Raising 10 million for justice and peace, one day at a time
February 26th, 2010If you haven’t yet had a chance, check out Development and Peace’s Lifestyle Awareness Calendar. It’s a great Lenten resource.
Share Lent seeks to raise 10 million for the world’s poor
February 22nd, 2010“Love is God’s greatest gift to humanity; it is God’s promise and our hope.”
- Pope Benedict, Caritas in Veritate.
Share Lent 2010 is the annual campaign of the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace. Your gifts through Share Lent grow wisely in the hands of people in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East.
You are invited to give, with love, so that they can participate more fully in the feast of life.
Show your gratitude for God’s love through your generous gifts to Development and Peace this Lent.
Development & Peace in Haiti
February 9th, 2010
Originally posted on http://www.devp.org/devpme/eng/international/haiti-eng.htmlSolidarityFebruary 3, 2010 |
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| Since we have arrived here, a day hasn’t gone by where we haven’t received messages of encouragement from our families, our friends and our colleagues: “Thank you for what you are doing”; “We are thinking of you”; “Hang in there.” If we are here, it is precisely because we have behind us an organization made up of people, who at heart, believe in solidarity and mutual aid; people who can’t remain immune to the drama unfolding so far from them, yet that touches them so closely. This great sense of humanity is at the core of Development and Peace, and through its network – in Canada and around the world – it is trying to make a difference.At Caritas Haiti, each person is living this tragedy to a different degree, but there is no doubt that each has been affected. Yet, for the last three weeks they have been here with us, working each day to help find solutions. “How can we help our brothers and sisters?” they ask. Each day brings its own set of challenges and each day we need to adapt, to get reoriented, to find some new solution. The task is colossal, and yet, already we have to think about the Haiti of tomorrow. What do we do with the hundreds of thousands of displaced people dispersed across the country? How can we assure that they have the means to re-start their lives, to have access to land, to launch back into economic activities? How can Port-au-Prince be rebuilt after so much destruction?
Every day since we have been here, amidst the noise, dust and the crowds, those with Caritas Haiti have been here with us, loyal to their duty, smiling with good humour, ready to do whatever is needed. It is with mixed feelings that we are preparing to leave them. Of course, we are tired and anxious to see our loved ones, but we have the impression that we are leaving, just as so much work is getting started. Danielle Leblanc |
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New Youth Blog from Development and Peace
January 26th, 2010Hi Everyone
Development and Peace has a new blog about Just Youth Groups and other D & P youth work across the country. Check it out at http://youth.devp.org/
Fueling the Future: Are cars more important than people?
December 11th, 2009The current issue of In Medias Res features an article by Richard Medernach where he examines the relationship between agrofuels and food sovereignty. Read it online or get your free copy of In Medias Res in the STM cafeteria.
Development and Peace’s healthcare program in Darfur gets $1.2 million boost
December 8th, 2009The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) has granted $1.2 million in aid money to Development and Peace for urgently-needed health and nutrition programs in West and South Darfur in Sudan.
The money will give significant support to four health clinics and five nutritional centres in Darfur. These clinics are situated in camps and communities providing refuge for those who have lost their homes in the conflict. It is estimated that over 180,500 people, especially women and children, will benefit from these services.
“The situation in Darfur is not getting better and it can’t be forgotten. This funding will significantly bolster the ability of our local health partners to bring relief to those who are sick and help those caught in the crossfire of this conflict to meet their basic needs,” said Barbara Trachsel, an Emergency Relief Programs Officer at Development and Peace.
Since 2003, the conflict between separatist rebel groups in Darfur and the Sudanese government has forced 2.7 million people in the region to flee to camps, host communities or neighbouring Chad, and numbers continue to rise.
In addition, the expulsion and closure of several national and international aid agencies by the government in early 2009 has made the humanitarian situation in Darfur particularly dire. It is estimated that 650,000 people have been left without health services.
“Our government is pleased that this project will result in improved capacity of local clinics, pre- and post-natal check-ups and the health and nutrition of those in need,” said the Minister of International Cooperation, the Honourable Beverley J. Oda. “This will deliver real results in Sudan.”
Development and Peace has been present in Sudan since the late 1970’s and has contributed over $2.1 million in humanitarian aid in Sudan since 1998. When the Darfur crisis began to worsen, it joined the Action for Churches Together-Caritas Darfur Emergency Response, which is one of the largest humanitarian responses to the crisis in Darfur.
Development and Peace is the official international development organization of the Catholic Church in Canada and the Canadian member of Caritas Internationalis.
Agrofuel and Food Sovereignty Article in The Sheaf
November 18th, 2009Please check out a great article written by LANE KRAINYK that was published in the Sheaf. It’s titled Bio-fuel: not what you think.
“Of course, it is important to reduce our dependence on non-renewable resources. However, there is no excuse for why our addiction to consumption should rob the global South of the opportunity to produce its own food.”
STM Just Youth T-Shirts For Sale
November 17th, 2009
NOW AVAILABLE:
Development & Peace STM Just Youth T-Shirts
Front: “Life Before Profit” Logo
Back: “Food Sovereignty - Not a Fantasy”
Contact: justyouth@stmcollege.ca
Fall Action Sunday - November 15th
November 13th, 2009Take action against the food crisis. Help make food sovereignty a reality. Sign the action card at STM or online.
School of Young Thought - Social Change
November 2nd, 2009If your interested in social change there is a new student group on campus called “School of Young Thought” in which local community leaders in social change come and share their wisdom with us. The goal of the group is to be able to regonize, understand, and realize social change and it is a great group of people. Last week Ryan Meili founder of SWITCH came and spoke and tonight at 7pm in STM 344A Peter Garden founder of Turning the Tide, an alternative bookstore, is coming to speak with us. So if your interested check out the group on facebook (just search School of Young Thought) or come tonight at 7pm. If you want more info feel free to e-mail Mitch at mdm342@mail.usask.ca