<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div dir="ltr"></div><div dir="ltr">Good morning… </div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">I thought members of the Sunday Community may be interested in this message. </div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">Peace to all… </div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">Dean.</div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">-::-::-::-</div><div dir="ltr"><br><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><div dir="ltr"></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 1.75em;">Proudly supporting Indigenous women leaders and human rights defender delegation from Ecuador</span></div><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><hr style="box-sizing:content-box;height:0px;margin-top:22px;margin-bottom:22px;border-width:2px;border-right-style:initial;border-bottom-style:initial;border-left-style:initial;border-color:rgba(102,102,153,0.5);border-top-style:solid;width:750px"><div class="gmail-pull-right gmail-hidden-xs" style="box-sizing:border-box;width:350px;float:right"><img width="300" height="225" src="https://www.kairoscanada.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/EcuadorianIndigenousWomen-300x225.jpg" class="gmail-wp-post-image" alt="Ecuadorian Delegation of Indigenous Women" style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px; max-width: 100%; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 0px 0px 2px; margin-bottom: 22px; margin-left: 22px;" data-unique-identifier=""><div class="gmail-wp-caption" style="box-sizing:border-box;text-align:center;width:350px;font-size:14px"><span class="gmail-wp-caption-text" style="box-sizing:border-box">Ecuadorian Delegation of Indigenous Women</span></div></div><p style="box-sizing:border-box;font-family:"PT Serif",Georgia,"Times New Roman",Times,serif;font-size:1em;line-height:1.5em;margin-top:0.75em;padding-top:0em;padding-bottom:0em;margin-bottom:0.75em"><strong style="box-sizing:border-box">“This is why we say No!”</strong> is the call to action that is mobilizing four courageous Indigenous women leaders and human rights defenders from Ecuador to come to Canada, September 28-October 6. They take this journey to share their concerns about the impacts of a Free Trade Agreement between Canada and Ecuador on their livelihoods and rights.</p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;font-family:"PT Serif",Georgia,"Times New Roman",Times,serif;font-size:1em;line-height:1.5em;margin-top:0.75em;padding-top:0em;padding-bottom:0em;margin-bottom:0.75em">The governments of Canada and Ecuador are rushing to negotiate a trade agreement, despite these concerns and without consultation with Ecuadorians, particularly Indigenous peoples and rural peasant communities, and without consideration of the rights of nature.</p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;font-family:"PT Serif",Georgia,"Times New Roman",Times,serif;font-size:1em;line-height:1.5em;margin-top:0.75em;padding-top:0em;padding-bottom:0em;margin-bottom:0.75em">KAIROS, Amnesty International, Mining Watch Canada, and other civil society organizations, unions, research centers, and networks proudly support this delegation. In Canada, delegates will visit Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal to speak directly to Canadians about the impacts of Canadian oil and mining projects on their communities and rights.</p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;font-family:"PT Serif",Georgia,"Times New Roman",Times,serif;font-size:1em;line-height:1.5em;margin-top:0.75em;padding-top:0em;padding-bottom:0em;margin-bottom:0.75em">Your support and understanding are crucial to this mission.</p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;font-family:"PT Serif",Georgia,"Times New Roman",Times,serif;font-size:1em;line-height:1.5em;margin-top:0.75em;padding-top:0em;padding-bottom:0em;margin-bottom:0.75em">The delegates will highlight the lack of transparency, inclusiveness, and consultation in current projects, raising questions and concerns about what more Canadian mining and oil investment could mean for these communities if the Free Trade Agreement is passed. A planned investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) in the deal would prioritize the rights of transnational companies over communities and the environment. </p><img src="https://www.kairoscanada.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Ecuador-Why-We-Say-No-1018x1024.jpeg" alt="" class="gmail-wp-image-147841" style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px; max-width: 100%; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 0px 0px 2px; margin-bottom: 22px;" data-unique-identifier=""><span class="gmail-media-credit" style="box-sizing:border-box;color:black;display:block;font-size:0.8em;line-height:1.2em;text-align:center"></span>Canada-Ecuador Free Trade Why We Say NO! poster<p style="box-sizing:border-box;font-family:"PT Serif",Georgia,"Times New Roman",Times,serif;font-size:1em;line-height:1.5em;margin-top:0.75em;padding-top:0em;padding-bottom:0em;margin-bottom:0.75em">In Ecuador, KAIROS’ partner Acción Ecológica is helping to coordinate the delegation.</p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;font-family:"PT Serif",Georgia,"Times New Roman",Times,serif;font-size:1em;line-height:1.5em;margin-top:0.75em;padding-top:0em;padding-bottom:0em;margin-bottom:0.75em"><strong style="box-sizing:border-box">The following women will be joining the delegation</strong></p><ul style="box-sizing:border-box;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:11px"><li style="box-sizing:border-box"><strong style="box-sizing:border-box">Zenaida Yasacama </strong>is a member of the Kichwa Ancestral People of Pakayaku and Vice-President of the <a href="https://conaie.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="box-sizing:border-box;background-color:transparent;color:rgb(51,102,153)">Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador</a>, the country’s largest Indigenous rights organization. On July 2, CONAIE submitted a bill to the National Assembly for Free, Prior and Informed Consultation for the corresponding consent within the territories of Indigenous communities. Recently, Zenaida’s team was involved in a successful campaign to protect the Yasuní Biosphere Reserve.</li><li style="box-sizing:border-box"><strong style="box-sizing:border-box">Fanny Kaekat </strong>leads External Affairs for the Shuar Arutam People (PSHA) and is a member of <a href="https://can01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FMujeresAmazonicasDefensoras&data=05%7C02%7CSVasquez-Olguin%40kairoscanada.org%7Ce034da96577e4e982cd508dcd340a26b%7Ccf18b5a826784011931215f0f7157574%7C0%7C0%7C638617526451631960%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=xdeUSqDG%2FEA7dntkpixbK2jzC6tK9gAvmJMLB0AwFME%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="box-sizing:border-box;background-color:transparent;color:rgb(51,102,153)">Amazonian Women Defenders of the Forest</a>, a collective formed by women belonging to the seven Indigenous Peoples of the Ecuadorian Amazon. These defenders have been threatened and attacked with impunity for defending ancestral territory, nature, the health of their communities and the safety of women and girls. In February, the Shuar Arutam People <a href="https://can01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fminingwatch.ca%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fbcsc_complaint_solarisresources.pdf&data=05%7C02%7CSVasquez-Olguin%40kairoscanada.org%7Ce034da96577e4e982cd508dcd340a26b%7Ccf18b5a826784011931215f0f7157574%7C0%7C0%7C638617526451639868%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=VkmsI7D7sQis9Ott8HRZF5n%2FiTM9AKjFHuI5297SULA%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="box-sizing:border-box;background-color:transparent;color:rgb(51,102,153)">filed a complaint</a> against Solaris Resources Inc. before the British Columbia Securities Commission. </li><li style="box-sizing:border-box"><strong style="box-sizing:border-box">Hortensia Zhagüi </strong>represents the <a href="https://can01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fprofile.php%3Fid%3D100011175222117&data=05%7C02%7CSVasquez-Olguin%40kairoscanada.org%7Ce034da96577e4e982cd508dcd340a26b%7Ccf18b5a826784011931215f0f7157574%7C0%7C0%7C638617526451646693%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=iJ0M%2BjMl62Ny5F8s5EaZirqt38XW%2Fm42dl8udJxQ5eU%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="box-sizing:border-box;background-color:transparent;color:rgb(51,102,153)">Board of Potable Water Administrators of Victoria del Portete and Tarqui</a>. The Indigenous and campesino communities that form the organization are facing risks from Canadian mining companies in the Páramo de Kimsakocha, a high-altitude Andean wetland that provides water for tens of thousands of people and is essential for biodiversity conservation. Hortensia is also a member of the <a href="https://can01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fprofile.php%3Fid%3D100064746010927&data=05%7C02%7CSVasquez-Olguin%40kairoscanada.org%7Ce034da96577e4e982cd508dcd340a26b%7Ccf18b5a826784011931215f0f7157574%7C0%7C0%7C638617526451652780%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=U5qKVVwv29o%2BfPwQZIPz%2FHaqJY%2F1pZqiizhs%2B7u8rEY%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="box-sizing:border-box;background-color:transparent;color:rgb(51,102,153)">Kimsakocha Women’s School of Agroecology</a>, which promotes food sovereignty.</li><li style="box-sizing:border-box"><strong style="box-sizing:border-box">Ivonne Ramos </strong>works with <a href="https://can01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.accionecologica.org%2F&data=05%7C02%7CSVasquez-Olguin%40kairoscanada.org%7Ce034da96577e4e982cd508dcd340a26b%7Ccf18b5a826784011931215f0f7157574%7C0%7C0%7C638617526451658694%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=5KGrtQwXTbITTBlt4N07wKqJM6aA9W1D9tdxE0x2wNQ%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="box-sizing:border-box;background-color:transparent;color:rgb(51,102,153)">Acción Ecológica</a> (Ecological Action), a longtime partner of KAIROS. Her environmental and human rights organization was created in 1986 and is a member of Ecuador’s <a href="https://can01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Falianzaddhh.org%2F&data=05%7C02%7CSVasquez-Olguin%40kairoscanada.org%7Ce034da96577e4e982cd508dcd340a26b%7Ccf18b5a826784011931215f0f7157574%7C0%7C0%7C638617526451664468%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=AlzSKrEpY9YpLb62vOq0%2FVHle2bocAaD%2BVEz1UcFlGc%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="box-sizing:border-box;background-color:transparent;color:rgb(51,102,153)">Alliance for Human Rights</a> umbrella group. Ivonne works for the protection of threatened environment defenders and accompanies processes of territorial defence led by women, making them visible to local, national and international bodies. </li></ul><p style="box-sizing:border-box;font-family:"PT Serif",Georgia,"Times New Roman",Times,serif;font-size:1em;line-height:1.5em;margin-top:0.75em;padding-top:0em;padding-bottom:0em;margin-bottom:0.75em">The women human rights defenders will bring attention to various issues, related to Canadian resource extraction activities, including the impact of increasing militarization, controversial executive decrees, violence associated with resource extraction projects without proper consultation or consent, the failure of the Ecuadorian government to protect the rights of Indigenous peoples, and impunity for those who commit human rights violations. The delegation will also discuss the false accusations, criminalization, threats, and attacks faced by human rights defenders in Ecuador. This crisis has gendered impacts on the security of women and girls but has received little attention despite its seriousness.</p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;font-family:"PT Serif",Georgia,"Times New Roman",Times,serif;font-size:1em;line-height:1.5em;margin-top:0.75em;padding-top:0em;padding-bottom:0em;margin-bottom:0.75em">The delegation will be travelling to Ottawa to bring these concerns to Canadian parliamentarians and the Canadian government. </p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;font-family:"PT Serif",Georgia,"Times New Roman",Times,serif;font-size:1em;line-height:1.5em;margin-top:0.75em;padding-top:0em;padding-bottom:0em;margin-bottom:0.75em">Finally, we want to echo and amplify Amnesty International’s call, inviting you to <a href="https://takeaction.amnesty.ca/page/147301/action/1?utm_medium=email&utm_source=engagingnetworks&utm_campaign=utm_ecuador_trade&utm_content=Ecuador+Canada+Trade+Sept+12+2024&ea.url.id=7413667&forwarded=true" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="box-sizing:border-box;background-color:transparent;color:rgb(51,102,153)">Send a Message to Canada’s Trade Minister</a>.</p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;font-family:"PT Serif",Georgia,"Times New Roman",Times,serif;font-size:1em;line-height:1.5em;margin-top:0.75em;padding-top:0em;padding-bottom:0em;margin-bottom:0.75em"><strong style="box-sizing:border-box">Mentioned LINKS:</strong></p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;font-family:"PT Serif",Georgia,"Times New Roman",Times,serif;font-size:1em;line-height:1.5em;margin-top:0.75em;padding-top:0em;padding-bottom:0em;margin-bottom:0.75em"><a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://can01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmonitormag.ca%2Farticles%2Fwhy-the-ecuador-trade-deal-canada-wants-hinges-on-a-misleading-referendum-question%2F&data=05%7C02%7CSVasquez-Olguin%40kairoscanada.org%7Ce034da96577e4e982cd508dcd340a26b%7Ccf18b5a826784011931215f0f7157574%7C0%7C0%7C638617526451607461%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=d%2BrBdHqLTRupwiO73lJdRaNVi%2FCFSqEDB6vYyXhpCww%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" style="box-sizing:border-box;background-color:transparent;color:rgb(51,102,153)">Free Trade Agreement negotiations</a> – CCPA article</p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;font-family:"PT Serif",Georgia,"Times New Roman",Times,serif;font-size:1em;line-height:1.5em;margin-top:0.75em;padding-top:0em;padding-bottom:0em;margin-bottom:0.75em"><a href="https://conaie.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="box-sizing:border-box;background-color:transparent;color:rgb(51,102,153)">Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador</a></p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;font-family:"PT Serif",Georgia,"Times New Roman",Times,serif;font-size:1em;line-height:1.5em;margin-top:0.75em;padding-top:0em;padding-bottom:0em;margin-bottom:0.75em"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/MujeresAmazonicasDefensoras" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="box-sizing:border-box;background-color:transparent;color:rgb(51,102,153)">Amazonian Women Defenders of the Forest</a></p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;font-family:"PT Serif",Georgia,"Times New Roman",Times,serif;font-size:1em;line-height:1.5em;margin-top:0.75em;padding-top:0em;padding-bottom:0em;margin-bottom:0.75em"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100011175222117" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="box-sizing:border-box;background-color:transparent;color:rgb(51,102,153)">Board of Potable Water Administrators of Victoria del Portete and Tarqui</a></p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;font-family:"PT Serif",Georgia,"Times New Roman",Times,serif;font-size:1em;line-height:1.5em;margin-top:0.75em;padding-top:0em;padding-bottom:0em;margin-bottom:0.75em"><a href="https://www.accionecologica.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="box-sizing:border-box;background-color:transparent;color:rgb(51,102,153)">Acción Ecológica</a></p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;font-family:"PT Serif",Georgia,"Times New Roman",Times,serif;font-size:1em;line-height:1.5em;margin-top:0.75em;padding-top:0em;padding-bottom:0em;margin-bottom:0.75em"><a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://takeaction.amnesty.ca/page/147301/action/1?utm_medium=email&utm_source=engagingnetworks&utm_campaign=utm_ecuador_trade&utm_content=Ecuador+Canada+Trade+Sept+12+2024&ea.url.id=7413667&forwarded=true" target="_blank" style="box-sizing:border-box;background-color:transparent;color:rgb(51,102,153)">Send a Message to Canada’s Trade</a></p><hr class="gmail-wp-block-separator" style="box-sizing:content-box;height:0px;margin-top:22px;margin-bottom:22px;border-width:2px;border-right-style:initial;border-bottom-style:initial;border-left-style:initial;border-color:rgba(102,102,153,0.5);border-top-style:solid;width:750px"><p style="box-sizing:border-box;font-family:"PT Serif",Georgia,"Times New Roman",Times,serif;font-size:1em;line-height:1.5em;margin-top:0.75em;padding-top:0em;padding-bottom:0em;margin-bottom:0.75em">By Silvia Cristina Vasquez-Olguin, KAIROS’ Global Partnerships Coordinator for Latin America and Gender Justice</p></div></div></div></body></html>