A monthly news bulletin that takes a look at development issues, provides analysis of global justice issues and keeps you updated with the work of CWS. An alternative to mainstream media sources. Past issues can be read here

October 2016
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For Your Diary

10 November —“Peace in the Pacific” with Rev François Pihaatae, Pacific Conference of Churches, 7:30pm Grey Lynn Presbyterian Church, 487 Great North Road, Auckland.

15 – 19 November Presbyterian General Assembly in Dunedin— meet Pauline McKay and David Lawson.

Order Christmas Appeal resources here.

One of the few buildings left standing in Oranger after Hurricane Matthew flattened homes, crops and livelihoods. Oranger is on the outskirts of Léogâne, near the epicentre of the 2010 earthquake. Photo: ICKL

Help Haiti Recover
CWS launched an immediate appeal for donations to provide food, safe water and cholera protection after Hurricane Matthew swept through Haiti on October 4. Local partner Institut Culturel Karl Lévêque has put aside its normal programme with vulnerable settlements on the edge of towns and in isolated rural communities to focus on urgent needs.

After consultation with these communities ICKL has submitted a NZ$1.2 million proposal to help more than 10,000 families who have lost homes, livestock and gardens. A further 50,000 families will benefit indirectly from their plan to distribute food, shelter materials, seeds, goats, water purification tablets, rehydrating salt, and information on cholera protection. Director Marc-Arthur Fils-Aimé writes, “We know you understand our approach and we expect an appropriate response to ease the plight of families.” The UN says 1.4 million people are in need of immediate food aid—for 806,000 the need is extreme. Please support the Haiti Hurricane Appeal. $30 will fund emergency food rations for a family using local products. $100 will fund a goat to secure long term food needs.

Bells for Aleppo
If your church has a bell please ring it at 5pm each day in solidarity with the people of Aleppo. Please pray for those who can make peace in Syria. Thank you for your donations for Syrian refugees.

Iraq: Relief for Displaced
ACT Alliance distributed 12,000 hygiene kits to people sheltering in the Debaga camp already home to more than 40,000 last week. ACT Alliance plans to distribute basic relief items: blankets, cooking pots, hygiene kits, shelter kits, safe drinking water and latrines with septic tanks for 7,700 families as well as psychosocial support to 2,000 women and girls fleeing Mosul. So far 1,900 former Mosul residents have registered with the UN. Donations to the Iraq Crisis Appeal will help those fleeing Mosul and some of the 3.3 million people displaced.

South Sudan Crisis Unfolds
The unresolved political conflict and insecurity is pushing more than 1,000 South Sudanese to seek refuge. Wadalla Peter visited one reception area in Uganda after meeting with Rob Wayne (see below). He reported the agencies including ACT Alliance are struggling to cope. He was surprised to find that most were not willing to return home unless there was a regime change. South Sudan Council of Churches launched a project to reduce tension between tribes divided by the conflict. The church has a long history of peace making in the country. Please pray for peace. Donations can be made to the South Sudan Crisis Appeal.

WCC General Secretary visits
During his visit to Aotearoa New Zealand Rev Dr Olav Fyske Tveit spoke of some significant work the World Council of Churches is doing to promote peace and justice. He had come from a meeting where religious leaders were addressing the issue of extreme religious violence. His sermon at a joint service hosted by Knox Church is available.

Act for Climate Justice
ACT Alliance is preparing for upcoming climate change negotiations. COP22 will take place from 7-18 November in Morocco. CWS supports the call for faster action on climate change—you may like to write to Paula Bennett, the Minister for Climate Change issues, and find out more on Facebook.

Operation Refugee
Thanks again to all those who made this year’s Operation Refugee a great success. Register your interest now for June 2017.

Pacific Visitor: Rev Pihaatae
CWS invites you to hear Pacific Conference of Churches’ General Secretary, Rev François Pihaatae, an ordained minister of Etaretia Porotani Maohi (the Maohi Protestant Church). He will draw on his church’s history of opposition to French nuclear testing and the work of PCC on climate change, self determination (including for West Papua), gender relations and development. The talk will be on 10 November at 7:30pm kindly hosted by the Grey Lynn Presbyterian Church, 487 Great North Road, Auckland. For more information contact David Lawson or see here.

Supporters’ Council
Rob Wayne from the International Programmes Working Group reported on his meeting with our partners from Uganda and South Sudan at the September meeting. Pauline and Board chair Alison Maccoll reported back on the year’s activities and Auckland supporters provided some useful reflections on CWS’s work.
Photo: Rob Wayne

Gifted
Thanks to the many people who have ordered Gifted. Every gift you purchase helps people make the change they could only dream about without your help. It also saves on unwanted presents. Order greeting cards or e-cards now.

New Internationalist
For a different perspective on what is happening in the world, CWS recommends the New Internationalist magazine.

Christmas Appeal
Staff are finalising resources for this year’s appeal, “Give us Hope”. These will be added to the website in the coming week. Please order posters, service sheets and envelopes to promote the appeal. We encourage you to distribute the envelopes widely. Our partners are deeply involved in communities and deserve support.