KAIROS ATLANTIC

Kairos Halifax Cluster

MAY 1, 2013

 George Wright House

Welcome and Introduction: Gerry Lancaster

Present: Mary, Wyn, Gerry, Linda, Bill, Lindsay, Carolyn Sharon,

Regrets: Sharon, Gail, Fran, Debbie, Ruth

1. Reflection: Lindsay Rankin – He, the leader, and all present read from Afternoon Prayers for Justice and Peace with concluding prayers and blessing, as well as the Universal Prayer for Peace:

Leader: Peace to the nations, east and west,

Peace to our neighbours, black and white,

Peace to all women, peace to all men.

The peace of Christ above all peace.

Lindsay suggested that we think on the sharing of all God’s gifts when the worst occurs elsewhere in the world, such as the broken buildings and lives in Bangladesh for example. Lindsay added that money is important but asked how we can do something to create the butterfly effect. (Make us more wise.) Thank you for our sun today and ask what is the small way in which we can be effective and of help. You are present in all we do when helping.

1. Finances: Gerry reported that she had spoken to a bank employee whose service was of the highest calibre, as she stated that she would take care of everything for us.
2. Correspondence:
   1. In response to the letter/statement sent by those of us who met March 25 re Goldcorp concerns, a letter was received from Rev. Alan Hall, executive officer, Ministry and Employment, Human Resources, the United Church of Canada, on behalf of Rev. Gary Patterson, Moderator, The United Church;
   2. Re: The Jobs and Growth Act a letter from the Honorable Stephen Harper was received which said: “I would like to acknowledge receipt of your correspondence of Dec. 22^nd addressed to the Prime Minister regarding the Jobs and Growth Act. I regret the delay in replying. You may be assured that your views have been given careful consideration.”
3. Business Arising from the Minutes:

Wyn has completed and presented a Kairos poster she had committed to make. Two Kairos banners were completed as promised by Heidi Verhaul and were presented by Linda.

1. Reports:
2. Prevention and Protest where Violence Against Women is concerned. Wyn introduced the main points of her report (distributed since the last meeting) for Sharon, Gerry and herself (April 3^rd) and Bill (received a copy by hand on April 12^th. Some Confusion did occur and it pertained to how this issue was to be handled initially. For the sake of clarification, the members above were assigned and accepted this challenge early on when issues were being started out in Feb./March 2013. As numbers of members have dropped by 5 since April 3, it appears no assistance but our own is required nor requested – we proceed with confidence.

The Oppal Inquiry completed the first 7 months of investigation, but it appeared clear that another 5 months was what Com. Oppal felt was mandatory to finalize the horrendous which so many had died and lived through. The summary of that further clarification was compiled dated Nov. 19, 2012.

Another effort is underway to ensure that every step is taken to ensure due process has occurred. Chief Dave MacNeil is working on what equals a 3^rd Review to determine if criminal charges should be laid in the case of Victoria Rose Paul, the Aboriginal woman who lost her life in custody. All recommendations from the 2 previous reviews have been implemented concerning this matter, which originated in Truro, NS, 2009. Discussion ensued surrounding the tragic passing of Miss Parsons.

Jennifer Lord of the Native Women’s Association of Canada has been singled out and lauded for its work in the 2010 speech from The Throne around the database created by them of missing and murdered Aboriginal women, which they keep adding to irrespective of their funding from federal government having been cut in 2010. They are known as “Sisters in Spirit.” Another database is in the throws of being launched under the name of “Families of Sisters in Spirit” who are guided by Kristine Gilchrist. These are dedicated women – working on behalf of those lost. It is stated in the Executive summary of Com. Oppal that, “There is no single authoritative list of missing and murdered women in Canada”, which is why the databases of both are so important where the data they have gathered thus far is concerned.

We must not forget our 580 men and women who have been extinguished over the past several decades who were of Aboriginal ethnicity. Wyn has discovered that in 2012 there were 52 missing or murdered persons at the beginning of 2012 in Halifax. By the end there were some 58 unsolved cases in 2012. Gerry asked Wyn if she would look into the unsolved crimes. It is Wyn’s intention to review this particular group of people to determine their ethnicity who have come to light and the approximate timeframe of their deaths and missing status, thus falling into line with the objectives of this undertaking concerning violence against women. There was a bit of confusion about this review meant to be about violence toward women, missing and murdered, not just unsolved in nature, but who are Aboriginal.

Bill spoke about the meaning of:

(a)  a Full and Complete Inquiry to be one where discussion is permitted and

(b) a Mini-Inquiry one which has limitations; Bill mentioned that Cheryl Maloney of the Native Women’s Association felt that there should be input from Indigenous peoples concerning Victoria Paul allowed.

(c)  Insistent Inquiry equals a Full and Complete Inquiry also. Bill is aware that to state one must open the door, does not represent a finality. Bill spoke about a rather low image which posters portrayed of those women who were missing, which looked much like mug shots rather than sharing family photos which would be a greater image for the public to witness offered by photographers taking photos in the early stages of the Missing and Murdered investigations.

1. Fracking Interim Report:

Lindsay spoke about the damage being done to ground water and referred to the story of a woman who had taken a job, because none other was open to her, of dispensing a chemical type of soap to assist in the drilling process as she went from one to the other of wells. The chemicals were highly toxic. It was mentioned that this type of drilling is occurring in places such as California, New York (possibly), Penn., and North Dakota. Bill mentioned that the precautionary method should be utilized and asked if we in fact have the right to know what our water is made of exactly. The response was yes. Lindsay advised that on May 6^th and 7^th interested parties would be travelling to Debert and Masstown concerning appeals around fracking waste water discharge approval. May 6^th and 7^th have been set aside to hear public appeals relating to an application by Atlantic Industrial Services (AIS) to discharge fracking waste water into Colchester County sewage system. The municipality recently granted approval to AIS to discharge 4.5 M litres of frack waste into the sewer system (Truro). (Please see paper distributed by Lindsay.) Please go to website: www.colchester.ca posted by nofrack for further details. Lindsay has said that he will keep attempting to discover solutions within this area. He moves from para. 1 and reference to the film “Gasland” to asking the question personally of what benefit to the world will accrue from the recovery of petroleum materials from deep in our planet leaving him nowhere near an exact and certain position he could hold on to. Even those who are graduates fail to comprehend fully all there is to comprehend. Thankfully, there does appear to be an area which can be held onto firmly which is what Lindsay has chosen, relating to the massive number of chemicals utilized in the fracking operation and within their make-up. The excellent question left behind is: How knowledgeable are those handling such chemicals?

1. “The Rights of Nature” – Linda has shared information (including a video link) re an international movement for the Rights of Nature to recognize the Earth and all its ecosystems as a living being with inalienable rights: to exist, to live free of cruel treatment, to maintain vital processes necessary for the harmonious balance that supports all life. In 2008, Ecuador included ‘Rights of Nature’ in its national constitution; in Bolivia in 2010 the World People’s Conference on Climate Change and the Rights of Mother Earth drafted “The Universal Declaration of the Rights of Mother Earth” which it submitted to the UN for consideration. In 2011, The Council of Canadians, Global Exchange and Fundacion Pachamama and others launched the book, “The Rights of Nature”. Demands to recognize the rights of nature were central to UN climate talks in Durban, South Africa, and in Rio in 2012. Linda would like for Kairos to learn more and to support this movement.
2. New Business: On July 26, 2012, Premiers defeated assembly of First Nations’ call for an Inquiry into Violence Against Aboriginal Women. The national chief Chief Shawn Atleo left a meeting with Canada’s premiers without their full support. Premier Dexter stated that a consensus was reached however to watch what was occurring in other provinces. National chief of the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples stated that while the premiers did not fully back a national Inquiry, they did promise to combat violence against women and girls. An understanding took place during the meeting of the Premiers who signed personal pledges to live violence free and also to promote safety and security among Aboriginal peoples, joining more than 1,300 Aboriginal leaders and delegates who signed the pledge at the July 12, 2012, meetings.
3. Announcements / Upcoming Events:
   1. May 6^th – a housing strategy for NS was unveiled at approximately 11am at the North Woodside Community Center in Dartmouth by the Hon. Denise Peterson-Rafuse, Minister of Community Services, Premier Darrell Dexter, et al.
   2. May 6^th – 7^th – at the Debert Legion, Masstown Rd., Appeals for fracking waste water discharge approval (see previous note for details)
   3. May 8^th 6PM, lecture of interest at Mt. St. Vincent, RSVP requested.
   4. May 12^th in honour of Mother Earth there will be the 5^th annual Water Walk at Point Pleasant Park to which all are invited; (date later changed to May 19^th)
   5. Kairos will have a display (thanks to Linda and others) at the annual meeting of the Maritime Conference, United Church of Canada, Sackville, NB, May 23-26.
   6. Kairos will have a display (thanks to Mary) at the annual meeting of the Anglican Synod, Halifax, May 30-31.
   7. May 25^th The Wabanaki Convergence ceremony, The Iris Centre, Fredericton, NB, Full Moon, Fast for 1 day.
   8. September 27, 28, 29: Kairos Atlantic Regional Annual Meeting at Tatamagouche Centre;
   9. October 16^th: Kairos Halifax has reserved 1 – 3 PM to lead AST students in The Blanket Exercise.
4. Next Meeting: June 5^th

It will be important for us to be prepared to lead AST in the Blanket Exercise. We do not meet July or August and our Oct. 16^th commitment will come soon thereafter. We will ask Bev McDonald if she can come to the June meeting to help us begin to prepare.

Sharon Murphy will chair the meeting.

Wyn Farnell will lead the opening reflection.

Respectfully submitted, Wyn Farnell, Secretary