“Justice is what love looks like in public”
( ― Cornel West )
Friends in Justice,
New Year’s greetings —We are already half-way into the first month of January 2022 and the new year already brings with it as many uncertainties and challenges as the past one, with the continuing effects of climate change, inequalities in the rapid spread of Omicron between those who can afford to better protect themselves and those who can’t, reports of spiking numbers of overdoses on toxic drugs, and much more. In light of such realities, we are called through God’s grace to live out our work in the world, cooperating with other churches, faith traditions, secular organizations and people of goodwill to eliminate poverty and injustice, identify its root causes, and protect those who are most vulnerable.
Blessings,
Jane
NEWS
FROM THE GUARANTEED LIVEABLE INCOME NETWORK
01. A statement from a number of national basic income movements as to what has been achieved and what lies ahead. Find the statement from Basic Income Canada Network here.
02. The fossil fuels era is ending. As the transition speeds up, we must ensure workers and communities are supported. Join a pan-Canadian organizing meeting on January 20th to kickstart the push to pass just transition legislation before the end of 2022. Sign-up link and further details here.
COLDEST NIGHT OF THE YEAR
A walk to raise money for local charities serving people experiencing hurt, hunger, and homelessness. Team up, walk, and fundraise! It’s cold out there… but there’s no place like home. Link to participate and donate, as well as further details, here.
On May 21, 2021, Obaida [pictured] was shot dead by the Israeli military. He was 19 years old.
Canada Stand Up for Palestinian Children’s Rights
Alan Kurdi lying on the beach. 215 unmarked graves in Kamloops. Stories familiar to most of us.
Obaida is not well known. A Palestinian teenager who was first arrested by the Israeli military when he was 14. After 2 other arrests and imprisonment, Defence for Children International Palestine made a video where he tells us about his mistreatment at the hands of the military and the difficulties he has as he returns to life at school. He shares his dreams for the future.
Canada, Stand Up for Palestinian Children’s Rights is a broad-based cross-Canada coalition working to stop the violence experienced by Palestinian children and youth.
As Dr. Martin Luther King Day is today, the phrase, “I have a dream” surfaces. We invite you to join us in our dream of pressing our government to support the human rights of Palestinian children. For more information, contact Marianna Harris at her email. (unitednetwork4justpeace@gmail.com)
EVENTS
Just Conversations
With Jane Dawson, PMRC Regional Minister for Justice
Thursday, January 20th, 2022 (and subsequent 3rd Thursdays of the month)
10am Pacific / 11am Mountain
Online via Zoom
More details here, register at this link.
Engaging with Black History Month in the United Church: A Conversation
Held by the General Council of the United Church of Canada
How are communities of faith engaging with Black History Month? Join us to share and learn about what’s happening across the Church, as we reflect together on what meaningful and justice-led engagement can look like.
Wednesday, January 26, 11am-12:30pm Pacific / 12pm-1:30pm Mountain
Register at this link.
Support Circles for People of Colour in the United Church
If you are looking for support around experiences of racism in the United Church, please join us for a monthly time of sharing, mutual support, and community-building. These monthly gatherings are open to people of colour (including those who identify as Indigenous, racialized, mixed-race, and/or non-white).
Every third Thursday, with the next gathering on Thursday, January 20, 1pm-2:30pm Pacific / 2pm – 3:30pm Mountain
Register at this link.
National Affirming Day / PIE Day
With Affirm United
Why PIE? PIE = Public. Intentional. Explicit.
We use the acronym PIE because it’s easy to remember and those words set the standard for an affirming welcome of LGBTQIA+ and Two Spirit people. PIE represents three ways for us to test just how real our Affirmation and celebration of gender or sexual diversity is.
This year’s theme is “Everyone Gets A Slice!”
Looking at the LGBTQIA2S+ acronym, which represents an endless diversity of identities and expressions, we acknowledge that some of the people who are represented by these letters often tend to get left out or underserved.
We are invited to consider which folks we may not have included in our Affirming programming and educational efforts and take strides to remedy that.
More information at this link, and free materials for events here.
OPPORTUNITIES IN JUSTICE
Social Justice Advisory Circle – The Justice Ministry is looking for a small group of people who can serve as an informal advising circle for the Minister for Justice position to help shape priorities and planning. The commitment is a two-hour online conversation every month except July and August (sharing the tasks of agenda-setting, facilitation, and note-taking among participants).
(Up)Rising Hope Social Justice Conference Planning Team – One of the landmark events in the social justice work of the Pacific Mountain Region (then BC Conference) was the Rising Hope Conference that took place in Chilliwack in 2015. Let’s begin planning a similar event for 2022. The planning team will work together to help develop an overarching theme for the event, identify possible speakers and venues within the scope of the available budget (the meeting schedule to be determined by members of the planning team).
If you’re interested in becoming a part of either group, contact Jane at her email.
CONTACT US
If you’re interested in the work of the Justice Ministries, we would love to hear from you.Have you come across articles and events in our community that you’d love to share? Please get your suggestions in by Thursday at noon to ensure they make it in the newsletter.
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