[June E-News] Time for reconciliation

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Published on Wednesday, 27 May 2015 18:45

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[June E-News] Time for reconciliation r1 ... r33 June 2015 Graffiti in Aida refugee camp, Occupied West Bank.
Photo credit: Matthew Legge Friends in the news over boycott of products of illegal Israeli settlements
Canadian Quakers were cited in an article on the front page of CBC News Online on Monday, May 11th, which reported that Canada may try to criminalize the participation of Friends and others in a nonviolent call for the boycott of products made in illegal Israeli settlements. The Government of Canada called the article "ridiculous" but has not clarified what it meant by telling the United Nations that Canada would adopt a "zero-tolerance" approach to the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which it labels "the new face of anti-Semitism".

As the story was picked up worldwide, Canadian Friends Service Committee responded by releasing a statement to the media that called on the government to recognize the right to nonviolent protest. CFSC also released answers to Frequently Asked Questions about Friends' positions on Israel/Palestine and wrote to opposition parties for clarification on their position on BDS being "anti-Semitic".

Our media release: http://www.quakerservice.ca/MediaReleaseMay14
The FAQ: http://www.quakerservice.ca/FAQ
The letter to opposition parties: http://bit.ly/1IDblyh
The CBC news article: http://bit.ly/1KhXFcr Truth and Reconciliation Commission closing events
As the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) comes to a close, CFSC, Ottawa Monthly Meeting and others will join closing events from May 31st – June 3rd.

CFSC is a part of two events on June 1st: From 9 AM – 10:30 AM we're on a panel titled Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery happening at City Hall (110 Laurier Avenue West). From 1 PM – 3 PM we're moderating a panel titled The UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: Justice, Reconciliation and Hope at the Delta Ottawa (101 Lyon St N).

For more information on these and other TRC events and to watch the events online visit: http://www.quakerservice.ca/news/truth-and-reconciliation-closing-events Used with permission of the artist Update on synthetic biology
By combining biology, computer science, and engineering, synthetic biology (SB) promises to produce "designer life forms". Quakers, grounded by our testimonies, can play a role in shaping policy regarding this rapidly expanding field. We are one of the few faith communities actively tracking SB.

At Canadian Yearly Meeting in 2014, Friends asked CFSC for annual easy-to-understand updates on SB. Based on the amount that's happening, we're putting out a first update early and will follow up with another one later in the year. http://www.quakerservice.ca/SBUpdate2015
New book on peacebuilding with contributions from Friends
Voices of Harmony and Dissent: How Peacebuilders are Transforming their Worlds is a new book from Canadian Mennonite University (CMU) Press, co-edited by Rick McCutcheon (Winnipeg Meeting) with chapters written by Friends and other peace leaders who've taught at CMU. Together with the book, CMU has launched a series of four free peace talks which we believe you will find helpful and inspiring! The talks will only be online for a limited time so watch them as they are released. Voices of Harmony and Dissent will go on sale June 9th and until the 15th CFSC will get half of all proceeds from the eBook ($19.48). Find out more at: http://www.quakerservice.ca/PeacebuildersBook


World Uranium Symposium 2015
Dale Dewar (Prairie Monthly Meeting) attended and volunteered at the 2015 World Uranium Symposium in Quebec City in April with financial support from a CFSC individual grant. The symposium discussed the mining of uranium in relation to themes of health, environment, ethics, human rights, Indigenous rights and more. The three day conference engaged speakers from around the world with diverse expertise. For more information and news from this event visit: http://www.uranium2015.com/en

To apply for a CFSC individual grant download this form: http://www.quakerservice.ca/grants


Institute for Creative Conflict Engagement and Transformation
Pendle Hill Quaker Center will be offering an institute about ways to deal with conflict from July 15 to August 9. The 25 day institute will provide skills and tools needed by anyone interested in creating peace and justice – at home, in schools, in communities, and in the world. The workshops will engage topics like love, nonviolence, forgiveness and reconciliation, through exercises like restorative circles and practices, mediation and training. For more information see: http://bit.ly/1GyAM25


CCJC writes of concerns with Bill C-53
The Church Council on Justice and Corrections (CCJC), of which CFSC is a member, has written to the Prime Minister regarding recent amendments to the Criminal Code under Bill C-53. The amendments would make life imprisonment mandatory for anyone who commits crimes of murder or high treason. CCJC argues that the current criminal process is sufficient to assess the risk posed by criminals and whether their time and growth in prison warrants release. Sentencing life imprisonment without the possibility of parole negates “the human capacity for positive change”.
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