Ready to make a difference with YOU!

Development and Peace's Youth Assembly is gearing up for

the 2008-2009 year!

From left to right

Dan (PEI), Adrian (E ON), Dan (NL), Zach (BC), Chiarra (N ON), Nicole (MB), Tera (NB) - in the tree, Vanessa (C ON), Alison (NS), Julio (AB) and Sarah (SK)

Absent : Danielle (SW ON)

Lights Camera Action in Jos!

25 youth delegates who attended YARAC's "The Church, Young people, Social Justice and Peace" are on fire to work for change after the three day workshop. The D and P youth team here co-facilitated and participated with 25 youth from the Archdiocese of Jos.

The three day workshop was built around three themes: The Church and Social Doctrine, Youth as God's instruments and The Church, Transformation and Social Justice. On the Tuesday, we (Nigerian and Canadian youth) exchanged our experiences working for justice through our parishes and respective organizations.

The most exciting part of the workshop though was the Action Plan session. The first set of small groups was based on gender. The young women swiftly seized the opportunity to meet as women and after much passionate and thoughtful conversation came up with a six month action plan to educate women at the University of Jos on the dangers of prostitution culminating in a rally with drama and jingles. The men's action plan seeks to change a significant problem too... to advocate for, develop and implement a salary grid for church workers in the diocese.
The Catholic Social Teachings on Economic justice did not get lost on them.

Afterwards, participants gathered in parish groups to develop action plans, all with goals that were SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time bound). Many individuals who previously did not perceive their reality as changeable were moved to take action in their own community.

Over the three days, many new friendships were made and much time was spent exchanging emails before everyone departed. YARAC, our hosts, intend to accompany these youth as they begin to implement their action plan and see this as a beginning of more work to support youth in working for justice through their parishes.

The news of the workshop is getting out there. Just yesterday, we were interviewed with YARAC, a CYO- Nigeria member and a university professor on a live radio show called Pandora's box.

Let's see what happens!

D and P Youth Team Welcomed Warmly in Jos, Nigeria

The youth team of Tana Kayler (St. John's, NL), Innah Gaspar (Halifax), Tara Hurford (Digby), Mandi Peterson (Otttawa), Lori Ryan (Toronto) and Natasha Halpin (Vancouver) have arrived in Jos, Nigeria and will be hosted by YARAC (http://www.yaracnigeria.org/) for the next two weeks.

On Friday, the team travelled with YARAC staff to Bauchi state to a community that had just gained access to water and sanitation through the support of DEC and WaterAID. A community theatre piece was presented to a large community gathering to raise concerns re water access and to spark discussion about how the community can maintain this wonderful new set up. What an incredible way to engage the whole community in this very important issue.

Tomorrow, the youth team co-hosts and facilitates a workshop for Catholic youth eager to become stronger leaders in their parish, entitled - Just Youth - The Church, Young people, Social Justice and Peace in Nigeria. A key resource person works for the Justice, Development and Peace Commission here (another D and P partner).

It's so inspiring to witness the persistent work of so many for democracy and the endless energy of our partners here.

- Lori

Indiana Jones and the Mining Pit of Doom

Melanie, top fundraiser sporting her "Bling Kills" tee

St. Mary's Secondary School in Cobourg fasted for 24 hours to draw awareness to the human rights abuses and environmental damage caused by Canadian mining companies abroad.
They even invented their own game called

INDIANA JONES AND THE MINING PIT OF DOOM!

Congrats on raising $910!

St. FXers making a difference on campus!

Kudos to St. Francis Xavier D and Pers for a fabulous year. Check out their successes:

Ø Regular weekly meetings led by student executive and attended by members at large
Ø Recruited 100 new students for mailing list at society night.
Ø Canadian Mining: Called to Account: Coffee House, Guest speaker Father Peter Henriot addressed 80-90 people, and a 40th Anniversary potluck
Ø Joint film night with other campus group, Sipakapa is Not For Sale, with guest from Sipacapa, Javier de Leon
Ø Solidarity Sunday and a box social night
Ø Power of One Film night with D and P group
Ø Stayed in touch with the local, provincial and national chapters of Development and Peace

Overall, we are very proud of our accomplishments this year. We raised awareness about international mining, an issue which is often neglected. Our signature campaign was a huge success, and all of the 233 cards collected have been forwarded to the Prime Minister’s Office. We are hopeful that advocacy for change in Canadian mining policy will result in ratification of our organization’s suggestions. Our fundraising also exceeded our expectations, and we are proud that the funds will support long-term, sustainable development around the world.

We are very pleased with our work this year, and look forward to continuing this fall.

Thank you to St. FX D and P executive: Jennifer Jackson, Francis Tibollo and Rachel McNally for taking such leadership and making great things happen! Let's keep on keeping on! Strength, persistance and inspiration the incoming exec.

Holy Cross Box lunch auction raises $20,800!

Students at Holy Cross Catholic Secondary in Saskatoon recently held their annual Box lunch auction and raised an amazing $20,800 for DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE programs!

For the fundraiser, each homeroom chooses a creative theme for the box lunches which in the past have included, 'birthday bash lunch' and 'survivor Hawaii lunch'. Afterwards, they auction the lunch packages off to the highest home room bidders! This year, one group of students pooled their resources and beat out the teachers by bidding $7,322.90 for "The Lunch", a meal for 40 people served in the staffroom.

During the event, Bishop Albert LeGatt addressed the assembled students and staff and spoke about his experiences in Ghana.

Each year, the funds raised go to the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace. Way to go Holy Cross!!!!!

D&P Hamilton workshop is a huge success!

On Thursday May 15th, at Mount Mary Retreat Centre in Ancaster ON, 5 high schools got together to learn the differences between charity and justice, and make pledges to live justly in the world. Some of the pledges included "cycle to school", "buy fair trade coffee" and "stop before you shop!"

The day commenced and concluded with discussions surrounding inspirational artwork created by the talented Marika Ince. The paintings are featured here and can also be found at the following websites... http://www.learningandviolence.net/violence.htm and http://www.learningandviolence.net/dreams.htm

Other highlights of the day included the game 'This Gold is mine' and demonstrations about the 'No Sweat' campaigns that are happening in Ontario school boards as well as accounts of how select panellists live simply on a day to day basis.

When asked how she liked the workshop, Kasandra from Christ the King said, "It was really inspirational and really fun!" Another student said, "It was really inspiring. I really liked it! The interactive games were great, especially the gold game!" ~ Samantha from St. Thomas More

Overall the day was a huge success and many of the student attendees have decided to take up the challenge and make a difference fighting for justice!

Successful mobilization and educational campaign bears 190,000+ signed petitions

Since fall 2007, Canadian Catholics have raised the alarm about the devastating impacts of some Canadian mining companies on communities in the global south. Their voices have been raised in parishes, schools, campuses, and street corners across Canada. More than 190,000 people took heed and joined the movement to call for accountability.

Today, these 190,000 petitions were presented in Ottawa, calling on the Government to appoint an ombudsperson to verify social responsibility by Canadian mining, oil and gas companies in their overseas operations. 5 of the 41 Federal MPs met with by Development and Peace members spoke publicly in support of this campaign today: Viviane Barbot (BQ), Steven Blaney (CP), Diane Bourgeois (BQ), Bernard Patry (L) and Alexa McDonough (NDP).

Development and Peace Bling Kills street theatre troupe from Carleton University were a big part of the action.

The work by the Canadian government and NGOs is often being undone by the irresponsible operations of some Canadian mining, oil and gas companies.

Let's keep the pressure on! Life Before Profit!

Victory for the right to water!

Johannesburg, 30 April 2008

PREPAYMENT WATER METER SYSTEM UNCONSTITUTIONAL,

FREE BASIC WATER TO BE INCREASED

The Johannesburg High Court today ruled that the City of Johannesburg’s practice of forcibly installing prepayment water meters in Phiri, Soweto is unconstitutional. It also set aside the City’s decision to limit its free basic water supply to 25 litres per person per day and ordered it to provide the residents of Phiri with free basic water in the amount of 50 litres per person per day.

The City was further directed to give the residents of Phiri the option of an ordinary credit metered water supply.In a ground-breaking judgment – the first in which the constitutional right to water has explicitly been raised – Judge MP Toska criticised the municipality for its discriminatory approach to the provision of water.

The Judge found that: “the underlying basis for the introduction of prepayment meters seems to me to be credit control. If this is true, I am unable to understand why this credit control measure is only suitable in the historically poor black areas and not the historically rich white areas. Bad payers cannot be described in terms of colour or geographical area.”

The Judge stated that “25 litres per person day is insufficient for the residents of Phiri”, whom he described as “poor, uneducated, elderly, sick, ravaged by HIV/AIDS and reliant on state pensions and grants.” The judge continued that “to expect the applicants to restrict their water usage, to compromise their health, by limiting the number of toilet flushes in order to save water is to deny them the rights to health and to lead a dignified lifestyle.”

The Judge found that increasing the free basic water supply would not put significant strain on the City’s water and financial resources, especially if free basic water already supplied to rich households is redistributed to the poor.

Stuart Wilson, Head of the CALS Litigation Unit said that “the judgment speaks volumes about the City’s approach to the poor and the vulnerable. A serious rethink of the City’s approach to poverty must now take place”.

For more info, see Mail & Guardian article.

Coalition Against Water Privatisation on 072 429 4086

D&P member asks Dion to Regulate Canadian Mining

Danielle advocating for mining regulations to Stephane Dion

The Young Liberals of Ontario are urging the Liberal Party to regulate Canadian mining companies operating abroad.

This is thanks to the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace member Danielle Takacs, who convinced the Brant Young Liberals group, of which she is a member, to propose the policy recommendation titled: “Enforcing standards of practice for Canadian mining companies operating abroad” to the regional and then provincial youth parliament.

“My work with Development and Peace inspired me to bring it to the political level,” said the 24-year-old studying for her masters degree in political science at the University of Guelph.

“I think (faith) can definitely be a guiding and inspiring drive,” said Takacs. “Politics can be a tough and often a dirty game. I think it’s important to be involved for the right reasons and persevere.”

Congratulations to Danielle Takacs, Development and Peace youth rep for SouthWestern Ontario, is making a difference through her work to push Young Liberals and Stephane Dion to adopt a policy on mining. Her persistence, creativity and passion are paying off.

REad more in the Catholic Register article, Catholic makes her mark on Canadian mining. http://www.catholicregister.org/content/view/1160/857/

D&P speaks out to protect peace and justice advocates in Colombia

Development and Peace Executive Director, Michael Casey, has sent an urgent letter to Colombian President Alvaro Uribe, requesting the Government of Colombia to act as soon as possible to protect the leaders of the Program for Development and Peace in the region of Magdalena Medio (PDPMM), in eastern Colombia.




Assistant Director of the PDPMM
Fr. Libardo Valderrama





These leaders are being threatened by the paramilitary group, Las Aguilas Negras, who has made a list of its next victims, adding that they will be "exterminated one by one". This list targets, among others, the PDPMM, the human rights organisation SEMBRAR, the Farmers and Miners Federation, as well as several priests in the region

Casey urges Colombian president to take action, "These threats to human life and the terror they bring to the people, their families and the communities concerned are unacceptable. The paramilitary group responsible for these threats must be stopped immediately from continuing its intimidation tactics throughout the country."

Investigation reveals: Socks supplied to schools by RJ McCarthy's are being made under terrible conditions

After years of campaigning, the truth is coming out about where and under what conditions some uniforms are being made... Investigation for Catholic School Boards uncovers worker rights violations in factory producing school uniforms

Toronto- For years, students have been asking questions about where and under what conditions their school uniforms are being made. A new report on a factory investigation conducted by the Worker Rights Consortium (WRC) for Catholic School Boards in Ontario confirms their worst fears.

Read the entire press release and WRC report at http://en.maquilasolidarity.org/en/node/781

This collaboration of students, teachers, school boards and Development and Peace is making a difference. Now that these conditions have been exposed, pressure can be exerted to improve factory conditions. More action ideas to follow soon...

Hungry for justice - try out some of these recipes...

Staff here at D and P took action during this Share Lent campaign

The most noteworthy example, this year is ...

Development and Peace International Programs Department

put together this recipe book full of recipes

from all over the world interspersed with photos of partners
Available in French and English

For sale for $15.

Email lryan@devp.org if you'd like a copy.

All funds will go towards Development and Peace.

Students take to the hill - Parliament Hill!

Angela Pereira and Adrian Debows of Carleton U D and P group give a first hand account...

Our street theatre calling Canadian mining to account went really well!

We performed for 90 minutes and got 30-40 cards sign (We didn't have enough otherwise we could have gotten more!). It snowed but we continued to act. People got really into it! I think they saw it as part of the tourist experience too. A lawyer came up to us and discussed the mining issue with us and gave us some ideas. He talked about how if a Canadian ambassador is helping with the atrocities (like in Guatemala) then we can use the courts to settle the matter. He said it would be a real embarrassment for the government.

Another bonus was that the big anti-war protest was on the same day. Those protesters were
coming just as we were leaving, and they took a bunch of our information and distributed it amongst themselves.

Also we raised more than $2000 at our THINKfast held at St. Paul's University too.