Updates on Indigenous rights, sale of arms to Saudi Arabia, and more

Details: Published on Thursday, 23 April 2020 05:48; Written by editor

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Experts urge respect for Indigenous rights during COVID-19 pandemic

In light of the highly infectious nature of COVID-19, and the particular threat that it poses to vulnerable communities with inadequate access to health care, housing, water and other essential services, it is imperative that governments respect the right of Indigenous peoples to set conditions of entry into their territories.

Indigenous communities must be able to restrict access of industry workers, tourists, cottagers, and others. Where Indigenous communities have required suspension of certain activities in their territories, this must be respected.

This is the urgent message we joined with expert partners to deliver in a new open letter. Read it at: https://quakerservice.ca/COVID19

We also join a massive open letter on human rights oversight of responses to COVID-19 in Canada, signed by 157 organizations and 144 individual experts: https://quakerservice.ca/COVID19-2

This is what happens when you snap

The newest Psychology Today blog post from CFSC's Peace Program Coordinator Matt Legge looks at an important topic that often gets overlooked when we think about our security and about interpersonal conflict: why some of us suddenly "snap" and become abusive or violent, even when that is totally out of character. COVID-19 is creating pressures that can make "snapping" more likely, but there are things each of us can do.

Other posts to check out on the blog are:

Matt writes this blog to briefly share with a wider audience some of the insights from CFSC's 2019 book Are We Done Fighting? Building Understanding in a World of Hate and Division. Get a free chapter of the book at https://AreWeDoneFighting.com

CFSC clerk describes her experience in Israel/Palestine

Just before all of our upcoming events were postponed indefinitely by COVID-19, CFSC's clerk Lana Robinson was able to present in Victoria, British Columbia. Her talk was about her recent trip representing Quakers on a KAIROS-organized Canadian church leaders delegation to Israel/Palestine. View the presentation here:

Yemen has been devastated by a war led by Saudi Arabia. CC-BY Felton Davis

Canada quietly removes moratorium on arms exports to Saudi Arabia

The UN Secretary General called for a global ceasefire so the world could address the COVID-19 pandemic. Canada joined with the Secretary General to urged for one... a day after it quietly lifted its moratorium on selling more weapons to Saudi Arabia!

Find out more in this op-ed by Cesar Jaramillo, the Executive Director of Project Ploughshares (of which Friends are members): https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-in-the-midst-of-our-covid-19-crisis-canada-lifted-its-moratorium-on

We are profoundly troubled by this continued profiting from weapons sales to the worst human rights abusers, even as Canada claims to champion human rights. For more details, read our previous open letter https://quakerservice.ca/ArmsTradeTreaty and the official position of Canadian Quakers https://quakerservice.ca/ArmsTrade

We encourage you, as led, to contact your elected officials and let them know that you're paying attention. For tips on meeting with your Member of Parliament see our handout: https://quakerservice.ca/VisitingMPs

CFSC members and staff, October 2019

Join us for weekly virtual Meeting for Worship

While practicing physical distancing, CFSC's clerks Lana Robinson and Vince Zelazny are inviting all those who are interested to join us in a virtual Meeting for Worship via Zoom on Wednesday mornings! Some Friends who have been joining us so far are calling this a "must attend." Please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for the exact time and link to join.

What is Meeting for Worship? Quakers meet together, beginning in silence. From that silence, anyone may discern a still small voice within, which may even prompt them to speak. Learn more about Quaker worship in this brief video: (Note, this video is from the US. Also there are many different views about what happens in Meeting for Worship, so this is not definitive.)

Celebrating International Women's Day in Burundi

Canadian Friends Service Committee supports women's empowerment work in Burundi. In this three minute video created by our partner, Friends Women's Association, you can get a glimpse of their International Women's Day 2020 celebration: &feature=youtu.be

Find out more about the grassroots peacebuilding initiatives CFSC supports in Africa: https://quakerservice.ca/our-work/peace/africa

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