New resources on justice
- Details
- Published on Thursday, 24 September 2015 23:45
- Written by editor
August 2015
New justice resource CFSC has released a new 4-page educational resource - From Harm to Healing: Transforming the Justice System. The resource answers questions about penal abolition, dispels myths, and offers viable alternatives to a criminal justice system that harms criminals, institutional staff, families and communities. From Harm to Healing touches on what penal abolition is and is not, how Friends are involved, the impacts of punitive approaches to justice, as well as several successful examples of restorative and healing approaches used in Canada, and ways forward.
Additionally, the criminal justice section of CFSC's website has been updated to include more about our work on the impacts of justice systems on children and youth, justice community grants, as well as links to other statements and resources.
From Harm to Healing: Transforming the Justice System: http://quakerservice.ca/PenalAbolition
New and improved justice web pages: http://quakerservice.ca/our-work/justice/
Canadian Yearly Meeting (CYM) sessions
Prince Edward Island was the site of the annual gathering of Canadian Friends from August 16th to 22nd.
Friends joined in worship, business, and fellowship and CFSC was well represented. We offered two Special Interest Groups: one on penal abolition and another on reconciliation and our work at the closing events of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC). You can read all about this year's CYM in our new issue of Quaker Concern: http://www.quakerservice.ca/QCSummer2015 (to get the 3 annual issues of Quaker email to you directly sign up here: http://www.quakerservice.ca/qc
CFSC Program Coordinator Jennifer Preston (left) spoke on a panel about repudiating the doctrine of discovery as part of the closing events of the TRC earlier this year. Photo credit: Rachel Singleton-Polster.
Canadian Quakers affirmed their ongoing engagement with the journey of reconciliation with Indigenous peoples during their annual gathering. CFSC presented materials on the TRC and suggested a commitment for Friends to undertake in response to the TRC’s 94 Calls to Action
(http://www.trc.ca/websites/trcinstitution/File/2015/Findings/Calls_to_Action_English2.pdf).
Friends responded to this call, and approved a minute that honours the painful truths embodied in the TRC report by actively working for the reconciliation of Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. As a faith body we appreciate reconciliation is an ongoing process and not a one-time event. As Friends, we are committed to walk this journey. Resources including a 1 pager of queries for Friends, and a 2 pager explaining the TRC are available at http://www.quakerservice.ca/reconciliation
New paper on Canadian Friends and BDS
CFSC has released a new research paper about the relationship between Canadian Quakers and the Boycott, Divestment and Sanction (BDS) Movement. The paper examines the history of BDS, how Friends came to support aspects of the movement, as well as how dialogue plays a role in the quest for peace in Israel/Palestine. Additionally, it looks at how their involvement in the movement has affected the opinions of Friends, based on 70 responses to a poll that was circulated in July and August of this year. To read the full paper, visit: http://quakerservice.ca/BDSPaper
FWCC World Plenary to be held in Peru
Friends World Committee for Consultation will be holding meetings in Pisac, Peru from January 19-27, 2016. Watch their short video inviting Friends everywhere to participate at: Friends not going as an official representative of CYM may apply for an open place. For details see: http://www.fwccworld.org/peru
Seeing through the bars
The Church Council on Justice and Corrections, of which CFSC is a member, has posted a series of talks on empathy and the impacts of crime on all involved. As part of the series, CFSC associate member Kate Johnson delivered a fascinating talk about her experiences offering programs in men's prisons:
What are your thoughts on the CFSC E-News?
Do you love the e-news just as it is? Do you have ideas about how we can improve it? We'd really appreciate hearing from you!
Please take 1 to 5 minutes to answer five questions we have for you, our loyal readers, about the e-news: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/N8GNT9X
Facebook
Twitter
CFSC website
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Stand up for justice and peace:
r48 r35 subscribe a new email address