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Timothy Njoya, a Presbyterian minister in Kenya, is last year’s recipient of the John Humphrey Freedom Award, a prize awarded annually by the International Centre for Human Rights and Democracy to a frontline human rights defender. The award, which includes a $25,000 grant and a cross-Canada tour, is named in honour of Humphrey, a Montreal human rights lawyer who wrote the first draft of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Njoya, 59, has championed the cause of human rights for 20 years, demanding that ordinary Kenyans have a voice in national affairs. He has been beaten three times by Kenyan police or government-sponsored militia; one beating was so severe that he lapsed into a coma. Njoya received the award Dec. 10 in Montreal. – Rights & Democracy; Montreal Gazette
Canada’s laws against child pornography were upheld in a Jan. 26 decision by the Supreme Court of Canada, but the Court allowed for two exceptions. Written or visual material created by a person for his or her own use alone is not prohibited, nor is possession of visual recordings (photographs or videotapes) made for private use, providing the pictures do not depict “unlawful activity” (that is, that they do not include anyone under 14). The Court made its decision in a case involving John Robin Sharpe of Vancouver, who was found with 6,000 pieces of child pornography, including pictures and stories. Sharpe challenged the constitutionality of prohibiting the possession of child pornography. Both the B.C. Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal struck down the provision on the basis that it infringed upon an individual’s freedom of expression. The Supreme Court, however, did not agree. The Supreme Court voted 9-0 to uphold the law and 6-3 in favour of allowing the exceptions. Critics fear that the exceptions will allow loopholes for pedophiles. Sharpe, 67, could face up to 30 years in prison. – Evangelical Press News Service; Evangelical Fellowship of Canada; Maclean’s
The Carlos Casado company of Paraguay closed its tannia factory, the major employer in the town of Puerto Casado, in 1995. The company has now sold 390,000 hectares of its land to the Unification Church, also known as the Moonies, the North Korean sect led by Sun Myung Moon. The land purchase includes the town of Puerto Casado (which has 3,500 residents) and is adjacent to land occupied by Mennonites in the Chaco. The mayor of Puerto Casado and the town’s council were outraged. The Moonies have offered some concessions: Public institutions on the land that was sold will be given to the state; residents will be allowed to stay in their homes for a year; and the Moonies will begin a number of enterprises and hire workers for them. However, the people of Puerto Casado, supported by the church and other socially concerned groups, are demanding that the town site and another 50,000 hectares be withdrawn from the land purchase; and that places of employment be provided for. Many inhabitants of Puerto Casado are supportive of the sale because they hope they will have work again. – Mennoblatt, translated by Harold Jantz
Mennonite Central Committee relief sales in Canada have raised $1.65 million for MCC’s work around the world. Proceeds from the 14 sales in 2000 were up more than $200,000 from 1999. In B.C., the Abbotsford sale raised $547,000, the Black Creek sale $10,000, the Kelowna sale $5,900 and the Prince George sale $23,000. The first ever Okanagan Challenge Cyclathon contributed $28,000 to the Abbotsford event. The Alberta sale in Didsbury raised just over $105,000. In Saskatchewan, the Saskatoon sale raised $78,300 and the Hague sale brought in $82,300 for MCC’s account at the Canadian Foodgrains Bank. In Manitoba, the Morris sale raised $126,000, the Winnipeg sale $79,000 and the Brandon sale $51,500. In Ontario, the sale in New Hamburg raised $340,000, the heifer sale $150,000, the Black Creek Pioneer Village sale $41,000 and the Leamington community sale $9,200. In New Hamburg, an award-winning quilt was auctioned off for $16,500. – MCC Canada
MCC thrift stores in Canada raised nearly $4 million last year for Mennonite Central Committee, and thrift stores in the US generated about $3.5 million. MCC has 101 thrift stores in Canada and the US. – MCC
The Mennonite Central Committee binational executive committee on Jan. 13 approved a recommendation that MCC continue to expand its work in China. MCC is currently halfway through a five-year poverty alleviation program being conducted in conjunction with the Chinese and Canadian governments and Amity Foundation, a Chinese non-governmental aid agency that has over 15 years of experience working with China’s poorest people. Since 1981, MCC has been sending teachers to China through China Educational Exchange (CEE), an inter-Mennonite exchange program. In 1998, MCC began working with women’s groups, literacy, water development and other programs aimed at reducing poverty in the poorest counties of Ningxia, Shanxi, Gansu and Guizhou provinces. MCC will continue its involvement with CEE and explore ways to do more traditional development work. In 2001, both MCC and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) will evaluate the current poverty alleviation project. Depending on the results, MCC may continue to work with the Chinese and Canadian governments beyond 2003 or may seek other partnerships or may develop its own projects. – MCC
The Fellowship of Hispanic Anabaptist Churches aims to connect Hispanics across North America and Puerto Rico. The recently formed group plans to complete a bibliography, directory, Web page and course curriculum in 2001, with funding from Mennonite Central Committee. A steering committee for the new organization, known by its Spanish initials CIAH (Cofraternidad de Iglesias Anabautistas Hispanas), has representatives from Mennonite Brethren, Mennonite Church and Brethren in Christ groups. The bibliography, to be complete by April, will include 150 titles from the past 50 years written in Spanish from an Anabaptist/Mennonite perspective and books translated from English (such as Donald F. Durnbaugh’s The Believer’s Church). The directory, to be completed by June, will include churches, pastors, Hispanic organizations and interdenominational projects. The Web page will give access to both projects. The committee also plans to create materials based on historical and theological themes for use in Bible studies, church membership classes and elective courses. The total budget for 2001 is $15,400, which MCC has agreed to fund. CIAH members will seek funding elsewhere for future projects, which may include a history book and a biannual assembly of Hispanic Anabaptist congregations. – MCC
Voices for Non-Violence will be celebrating its 10th anniversary Sunday, Mar.18, 2001, 7 p.m. at Bethel Mennonite Church in Winnipeg, with a concert featuring Canadian Mennonite University Singers, Steinbach (Man.) Youth Chorus and Winnipeg Singers. Admission is free, but an offering will be taken. Voices for Non-Violence is a program of Mennonite Central Committee Manitoba offering preventive and restorative approaches to domestic violence and sexual abuse. More information can be obtained by phoning MCC at (204) 261-6381. – Voices For Non-Violence
Average hours per week of television viewing,
by age/sex in Canada
|
Total population
|
|
21.6
|
 |
|
Men:
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18-24
|
|
13.8
|
25-34
|
17.5
|
35-49
|
18.6
|
50-59
|
22.4
|
60+
|
31.5
|
|
Women:
|
18-24
|
|
17.6
|
25-34
|
21.0
|
35-49
|
22.4
|
50-59
|
27.6
|
60+
|
35.5
|
|
Teens:
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12-17
|
|
15.5
|
|
Children:
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2-11
|
|
15.5
|
|
Average hours per week of television viewing in Canada
|
|
Fall 1990
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Fall 1999
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% change
|
Total population
|
23.1
|
21.6
|
-6.5
|
Children 2-11
|
19.2
|
15.5
|
-19.3
|
Teens 12-17
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16.9
|
15.5
|
-8.3
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Men 18-24
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16.3
|
13.8
|
-18.1
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Men 25+
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23.3
|
21.7
|
-7.4
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Women 18-24
|
20.8
|
17.6
|
-18.2
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Women 25+
|
27.3
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26.4
|
-3.4
|
|
– stats taken from Winnipeg Free Press
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Last modified March 7, 2001.
© 2001 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
Masthead and usage information.
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