Skills-building clubs are helping girls living in the Dadaab refugee camp go to school, build confidence and help their peers. Three hundred girls in six CLWR-supported clubs participate in peer counselling, peer mentorship and poetry writing.

As a result girls have started speaking out on violence. For example, girls participating in the clubs helped a hearing-impaired girl who was sexually assaulted seek support from a teacher, who subsequently reported the crime to the authorities.

“We are happy that we have learned so much from the girls clubs,” says Fatuma Abdi Sheikh, the chairlady of the Central Primary School girls club. “We are able to speak out on issues that affect girls. My friends and I participated in a media campaign through Dadaab FM, where we encouraged parents to take our colleagues who are not in school to school.”

Read the full story at http://clwr.wordpress.com/2013/03/13/girls-speak-up-in-the-dadaab-refugee-camp/.

Photo: Girls’ club members from Iftin Primary School after a life-skills discussion session. Lutheran World Federation-Kenya-Djibouti Program

for Intercultural Ministry

6 days focused on faith, heart, mind, and skills

for the art of intercultural ministry

This program is for Christian ministry leaders who seek to nurture vibrant faith communities shaped by cultural relevance, understanding and awareness.

Rooted in a theological appreciation of diversity and a justice orientation focused on mutuality and respect, this holistic 6-day program offers an opportunity to:

 Gain a greater understanding of your own culture and your abilities in culturally diverse settings.

 Engage in a faith based approach to theories of culture and healthy relationships across cultural difference.

 Practice and apply learning to your ministry responsibilities, including pastoral care, worship leadership, education, nurturing faith communities and ministry in the wider community.

This will be an interactive, engaging program

with practical ideas for implementation

in your own context.

Designed and led by a diverse team of trained facilitators with experience in intercultural ministry. This program draws on the Forum’s 90 years of ecumenical, collaborative experience preparing individuals for ministry and life in intercultural settings.

For more information and to register, please visit:

www.ccforum.ca

Or contact staff to talk about the program:

CCFGM Co-directors at 416-924-9351 or by e-mail to director@ccforum.ca

DUIM Program Dates:

Downtown Toronto; June 10-15, 2013- Early registration: Apr. 22, Discounted Cost $995, Final registration: May 9; Cost $1,150

Weekend series; Toronto, ON

Downtown Toronto- Sept 13-14; Oct 11-12;Nov 15-16, 2013- Early registration: Jul. 22; Discounted Cost $995; Final registration: Aug. 12; Cost $1,150

2014 Tentative Schedule- Toronto ON

Scarboro Missions- Feb. 10-15, 2014 TBC

Winnipeg MB – June 9-14, 2014 TBC

Toronto ON – Fall Series: Sept 12-13; Oct 10-11; Nov 14-15, 2014 TBC

Canadian Churches Forum For Global Ministries

Dear Premier Wynne:
I am writing to express my concern regarding the impact OLG’s Modernization Plan has on the citizens of Woolwich Township, as well as the Region of Waterloo.   My two primary concerns are the community consultation process expected by OLG and the implications of a lower tier municipality governed by five elected officials having the right to make a decision that will impact in excess of 500,000 Regional residents.  My request is that you put an immediate freeze on all pending and future applications, plus  create legislation that requires municipalities to hold referendums on the question prior to any approvals by OLG. Here is what is happening in our Region and a zone that already has slots at Grand River Raceway.

On March 5, 2013, Woolwich Mayor and three of four councilors voted in favor of submitting an application to OLG to become a host community.  They did this in spite of 62% of 1866 respondents voting “NO” to a questionnaire sent out in November, 2012.  The opportunity for citizens to respond to a biased questionnaire in favor of a casino was flawed in many ways.  Only one, mailed as flyer, was sent to each household, irrespective as to how many adults were in the home. Many did not receive them in the mail. Expected response time was less than three weeks, with a deadline being  Dec. 21 during the busy Christmas season. A significant population of rural Mennonites, whose faith discourages them from involvements of this nature, was minimized.

At the three Public Meetings, community members spoke at least 5-1 against having a casino.  When the Mayor was challenged that he and council members were not listening to the public response that came via the questionnaire, he in effect said the questionnaire was of minimal importance.  This, he said, after informing us at the Nov. 20, 2012  OLG presentation meeting that “transparency and public consultation” were high priorities.  In addition, the Regional Medical Officer of Health presented, noting the negative consequences of gambling, as well as the increased risks that come when it is more accessible.  Research from the Ontario Problem Gambling Research was presented high lighting the negative consequences, plus information indicating the same from a psychiatrist who formerly headed addictions at Homewood in Guelph.  Regional politicians directly and indirectly cautioned our elected leaders on the issue.  Yet, they voted “yes”. Although our Mayor and three of the four councilors are first term inexperienced elected officials, one would reasonably conclude we citizens could expect more from them on a multi-faceted issue of this magnitude.  When OLG requires community consultation as part of the application process, it has to mean it will be taken seriously as part of the application process.  Anything less is a mockery of the whole process.  It is my opinion, the low value placed on public consultation negates and makes invalid the Woolwich application.

Equally critical is the issue of Woolwich being a lower tier municipality within the Region of Waterloo. Imagine, a council of five making a decision that not only impacts Woolwich 23,000 plus residents, but all 500, 000 plus citizens within Waterloo Region. How can this be allowed?  Our Region is becoming more and more integrated and we citizens are experiencing better services as a result of it. Until Woolwich made their decision there was little interest in having a casino in the Region.  Now the two cities, Kitchener and Waterloo (Cambridge, as well as Wilmot, had already said “no”)  have to seriously reconsider the question because they know there will be a range of costs that comes with casino they will have to bare.  They rightly ask, “Why should we foot these costs and Woolwich be the benefactor?”  OLG must realize this might happen within a two tiered municipality such as ours.

Pitting municipalities against one another cannot be tolerated. Having been a community builder for years I vouch for the hard work it takes in creating healthy communities, productive and creative communities, supportive and sustainable communities. Yet, it only takes a single poor decision that doesn’t look at the whole picture to have these efforts crumble.  Right now, before we even get close to final approvals in the OLG application process, we in Woolwich and in the Region of Waterloo are struggling and trying to deal with the negative fall out of the Woolwich decision.

Madam Premier we need your help immediately on two fronts. We need you to implement an immediate freeze on all pending and future applications by municipalities to become “host communities” for OLG.  The second desperate need is for you and the house to create legislation requiring all municipalities, considering a casino, to have the question on the ballot at the next municipal election.  There also needs to be clarity that those in regions with lower tier municipalities default to the regional governments.  Of course OLG, as a responsible government agency, will also need to adjust their “modernization plan” to accommodate this.  Most of us can handle the democratic process when it is rolled out with integrity.

I thank you for your attention, respectfully,

Clint Rohr

c.c. Rod Phillips, CEO of  OLG

Clint Rohr is the retired Executive Director of Woolwich Community Health Centre, St. Jacobs, and formerly held positions as CAO of Lutherwood Children’s Mental Health Centre, Waterloo; Coordinating Chaplain at West Park Hospital, Toronto; Pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Oakville; Exec. Director of Grace House in Oakville, and Pastor at Resurrection Lutheran Church in Halifax.

The Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance today welcomes the agreement between ViiV Healthcare and the Medicines Patent Pool that will permit generic manufacture of the antiretroviral drug abacavir for use with children.

Anti-retroviral medicines (ARVs) are essential in managing HIV infection and many of the first line ARVs developed are no longer covered by patents (which usually are applied for 20 years) and thus can be manufactured generically at a lower cost. However individuals on treatment can develop resistance to the drugs over time, and, in that case, will need to move to second- and even third-line drugs which are still protected by patents and often prohibitively expensive in resource-poor settings.

Noting that ViiV is also developing a number of very new ARVs which will likely be particularly important for adults. It is estimated that by 2020 83% of people living with HIV will live in middle income countries. The Medicines Patent Pool was created in 2010 to increase access in low- and middle-income countries to quality, safe, effective, more appropriate and affordable medicines, focusing on HIV and AIDs.

Resources Available:

Faith Bases Organizations and the Global Fund: Working Together to Save Lives

This new FBO manual from Friends of the Global Fight Against AIDs, Tuberculosis and Malaria focuses on different types of engagement, illustrated through image and case studies, and aims to highlight the wide range of faith partners who work with the Global               Fund, as well as the unique ways FBOs contribute to its lifesaving work.

HIV and Theology

This bibliography of theological and ethical resources on HIV was compiles by Enda McDonagh and Sieglinde Mauder of the Catholic HIV and AIDs Network in April 2011.

Dates to watch for: May 19    30^th International AIDs Candlelight Memorial

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U.N. approves first-ever global arms trade treaty
Tue Apr 2, 2013 12:21pm EDT

By Louis Charbonneau

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – The 193-nation U.N. General Assembly overwhelmingly approved on Tuesday the first-ever treaty on global arms trade that seeks to regulate the $70 billion international business in conventional arms ranging from light weapons to battle tanks and warships.

There were 154 votes in favor, 3 against and 23 abstentions.

Iran, Syria and North Korea last week prevented a treaty-drafting conference at U.N. headquarters from reaching the required consensus to adopt the treaty. That left delegations that support it no choice but to turn to a General Assembly vote to adopt it.
The Iranian, Syrian and North Korean delegations cast the sole votes against the treaty on Tuesday.

Iran, which is under a U.N. arms embargo over its nuclear program, is eager to ensure its arms imports and exports are not curtailed, diplomats said. Syria’s government is embroiled in a two-year civil war and relies on Russian and Iranian weapons, they added.

North Korea is also under a U.N. arms embargo due to its nuclear weapons and missile programs.

The treaty will be open for signature June 3 and will enter into force 90 days after the 50th signatory ratifies it.

Major arms producers China and Russia joined Cuba, Venezuela, Bolivia, Nicaragua and other countries in abstaining. A number of countries, led by India, which also abstained, complained the treaty favors exporting over importing states.

The United States, the world’s No. 1 arms exporter, voted in favor of the treaty despite opposition from the National Rifle Association, a powerful U.S. pro-gun lobbying group.

The NRA opposes the treaty and has vowed to fight to prevent its ratification by the U.S. Senate when it reaches Washington. The NRA says the treaty would undermine domestic gun-ownership rights, a view the U.S. government rejects.

The American Bar Association, an attorneys’ lobby group, has said that the treaty would not impact the right to bear arms.

Syrian U.N. Ambassador Bashar Ja’afari repeated that his government opposes the arms trade treaty because it does not ban the sale of weapons to non-state actors and “terrorists” like those allegedly active in Syria. The civil war there has claimed at least 70,000 lives, according to U.N. estimates.

Syria routinely refers to rebels trying to oust President Bashar al-Assad as “terrorists” supported by foreign governments.

The treaty does not ban transfers to armed groups but says all arms transfers should be subjected to rigorous risk and human rights assessments first.

NRA FAILURE?

British Prime Minister David Cameron hailed the vote as a “landmark agreement that will save lives and ease the immense human suffering caused by armed conflict around the world.”

U.N. member states began meeting on March 18 in a final push to end years of discussions and hammer out a binding international treaty to end the lack of regulation over cross-border conventional arms sales.

Arms control activists and human rights groups argued that a treaty was needed to halt the uncontrolled flow of arms and ammunition that they say fuels wars, atrocities and rights abuses.

The arms trade treaty aims to set standards for all cross-border transfers of conventional weapons. It also would create binding requirements for states to review all cross-border arms contracts to ensure that arms will not be used in human rights abuses, terrorism or violations of humanitarian law.

“The agreement of the arms trade treaty sends a clear message to arms dealers who supply warlords and dictators that their time is up,” said Anna Macdonald of the global development group Oxfam. “They will no longer be able to operate and arm themselves with impunity. The world will be watching and will hold them accountable.”

Amnesty International’s Frank Jannuzi said the NRA, which claimed credit last year for persuading the United States to block the treaty in July 2012, had failed this time.

“Iran, Syria and North Korea blocked consensus at the U.N., while the NRA cynically – and ultimately unsuccessfully – tried to erode the U.S. government’s support through a campaign of lies about the treaty,” Jannuzi said. “But in the end, the global call for responsibility in the arms trade won out.”

The main reason the arms trade talks took place at all is that the United States – the world’s biggest arms trader – reversed U.S. policy on the issue after President Barack Obama was first elected and decided in 2009 to support a treaty.

(Reporting By Louis Charbonneau; Editing by Philip Barbara and Paul Simao)

ELCIC INFORMATION

EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH IN CANADA
302-393 Portage Ave. Winnipeg MB R3B 3H6
Phone 1.204.984.9150 Fax 1.204.984.9185

NEWS RELEASE
From the National Office of the ELCIC

National Bishop invites church to pray for peace in the Middle East

Winnipeg, 14 March 2013–Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) National Bishop Susan C. Johnson invites members of the church pray for peace in the Middle East on the 24th of each month. The regular call to prayer is part of a global ecumenical prayer vigil initiated by ACT Alliance.

“You may wish to pray together as a family, as office/parish colleagues, or as a congregation on the 24th of each month as part of the vigil,” says Bishop Johnson, noting that the first opportunity for ELCIC members to participate in the vigil will be on Palm Sunday, March 24. “During these most sacred days of prayer, I encourage you to also remember the people who live in the Holy Land today and their deep yearning for peace.”

The full letter from the National Bishop follows. You can also view and print off a pdf version of the letter (www.elcic.ca/Documents/20130314PeaceVigilLetter.pdf).


March 14, 2013

Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints. Ephesians 6:18

Dear friends in Christ,

Grace to you and peace in the name of Christ our Saviour!

I am writing today to invite you to pray for peace in the Middle East on the 24th of each month.

This is part of a global ecumenical prayer vigil that invites people around the world to pray for the Christian communities in Palestine and Israel, for all those who are suffering in the Holy Land, for Palestinians and Israelis, and for peace in the Middle East and the world.

This vigil was initiated by ACT Alliance, of which Canadian Lutheran World Relief (CLWR) is a member. Additional information about the prayer vigil for peace in the Middle East, including the opportunity to sign up your congregation or group as a participant, can be found at: www.actpalestineforum.org/vigil/

This invitation to prayer has come to the ELCIC through our membership in The Lutheran World Federation. It is in harmony with the 2009 ELCIC National Convention Resolution on Peace in the Holy Land that “commits this church to supporting and working for justice and peace in the Holy Land by praying for peace in the Holy Land.” (www.elcic.ca/Public-Policy/documents/600.52009- ELCICResolutiononPeaceintheHolyLand.pdf)

You may wish to pray together as a family, as office/parish colleagues, or as a congregation on the 24th of each month as part of this vigil. Participating in the vigil comes with an invitation to contribute prayers, sermons and other worship materials to the “Resources” section of the prayer vigil.

The global vigil began on December 24, 2012 and continues across the globe on the 24th of every month until the Israeli occupation is dismantled, violence in the Middle East ends, and all can celebrate a just and lasting negotiated resolution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

The first opportunity for ELCIC members to participate in this vigil will be on Palm Sunday, March 24, 2013. During Holy Week, scripture and worship move our attention and imaginations to the Holy Land as we ponder Christ’s Passion. During these most sacred days of prayer, I encourage you to also remember the people who live in the Holy Land today and their deep yearning for peace.

I thank you for all the prayers you offer, for the needs of the world and for the mission of the church. And I thank you for all the ways that you serve, give and tell every day as a church In Mission for Others.

Yours in Christ,

The Rev. Susan C. Johnson,
National Bishop, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada

This year’s theme for International Women’s Day, celebrated annually on 8 March, is: “A promise is a promise: Time for action to end violence against women”

This year’s event at UN Headquarters in New York will be held on 8 March, 10.00 a.m. – 12.00 p.m., NLB Conference Room 2 [Live webcast].

About IWD

The United Nations began celebrating International Women’s Day (IWD) on 8 March during International Women’s Year 1975. Two years later, in December 1977, the General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming a United Nations Day for Women’s Rights and International Peace to be observed on any day of the year by Member States, in accordance with their historical and national traditions.

International Women’s Day first emerged from the activities of labour movements at the turn of the twentieth century in North America and across Europe. Since those early years, International Women’s Day has assumed a new global dimension for women in developed and developing countries alike. The growing international women’s movement, which has been strengthened by four global United Nations women’s conferences, has helped make the commemoration a rallying point to build support for women’s rights and participation in the political and economic arenas.

Increasingly, International Women’s Day is a time to reflect on progress made, to call for change and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities.

Find out more about International Women’s Day, visit:

http://www.unwomen.org/how-we-work/csw/iwd2013/
http://www.un.org/womenwatch/feature/iwd/index.html