Kairos Spirituality-for-Social Justice Centre, Ottawa

Kitchen Table Theology, the Cosmic Canvas, Journey of the Universe - these are among the rich variety of offerings in the 2012 Spring program.

Marguerite Centre, Pembroke

The 2012 program includes a retreat led by Carmel Boyle (June 17-23, 2012), an Irish singer/songwriter. For details, see the brochure, e-mail reception@margueritecentre.com or call 613-732-9925. See also the Marguerite Centre web site and newsletter.

Books of interest launched in the spring of 2012

Warrior Nation, Rebranding Canada in an Age of Anxiety by Ian McKay and Jamie Swift. Between the Lines. “Once known for peacekeeping, Canada is becoming a militarized nation … . This compelling history casts a vivid light on a story crucial to Canada’s future.” Ian McKay is an author and Professor of History at Queen’s University. Jamie Swift is the author, or co-author, of numerous books. To order, call 1-800-718-7201 or email info@btlbooks.com.

Alternatives to Privatization: Public Options for Essential Services in the Global South. David A. McDonald and Greg Ruiters, Eds. The contributors explore historical, existing and proposed non-commercialized alternatives for primary health, water/sanitation and electricity. Order online with Routledge or LeftWord Books. Free book download at HSRC Press.

Remunicipalization: Putting Water Back Into Public Hands by Martin Pigeon, David A. McDonald, Olivier Hoedeman and Satoko Kishimoto. Transnational Institute Cities worldwide are experiencing the failures of water privatization. Critics are often told they present no alternatives. These books take up that challenge, proposing conceptual models to analyze what makes successful alternatives, backed up by empirical data on creative public service initiatives in over 40 countries in the global South. For more information, go to the Municipal Services Project.

Preparing for Rio + 20

Civil society organizations and social movements from all over the world are calling for the inclusion of human rights obligations and equity principles in the Rio+20 outcome text which is currently being negotiated. A petition calling upon the UNCSD Secretary General and states to “bring the Rio+20 negotiations back on track” is available at: www.ipetitions.com/petition/rightsatrisk/. For more information, visit the Ecumenical Water Network. See also the Call to Action from La Vía Campesina.

Arms Trade Treaty

Each year, hundreds of thousands of people are killed, injured, raped, and forced to flee from their homes as a result of the poorly controlled global arms trade. In July 2012 governments will come together to negotiate a global treaty to better regulate this deadly trade. Follow this link to learn more about the Campaign. See also the information on the Project Ploughshares web site.

PACT-Ottawa (Persons Against the Crime of Trafficking in Humans)

PACT-Ottawa meets on the third Thursday of every month from 7 to 9 p.m. at Kairos Spirituality-for-Social Justice Centre, 211 Bronson Avenue, Ottawa. E-mail pact_ottawa@yahoo.ca Web site: www.pact-ottawa.org. The Body Shop and ECPAT have launched an international campaign to stop sex trafficking of children and young people. To learn more, go to www.ecapt.net.

Women for Peace
Women for Peace began in October 2001 in response to the events triggered by the September 11 attacks in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania. For the next three and a half years, Women for Peace could be seen at the Centennial Flame on Parliament Hill each Wednesday at noon. Now the group holds interfaith workshops on women and nonviolence. Contact: women@gmail.com