A video of members talking about their best practices organizing local groups, campaigns and activities is now available on YouTube!
Filmed at the 2007 Growing Justice leadership conference, a selection of leaders from across the country reflect on those practices that have worked best for them. Get inspired! Click on the links below.
Ottawa members enjoy meeting
Three Eastern Ontario Fall Action meetings reached 68 members and parish reps. Highlights included members acting out the “We are not going away” play, and the participation of parish representatives who are or have been farmers and are very interested and involved in land and food security issues already.
Another highlight was the full participation and leadership of Diocesan Council members Larry Martin, Joan O’Connell and Paul McGuire. Each had participated in the August Fall Action training with staff in Arnprior, near Ottawa. Says new Ottawa-based Eastern Ontario animator Ann-Christina Gamillscheg, “They passed the knowledge and tools on to me and to the other diocesan leaders at the mini-regional in September.”
These members showed a great deal of leadership at all three Fall Action meetings. One leader said that they felt very empowered by the experienced, another that even though it is a lot of work, it is an energizing experience.
The Ottawa DC hopes to follow a similar model next year for involving leaders in the planning and implementation of the Fall Action campaign throughout the region.
The Mining Association of Canada recently published Fact and Figures 2008. One chapter of this annual report is dedicated to the presence and influence of Canadian mining companies in the world. According to this text, nearly 1,000 exploration companies are operating abroad, and Canadian companies have around 4,900 mining projects in different stages of development overseas.
To see the complete report, click here: http://www.mining.ca
CAFOD, a sister agency of Development and Peace in the UK, recently published an enlightening report on how BHP Biliton, one of the world’s largest and most powerful mining companies, has not lived up to its responsibilities to meet the high corporate standards demanded by its role.
Kept in the Dark, part of CAFOD’s ongoing Unearth Justice campaign, contains evidence supporting community members’ claims that they have been excluded from discussions and prevented from having an informed say over this proposed nickel mine.
Community members say that bribery by AMCOR, a Billiton partner, has been used to buy support and silence opposition. They fear that their local environment, way of life and means of earning a living are under threat.
Read the executive summary to find out more kept_in_the_dark_exec_summary
Visit the CAFOD website for more on the campaign, including the full 36-page report. www.cafod.org.uk