Older resources produced by CWS, the former Churches Agency on International Issues and our partner organisations. You are welcome to distribute them and make use of the information if you credit the source.

Climate Change

• Clean up the Climate: CWS Backgrounder on Climate Change 2009
• CAII Hot Topics 5: Climate Change in the Pacific Looks at the impact of Climate Change on small island nations, what the Pacific churches are saying, and what action can be taken.

Conflict

• CAII Hot Topics 9: Exceptionally inhumane weapons: Examines the impact of landmines, cluster munitions and Depleted Uranium; the movements to ban these weapons and questions the ethics of arms investment.
• A short history of the Congo: Background on the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Little known, the conflict has killed 6 million people since in 1996. 45,000 people continue to die each month as the country’s natural resources are plundered. Prepared for the October 2008 International Week of Action.
• CAII Hot Topics 7: Palestine-40 years of Occupation.A follow up to the 2003 Israel Palestine report. Examines the growth of illegal Jewish settlements, Gaze siege, child prisoners, the separation wall, the world’s reluctance to act, and non violent protest by Muslims, Christians and Jews.
• CAII Hot Topics 3: The War on Terror. Examines terrorism, the war on terror, New Zealand legislation on terrorism and the response of churches.
• Israel Palestine:Understanding conflict in the Holy Land (2003) A major CAII report examining the underlying issues of the Israel Palestine conflict, its history, the Israeli and Palestinian groups working for peace, ways to share the land, the role of churches, and theological reflections on overcoming the violence and the promised land theology. Study guide also available.

Emergency Relief

• NZAID/Council for International Development Disasters and Emergencies Overseas: How you can help. Explains how the world responds to major disasters and the most effective ways for New Zealanders to assist relief efforts.

Food

• Fighting food shortages: A Christian Aid report on the global food price crisis July 2008. Examines the causes of the crisis, recommendations for change and case studies from Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Globalisation

• Election matters:  Prepared by CWS for the November 2008 New Zealand general election to highlight global economic and environmental issues facing poor communities and questions on how the next government will respond

HIV and AIDS

• CAII Hot Topics 6: Paradise Lost? Seeking a healthy future in the Pacific Focus on HIV and AIDS in the Pacfic including causes of HIV, casestudy of Papua New Guinea, Pacific churches response and the Pacific Islands AIDS Foundation.
• The Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance, of which CWS is a member, has a variety of resources on its HIV and AIDS campaign page. 

Immigration

• CAII Hot Topics 8: Immigration matters: looks at definitions of displaced people, refugee resettlement in New Zealand, the responsibility to protect., and the experience of refugees and aslyum seekers settling in New Zealand.

Tourism

• CAII Hot Topics 10: How are you travelling? Looks at what tourism is doing to the world including why economic benefits don’t reach local communities, the potential for exploitation of people and their culture, and environmental destruction. Study questions and theological reflection challenge us to abide by a code of ethics when travelling.

Pacific Issues

• French nuclear testing: Polynesian workers sue over radiation 6/09/2008: French Polynesian workers from the nuclear test sites in Moruroa 1966-74 are involved in a lengthy legal process to seek compensation from the French government for health issues linked to radiation exposure.
• CAII Hot Topics 4: Paradise Lost? Economic Sustainability in the Pacific. Includes trade and development, souces of revenue, constraints to growth, labour migration, reliance on remittances, and overseas aid.
• CAII Hot Topics 5: Climate Change in the Pacific Looks at the impact of Climate Change on small island nations, what the Pacific churches are saying, and what action can be taken.
• CAII Hot Topics 6: Paradise Lost? Seeking a healthy future in the Pacific Includes HIV and AIDS, other major diseases and health risks, health and the Millennium Development Goals, church responses and a case study of Papua New Guinea

Palestine

• Israel Palestine:Understanding conflict in the Holy Land (2003) A major CAII report examining the underlying issues of the Israel Palestine conflict, its history, the Israeli and Palestinian groups working for peace, ways to share the land, the role of churches, and theological reflections on overcoming the violence and the promised land theology. Study guide also available.
• CAII Hot Topics 7: Palestine-40 years of Occupation. A follow up to the 2003 Israel Palestine report. Examines the growth of illegal Jewish settlements, Gaze seige, child prisoners, the separation wall, the world’s reluctance to act, and non violent protest by Muslims, Christians and Jews.

Sudan

• Darfur Backgrounder 2008: Examines the humanitarian crisis in Darfur, western Sudan, including causes of the conflict, relief efforts and actions to help.
• CAII Hot Topics 2: Sudan – Hopes for Peace? Background and analysis of the conflict in Darfur and South Sudan, the peace process, and international and church responses.

Zimbabwe

• CAII Hot Topics 1: Zimbabwe in Crisis. Examines the economic and political crisis in Zimbabwe in 2004, the history behind the country’s collapse and the international response.
• CAII Timeline of Zimbabwean history and the current crisis.