Peace and Justice Committee of the Mennonite Fellowship of Montreal

Images: International Women's Day

MCC's International Women's Day slideshow:

In honor of International Women’s Day, on March 8, we lift our voices in thanks for the courageous women around the world who work, sometimes against great odds, to improve their livelihood and communities, support their families and open doors to a brighter future.

Labels: MCC, women

Bits and Peaces #36

The January edition of Bits & Peaces is here! As usual, you can read the issue online, or download the pdf.

In this issue:

Haiti earthquake update
Canadian Council of Churches Afghanistan brief
New Report on Military Spending from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
New peace resources from MCC Ontario

Feel free to pass it along, and send any comments or feedback to peace@mennonitecc.ca

Labels: Bits and Peaces, MCC

Bits & Peaces #35

The December edition of Bits & Peaces is here! You can read the issue online, or download the pdf.

In this issue:

Mennonite Church Canada is encouraging congregations to proclaim peace "in the public square" and has launched
www.liveforpeace.org as a resource.
Advent prayer for peace in Afghanistan by Carol Penner
KAIROS invites churches across Canada to show support for a bold action to address climate change at upcoming UN talks in Copenhagen. How? By ringing your church bells 350 times at 3:00 pm on December 13. Read more at the KAIROS website.
Update on the Canadian Department of Peace initiative
The Mining Justice campaign is in full swing! Visit the Mining Justice website for case studies, fact sheets, policies and suggestions of what can be done to promote mining justice. A recent news release highlights the visit to Canada of Francisco Machado, a Honduran Mennonite pastor and advocate for mining reform.
The schedule of this summer's Canadian School of Peacebuilding.

Feel free to pass it along, and send any comments or feedback to peace@mennonitecc.ca,

Labels: Bits and Peaces, MCC

MCC appeals for donations for Asia disasters

Mennonite Central Committee is appealing for an initial $100,000 to assist people in Asia whose homes and lives were devastated by recent earthquakes and flooding.

Two earthquakes struck the island of Sumatra in Indonesia, the first on Wednesday, Sept. 30, and the second on Thursday, Oct. 1. The earthquakes caused buildings to collapse and trapped thousands under rubble. On Friday, the United Nations reported that 1,100 people had died. Earlier in the week, Typhoon Ketsana in Southeast Asia caused heavy rainfall, widespread flooding and mudslides. Hundreds of people have died and at least 500,000 were displaced. Ketsana prompted the worst flooding in the northern Philippines in 40 years when it struck Saturday, Sept. 26, and then continued its deadly path across Southeast Asia. It battered central Vietnam with powerful winds and heavy rain and then weakened as it moved into Cambodia and Laos.

The $100,000 (USD) will be used to provide immediate shelter, food and other emergency supplies to people in Indonesia and the Philippines and to meet longer-term recovery needs in Vietnam. These are countries where MCC has workers or connections with Mennonite congregations.

In Indonesia, the Mennonite Diakonial Service has sent an assessment team to the earthquake area. MCC anticipates requests for funding to provide emergency shelter and food. Mennonite Diakonial Service is the disaster response arm of the Gereja Kristen Muria Indonesia, the Muria Mennonite Synod.

In the Philippines, MCC has started communication with the Integrated Mennonite Churches (IMC) to assess the needs. Next week, MCC will send Bruce Glick of Millersburg, Ohio, to the Philippines. Glick will work in cooperation with IMC and other organizations to develop an emergency response plan. MCC has not had a country program in the Philippines since 2005. However, Glick, who worked with MCC for 19 years, will return to the country where he served in 2004-2005.

In Vietnam, MCC workers are assessing the need as they communicate with the Social Work Committee of the Vietnam Mennonite Church. MCC anticipates the need for recovery funds to help affected communities rebuild once the initial crisis passes.

MCC is also monitoring the ongoing needs of people in Cambodia and Laos who suffered damage from Ketsana.

Financial contributions may be made to any MCC office (designated for "Asia disasters") online at mcc.org/donate or by telephoning toll free:
In Canada: 1-888-622-6337
In the U.S.: 1-888-563-4676

Labels: MCC