Rebuilding the World

The Danish construction toy company, Lego, promotes the “Rebuild the world” campaign to create a better, kinder, more fun place. Current times are often best described as unsettled, uncertain and often unkind. Now is the time to respond to the clarion call for people of goodwill to help fashion a better, kinder and a more fun place, in which to live. How might we envision this place in which all would be welcomed and safe? As you imagine this better world, focus on what you see around you. Next, consider what needs to change to take this fancied place to a wholesome world that all can experience as reality.

In my Advent reflections, I recognize that the role I can play to make a difference is in my everyday interactions, small acts of kindness, and the manner in which I use my words and actions to build trust and understanding. I can listen more carefully, speak with empathy, and take steps to ensure that others feel heard. I can advocate for fairness and justice, using my voice to support those who need it. Most importantly, I can create and nurture spaces where others feel safe to express themselves without fear of judgment.

As we move through Advent and into the new year, I commit to engaging in actions — big and small — that help to build this better world. It’s in every moment that we choose to act with courage and kindness, and every time we look beyond ourselves to see the needs of others.

As Thomas Douglas, a Canadian politician, who championed universal health care against all odds urged fellow Canadians, "Courage, my friends, ‘tis not too late to build a better world." Let us take his confidence to heart, and through our words and actions, add one more Lego block in the creation of safer, kinder towns and cities.

-Sister Nancy Wales, CSJ

Image: Xavi Cabrera @xavi_cabrera/ Unsplash

THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT

With the approach of the third Sunday of Advent, I have been reflecting on the African practice of ubuntu. You may wonder, what is ubuntu?  Author, Mungi Ngomane says, “If we are able to see ourselves in other people, our experience in the world will inevitably be a richer, kinder and more connected one. If we look at others and see ourselves reflected back, we inevitably treat people better. In a nutshell. It recognizes the inner worth of every human being starting with yourself.”

Today, in Luke’s Gospel account, John the Baptist is shedding light on the practice of ubuntu which involves love of neighbor, love of self, honesty, charity etc. In the gospel scene, John is speaking to a crowd of diverse people. Some are seekers, others simply curious, some are soldiers and others tax collectors. On a few occasions, these characters ask John a question, “What should we do?”  His terse reply urges them to change their lives. Like ubuntu-living, John invites the crowd to embrace a shapeshifting call for justice-making and of giving away as much as possible so that everyone has enough to live on. These life-giving practices are what ubuntu and John’s message proclaim to a world so in need of self-love which then can pour out on the neighbor. Hopefully, appreciation and love will be reflected to the giver. 

Image: Jeremy Bishop/Unsplash

All of us have had experiences of holding up a light for another human being. Like John, paving the way forward for the Light to come, we continue our journey of living mystery and tending to the emergent so that generations to come may live in peace, harmony, and justice-making.

Remember, John’s questioners asked, “What can we do?”  There is always much we can do!  It is most often in least expected ways.  I am reminded of a quote from the Quran. “Whoever saves a human life shall be regarded as though they had saved all humankind.” Wow! The smallest act of love might be that one lifesaving gesture for someone sitting or standing in front of you! This is indeed ubuntu in action!

-Sister Linda Parent, CSJ

Write for Rights

The Sisters of St. Joseph have enjoyed a wonderful relationship with Amnesty International, a global organization focused on upholding human rights. That relationship continues through the annual visit from their leadership to us. This year Ketty Nivyabandi, Secretary General for Amnesty International Canada’s English-Speaking section, came to speak to us about their mission. Since 2012, the Sisters of St. Joseph have participated in the world’s larges human rights campaign, Amnesty’s Write for Rights. Write for Rights is a global letter writing campaign to fight injustice and support those whose human rights are threatened. Participants from around the globe write letters of support for those who face threats of violence and imprisonment for who they are and what they stand for. These letters put pressure on governments and leaders by showing them that the eyes of the world are watching and will not accept inaction. By writing letters to leaders and those in need, participants of Write for Rights fight injustice and protect those who advocate for change.

This year, our Write for Rights event was open to Sisters and staff who proved the might of the pen! Our words and actions supported five causes - four abroad and one right here in Canada. We supported three activists facing imprisonment and violence: Dang Dinh Bach (an environmental lawyer in Viet Nam), Şebnem Korur Fincancı (a human rights defender in Türkiye), and Manahel al-Otaibi (a women’s rights supporter in Saudi Arabia). We also supported systemic change by writing for Kyung Seok Park and Solidarity Against Disability Discrimination, a disability activist group in South Korea. Here in Canada, we supported the Wet’suwet’en land defenders who continue to fight to protect the environment and their ancestral lands from the construction of a fossil fuel pipeline, even in the face of criminal charges.

Pre-made letter writing packages were available for pick up on November 22 and a sit-in writing marathon event was held on International Human Rights Day, December 10th. Filled with a passion for change and delicious treats, Sisters and staff put their hands and hearts to work and wrote letter after letter. In total, 266 earnest letters were carefully written by Sisters and staff! Thank you to all who attended in person or submitted letters in advance.

The Write for Rights event was a smashing success and, supported by our prayers, we know our letters and petitions will enact change.

-Rhiannon Allen-Roberts & Sarah Morrison

Our Office for Systemic Justice: A Letter to Premier Doug Ford

Our Office for Systemic Justice cites ethical concerns with legislation aimed at dismantling encampments.

December 9, 2024

Dear Premier Ford,

Recently, you proposed legislation to grant municipalities and police expanded powers to dismantle homeless encampments.  You also indicated your willingness to use the notwithstanding clause of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms if courts block the implementation of the legislation. You indicated your intention to give municipalities "the tools they need" to restore public order and safety, including measures to enhance penalties for trespassing, explicitly ban open drug use in public spaces, and enhance enforcement capabilities.

While no one thinks that encampments are an adequate solution, there are significant ethical concerns with this proposed legislation and, more widely, with this approach to homelessness: 

• Despite your government's promise of new funding to increase shelter beds for people being removed from dismantled encampments, it is clear that crowded shelters are part of the problem, not a long-term solution. Many people prefer living on the street, or in parks, because they find shelters unsafe, stressful, and lacking in privacy. In addition, overnight shelters leave people with nowhere to go during the day. Furthermore, many studies have demonstrated that funding overnight shelters is more expensive than funding deeply affordable and supportive housing options.

• The notwithstanding clause should not be evoked to limit the rights and freedoms of people in vulnerable situations, particularly when there are more effective options for addressing the issues. The answers to homelessness are clear (see recommendations below). All that is lacking is the political will to invest in effective solutions. This is, at heart, an ethical issue for our society.

 Recommendations:

• An adequate response to homelessness requires the government to address the roots causes of homelessness. This means recognizing safe, adequate, and deeply affordable housing as a human right, and funding it as such. It also means providing supportive housing for people who require it.
  

• We know that providing housing is cheaper than providing emergency shelters, but the problem is the steep upfront capital costs for housing. This means that the effective solutions we all seek require significant and sustained investments from all levels of government. It also requires tackling other systemic issues such as punitively low social assistance rates, an inadequate minimum wage, and insufficient mental health and addiction resources. 

We urge you to be attentive to the Homeless Hub's Report on Encampments, which outlines a human rights approach. See Overview of Encampments Across Canada: A Right to Housing Approach.  The report identifies key principles which would urge your government to recognize the residents of homeless encampments as rights holders, and to engage them in meaningful ways to explore alternatives to evictions. These rights-based principles also require governments to design and invest in long-term solutions, as suggested in the recommendations above. 

Sincerely,

Sue Wilson, CSJ | Executive Director, Office for Systemic Justice

Federation of Sisters of St. Joseph of Canada

c.c. Minister Paul Calandra

Image of Homeless Jesus sculpture by Ashwini Chaudhary(Monty)