NCC Revives its Commitment to Nuclear Disarmament Now

The National Council of Churches, which has been relatively silent about nuclear disarmament since the end of the Cold War, has firmly renewed its opposition to proliferation with a ringing resolution.

The NCC Governing Board, meeting in New York on September 21 and 22, unanimously adopted a statement called, "Nuclear Disarmament: The Time is Now." The resolution was drafted by the Council's Justice and Advocacy Commission.

"The end of the Cold War didn't end the nuclear threat, it only changed the character of it," Kinnamon said. "Ecumenical opposition to nuclear weapons has been on the back burner and there was a strong feeling it was time to bring it back to the front burner."

The resolution reiterates the NCC's historic declaration that nuclear weapons are a violation of God's law, and the idea that they deter enemy attacks is nonsense.

The resolution calls on NCC member communions to make their voices heard in Congress and the White House to "reaffirm the goal of the total elimination of nuclear weapons."

Communions are also urged to support the work of the NCC "in carrying out an effective program advocating for nuclear disarmament."

The NCC resolution will be shared with the Board of Directors of Church World Service. If the board approves it, the resolution will come before the NCC/CWS General Assembly November 10-12 in Minneapolis for action as a General Assembly resolution.

To read more, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

To read the text of the resolution, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

NCC Joins Interfaith Statement of Principles to Bring an End to Conflict in Middle East

The National Council of Churches, along with Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) and other individuals and groups, has supported unilateral commitments being urged upon Israeli, Palestinian and Arab leaders to rekindle the peace process in the Middle East.

The commitments, which have yet to be reached, fall short of an agreement to end the conflict in the Middle East, but President Obama has urged Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Nentanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to move quickly to a peace agreement.

Standing with Mr. Netanyahu and Mr. Abbas today in new York, President Obama declared, "my message to these two is clear. Despite all the obstacles, all the history, all the mistrust, we have to find a way forward.”

In response, religious leaders have praised the President's efforts to bring peace to the region, and have cited six principles to help him "chart a path to a better future." The principles were stated in a message to Mr. Obama signed by the Rev. Dr. Michael Kinnamon, NCC General Secretary, Ambassador Warren Clark, CMEP Executive Director, and other U.S. Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders.

Among the principles cited in the interfaith message to the President are support for Israel's right to exist in security and the right of the Palestinian people "to a viable, sovereign state of their own."

To read more about this, including the statement in its entirety, PLEASe CLICK HERE.

U.S. President Obama Rejects Call to Stop Interrogation Probe

In his first public comments on Attorney General Eric Holder's decision to launch an inquiry into Bush-era interrogations of terror suspects, U.S. President Barack Obama said he doesn't want to see any "witch hunts" but won't interfere with the Justice Department's efforts to enforce the law.

"I trust career prosecutors to be judicious. I've made clear both publicly and privately that I have no interest in witch hunts," Obama said on CNN's "State of the Union" during a round of television talk show interviews aired Sunday. "But, ultimately, the law is the law, and we don't go around sort of picking and choosing how we approach it."

On Friday, seven former CIA directors sent Obama a letter asking him to order Holder to reverse his decision to assign a federal prosecutor to re-examine a series of cases of alleged prisoner abuse which the Justice Department declined to prosecute during the Bush Administration.

Obama politely brushed aside that request, while expressing respect for the ex-CIA chiefs who warned that the new inquiry could devastate morale at the spy agency.

To read this story at Politico.com, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

Former Conservative PM Praises Obama on Health Care

To a gathering 0f 1500 supporters, former Conservative Prime Minister Brian Mulroney praised and defended U.S. President Barack Obama on the issue of health care reform.

"President Obama is fighting for a form of universal health care and is encountering ferocious resistance," said Mulroney. "The attacks on President Obama are often bitter and mean-spirited and his approval ratings, his popularity, are sinking like a stone. Still, he fights on. . . .

But, insisted Mulroney, "Political capital is acquired to be spent in great causes for one’s nation."

"Fifty years from today, Americans will revere the name Obama. Because like his Canadian predecessors, he chose the tough responsibilities of national political leadership over the meaningless nostrums of sterile partisanship that we see too much of in Canada and around the world today."

To read more about this in the Chronicle Herald, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

United Church of Canada Responds to Media Claims that it Funded an "anti-Jewish" Group

Recent stories in the media have suggested that The United Church of Canada helped fund the formation of a new “anti-Jewish” group.

In March 2008, the General Council Office provide a $900 grant to assist in a meeting convened by an organization called the Alliance of Concerned Jewish Canadians. According to a a press release by the denomination, "Our intention was to support the participation of people engaged in dialogue between Jewish, Muslim, and Palestinian networks around options for peace in the Middle East. This is consistent with our long-standing tradition of support for interfaith initiatives for justice and peace."

The press release continues, "The commitment of the United Church to support interfaith conversations and dialogue, and seek an end to the occupation of Palestinian territories, often invites criticism. But we remain committed to the importance of these activities in contributing to a just world."

To read more, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

Canadian Prime Minister and US President Meet

Meeting in the Oval Office of the White House, President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Stephen Harper today discussed a number of issues, including climate change, nuclear proliferation, and common approaches to accelerating economic recovery in North America and globally.

The Leaders agreed that economic integration is a fundamental source of strength for both economies, that open trade and investment are essential for competitiveness and sustainable growth in North America and globally.

With respect to climate change, they reaffirmed that given the high degree of integration between the Canadian and U.S. economies and energy markets, they should cooperate closely as they develop their respective approaches. They reiterated the urgency of taking aggressive action to combat climate change and reaffirmed their commitment towards a comprehensive and effective international agreement that puts the world on a clean energy pathway.

The leaders also agreed to work closely together in the coming months on the critical issue of nuclear security and non-proliferation, particularly in promoting concrete outcomes at the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington in April.

To read more about this story, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

Former President Carter Says Racism Fuels Some Anti-Obama Fervor

In an interview with NBC's Brian Williams, former Democratic President Jimmy Carter attributed some of the right-wing opposition that President Obama is receiving to the issue of race.

"I think an overwhelming portion of the intensely demonstrated animosity toward President Barack Obama is based on the fact that he is a black man," Carter said. "I live in the South, and I've seen the South come a long way, and I've seen the rest of the country that share the South's attitude toward minority groups at that time, particularly African Americans."

Carter continued, "And that racism inclination still exists. And I think it's bubbled up to the surface because of the belief among many white people, not just in the South but around the country, that African-Americans are not qualified to lead this great country. It's an abominable circumstance, and it grieves me and concerns me very deeply."

'Axis of Friendship' Day

Today, people throughout the United States--by lighting candles, praying together, holding forums, and other ways--will be celebrating 'Axis of Friendship' Day.

The day draws its meaning from the solidarity experienced on September 12, 2001, when just hours after the tragic attacks of September 11th, millions around the world shared their sorrow with people in the United States. The world's sympathy came from many places. Throughout Europe, churches rang their bells and held a minute of silence at noon. Despite U.S. perceptions of enmity with Iran, thousands of people lit candles and stood in silence in the streets of Tehran in solidarity with the people of the United States.

According to the organizers of this special day, such spontaneous goodwill is a transformative power for interfaith and cross-cultural understanding throughout the world―an Axis of Friendship. On the 'Axis of Friendship' website, the organizers of this event explain why they chose this name:

• "An axis means a turning point of the world that transforms life.
• Mountains, columns of fire, steeples, minarets, pagodas, great trees, and persons, such as prophets or saints, can be sources of divine blessings.
• The September 12 Axis of Friendship identifies a great power of goodwill and peace among peoples of the world."

To learn more about the Axis of Friendship, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

To read an article about this special day in DisciplesWorld magazine, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

To read the sense-of-the-assembly resolution supporting the Axis of Friendship passed by the General Assembly of the Christian Church Disciples of Christ meeting July 29-August 2, 2009, in Indianapolis, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

9/11

U.S. President Speaks to Congress About Health Care Reform

Last night, President Obama addressed a joint session of Congress, calling on members of the House and Senate to support his plan for health care reform. In his speech, he stressed that he wants to bring peace of mind to Americans who have insurance, and affordable coverage to those who don't.

More specifically, the President laid out his principles for health care reform, listed components he thought should be included in any plan he'd sign into law, addressed misconceptions about his plan, urged bipartisanship in the crafting of the details of a plan, compared the effort to achieve health care reform to past efforts to achieve Social Security and Medicare, and placed the issue of health care reform within the larger context of "our morality and character as a nation."

To read the President's speech, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

To watch the President's speech, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

To call Congress and urge them to pass health care reform now, please call this toll-free number: 1-888-797-8717.

To learn more about how you can get involved in the struggle for health care reform, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

HAPPY LABO(u)R DAY!

Labour/Labor Day is a holiday in Canada and the United States honoring the labour/labor union movement and its many contributions to society, especially the improved economic conditions for working women and men, and the higher quality of life for all working families.

Labour Day began in Canada with an 1872 printer's revolt in Toronto which demanded a 54-hour work week and resulted in the release from jail of union organizers and the repeal of anti-union laws.

Influenced by the yearly parades celebrating these important victories in Canada, labor leaders in the United States decided to have a similar parade, and so, on September 5, 1882, the first such parade in the U.S. was organized by the Knights of Labor. Several yearly parades followed and, in 1887, Labor Day was made a national holiday by President Grover Cleveland.

This Labor Day, honor working families in the United States by supporting health care reform. Call the White House today and urge them to keep fighting for health care reform: 1-888-797-8717 (toll-free). Also, please sign the Faith-Inspired Vision for Health Care statement by clicking HERE.

Canadians are urged to honor their working families by protecting Canada's health care system from efforts at privatization. According to the Council of Canadians, the United Church of Canada, and the Ecumenical Health Care Network of the Canadian Council of Churches, private health care is more expensive, drains resources from the public system, limits access to those who can afford to pay, and puts patients at risk by cutting corners in favour of corporate profits.

To learn more about efforts to preserve the Canadian health care system, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

To learn more about efforts to reform the U.S. health care system, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

To read a resolution on health care from the 1999 General Assembly, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

WCC Condemns Sexual Violence Against Women in the DR Congo

The Central Committee of the World Council of Churches (WCC) urged its member churches "to publicly condemn violence against women" in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and declare that "violence against women is a sin".

In the DRC "the brutal crimes of sexual violence against women have massively increased and become pervasive in the country, especially since the beginning of the military operations in January 2009", said the WCC Central Committee in a public statement on "Sexual violence against women in the Democratic Republic of Congo".

The statement, adopted by the committee on the last day of its 26 August – 2 September meeting in Geneva, urges all parties to the armed conflict to commit themselves immediately to putting an end to all acts of sexual violence against women and girls in the DRC.

The DRC government is called "to end impunity for rape and to evolve effective strategies to combat sexual violence", bringing "to justice those responsible for committing" it.

To read more, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

To read the statement, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

Interfaith Service Week: August 31st - September 6th

President Obama's United We Serve initiative has designated Aug. 31 through Sept. 6 Interfaith Service Week. A major purpose of the week is to honor the service efforts of faith-based organizations working together across religious lines to strengthen our communities. Over the summer, interfaith volunteers have participated in more than 3,000 projects, with numerous others scheduled this week.

According to the Volunteering in America study, which was released in July by the Corporation for National and Community Service, 35.9% of all volunteers between 2006 and 2008 volunteered through religious organizations.

"For religious organizations, serving people in need is an integral part of their mission," said Nicola Goren, acting CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service. "United We Serve builds on that reality by encouraging interfaith cooperation to continue and expand the important service that is currently being accomplished."

In establishing the White House Office of Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships in February, President Obama set a priority for the Office to work on interfaith dialogue and cooperation. He has called upon Americans to form new partnerships to cross historical divides and come together to serve our neighbors in need and renew our communities.

"Communities of faith are responding to President Obama's call to service in historic numbers and working together to strengthen our nation," said Joshua DuBois, Executive Director of the White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships. "President Obama applauds their service and looks forward to their continued engagement, through the United We Serve initiative and beyond."

For more about Interfaith Service Week, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

KAIROS Canada Calls on Congolese Government to Drop All Charges Against Human Rights Activist

KAIROS, a Canadian justice advocacy group, is calling for all charges against Congolese human rights advocate Golden Misabiko to be dropped immediately. Golden Misabiko, Chair of ASADHO/Katanga, was arrested on 24 July in Lubumbashi, DRC, and charged with "undermining state security" and "making defamatory statements".

Misabiko, a human rights advocate, together with local civil society groups, campaigns for increased transparency and accountability in the management of mineral wealth in the province of Katanga, a copper and cobalt rich region. He has been arrested and intimidated several times in the past for his human rights activities.

ASADHO/Katanga released a report on 12 July 2009 about the Shinkolobwe uranium mine denouncing state authorities for supporting illegal and dangerous mining and for signing a contract in March with the French nuclear group AREVA under opaque circumstances.
In 2004, a United Nations assessment team found high risks of mine collapse and potential chronic exposure to radiation at the Shinkolobwe mine, and concluded that the mine must remain closed. The assessment followed an earlier mine collapse in July 2004 that killed eight people.

"The situation in Shinkolobwe could be described as anarchistic—there is no respect for mining safety regulations," according to Mr. Bernard Lamouille, an expert in artisanal mining of the United Nations assessment team.

The mine at Shinkolobwe is also described as unleashing radioactive materials into the air and water of the region. According to experts, the mine is contaminating the small rivers of the area, rivers that eventually feed into the Congo River, a major source of food and transport for the entire country.

The Democratic Republic of Congo is one of the 21 resource rich African countries implementing the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), a global initiative for increased transparency in the oil, gas and mining sectors. The participation of independent civil society is a fundamental component of the multi-stakeholder nature of the EITI and Congolese civil society organisations are playing an active role to ensure that their country becomes fully compliant with the initiative.

KAIROS has been calling for more transparency in Congo's mining sector, including renegotiating and/or cancelling mining contracts that do not meet the needs of local populations.

KAIROS is asking Canadians and others to write the government and
(1) demand that the authorities drop all charges against Golden Misabiko.
(2) urge them to guarantee Golden Misabiko's right to freedom of expression,including the right to conduct research, publish and disseminate information, a principle recognized by the 1998 UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS TO:

President: Son Excellence Joseph Kabila

Président de la République

Palais de la NationAvenue de Lemera

Kinshasa-Gombe

Democratic Republic of Congo

E-mail: presipp@yahoo.fr

Justice Minister: Luzolo Bambi Lessa

Ministre de la Justice

228 Avenue de Lemera

BP 3137Kinshasa-Gombe

République Démocratique du Congo

E-mail : pourtous.justice@yahoo.fr

Governor of Katanga: Moise Katumbi Chapwe

Please leave a message on the Governor's official website:

www.katanga.cd/misc/contact.php

CANADIANS, PLEASE SEND COPIES TO:
Mrs. Louise NZANGA RAMAZANI

Chargé d'Affaires

Embassy of the Democratic Republic of Congo

18 Range RoadOttawa,

Ontario K1N 8J3

Fax: (613) 230-1945

John Lewis
Program Coordinator – International Human Rights
KAIROS
310 Dupont Street
Toronto, ON
M5R 1V9
http://us.mc1114.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=jlewis@kairoscanada.org