Community Life Communique #3

Submitted by: Carol Penno

Happy New Year, May God bless you abundantly with everything you need to enjoy the New Year. Good health, happiness, peace in your families and fullness of life.

I know that you’ll soon be very busy compiling the 2006 annual reports. I look forward to receiving your report by March 15, 2007. Please send them to me by email (most economical) [or to my address]. Please remember to send me a copy of your communiques and also share with your diocesan executives. Last fall I tried to recruit subconveners, I am happy to report that Kathy F. of the Victoria Diocese has kindly offered to be a subcommittee chair sharing her knowledge by reporting on Dignity and Rights of Persons. I would like two more volunteers that would monitor issues in BC for CCODP, and Immigration and Citizenship.

Dr. Rayleen DeL., National Chairperson of Community Life has sent her second communique. Some excerpts from Dr. DeLuca’s communique follow.

Trafficking of Women and Children: Rayleen is excited about the letters she has received outlining activities councils are participating in, to end trafficking of women and children. Resolution 2004.05. Showing movies like Born into Brothels, holding seminars in church halls and schools, conducting prayer vigils, fasting, and writing letters are only a few ways that League members have demonstrated action.

Let’s Make Poverty History: There is no question that a major contributing factor to trafficking of women and children is poverty. One member wrote, “The more we can do to provide food, clothing, and shelter, the fewer people (women, girls and boys) will be driven into slavery and prostitution.”

A charity to consider: Canadian Food for Children

If you would like more information, see the website <www.canadianfoodforchildren.org>.

Rayleen provided some statistics on the problems of world hunger.

These statistics can be viewed at <library.thinkquest.org/C002291/high/teacher.htm>.

A suggestion from KAIROS: On a large white banner, write a brief message to your member of parliament or the prime minister, calling on the government to keep its commitments to the world’s poor and make poverty history. Have the entire congregation sign the banner and then send it to Ottawa.

The CWL delegation to federal government has presented Resolution 2004.02 Children Living in Poverty on each visit with the government The plan was to eliminate poverty of children by the year 2000.

Protection of Farmers Rights to Save Seed – Resolution 2005.03: Rayleen reported on a workshop on seed modernization held in Winnipeg on November 30, 2006. It was well represented by people from the many seed companies/growers, Universities, Farmers Unions, Agriculture-Ag Canada, Canada Wheat Board, doctors and CWL members. Discussion was lively and included such topics as biotechnology, variety registration, program delivery and seed standards.

Right to Water: “Development and Peace applauded the resolution adopted by the UN Human Rights Council on November 29, 2006 to conduct a detailed study on the relevant human rights obligations related to equitable access to safe drinking water. The resolution means that UN legal experts will study all existing UN human rights treaties, to determine exactly what is set out in each on the right to water, and the ensuing obligations on states that have ratified. “‘This decision to carry out a formal legal study on the right to water is a very positive step in the direction of universal recognition of the right of water,’ said Michael Casey, Development and Peace’s Executive Director ….’ “Development and Peace was also encouraged to note that on November 9 the United Kingdom declared its formal recognition of the right to water, in response to the UN Human Development Report on Water and Sanitation. In defense of why it has refused thus far to recognise the right to water, Canada has cited that other G8 nations also oppose this right. ‘We urge Canada to follow the UK’s lead on recognition of the right to water,’ said Mr. Casey. ‘Recognition of this right is now a mainstream position, and Canada should follow suit.” (from CCODP press release December 8, 2006)

Immigration and Citizenship: “The Episcopal Commission for Social Affairs, representing the CCCB, has continued its plea in favour of refugees and migrants…. At the hearings, [they] urged reforms to ensure the treatment of refugees, migrant workers and immigrants respects their human dignity and the needs of their families.” (from CCCB media release November 28, 2006) “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.” (Hebrews 13:2)

Dr. Rayleen DeL., National Chairperson of Community Life

The Congregation of Notre Dame is very involved with Social Justice. There are so many issues in the world that it boggles the mind. Sister Jeanne B. has taken over from Sister Pierrette B. (our guest speaker on Trafficking of Women and Children at the Provincial Convention in Whitehorse,YT. Sister Jeanne B. requests letters be written to Amnesty International. Although too late for the letter writing campaign, there are important issues in January. <www.amnestyusa.org/act > is the link, click on countries, choose Canada.

Sister Jeanne sends a news alert that a ceasefire in Darfur has been called for March 15, 2007. Visit <www.Savdarfur.org> for the latest on this.

There is yet another group “Make Poverty History for First Nations.” The website for this is <makepovertyhistory.ca>. Also with this same group, Lucille P. sends the following note: “I am currently working with the Sustainable Forest Management team to produce a new and desired future for Aboriginal peoples living in the Boreal forest. We put together a 5 point plan and over the next 6 months [and] will put a lot of time and effort into discovering what could be done to help our first peoples in our country to share resource wealth and to work towards a future free from poverty.” God Bless, Lucille

By Kathy F., Victoria Diocese – my subconvener for Dignity and Rights of Persons:The Road to Treaty Negotiations in B.C. is a fascinating read. It goes back to 1763 with the Royal Proclamation be George III of Britain with respect to Indians in North America colonies.

The signing of Final Agreement pertaining to compensation for land, etc. follows years of negotiations. Once a Final Agreements is ratified by the First Nations members, the B.C. Legislature and the Canadian Parliament and Senate, the Final Agreement is passed into law and becomes a Treaty.

• An example, Nov. 27th 2006 saw B.C. Assembly of First Nations, First Nations Summit and Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs and Federal, Provincial governments sign a First Nations Health Plan memorandum of understanding. The purpose of this agreement is to close the gaps in health outcomes between First Nations and other British Columbians through increasing collaboration and just decision making.

Education of First Nations children and youth:

• In the Ladysmith/Nanaimo School District, aboriginal representatives and representatives from the district and the Ministry of Education met for the signing of the Second Agreement. The First Agreement has shown that the district could come closer to closing the gap between aboriginal and non-aboriginal students. The aboriginal completion rate in the district increased from 31% in 2001 to 58% in 2006.

- Kathy F.

Now back to me!

I am not suggesting that you visit all these websites I have provided you with as there is just so much information in the world that we have access to with the internet. There may be something that will tweak your interest.

In communique #2 I gave you information on how to access the Papal Encyclical Deus Caritas Est (God Is Love). Part 2 is all about Christian charity.

Regarding Canadian Food for Children, many in British Columbia already help out in this regard as we have a group based out of Langley, BC with sub-groups in Dioceses.

Call of the Poor – I didn’t have anyone call to say they wanted information about this Catholic group in St. Norbert, Manitoba, I still have the information.

Things to remember: recycle, reduce your use of water, wear something red on Fridays to support our Canadian Troops, save your used postage stamps for CCODP. Work on Resolution 2006.03. And pray, pray, pray for those who are suffering.

May Our Lady of Good Counsel give you strength and patience to undertake all these activities. God Bless your work

Carol P….