pwrdfblog

 Just six weeks after the devastating earthquake which struck the Port-au-Prince region of Haiti, an earthquake 500 times stronger struck just off the coast of Chile.  In the Haitian earthquake, much of the capital city was leveled, and the casualty figures have climbed into the hundreds of thousands.  While figures are spotty on the Chilean quake, it appears that the death toll can be measured in the hundreds (just over 700 according to the Washington Post today) rather than the hundreds of thousands (230,000 according to the Toronto Sun).

I want to begin my comments here by emphasizing that I in no way want to minimize the suffering of those 500,000 families in Chile whose houses have been destroyed, or of the thousands of people who have lost friends and loved ones to this disaster.  But I do want to emphasize the reasons why the Haitian quake was so much more devastating.

Part of the reason the Chilean quake did less damage is because the epicentre was further away from a population centre, and was also almost three times as far underground.  But a lot more has to do with the Chilean building codes which are strongly enforced, and exist to protect people from the effects of regular earthquakes.  Whereas Haiti hadn't experienced an earthquake in living memory (according to the AP), Chile experiences regular earthquakes, including a record 9.5 magnitude quake 50 years ago.

Another reason that the Haitian quake was so devastating is that there is not much infrastructure in the country.  While @RAMhaiti on Twitter talked about not having seen so much as a police officer in the 48 hours after the quake, Chile has been praised for having good emergency response services.

Chile is also a much wealthier nation than Haiti, meaning that there are more reserves available to aid those affected by the quake.  In his AP article talking about why the Chilean quake was much less damaging than the Haitian one, author Frank Bajak said, "Chile is wealthier and infinitely better prepared, with strict building codes, robust emergency response and a long history of handling seismic catastrophes."  Notice that "wealthier" tops the list here.  

That wealth allows for more government support (enforced building codes, good emergency response).  Haiti, on the other hand, has very little government capacity.  The US military took over the airport in Port-au-Prince after the Jan 12 quake.  The US has also involved itself in Haitian politics, to the point of replacing leaders.  Haitian farmers have been forced through economic realities imposed by the Global North to stop growing crops which can feed their own people in favour of export crops to North America.  The introduction of agro-business to the island has led to environmental degradation and greater poverty for the average Haitian.  Here is an excellent article from the Guardian in England about "forgiving" Haiti's national debt, which details some of the economic realities of the nation, and the role that the Global North has played in perpetuating conditions in Haiti.

All of this lends support to my conviction that what is needed most in Haiti is ongoing sustainable development work.  It is not enough simply to provide clean water and to re-build shattered buildings.  What Haiti needs is development which allows its people to move out of subsistence and into sustainability, out of reliance on international trade and "loans" and into self-supporting agriculture and industry.

It is this kind of work that PWRDF is exploring with the Diocese of Haiti as a long-term response to the problems facing Haiti's people.  The Diocese is looking to support community-based development focusing on agriculture and micro-finance, and PWRDF is determining how we can best work with the Diocese in these programs.  

Micro-finance is a way of supporting development through giving small loans to individuals, families, and small businesses, allowing them to create or expand their business.  Examples include giving someone a loan to purchase a cell-phone, which they can then rent out to people in their community, allowing better communications and also allowing the owner of the phone to make a living.  Micro-finance loans are usually less than $1000 and the repayment rates for these loans are generally in excess of 90%.  PWRDF is already involved in micro-finance in other regions of the world, including Caixa das Mulheres de Nampula in Mozambique and Oikocredit.

My hope is that many other people will see the need for this work, and will continue to support the people of Haiti and other nations around the world through supporting sustainable, community-based development!

 After a couple of months of not having any speaking engagements, I've booked three for the coming month.  You can find me (and others at some events) representing justgeneration.ca at the following events through the tail end of February and through March:

• The York University NGO Fair is being hosted by the International Development Association at York.  On Thursday, February 25 you will find me, with our two interns, in the Bear Pit from 10:30am-4pm.  We will have displays, a slide show, and materials to distribute, as well as being able to answer questions about the work of PWRDF.
• St. James' parish in Sharon has invited me to come and speak to their youth group and other interested parties on Sunday, February 28 after the 10:30am service.  I'm still working on details of this event, but I will be running a workshop on global justice and the work of PWRDF at this event.  I will be talking about Burundi and Haiti, as well.
• St. Luke's in Kingston has asked me to speak at their u2charist on Sunday, March 28 at 6pm.  The u2charist is a Holy Communion service done to the music of U2.  Proceeds from this fundraising event will go to PWRDF and to a local floor hockey outreach mission run by St. Luke's.  

I am really looking forward to having the chance to be out of the office engaging people with our story and our work!  These kinds of events tend to energize me, and are great chances to get people excited about international development and global justice.

I hope to see you at one of these events!  If you would like to invite me (or someone else from our speakers' bureau) to come to speak at an event, please feel free to  e-mail me.

 Well, after yesterday's entry I felt something a little more lighthearted was in order.  I've spent most of the last two days processing cheques for Haiti relief, and PWRDF has raised over  *puts baby finger to mouth and pronounces in a Dr. Evil voice* a MILLION dollars.  It's been astounding to see how many people have given so generously to this cause!  I'm also excited to hear that we are exploring building a long-term development relationship with the Diocese of Haiti- this will help to alleviate conditions in the country long-term, as well as dealing with the immediate impact of the January 12 earthquake.

As I was sitting at my desk processing cheques today, one of the 50 Leaders candidates popped up on Facebook chat (yes, I get to keep FB open at work- perk of the job!) to tell me that he has written a justice rap.  I thought it was great, and wanted to share.  So here it is:

Children,
All around the world,
They're all the same, if you catch my word.
Black ones whites ones,
What’s the difference?
Its all about rights,
Its all about defense,

It’s a battle, that’s slipped outta sight,
It’s a battle, that we all oughta fight,
Big, small, short or tall,
Get a voice lets and tell them all.

You got three p’s,
I’ll go throw ‘em all,
But I’ll start with the first,
Cause I’m on the ball.

Protection,
What keeps us safe,
Safe from evil,
Safe like a bank.

Like a guardian,
Looking over our shoulder,
With that on our sides,
We could move a boulder.

Provision,
The basic things,
Food and shelter,
Things that make bells ring.

Now I’m talking,
Basics here,
Nothing fancy,
No purple dyed hair.

We got it all here,
They need it more there,
So why are we as stuck up,
As the tops of my hair.

Now for the last,
Participation,
I got a lot of ribbons with that,
But seriously,
Participation,
I mean we all got the right to an occupation.
Work means money,
But the work aint fair,
Like the bees make honey,
We gotta be together like a square.

That concludes this rap,
Man I got no rhymes,
But remember the rights,
And remember,
For them we must fight.

I wish I had more positive news today, but felt that I should share this story that I received from a colleague today.  For those of you who don't know where Ciudad Juarez is, it's the city that abuts El Paso Texas but just over the Mexican border.  In recent years, it has become a hotly contested battleground in the "War on Drugs" which has seen cartels, police, and thousands of military personnel involved in escalating violence.  Almost 5000 murders have been committed in Juarez in the last two years alone.

This is a story of the latest 16 to be killed and the call for action on the part of the Mexican government that PWRDF partners and others in the area are calling for:

On January 30, in a working class neighbourhood of Ciudad Juarez, 16 people, the majority of them under 20 years of age, high school and university students, were massacred while celebrating a birthday in the home of one of them. The perpetrators have not been identified, but the government of President Calderon has apparently closed the case saying that is was simply gang warfare.

In the wake of this latest atrocity, three Catholic-based organizations have circulated a public statement that was sent to me (below) in translation. Among the signing organizations is the Workers Social Ministry (Pastoral Obrera) of the Diocese of Juarez, that PWRDF partner, the Paso del Norte Human Rights Centre works closely with, and that participated in the day-long cross-border meeting I participated in in July 2009.

It is sobering reading, but an important repudiation of the violence that the “war on drugs” has brought to Ciudad Juarez.
Here is the statement from the Catholic organizations:
 To the President of Mexico, Felipe Calderon Hinojosa
To the Attorney General of Mexico, Arturo Chavez Chavez
To the Governor of the State of Chihuahua, Jose Reyes Baeza
To the Mayor of Juarez, Jose Reyes Ferriz
To the people of Mexico and to the International Community

We, along with many in this city, the state and the country, seek to hold accountable all those in public office who have sworn to loyally carry out your duties on behalf of the people of Mexico

The insecurity, the violence and death that is the result of the war against the drug cartels in Ciudad Juarez has reached unimaginable levels. There have been nearly 5,000 murders, the majority which have not been resolved, in only 25 months. This city of workers is immersed in the anguish of not having a job, nor having access to medical services, or enough food, only poverty; of businesses that are closed because of the violence, the ignored and constant murder of women, likewise the kidnappings and the extortions that make one afraid to even answer the telephone.

Ciudad Juarez is a hospitable community, where we work and respect the order of law. We accepted and believed that your decisions were for the common good and we therefore received the “Joint Operation for Juarez”, which was later called “Joint Operation Chihuahua” and today called the, “Coordinated Operation Chihuahua”.

With respect and also with much energy we say to you that your programs have failed, they are ineffective, the history of death from April of 2008 to today is a witness of this, and if this is not enough we ask the families of the Villas of Salvarcar why their sons and daughters and parents were massacrered in a manner that one only sees in a war.

The Juarez community has done much in our search for peace. We have shown our solidarity in peaceful ways, such as marches, forums, Catholic Masses, vigils, visits, by forming groups and organizations or movements of young people, students, doctors, women, people of faith of different religions and of common citizens who themselves have suffered from the murders, the kidnappings, the unemployment and who have felt the suffering of all the victims of the violence.

We do not accept that you have closed the case (of the massacre) based on declarations without much evidence and we repudiate the insensitivity of the government in stating that the massacre was a result of a fight “between gangs”.

We do not accept the declaration of war against no one in particular, the result being permanent mourning and daily funerals in our city.

Murder and this violent life cannot be justified not even for the delinquents, (for this we have laws, a government and a constitution that need to be respected), but even more, this incomprehensible death for a group of neighbors, mostly young people, who after taking precautions, decided to celebrate a birthday in their own neighborhood, is an event that defies explanation, where there are no words to explain.

Making the pain of the families of Salvarcar our own, as well as the pain of the thousands who have lost children, parents and family members, and the pain of those who have been kidnapped and have suffered extortion, the pain of the unemployed and the pain of a city who has had its very life kidnapped, we demand the following:

1. The immediate clarification of the massacre of the 16 people of Salvarcar
2. Specialized medical attention for the wounded.
3. Protection for the families who are receiving threats and professional attention for those who need it
4. A public apology for the declarations that insulted the memory and the dignity of the young people and the other victims of the massacre.
5. End the impunity for the gangs, the police and the military.
6. The removal of the military from Juarez
7. An efficient, transparent and measurable program that will provide security for the citizens of Juarez. That this program be permanently observed and evaluated by citizen groups and by other national and international observers.

The Workers Social Ministry of the Diocese of Juarez
Catholic Charities of Juarez
Incarnate Word Parish

 I just read a fascinating article by Alanna Shaikh (@alanna_shaikh for those who would like to follow her on Twitter), who writes for UN Dispatch.  In the article, she discusses how in the US, defense contractors are starting to buy out international development organizations.  She talks about the difficulties of tied aid which often come when development is done for profit.

(Tied aid, for those not in the know, is when you put strings on the international aid you send: you can have $1 million, but you have to hire certain contractors, buy certain products, etc.  Usually, the strings are to build up the economy of the country that is giving the aid.  It is also far less effective than un-tied aid.)

A quote from Shaikh's article illustrates the difficulties of tied aid:

More food for thought: the most profitable programs in development work for the implementers are placing technical advisors and major construction projects. Those are also the least effective kinds of interventions. When big companies are lobbying for increased development funding, what will they focus on – the effective or the lucrative?
I find her article somewhat alarming when thinking about the relief work being undertaken in Haiti right now.  I read earlier this week on sabotabby's journal about how 33% of US relief aid to Haiti is in the form of military aid.  I have real concerns whenever the donors dictate the terms of development and relief work, which is why I am so proud of how we do that work.

PWRDF is partner-centred, meaning that we talk to the partners we work with on the ground about both what the problems and needs are, and also what the solutions are.  The local community is the best expert on both these topics.  We then work with them, walking alongside them, and- yes- supporting them financially and in other ways to realize the solutions to the identified problems.

But the work is generally done by the local community, meaning the money stays in the community, the work is understood and supported locally, and is often sustainable far beyond the scope of our partnership.

All in all, a much better solution.  And I shudder to think what might happen if someone like SynCorp somehow came to be in charge of our aid and development work!

My apologies for the gap between posts.  Between working on taking donations for Haiti (and a HUGE thanks to all who have helped PWRDF to raise over $560,000 so far!)  (And donations are still being matched by the Canadian government through CIDA until Feb 12: you can still donate to PWRDF here), traveling to the CanLead conference in London (Ontario, not England), and then dealing with the re-structuring announcements here at PWRDF, I have not gotten to posting.

That isn't to say I haven't been thinking about posts- I'm still mulling over a post I want to make about relief work in Haiti (or anywhere) vs. development work, and the importance of stressing the latter even as we focus on the former.

I also went and saw The Book of Eli over the weekend, which was an interesting film.  Ignoring the question of what these people ate for 30 years (other than cats and each other), and some other plot and setting issues, I found it interesting to think about the commentary of the role of the Bible (and, by extension, Christianity) in the world.  The conflict in the film centers around one character who wants to take the Bible to somewhere where it will do good for providing hope and purpose to humanity and another character who knows he can use the words of the Bible to control greater numbers of people.  



Sure, it's fairly standard stuff.

But it does point to both the strength and weakness of how the Church has used the Bible throughout history.  I doubt that most of those who have done great harm with the Bible did it for such blatantly, Machiavellian reasons as Gary Oldman's character, but the fact remains that the Bible *can* be used to produce much harm.  

I just happen to fall on the side of those who are (at least, hopefully) using it for positive change in the world.  Denzel Washington's character says at one point in the film "I've spent so long protecting the book that I've forgotten to put into practice what it taught me... to look out for others more than for yourself."  Well, something like that.

And that's what deep justice is about- looking out for others more than for yourself.  It's not about doing things so you can feel good about yourself, but it's about reacting to fundamentally flawed, human institutions because they are flawed.  It is about striving for what is best for all people, even when that means that you will be losing out.  Because trust me, the whole world can't live the way we do here in the Global North.  So we are going to have to cut back our expectations in order to bring about an equitable world!

It was interesting thinking driving home from the movie theatre last night.  Thanks for listening!

I received this letter today via the Canadian Council of Churches.  I post it so people can see for themselves responses and requests from teh Caribbean Conference of Churches.  I think, in particular the section about looking beyond the current emergency to the importance of sustained development work in Haiti is particularly important.    I have put that paragraph into bold font- the emphasis is mine, not theirs except on the final two words of the paragraph.

STATEMENT OF THE
GENERAL SECRETARY
OF
THE CARIBBEAN CONFERENCE OF CHURCHES (CCC)
ON
THE OCCURRENCE OF THE JANUARY 12, 2010 EARTHQUAKE IN HAITI


On the afternoon of Tuesday, January 12, 2010, what can only be described as the most terrifying and perilous catastrophe in the living memory of the Caribbean Region was visited on the people of Haiti. Over the last two (2) days, the Secretariat of the Caribbean Conference of Churches (CCC) has been following closely all pertinent developments. The General Secretary has also been in dialogue with key officials of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat and other international bodies, including the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Geneva-based Action of Churches Together (ACT) Alliance. This is with a view to both assessing the situation on the ground in Haiti and gauging what the CCC’s best options might be in terms of a relevant and meaningful response in the situation.

Like the rest of the world, we have been deeply saddened and perturbed as we continue to witness the pervasive devastation and distress which, sadly, constitutes the reality in which our beloved Haitian sisters and brothers are challenged to exist currently.

At this time, we wish to offer our prayerful support and heart-felt condolences to the Haitian people – both at home and in the diaspora – and to all those who have lost loved ones in the wake of this terrible disaster.

While the current reality is indisputably daunting, we are both humbled and edified to witness the tremendous display of courage, resilience and even celebrative hope by the Haitian people as they lend support to one another in the absence of basic requirements for life and the lack of appropriate technology and expertise in the given circumstances. In so many instances, powered by determination and love, bare human hands have been the ‘tools’ used to free several persons who would have otherwise been left to die, trapped under mountains of rubble. For this, we salute our Haitian sisters and brothers.

We also wish to commend all those nations and agencies that have rushed to the assistance of the people of Haiti with the necessary expertise and equipment. We recognise that in the case of some of the very agencies involved, they themselves have suffered the loss of personnel who have so sadly perished in the disaster. We hail these courageous women and men whose lives were given in service of the betterment of humanity. We commiserate with their bereaved families and stand in admiration of their related agencies which – despite their own loss – are persevering in their efforts on behalf of the Haitian people.

In applauding the heroic efforts of all concerned, we wish at the same time to urge that all operations be carried out with due regard to the dignity of the Haitian people. This is at the level of individual citizens (both living and deceased), communities, the government and the Haitian people as a whole, recognizing their sovereignty notwithstanding their present plight. In this regard, we make a special plea for the protection and care of children and women who – in many situations of this kind – are rendered most vulnerable and disadvantaged and who, regrettably, are sometimes subjected to unspeakable indignities.

With respect to the execution of operations, we also wish to urge the several actors involved to arrive swiftly – in consultation with the President of Haiti and other state and regional authorities – at a feasible co-ordination of efforts which will result in the most effective and efficient delivery of services, redounding to the greatest common good. Without such co-ordination, all the goodwill and effort are at risk of degenerating into massive confusion and wastage of resources.

Along with our condolences and prayerful support, we also offer at this time to the Haitian people our commitment to work towards alleviating their present unspeakable misery, and collaborating with them in forging a future more worthy of their dignity as children of God.

In this regard, and without wanting to detract from the gravity of the situation at hand, we feel the necessity to look beyond the situation with a sense of hope and responsibility. We would therefore like to view the current situation as a stark indicator to the international community of the urgent need to strengthen its resolve to support Haiti in its quest for authentic development.

As an organisation that has accompanied the people of Haiti in various ways and circumstances over the last three decades, the CCC has been concerned, for some time now, with the welfare/aid approach to Haiti that has been the dominant one over a protracted period of its history.

Without wanting to even appear to be minimizing the (very needed) interventions and efforts of so many well-intentioned persons and groups operating over the years in Haiti, we are of the considered opinion that the time has now come for all available resources to be placed at the disposal of genuine development co-operation. Without such a thrust, we shall continue – for decades to come – addressing symptoms and not root causes of a deep-seated social malady. In the given circumstances one is constrained to ask, e.g.: “Was all the destruction, death and distress experienced the result of the 7.0 earthquake per se, or was not the factor of an over-crowded city with weak and compromised structures – all due to decades of continued impoverishment and underdevelopment – a major factor in the equation of devastation?” The answer is clearly self-evident.

In conclusion, the CCC would like to advise its member churches and ecumenical partners that subsequent communiqués will be forthcoming from its Secretariat informing of more specific lines of action/intervention. We wish to further urge that in this circumstance our entire membership, as a group of churches bonded in covenant, stand firmly together in consolidating our efforts and resources for the greater good and benefit of the Haitian people and the glory of God who is Father and “the God of all consolation.”

May God’s blessing be upon our Haitian sisters and brothers and all those who seek to assist them as we continue to lift them up in prayer in the months ahead.

Gerard A.J. Granado (Sgd.)
General Secretary
Caribbean Conference of Churches (CCC)

January 15, 2010
St. Augustine,
Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

The devastating earthquake in Haiti yesterday has had an enormous impact on the lives of countless thousands of people in that poverty-stricken nation.  I have been following events there, practically live, by following @RAMhaiti on Twitter.  This instant access to information from a real person, one whom I've seen news agencies requesting updates from, has lent a new air of immediacy to the disaster.  


(photo by salvationarmy.ca from flickr.com)

This is also the first natural disaster that I have been able to respond to within minutes to give people an avenue to respond by donating to emergency relief through PWRDF.  We traditionally get information out about disasters and our responses within 24 hours on our website, which is fairly good.  But yesterday I sent out a message via twitter and facebook within minutes of finding out about the earthquake.  Not only does this help me to know that I am able to make a difference, but I've seen that over 40 people have clicked through to our donation website, and (after checking with a colleague) that already over $4000 has come in today, although not all of that is necessarily for the earthquake or from my link.  

PWRDF responds to disasters through ACT (Action by Churches Together) International.  In Haiti, we work with Christian Aid.  Although their offices were destroyed in the quake, all their staff are OK and they are hard at work assessing the situation and getting aid to the people and places where it is needed.  PWRDF has released $15,000 to Christian Aid in Haiti through ACT International already today, and will supplement that with any donations that come in over and above the $15,000 we have already committed.

If you wish to donate to PWRDF for this emergency, or for our regular work in relief, development, refugees, and global justice you can do so here.

 I remember years ago reading an article in National Geographic about slavery in the world, and being shocked to find Canada on the list of countries with 100 or more people trafficked each year.  Since having my eyes opened, I have learned more about the variety of conditions of slavery that exist in the world today, and in my own country.  From migrant workers in the US who are kept on plantations to pick fruit by rifle-toting guards to people chained to sewing machines in sweatshops in Toronto, slavery is something which continues to exist in our world today, but is easily swept under the rug.

Thus, National Human Trafficking Awareness Day was created in the US.  Today is that day.  As I've been doing some reading to post about it, I was disappointed to find out that the Canadian government only started tracking human trafficking cases in 2006.  Current stats say that about 800 people are brought to Canada each year through human trafficking.  This doesn't include Canadians forced into work in the sex trade, etc, or human trafficking which flows through Canada rather than ending here.  

Another disturbing part of Canada's relative silence on this issue is that aboriginal population is not addressed in Canadian policy, despite the fact that "Sex trafficking of Aboriginal females in Canada has been rampant for a long time even before the human trafficking issue became such a huge deal in the international community." (full article here.)  The article also talks about how Canada's response to the human trafficking problem often takes the easiest route- cracking down on immigrants.  "A Chinese woman in Calgary who allegedly attempted to sell sexual services of two women for $8000 to an undercover cop was arrested a few weeks ago. However, she was quickly bailed, and the two victims were deported without further assistance or treatments."

These are disturbing and depressing things to learn about, but ignoring the problem won't make it go away.  Instead, I want to leave you with one of my favourite videos (and the one that got me interested in fair trade chocolate) from Tony Chocolonely- the story of how one man got himself arrested for contributing to slavery by his purchase of chocolate.

I came across this letter from Archbishop Desmond Tutu to heads of state and Christian leaders from the Copenhagen Climate Conference. It is incredibly powerful, and articulates well the situation faced by those living in Africa. Here is the letter:

Your excellency,

I write urgently to you after meeting last night with the Chairperson of the G77 at his request. This is after the walkout from the UN Climate Talks which have deadlocked.

Ambassador Di-Aping showed me papers quoting from the IPCC’s 4th Assessment Report which declared that Africa is one of the most vulnerable continents to climate change and climate variability. In all four regions of Africa (West African, South African, East African, and Saharan), and in all seasons, the median temperature rise lies between 3 degrees C and 4 degrees C, roughly 1.5 times the global mean response.

Africa’s major economic sectors are vulnerable to current climate sensitivity exacerbated by factors such as endemic poverty, complex governance challenges, limited access to capital, infrastructure and technology as well as ecosystem degradation and other disasters and conflict.

If temperatures are not kept down then Africa faces a range of devastating threats such as crop yield reductions, in places of as much as 50%, in some countries by 2020; Increased pressure on water supplies for 70 - 250 million people by 2020 and 350 - 600 million by 2050; The cost of adaptation to sea level rises of at least 5 - 10% of gross domestic product.

I think this is common cause. We are facing impending disaster on a monstrous scale. To keep temperature increase in Africa to below 1.5 degrees C requires a global goal of less than 1 degree C; keeping it below 2 degrees in Africa would require a global goal of less than 1.3 degrees C. that is the crux of the matter. A global goal of about 2 degrees C is to condemn Africa to incineration and no modern development. And then of course there is the matter of funding mitigation and adaptation.

The Africans do not want to be spoilers. They know that we are in this together. We have but one earth home. If we do not reach a legally binding deal that takes account of all that has been outlined above then we are all doomed. We can swim or sink only together. The African group wants a deal, a fair ambitious and legally enforceable deal. If the issues that I have delineated above are not dealt with fairly and generously, attributes that have characterized most of the developed world, then it were better to have no deal than to have a bad deal.

This is a moral issue, it is a matter of justice for especially the weak and most vulnerable and the developed world is noted for seeking to do what is right and good.

I pray that my appeal to you will not fall on deaf ears.

God bless you,
Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu.

Well, the Copenhagen Climate Conference is now entering its second week, and there have been some ups and downs as usual at this kind of thing. Am I hopeful for a good outcome from the conference? Well, maybe. Are there good things happening there? For sure!

Norway and Mexico have teamed together to introduce a Green Fund idea to help developing nations to fund green initiatives. Here's a quote from the article:

"Mexico's President Felipe Calderón (photo above) and Norway's Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg "hope that through our joint proposal we can help develop a funding model everyone can endorse," they say in a common statement.

"To achieve an ambitious outcome in Copenhagen, it is crucial that we reach an agreement on financing climate actions in developing countries," they say."

Another article, about the global mayors' gathering, reveals that the city of Copenhagen itself has dropped its carbon emissions 20$ in the last 10 years, and intends to reach carbon neutral in the next 15.

All kinds of good things are happening in Copenhagen!

Of course there's also the bad things- today's sessions were stalled when African delegates walked out, protesting developed nations' "wrecking" of the Kyoto Protocol. A Toronto Star article talks about former Prime Minister Paul Martin points fingers at the US, saying they should be responsible for some of the costs of the tar sands. Note that Martin doesn't say we shouldn't be *using* the tar sands, but that the US should have to help cover the costs. Scientific papers and other presentations at COP15 detail the seriousness of the situation.

What can we do from our homes and desks to help put pressure on governments to come up with real solutions at COP15? Avaaz.org has a petition you can sign online today which will be presented at Copenhagen. And we can keep putting pressure on companies to go green, as well as making a difference in our own homes and lives by the choices we make and the lifestyles we live.

Finally, I want to leave you with a story of hope about a young man in Malawi who has created a small sustainable energy project in his village. Here's a video about his life and work.

OK, I freely admit it. I *like* hanging out with teenagers. I like it so much, I decided to make it my career. I firmly believe that teens are inherently worthy of our respect, and should have to work to *lose* it, rather than having to work to *earn* it.

Sometimes I meet a group of teens who take me way past respect into amazement at what they have accomplished. Such was the case last Saturday. I had been asked to come in to the office to meet with a group of youth from Montreal along with the Primate (head bishop of the Anglican Church of Canada). The youth wanted to talk about the work they were doing in refugee sponsorship and social justice, and to get the Primate's support for their project.

OK. Sure. Sounds like a good piece. It's related directly to my work. I'll come in.

Well, let me tell you that I'm glad I did! Four teens and two of their leaders had driven from St. Mary's, Kirkland in Montreal to Georgetown to do presentations about their work. Melissa, Erin, Jasmine, and Dominic presented to us their powerpoint presentation about refugee work through PWRDF. Bethany and Ely, their leaders, talked about some of their history as a group, which was really cool.

They started out by taking on a foster child. Wanting to increase their focus on justice, they started looking at Kiva microcredit. They raised a quick $100 by having everyone bring in $5, and having that money matched by their parish priest. When they started to look through the micro-credit loan applications on Kiva, they said "We can't stop at $100. How much can we reasonably raise in a year to donate?"

They decided on $1500. So that day, they loaned out $1500 through micro-credit loans. Four months later, they had raised the $1500. They have gone on to raise $3500 for Kiva, loaning money to 93 people, families, and cooperatives.

This was pretty incredible on its own, but the story gets better! They then heard about the Primate's challenge to Anglican Churches in Canada to sponsor 50 Refugee families as part of PWRDF's 50th Anniversary. So in the last few months, they've raised $5000 towards sponsoring a refugee family.

How are they doing all this? They host baguette and soup lunches at their church and other churches, asking people to contribute $5 each for their lunch. They have hosted suppers in a similar way. They have gotten their own church behind them very strongly, getting donations from individuals to cover things like their gas to travel to Ontario.

They also came up with an innovative fundraiser called the "No CD CD case." They told me that they figured that most of us living in Canada can go out and drop $15 on a CD without having it affect our grocery budget for the month. So they are selling CD cases with a thank-you message inside them for $15. All the proceeds go towards their refugee sponsorship.

Now, I must admit, I felt a little funny around promoting that one at the same time that I'm promoting PWRDF's One Voice double CD, but I think it's a cool concept! And it's working! They have sold over 100 of these things- raising $1500 towards bringing a refugee family to Canada.

So, my hat is off to you, Bethany, Ely, Dominic, Jasmine, Erin, and Melissa, for all your work for justice out there. Keep up the good work, and I'll look forward to hearing more about your creative fundraising for PWRDF in the future!

Thanks to Tess Sison at the Anglican Journal for this photo, which she graciously sent to me after my own camera was stolen...

As the Copenhagen Climate Conference gets closer, more and more attention is being focused on global warming, the 350 campaign, CO2 levels, and other issues of global environmental concern. Gore, Suzuki, and others continue to push, and many scientists and justice activists say that even Gore's targets aren't going to be enough. I have been working to raise awareness and concern for these issues with a variety of agencies, including 100,000 on the Hill, Tck, KAIROS, and the Canadian Foodgrains Bank. I have tried to meet with MPs to talk about Canada's stance in Copenhagen, although neither MP I have requested meetings and/or follow-up with has gotten back to me. Don't ask me how I feel about that! :)

But an article in the Church Times this week reminded me of an earlier post I had made about climate change and its effects in Burundi. Burundi isn't exactly a nation producing tons of CO2, but its people are paying a heavy price for climate change! Archbishop Bernard Ntahoturi, in the CT article, talks about the drought in Burundi this year- instead of the usual 8 months of rain, they have had 5.5 months. And the rains that have come have led to severe flooding, loss of property, and loss of life.

When 90% of the population relies on agriculture for their livelihood, and most people don't have enough to eat regardless, this kind of environmental change is devastating! And while people in Burundi, the Church included, are doing all they can to support people through programs like the Seed Multiplication program in Gitega and the agricultural research being undertaken at IRAZ (for more on these projects, see below), the reality is that if the major polluting nations don't come to an agreement and soon, and then back that up with action, millions more people will be starving in the next few years!

So, I encourage you to write to your politicians, call them, whatever you can- encourage them to go to Copenhagen and hammer out a deal. I'm sure my friends in Burundi will thank you!

IRAZ is the Institut de Recherche Agricolique et Zoologique found in Gitega, Burundi. When I visited IRAZ, I learned about their research into blight and parasite resistant plants for growth in the local region. They are developing stronger strains of bananas, beans, maize, and other staple crops of Burundian farmers. The Seed Multiplication project is one undertaken by the Diocese of Gitega. They fund research at IRAZ, and buy the new seeds which get planted in the local church's fields. Members of the community work one day a week at the church fields and, in exchange, every time the plants go to seed, the new seedlings are given to members of the community to plant in their own gardens. The catch, they are expected to pay it forward- to give any new seedlings away to their own neighbours. It's a brilliant program, and it is not only keeping people from starvation, it is building community in the region!

The 50 Leaders weekend was an amazing experience! It was phenomenal to finally meet the 10 candidates for this year, who came from Nunavut, Alberta, Ontario, PEI, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland. Every one of them brought skills, knowledge, and passion to the table, and left (hopefully) with a sense of where they could be working over the next year or so to further develop within the field of justice and leadership in the Anglican Church of Canada.

The process for 50 Leaders, while awesome and inspiring to me, is nebulous. I freely admit that :). "Using a process to identify your learning styles and to begin to focus on your gifts and passions within the field of justice, you will develop learning objectives to allow you to continue to develop as a leader and to be able to engage more effectively in justice work. You will be encouraged to engage in immersion experiences to enhance your learning."

It's a vague process, where people have to figure out what they are passionate about studying and working with, and then figure out how they can best learn about it. It took me until Sunday to figure out what I'm actually doing. I am like a professor working with 10 students undertaking an independent study course in justice and faith.

In an IS course, you prepare a proposal, detailing what you want to learn, and what kinds of projects you wish to undertake to explore the topic. The professor works with you to hone the proposal, to help to guide you on the way, and to support you through the projects.

So now I know, when I'm describing the program for people to join next year (after all, we have 10 of 50 in the process now) how I can help people to understand what it's about.

But now I get to roll up my sleeves and help these 10 people to develop their learning objectives, to find resources to continue their learning, and to help develop projects to fund raise and to work for justice at home and around the world. I love my job!

Manuals... check!
Resource books... check!
Desmond Tutu DVD... check!
Agenda... check!
Participant flight details... check!
Confirmed details with the Sisters of St. John... check!
Workshop notes... check!

Seems like I've got all the stuff done from my "to do" list. Now it's just time to do it!

50 Leaders weekend, here I come!

So the 50 Leaders orientation weekend starts in 8 days, and I'm starting to feel a little behind the 8-ball.

The weekend itself (along with the whole program) is so exciting, I can't wait! We have 10 participants this year from Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, PEI, Ontario, Alberta, and Nunavut. These people will come together for a weekend of gifts discernment, spiritual direction, learning about PWRDF, fundraising, and self-directed education.

This final piece is the one I am working on, as I will be teaching it. I will be helping people to think about their own learning styles, about what kinds of justice issues they are passionate about, and about what they want to learn to more effectively address those issues. The goal is that they begin to develop a plan of what, when, and how they want to learn, how it will be applied to leadership and justice, and where they will go next. I'm basing a lot of it on stuff I learned in my MEd courses a couple of years ago about how adults learn- it will be nice to get to apply that knowledge, and to see how it works in a real life situation!

Of course, I'm dealing with lots of administrivia as I prepare for the weekend, and am also pulling together lists of possible immersion experiences for people- things like Ask and Imagine, Justice Camp, CLAY (Canadian Anglican/Lutheran Youth), Equitas International Human Rights Training, and more. We're also pulling together lists of resources- books, movies, websites, etc. about justice, faith, leadership, and learning to share with participants. If you have any suggestions, I'm always HAPPY to receive them!

50 Leaders is such an exciting program, I just hope it all comes together in time!