling" the legacies. 
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Ottawa Office Newsletter archives
Read previous editions of our newsletter here. |
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Quotation
of the month
"Despite the years of conflict, we found people in every community who had chosen to break free from the cycle of violence and walk a path that shunned revenge and advocated forgiveness, reconciliation, and hope."-- Heather Peters, former MCC worker in South Sudan, currently on staff with MCC Saskatchewan
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Opportunities
Protect the Aid Budget The federal budget will be presented on February 11. Many people expect that Canada's budget for official development assistance will be cut significantly. Please join the Canadian Council of International Cooperation in a call to "protect the aid budget" by signing this petition. A resource for teachers
MCC is recruiting one or two teachers who would be willing to help create a resource for planning a peace-oriented Remembrance Day assembly for public schools. For more information or to register your interest, contact Esther Epp-Tiessen.
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Staff update
Jennifer Wiebe
Senior policy analyst
Last month Jenn (R) hosted Anna Vogt (L) in Ottawa.
 Anna is an MCC worker with Justapaz in Colombia. Jenn and Anna visited with staff in DFATD and with the Americas Policy Group of the Canadian Council for International Cooperation. This photo of Jenn and Anna proved to be one of the most popular posts ever on our Ottawa Office Facebook page!
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