Winter 2019 update on Local-Global Advocacy

Dear friends in the justice work of the church  (LGAN of Saskatchewan Conference),

Best wishes of the season from Catherine Christie and Linda Stumpf, co-conveners of the Local Global Advocacy Network.  We write this to the existing LGAN Network, and to the Presbytery people who had signed the form presented at your Presbytery meetings to ask if you want to continue to be involved in justice issues continuing the work LGAN has been doing.

The work of the Church is still going on, in spite of the change of structure, and we wanted to share with you some information of the activities that have been taking place in the last months of 2018, including rural issues, Israel and Palestine, refugee sponsorship, and next steps including a spring conference call. 

Letter to the Prime Minister-Charities and free expression

Canada Without Poverty banner.

On July 16, an anti-poverty charity, Canada Without Poverty, won a landmark court challenge against the Canada Revenue Agency regarding political activity audits. An Ontario Superior Court judge ruled that the Income Tax Act infringes on charities’ constitutional right to free expression. In other words, the rule that limits charities’ ability to speak out on behalf of Canadians has been overturned. This is definitely a big step in the right direction, but concerns remain.

The federal government can appeal the ruling and if this happens, it would be a clear signal that the Prime Minister has abandoned his promise to “allow charities to do their work on behalf of Canadians free from political harassment, and modernize the rules governing the charitable and not-for-profit sectors.”

Climate Change and Palestine- three SK events with Suha Jarrar

No Justice, No Adaptation: Climate Change and Palestine

Local groups in Regina and Saskatoon and SK Conference join with Just Peace Advocates to present:

Suha Jarrar, researcher at respected Palestinian human rights group Al Haq, discussing justice and adaptation in relation to the politics of climate change in Palestine.

Everyone is welcome to three opportunities, September 12 in Regina and September 15 and 16 in Saskatoon. 

End refugee travel loan repayment

We all want refugees to settle well in Canada. That’s why many SK congregations and communities have sponsored so often over the years. But Canada currently asks refugees to pay back the money that the government spent on their travel to Canada.

The evidence shows that these immigration travel loans have a negative impact on refugees’ ability to settle well. The pressure to pay them back can make it difficult to pay for necessities, push refugees to find jobs before they’ve completed their language training, and add unneeded stress to already stressful transitions.

The government knows this–which is why they just stopped charging interest on the loans. But it would cost just 40 cents per Canadian to stop asking refugees to repay these loans entirely. Please join ecumenical partners in asking the government to end the loan system. Please read more here.

Invitation-share and sign the Sask Crowns petition

A year ago, the Saskatchewan government introduced a budget that continues to have enormous social impact on our communities.

A citizen’s group called SaskCrowns has contacted the Local Global Advocacy Network to ask for United Church assistance in circulating a formal petition calling on the government to respect its own legislation regarding public input in the sale of Crowns. Conference Executive has approved this request. This letter is your invitation to consider whether (and how) you might promote and distribute this petition.

What Makes Food Good gathering May 23

This is your invitation to What Makes Food Good?, an open gathering on May 23 2018, 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM near Cochin, SK. All ages and people of all backgrounds welcome! We’ll share in a hands-on day focused on ecumenical theological and spiritual reflection on sustainable food; a look at the food systems that feed and employ us; workshops; and farm work tailored to your abilities. Farm lunch included! Please note: you will need to bring your own drinking water, and ride sharing is encouraged.  And we’ll post more info right here as plans progress. 

Where: Largo Farm on Treaty Six territory, next to Moosomin First Nation; near Cochin and Murray Lake, a half hour north of the Battlefords.
Registration: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/VXGQ6RP  Registering well in advance helps us plan the workshops! Cost: $25, waived if cost is any barrier. More info: contact Julie Graham at the Conference office.

Download the PDF flyer here. Or, right click on the photo and save/ share. And check out our Facebook event here. 

This event is organized by the Sustainable Food group of the Local Global Advocacy Network (SK Conference) and by the Largo Farm community, with help from Nettie Wiebe. It’s one contribution to a conversation on how we in SK can grow sustainable food and create sustainable food systems.

Call to reinstate spiritual care funding

River Bend Presbytery, the United Church of Canada, sent the following proposal to Conference Executive in January 2018, where it was passed with concurrence. The Local Global Advocacy Network of SK Conference includes it here for the information and inspiration of other presbyteries, and presbyters who wish to raise this concern with the province, including their own MLA. More background on the sweeping March 2017 provincial budget cuts, their impacts, and LGA Network perspectives, is available here.

Lenten resources by Palestinian Christians

The Lenten season is fast approaching. Friends of Sabeel North America is pleased to offer a variety of resources for an illuminating experience of reflection, prayer, and advocacy. Read on for links to these free resources.

A little background: The Sabeel Centre for Liberation Theology in Jerusalem is an initiative of Palestinian Christians living under Israeli military occupation. It’s a long time partner of the United Church of Canada. In Canada, the Canadian Friends of Sabeel also offers resources and support related to Sabeel’s important ministry and witness.

A webinar for Lent: Land of Jesus, People of God, Words of Witness

Thursday, February 8, 2018
10:00am Pacific, 12:00pm Central, 1:00pm Eastern

Register here

Join Rev. Dr. Naim Ateek, Dr. Monica Burnett and FOSNA Executive Director Tarek Abuata for this Lenten webinar! Speakers will address issues on the ground in Palestine, introduce a new educational Biblical resource for congregations, and provide ideas for advocacy stemming from Palestinian Liberation Theology.

A Lenten Study Guide:
What Would They Say Now? Encounters with People of the Bible

Download here

This Lenten study booklet, based on Biblical narratives, is designed to facilitate reflection, sharing, and action. The six chapters offer resources for historical and devotional Bible study. These chapters, appropriate for congregational or individual use, are accessible to all, including those with minimal exposure to Palestine justice issues. Suggestions are provided for justice advocacy.

Email Prayer Series: Lenten Illuminations

Sign up here

Subscribers to the FOSNA Weekly News Digest/Wave of Prayer email will receive weekly meditations based on the Wave of Prayer from Sabeel in Jerusalem. These meditations will focus on developments in Palestine and here in the United States. To subscribe to FOSNA’s Weekly News Digest, sign up here.

Allow the Lenten season to deepen your connection, vision and energy for grounded Christian justice witness.

 

Diplomatic talks on Korea-Women’s perspectives

Earlier in January 2018, the seemingly sudden dialogue between North and South Korea made headlines around the world, and were a welcome change from mutual threats of mass destruction from the US and North Korea.

For perspectives that weren’t making into the headlines, especially women’s perspectives, have a look at CBC’s interview with Patricia Talbot, Team Leader, Church in Partnership; Asia Partnerships.

As she says, and as this article from the National Observer notes, women have enormous resources and key perspectives to offer peace talks, but so often they’re cut out of the process.

The women’s delegation in Vancouver, January 2018.

Susiya Home Demolition Update

Beth Baskin, Program Coordinator, Social Analysis and Congregational Engagement, The United Church of Canada, shares the following Take Action request.

Susiya’s lawyer is writing with urgency:

• The Government of Israel gave notice on Jan. 10^th that they intend to demolish 15 homes and structures in the Palestinian village of Susiya.  According to the High Court decision days earlier, this triggers a 15 day clock.
• Advocate Mishirqi Assad, attorney for Susiya, has until this Wednesday to oppose.
• Then it is up to the High Court to issue an injunction against demolition to stop the bulldozers now set to demolish on January 23^rd.

Many of you have spoken to the Canadian Government already, but we are asking you to do it again. The impact that ordinary people who seek justice can have when they take action is clear. Demolitions have been postponed thus far. Contact your elected representatives, asking them to act urgently for the sake of justice for the people of Susiya.

Write to the Hon. Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and your member of Parliament:

•  Ask Minister Freeland to call on the Israeli government reverse the decision to demolish the villages of Susiya.
• Ask Minister Freeland to urge Canada to call on the Israeli government to immediately freeze all settlement activity and demolition orders.
• Request that your MP call on Minister Freeland during question period to ask what actions Canada is taking to press the Israeli government to reverse the demolition orders.
• A sample letter is available on the United Church Take Action webpage.
• Share this Take Action on your social media networks. Use the hashtags #UCCan, #Susiya, #Israel, #Palestine.
• Urge Minister Freeland to request that Canadian diplomatic missions in Palestine and Israel visit Susiya immediately. We have contacted the office in Ramallah asking them to make a visit. In 2015, European Union representatives visited the village of Susiya, which was then also threatened with demolition. International publicity from this visit was vital in halting the planned demolitions at that time.

You have already written, then give Minister Freeland a call at 343-203-1851 and your MP too. You can find your MPs contact information through this link. I trust that you all have your own words, since many of you have done this before, but you can modify the sample letter from our earlier Take Action as is helpful to you.

As noted in the Haqel press release found on Rebuilding Alliance website, Adv. Quamar Mishirqi-Assad, legal counsel to the village of Susiya and and Co-Director of Haqel, states:

“The demolition of 20% of the structures in the village will create a grave humanitarian disaster leaving at least 100 residents without shelter in harsh winter weather. The State’s intention is nothing less than a lack of good faith and testifies to the lack of goodwill and the absence of any genuine intention to regulate the village as required in accordance with international law.”

Don’t get discouraged – please send your emails and call again now. You are doing this in concert with concerned people in numerous places worldwide.

Saskatoon Nov 20-24: Inquiry into Missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls

November 20-24, the national Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls will hold its only planned SK hearings in Saskatoon. The All My Relations Network of SK Conference invites your support through presence, prayer, your contributions to comfort bags, and more.

Please see the AMRN blog for a complete list of suggestions. Please note that as we receive more information, we will post updates on the All My Relations blog. AMRN is thankful for the partnership we share with the Iskwewuk e-wichiwitochik (Women Walking Together) community group as we accompany each other in this work.

Are refugees a risk? Some resources

Are refugees a risk? Responses and resources

Following the attacks in Edmonton on September 30 2017, and the arrest of a Somali refugee as the main suspect, some people are rushing to paint refugees as dangerous.

Darren Wooff, Refugee convener for Saskatchewan Conference, suggests the following links and resources from the Canadian Council for Refugees. These offer background while laying out the case that born-in-Canada Canadians are in fact the most likely people to commit attacks that can be reasonably associated with terrorism. The United Church of Canada is a longtime and active member of the CCR.

Members of the United Church community are urged to also read the Moderator’s March 2017 reflection on racism, in which she notes, “Hatred so often has its source in fear—fear of change, fear of difference, fear of the unknown. We are all vulnerable to fear. When we are afraid we become defensive, we want to protect ourselves from real and perceived threats. The language of exclusion, the desire to draw lines between “us” and “them,” words and actions designed to dehumanize others, all are rooted in fear.

The antidote to this type of fear is love.” Read on for some good resources.