Last Updated: Wednesday - 01/05/2011

Church groups pledge peaceful protest

OTTAWA — Canadian Church organizations along with labour, human rights and environmental groups are gearing up for non-violent demonstrations during meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund in Ottawa Nov. 16-18.

The Canadian Religious Conference and KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives are among the Church groups that will take part in public education events and demonstrations.

The CRC is the national organization of Catholic religious men and women. KAIROS is an ecumenical coalition formed out of the reorganization of 10 independent interchurch coalitions.

Pamela Foster, coordinator of the Halifax Initiative, which includes Church-based organizations, said up to 5,000 protesters are expected to turn out for demonstrations calling for reforms of the two global institutions.

They want reforms that would eradicate poverty, protect the environment and ensure equal redistribution of wealth, she said.

Foster said in a CCN interview that some Church groups are concerned about "fringe elements" that may try to disrupt the meetings through violent protest tactics.

Protest activities organized by the Halifax Initiative include a march and a vigil for peace, a "teach-in," and a Day of Action involving a march to the Supreme Court of Canada, a short distance away from a site of the World Bank and IMF meetings.

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