December 2014  

Colombian churches:

Urgency for peace       

 

November 2014 marked two years of peace talks between the Colombian Government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). The 50-year conflict has claimed 220,000 lives, and left 5.7 million internally displaced. On November 17 talks were stalled when the FARC captured a general.  

 

Peace March, September 2012 in Bogota. Photo by Nathan Toews

The churches reacted quickly. Led by MCC

partner, Justapaz (Justice and Peace), over 40

Colombian church leaders signed a letter urgently calling both parties to return to the negotiating table. Too much has been accomplished, and too many lives damaged to stop now.  

 

The FARC released the general on November 30, and it appears that talks will resume shortly. Nevertheless we need to continue standing with our Colombian brothers and sisters in this urgent cry for peace.

Parliamentary business    

After a lengthy journey through the legislative process, on November 6th Bill C-6--An Act to Implement the Cluster Munitions Convention finally received royal assent.
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Last month, the Extractive Sector Transparency Measures Act was also tabled as Division 28 within Bill C-43. Since the Prime Minister announced the Government of Canada's intention
to implement mandatory reporting requirements for extractive companies in June of 2013, MCC has spoken to the issue in various ways through letters to decision-makers and participation in government-led consultations. 

As the bill was studied by the Natural Resources Committee two weeks ago, MCC again provided a written submission outlining ways to strengthen the legislation. Echoing the oral testimony of Publish What You Pay, MCC urged the Committee to ensure Canada's legislation follows global standards by requiring payments to be broken down by country, government, payment type, and specific project.  We also expressed concern about the application of these standards to Aboriginal entities in Canada. 
New resources:
"All I want for Christmas is ..."       

Make a selfie video and promote mining justice! This is KAIROS' way of building momentum for  transparency and accountability on the part of Canadian mining companies.  Make a video that says, "All I want for Christmas is mining justice!" and challenge someone else to make one too!
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Did you, your group, or your congregation use either our Peace Sunday Packet or our Remembrance Day Resource for Teachers?   Please send your feedback to [email protected].

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In This Issue
Feature Article
Parliamentary Business
New Resources
Take Action
Staff Update
 
Quotation
of the month 

"The season of Advent reminds us that we inhabit a space between the "now" and the "not yet," between the reality of our world, with its grave challenges, and the promise of a world renewed by the Child of Peace. It is a continuum from lament to possibility, from despair to hope."  
Opportunities:
Student Seminar  

There's still time to register for our annual Student Seminar taking place February 12-14, 2015 in Ottawa. The theme this year is Citizens. Disciples. Advocates. Christian faith and political responsibility.
 
We'll hear from Members of Parliament about their passions, civil servants on integrating their faith with work, and advocacy partners about their attempts to change the world. There will also be opportunities to explore downtown Ottawa on a scavenger hunt and join some Winterlude fun.
Office update:

Jared Klassen   

Public Policy Advisor,

Canadian Foodgrains Bank 

    

   

We are very excited to share office space with MCC coalition partner Canadian Foodgrains Bank (CFGB) and its new staffperson, Jared Klassen.

Jared formerly served as an Advocacy Research Intern in our office. He was recently hired as CFGB's new Public Policy Advisor. He is based in Ottawa in order to connect with MPs, Senators, and civil servants and to share with them about the great work of CFGB.  
 
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