Community Life Communique #4
Mary Nordick, Chairperson
October 15, 2009

Greetings
We have much to be thankful for in our lives and as members of The Catholic Women’s League of Canada. My recent trip to Africa with the Canadian Catholic Organization of Development and Peace (CCODP) Solidarity/Familiarity Tour was an incredible, humbling, transformative experience that taught me how much I and my fellow Canadians have, and how ungrateful we often are. The gratitude and generosity of the partners and other people that we met was overwhelming. May we each set aside some time each day to give thanks to our bountiful God for blessings and to pray for those who do not have blessings that we take for granted. 

African Realities
Two small instances of life in Africa come to mind: A member of the Zambian Catholic Women’s League told me that her council works very hard to supply soap and cleaning materials as well as voluntary help to the local hospital maternity ward. Imagine a Canadian hospital in such dire need. Please give thanks for the Canadian health system and pray for those who have only basic or no health care. The small library at the Centre des Jeunes in Bujumbura, one of a very few libraries in Burundi, was packed with students. Many of the animators, often former students, spoke of their hunger for education, a hunger that had led them to the centre and then led them to give to others what they had received. Please appreciate Canada’s universal education system and pray for those who can only dream of an education, and those for whom even basic literacy is out of reach.
Meeting with the CCODP partners, hearing and seeing the work that they do, and learning about the tremendous problems that they face gives compelling evidence that the League must continue to support CCODP through the 1% program. CCODP funds the hard part of social justice, programs that try to change attitudes and get at the root of social inequities, programs that come from and are carried out by the people living at the centre of need. The people that the delegation met are people of faith and hope who work with tireless commitment for the betterment of all, one small step at a time. The least the delegation can do is bear witness to their efforts and send prayers and financial support.

CCODP Fall Action Campaign
Materials are available for the fall action campaign Working our land, fighting for our rights. The 2009 campaign continues the theme of food sovereignty that was introduced in 2008. Please give whatever support you can to the campaign and, at the very least, consider signing the postcards which will be distributed.

Call to Action on Accountability for Mining Corporations
While in Zambia, the delegation had the opportunity to visit Ndola which is in the northern copper belt mining region. The problems caused by foreign mining operations were vividly described by the host, the local bishop, church activists, a university professor and union leaders. CCODP had a campaign on mining issues two years ago and still continues work in this area. Action is still needed on Resolution 2007.02 Global Accountability for Canadian Registered Mining Corporations. Two bills are currently before government on the mining issue. Bill C-300 An Act respecting Corporate Accountability for the Activities of Mining, Oil or Gas in Developing Countries has passed second reading in the House of Commons and has been sent to the Foreign Affairs and International Development Committee for review. Bill C-298 An Act respecting Corporate Social Responsibility for the Activities of Canadian Mining Corporations in Developing Countries has only received first reading.  Now is the time to show support for these bills.

Human Trafficking
Human trafficking is another current issue. This summer Resolution 2009.01 Exit Strategies for Prostituted Persons was adopted by national council. I encourage you to study the resolution and take action as suggested under the action plan. Two bills are currently before the government on the issue. Bill S-223 An Act to amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and to enact certain other measures in order to provide assistance and protection to victims of human trafficking, proposed by Senator Phalen, has passed second reading in the Senate and has been sent to the Human Rights Committee. Bill C-268 An Act to amend the Criminal Code (minimum sentence for offences involving trafficking of persons under the age of eighteen years) has passed third reading in the House of Commons and first reading in the Senate. Please consider writing to your member of parliament and/or government committee members in support of the bills.
I will attend a conference in Saskatoon on human trafficking later this month. The featured speaker is Victor Malarek, author of The Natashas and his latest book The Johns: Sex For Sale and the Men Who Buy It. He will also be speaking in Alberta. Please watch for events and speakers on this topic.

Support for Canadian Food for Children
At the annual national convention one resolution was referred to the community life standing committee for consideration. The submitting council asked for support for the organization Canadian Food for Children. Many councils individually support groups such as this one. If anyone would like information about this group, please advise.

Review and Support for Past Resolutions
Past community life resolutions make excellent council meeting topics. For example, Resolution 2003.01 Affordable Housing for Low Income Canadians relates very closely to a bill currently before the House. Bill C-304 An Act to ensure secure, adequate, accessible and affordable housing for Canadians passed second reading and was sent to the Human Resources, Skills and Social Development, and the Status of Persons with Disabilities Committee on September 30th.

Thanks be to God for the ongoing faithful loving service of members in the community life standing committee.

Mary Nordick
National Chairperson of Community Life